The reader has plenty of material to analyze for the purposes of coming to a conclusion. The writing is masterful, the narrative compelling, and the characters fully fleshed out. Ambrose Ashley (Rachel) arrives in Cornwall not long after Philip's return? Can Philip see the real woman in the midst of his grief? Is Rachel a scheming female or merely independent? Did she poison Ambrose or did Ambrose die a madman from other causes? Does Philip wrong Rachel by his suspicion? Told entirely from the viewpoint of Philip, this novel leaves many questions open for the reader to ponder. He is young and uncertain, but seems to rise to the challenge.
Philip, grief-stricken and blaming this stranger, Rachel, returns to Cornwall to take his place as Ambrose's heir.
Philip travels to Florence, only to learn upon his arrival that Ambrose is dead and that the widow has disappeared with all of Ambrose's personal belongings. Subsequently, Philip receives odd letters from Ambrose that seem to indicate his health is failing and that Ambrose fears for his life, perhaps due to poison at the hands of his young wife. He has met a young widow, distantly related, to whom he refers as "My cousin, Rachel". After three years of journeying back and forth, there is a year when Ambrose writes that he has decided to stay in Florence. The much beloved cousin who raised him from infancy, Ambrose, has gone to Italy to relieve the pain of his rheumatism.
Summary: Twenty-four year-old-Philip Ashley is alone.
It was no great difficulty to find out that they are part of Workman Press which is headquartered in New York, but I did find it rather odd that they'd skipped a standard part of the title page publishing protocols.) (Curiously, there is no city provided on the title page in connection with this publisher. Author: Daphne du Maurier ( official du Maurier web site)Ĭopyright: 1951 I read a recent reprint edition, ISBN 1579125697, from Black Dog and Leventhal Publishers.
0 kommentar(er)
