Product Details

• Published on: 2005-08-02
• Format: Large Print
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 664 pages

Customer Reviews

a gem of a read
Warning: make sure that you have staked out enough of time to finish this novel before you begin this wonderful novel. It's another one of those unputdownables. Not because the books is tensely plotted, full of riveting twists and turns, but because it is one of those absolutely fun books that are a joy to read.

After a dating debacle with her latest boy friend, graduate student Eliose Kelly applies for a grant to go to England in order to do some research. Eliose is doing her doctoral thesis on British spies of the Regency period, spies like the Scarlet Pimpernel, the Purple Gentian and the Pink Carnation. And while everyone knows the identities of Scarlet Pimpernel and the Purple Gentian, the identity of the Pink Carnation has always been a mystery. And Eliose cannot find mention of him anywhere (not even the Public Records Office in Kew) except for in the tabloid-like newspapers. And so, quite desperate, she writes to the descendants of the Scarlet Pimpernel and the Purple Gentian, asking them for access to their records. She is rudely rebuffed by all except one: Mrs. Selwick-Alderly, a descendent of the Purple Gentian, invites her to tea, and obligingly enough gives her access to some letters in her possession. The letters are written by a young half-French lady, Aimee (Amy) Balcourt, a refugee of the French Revolution, who dreams of returning to France, and of helping her hero, the Purple Gentian, rout the despicable republicans who have taken over her country. Now, at lastin 1803, Amy's brother invites her to return home and to live with him. And for Amy, who has lived in rural Shropshire all these years dreaming of such an opportunity, it is a dream come true. And so, together with her favourite cousin and confidant, Jane, and a daunting chaperone, Miss Gwen, the three women cross the channel. Amy is sure that once she is in Paris, she will be able to quickly identify the English gentleman who is the Purple Gentian, and that he will gratefully accept her offer of help. But Amy is about to discover that dreams and reality are two different things, and that it might not be so easy to identify the Purple Gentian after all. And in the meantime, one must contend with that awful man, Richard Selwick, who, traitorously, seems to have no qualm about associating with the much despised republicans...

I shall always be thankful that Lauren Willig took up writing! "The Secret History of the Pink Carnation" was a delightful read -- witty, humorous and loads of fun. The book is split into two subplots, one that takes place in 1803 and focuses Amy, and the other one in modern times that focuses on Eliose. Both are well done and cleverly juxtaposed so that you're left desperately wanting to know more at once -- will Amy finally realise who the Purple Gentian is? And how will Eliose's relationship with Colin Selwick ever progress beyond sniping? Engaging and deeply engrossing, I enjoyed the book thoroughly from start to finish -- there were no false notes. And I'm avidly waiting for the next Pink Carnation installment, which will, I hope, feature quiet, efficient and intelligent Jane (my favourite character). And while I hate to sound like a gushing nitwit, thank you, again Lauren Willig, for this fabulous read!

Pink Carnations and Purple Gentians, my oh my!!
I loved this book, firstly with the modern day story of Eloise, hot on the trail of uncovering secrets from the past and then the going back in time to the 'days of old' in Napoleonic times and the secret agents flitting between Paris and London.

Personally, I fell in love with the character, loved the story lines and couldn't put it down. If you like the sorts of 'Pride and Prejudice' with a bit of a detective twist and romance with the undertones of some comedy, then you'll love this book.

Serious disappointment
I'd heard great things about this book, but it was a wash-out. I was hoping for a swashbuckler in the style of Dumas or Orczy, but instead, I got a rehashed Regency historical with thinly disguised 21st century Americans as characters saying utterly implausible things, cock-eyed errors, such as suggesting that "consumptive Keats" might be a panty-waist because he wasn't fighting Bonaparte in 1803 (when he was ahem, 8) and convoluted sentences masquerading as English with only a slightly richer vocabulary to distinguish this froth from the cookie-cutter romances produced Stateside.

Be warned - the Pink Carnation is the first in yet another series about a league of spies infiltrating Napoleonic France with only the slimmest grasp of historical fact and a hefty dose of making sure at least one couple is spliced by the end of the book.

I was expecting better of the Yale and Harvard educated Ms Willig.