Norah Lofts was a prolific British author celebrated for her captivating historical fiction. Her works often delve into the lives of those who inhabited specific houses across centuries, breathing life into the past with meticulous detail. Lofts excelled at capturing the spirit of different eras and social conditions, showing particular concern for the plight of the very poor and their struggles to improve their circumstances. Her creation of the fictional town of Baildon in East Anglia serves as her own literary landscape, akin to Thomas Hardy's Wessex, and her stylistic mastery makes her a significant figure in historical fiction.
The narrative combines suspense and humor, creating a unique atmosphere that keeps readers engaged until the very end. This darker thriller not only captivates with its mystery but also enriches the British Library Women Writers series, showcasing the depth of female authorship. First published in 1945, it highlights Loft's skillful storytelling, making it a noteworthy read for fans of the genre.
Kevin Furmage was a visionary... a man whose burning obsession was to make a mark upon the world. When he heard the rumour of a new mountain route, and acquired a hand-drawn map, to the fertile land of California, he became determined to be the first man to lead a group of pioneers along the trail. In the wagon train was a strange and ill-assorted group of people. Madame Jurer with her painted wagon full of girls; Dave Glenny, self-willed, brutal and terrorising his wife and child; Ben and Mahitabel Smith, honest and God-fearing, with a pretty eighteen-year-old daughter who was expected to behave like a woman and think like a child. These were the people faced not only with appalling hardship but also with the problem of living with one another on an untried route with the ferocious cold of a Rocky Mountain winter to endure.
Norah Lofts' classic take on the story of Sir Walter Raleigh.
The narrative follows the Tresize family as they confront a devastating curse that plagues their lineage across three generations. Each family member faces unique challenges and tragedies, highlighting their resilience and the impact of inherited misfortune. The story delves into themes of fate, family bonds, and the struggle to break free from a dark legacy.
Set in the early 20th century, the story unfolds in a mysterious country house with a rich history. The protagonist, drawn to the enigmatic Gad's Hall, uncovers secrets that intertwine the past with the present. As they explore the house's dark corners, themes of family legacy, hidden truths, and the supernatural emerge. The narrative combines elements of suspense and intrigue, inviting readers to ponder the impact of history on personal identity and relationships.
A knight-errant focused solely on his next tournament, Sir Godfrey Tallboys navigates the challenges of chivalry and competition. As he strives for glory, his journey reveals deeper themes of honor, duty, and the complexities of knighthood. Set against a backdrop of medieval tournaments, the story explores not only the excitement of battle but also the personal growth and moral dilemmas that come with a life dedicated to the ideals of knighthood.
The story follows Henry Tallboys, the eldest son of Sir Godfrey and Lady Sybilla, who struggles to make a living on Knight's Acre. His unwavering stubbornness and deep sense of honesty compel him to sacrifice his own financial needs to save money for a brother he believes is missing and presumed dead. This poignant tale explores themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and the complexities of family ties against the backdrop of rural life.
Set against a backdrop of adventure and intrigue, the story follows Sir Godfrey Tallboys, a man of noble birth who embarks on a journey that tests his courage and integrity. As he navigates the complexities of love, betrayal, and ambition, Tallboys encounters a cast of vivid characters that challenge his ideals and shape his destiny. Themes of honor, loyalty, and the pursuit of true purpose are woven throughout, making for a compelling narrative that explores the essence of manhood in a tumultuous world.
Traces the lives of the inhabitants of the Old Vine townhouse during its descent into a rural tenement house.
Exploring themes of resilience and the intertwining of heritage and identity, this narrative delves into a family's journey as they transform a house born from tragedy into a home filled with joy. The story weaves together elements of gypsy lore, independence, and the struggle to find belonging, questioning whether a past steeped in magic and mystery can coexist with a desire for stability and respectability.
The doomed love story of Josiana Greenwood and Walter Rancon sets the scene as the destiny of the great Suffolk house known as the Old Vine continues to unfold. Haunted by the stubbornness of its founder, Martin Reed, and the mystical gypsy blood of his wife, their descendants, both innocent and guilty, are caught up in a world of witch-hunts, wars and revolution over two centuries-between the days of Christopher Columbus and the Restoration of Charles II. The House at Old Vine is the second in Norah Lofts' enduringly popular Suffolk Trilogy which began with The Town House and concludes with The House at Sunset. Fans of Norah Lofts' work particularly appreciate how her characters who live around the Suffolk town of Baildon interact with one another between different books. Here, we also learn more of the notorious Hatton family and Merravay, featured in Bless This House, in an enthralling series of stories of believable characters who were prepared to live, to fight, to kill and to die for what they believed.
The younger daughter of Tom Boleyn lacked the bounteous charms of most ladies of court. The King first noticed her when she was 16 - and with imperial greed he smashed her youthful love-affair with Harry Percy and began the process of royal seduction. But this was no ordinary woman, no maid-in-waiting to be possessed.
Súčasná anglická spisovateľka Norah Loftsová si získala obľubu vo svojej vlasti i v Spojených štátoch ako autorka viacerých historických románov, ktoré čerpajú námet z bohatých anglických dejín. V románe o Kataríne Aragónskej načrela do čias vlády Henricha VIII., no v centre jej pozornosti nestojí tento rozporuplný panovník, jeden z najschopnejších vládcov vtedajšej Európy, ale jeho prvá manželka, pôvodom Španielka. Keby, bola darovala Henrichovi syna, možno by sa jej život nebol ničím líšil od života iných kráľovien, no Henrichova fanatická túžba po mužskom dedičovi trónu uvoľnila lavínu nepredvídaných udalostí, ktoré vryli hlbokú stopu do anglickej histórie. V období, keď Henrich podniká všetky možné kroky, aby anuloval právoplatnosť svojho manželstva s Katarínou, vyniká oddaná, trpezlivá povaha španielskej princeznej, ktorá ostáva nezmieriteľná iba v obhajobe práv svojej jedinej dcéry na trón. Historické udalosti, videné z aspektu hlavnej protagonistky, sú trochu zromantizované, no bez zbytočnej sentimentality; román je pútavým čítaním a obohatením historického žánru v našej prekladovej literatúre.
Eine fast glückliche Frau - bk1230; Heyne Verlag; Norah Lofts; pocket_book; 1980
Roman
Set around a country house in Suffolk during the turbulent years of the Napoleonic Wars, this is the story of a young refugee from Revolutionary France seduced and abandoned but redeemed by her daughter.
