Lovers all untrue

By Norah Lofts

Book Overview

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: B00005WB8D
• Release Date: January 1970
• Publisher: Doubleday
• Length: 252 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A SPIRAL INTO MADNESS THROUGH REPRESSION...

The author, noted for her well-written historical fiction, as well as for her novels of romantic suspense, writes a somewhat disturbing story about a family that is totally dominated by its patriarch. Set is Victorian England, the book details the life of the Draper family, which consists of Mr. and Mrs. Draper and their two daughters, Marion and Ellen. The book focuses on the older daughter, Marion. Living in the Draper household is nightmarish for the three repressed women within. It is especially so for Marion, as she is an exceptionally intelligent young woman who longs to do something with her life and make her own choices. Unfortunately, she lives in a household that is excessively repressive and rigid, dominated by the controlling Mr. Draper, who makes every decision and demands and exacts absolute obeisance from the women enshrouded in his sphere of control. He allows his daughters very little social congress. Moreover, he does not allow them to have any suitors. He believes that his daughters' destiny, as is that of his wife, is to serve him until he passes into the next world. Consequently, Marion's quest for a modicum of personal freedom eventually comes into direct conflict with her father over his stifling control. Struggling with her bitterness and desperation, she does the seemingly unthinkable. Then, just when she is seemingly on the brink of escaping his control, this conflict manifests itself in a way that has draconian ramifications for Marion. The path to the unspeakable yawns before her, as she finds her lovers all untrue. This is an interesting work of romantic suspense by Ms. Lofts. Fans of the genre, as well as those who enjoy the work of Victoria Holt, Mary Stewart, and Phyllis Whitney, will like this book. It is a plot driven book that is, while predictable at times, replete with some twists and turns that will keep the reader turning its pages.

An odyssey in madness

Even for a Victorian era Papa, wealthy maltster Mr. Draper..not quite of the carriage class.. exerts an unhealthy and total dominance of his wife and two daughters. He has no desire to see either of his daughters married, preferring to keep them as living dolls, beautifully clothed, well fed, but completely subservient to his needs and wishes. The elder daughter, Marion, finishes her schooling but is reduced to doing a little gentle needlework for charity, and with no social contacts except visits to church under the strict supervision of Papa, soon rebels, growing increasingly restless under the burden of having absolutely nothing to do. Mr. Draper has broken the spirit of his wife, but Marion is more like her father and fights against his wishes, forming an unsuitable attachment for a local chemist's assistant, whom she meets secretly. The result of this clandestine affair changes the course of the lives of the family forever and cause Mr.Draper to have Marion committed to a so called nursing home, where she is to remain until she buckles under to her father's will. God help those poor women of that era where their fathers, husbands and brothers could control their lives and even their freedom! I enjoyed this book very much, even though it was fairly predictable for the most part (except for the ending) as I always enjoy reading descriptions of the everyday details of their domestic and social lives.

IN REPRESSION MAY LIE MADNESS...

The author, noted for her well-written historical fiction, as well as for her novels of romantic suspense, writes a somewhat disturbing story about a family that is totally dominated by its patriarch. Set is Victorian England, the book details the life of the Draper family, which consists of Mr. and Mrs. Draper and their two daughters, Marion and Ellen. The book focuses on the older daughter, Marion. Living in the Draper household is nightmarish for the three repressed women within. It is especially so for Marion, as she is an exceptionally intelligent young woman who longs to do something with her life and make her own choices. Unfortunately, she lives in a household that is excessively repressive and rigid, dominated by the controlling Mr. Draper, who makes every decision and demands and exacts absolute obeisance from the women enshrouded in his sphere of control. He allows his daughters very little social congress. Moreover, he does not allow them to have any suitors. He believes that his daughters' destiny, as is that of his wife, is to serve him until he passes into the next world. Consequently, Marion's quest for a modicum of personal freedom eventually comes into direct conflict with her father over his stifling control. Struggling with her bitterness and desperation, she does the seemingly unthinkable. Then, just when she is seemingly on the brink of escaping his control, this conflict manifests itself in a way that has draconian ramifications for Marion. The path to the unspeakable yawns before her, as she finds her lovers all untrue. This is an interesting work of romantic suspense by Ms. Lofts. Fans of the genre, as well as those who enjoy the work of Victoria Holt, Mary Stewart, and Phyllis Whitney, will like this book. It is a plot driven book that is, while predictable at times, replete with some twists and turns that will keep the reader turning its pages.

original and disturbing -- loved it!

I really enjoyed reading this book. The characters are all so well developed and the writing is superb. I've read a couple of other Norah Lofts' books and I must say she knows how to tell a story! The setting for Lovers All Untrue is Victorian England and the heroine's name is Marion. This is not your typical romance novel as you can guess from the title. Marion is a girl with intelligence and strength of character but unfortunately she is brought up in a household ruled strictly and jealously by her strong-willed, domineering tyrant of a father, who expects "his" women to be docile and dutiful to him. She is stifled in his rigid world and longs to do more with her life than ring for dinner and make boxes decorated with shells. But at every effort for freedom (with "help" from her suitors), her father is there to block her way. The battle is on between father and daughter who are so much alike in many ways. Then Marion decides she alone can help herself and hits on a solution -- rather drastic but if it works it means glorious freedom for herself, her sister and her mother. Will the plan work? Who will win? Read and find out. But be prepared for a rather eerie ending!