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Sunday Salon


The book I’m reading right now is All This, and Heaven, Too, by Rachel Field. Field is better known for her Newberry-award-winning book, Hitty, Her First Hundred Years, inspired by an antique doll that Field owned.

All This, and Heaven, Too is historical fiction, and it’s about Field’s great-aunt Henriette Duluzy-Desportes. In 1843, Henriette went to be the governess for the Praslin family in France, after having spent eight years working for a family in England. The Duc and Duchesse de Praslin had a stormy marriage, characterized by her jealousy, paranoia, and (what seems to be) mental instability). Then, a scandal broke out based on false rumors that the Duc and Henriette were having an affair, and Henriette left the Praslins’ employ. That’s as far as I’ve gotten (about 250 pages in), and I’ve been promised that a brutal murder, trial, and flight to the United States are in store for me. So far, I like Field’s writing style, but I feel as though the story drags a bit in places.

Other things I’ve done this week:
I’ve posted reviews for:
The Four Seasons, by Lauren Corona
Nefertiti, by Michelle Moran
The Greatest Knight, by Elizabeth Chadwick

I’ve also talked a little about Victoria Holt, whose novel Mistress of Mellyn I’ve read but haven’t reviewed yet.
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Comments

Ladytink_534 said…
I read Hitty when I was in middle school I think I can only remember bits and pieces of it now but I remember liking it.
November 9, 2008 at 1:03 PM
Quirky Cafe said…
Bette Davis starred in a gorgeous film based on the story. I love the film but have never read the book - it's going on my list :-)
November 9, 2008 at 3:25 PM
Sandra said…
This is the first I've heard of Hitty, or this writer. The movie of it must be interesting too. I only managed one review this week.
I've joined Sunday Salon now and I'm really enjoying it.
November 9, 2008 at 6:49 PM
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