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| Corazon Books
Published 24 January 2014
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A poignant coming of age story set in 1930s England, told with warmth and wit
Seventeen year old Jessica Mayne suddenly finds herself alone and unable to pay her rent, when a chance discovery leads to help from unexpected quarters.
A new life beckons, while Jessica learns about past family secrets, and falls in love for the first time, all under the shadow of the advancing war in Europe.
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In Lily's Daughter, Diana Raymond
sensitively explores the hidden secrets of the Mayne family, a family to whom seventeen
year old Jessica Mayne has only just been introduced. Jessica’s arrival at
Huntersmeade, the home of her estranged aunt Imogen, opens up a wealth of new
possibilities. However, it also introduces Jessica to her charming cousin, Guy,
to Deirdre a wealthy heiress and also to Aaron, a Polish Jew, who has his own problems. Jessica's vulnerability clearly shows in the way she allows herself
to become entangled in web of hidden family secrets, which very soon
threaten to engulf her.
What then follows is a perfectly produced coming of age
story, which thoughtfully steers Jessica through a uniquely troubled time and
which also, demonstrates Jessica’s overwhelming need to be loved and cherished.
Throughout the story, Jessica has much to learn, not just about her new family,
but also about life in general as the implicit trust which she places in people
is about to be tested to the absolute limit.
Lily's Daughter, although originally written in the late 1980s, is beautifully reminiscent
of a bygone era and captures perfectly the essence of 1930s England, and a time when when Europe was on the cusp of
war. As conflict looms, long buried secrets and forgotten
memories are poised to threaten the peace and harmony of the Mayne family forever.
Throughout the story the writing
is impeccable; there is no doubt that the author has a natural writing skill.
The story is warm and witty with an underlying poignancy which is quite
endearing. The characters are believable and finely portrayed and very quickly
start to forge their individual personalities on the story. There are
some lovely details and a poignant lyricism which makes the story a real
pleasure to read and enjoy. It is also lovely to revisit a book which has been
long forgotten, written by an author who conjures the spirit of a lost age so
skilfully.
*~*~*
Diana Raymond
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| 1916-2009 |
Diana Raymond was the author of 24 novels, theatre criticism and poems and a play about John Keats.
Her most popular novel Lily’s Daughter is now reprinted in an ebook edition by arrangement with her family.
Her most popular novel Lily’s Daughter is now reprinted in an ebook edition by arrangement with her family.
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