Product Description

Beneath the smooth surface of an Episcopal palace lurks the salacious breath of scandal. Charles Ashworth is sent to untangle the web of self-delusion and corruption only to become embroiled in a strange menage a trois that threatens to expose the secrets of his own past! In Glittering Images tension and drama combine in a compelling novel of people in high places, of desperate longings and the failure to resist them, of lies and evasions, of tarnished realities behind brilliant glittering images.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #28707 in Books
• Published on: 1996-07-22
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 512 pages

Review
'Susan Howatch may well be the Anthony Trollope of the 20th century. Howatch is more than just a novelist of ideas! She is a skilled storyteller who makes the reader wonder, and care about her people.' ANDREW GREELEY, Washington Post 'Rich in human interest, sex, scandal, moral crises and a good deal of humour, it is a book to keep you hooked throughout' Sunday Times 'Howatch writes thrillers of the heart and mind ! everything in a Howatch novel cuts close to the bone and is of vital concern' New Woman 'Susan Howatch! is writing for anyone who can recognise that mysterious gift of the true storyteller.' Daily Telegraph 'One of the most original novelists writing today' Cosmopolitan 'Howatch's outstanding gifts as storyteller are combined here with a new seriousness of theme; the result is a superior novel.' Publishers Weekly 'One of the most original novelists writing today' Cosmopolitan

About the Author
Susan Howatch was born in Surrey in England. After taking a degree in law at King's College, London, she emigrated to America where she married, had a daughter, and embarked on her career as a writer. In 1976 she separated from her husband, left America and lived in the Republic of Ireland for four years before returning to England. While living in a flat overlooking Salisbury Cathedral and "trying to hold my divided self together", she found herself inspired by the beauty of the cathedral and became a convert. She wondered if she should continue producing romantic novels. Instead, she wrote the series of six Starbridge novels about the Church of England in the 20th century, all of which reflect her own spiritual crises.

Customer Reviews

Sparkles with her wit and expertise
After writing 5 highly successful family sagas Susan Howatch had a spiritual experience which converted her to Christianity. She then embarked on the series of six novels which were later to be known as the Starbridge books; she had lived herself for some time in the Cathedral Close at Salisbury, and her fictional town Starbridge is actually Salisbury. Just as her family sagas were written in a multi-person first-person narrator format, so was the Starbridge series, but this time each narrator gets a whole book instead of only a section of one!
Glittering Images is the first book in the series. I had already read al five of the family sagas before I had the courage to start on Starbridge; I saw had the courage because I was sure that a whole series of books set in the Church of England could not help but be stuffy and priggish. But this of course is Susan Howatch, a master storyteller. And these books are considered by many to be an enormous step forward.
I found the depth of character found in all the Starbridge even more impressive than in the sagas. She shows not only an extraordinarily deep understanding of the human condition, she also shows great compassion and warmth for all her characters so that even if they have weaknesses and make mistakes, we can nevertheless forgive and love them.
In the first trilogy of books. Set in the 1930's and 1940's, each of the three narrators is stripped down and turned inside out, so that the reader knows all there is to know about them.
In this first book we first meet Charles Ashworth, who will be a major player in the series. Charles has conservative leanings and a Middle Way churchmanship. As ever, Howatch succeeds in giving us an in-depth portrait of a very likeable and sincere man, and sets him in the middle of a story that simply pulls you through, unravelling secret after secret. A wonderful book, which made me immediately want to start on the next one in the series... Glamorous Powers! I've opened an online discussion and reading group based on the Howatch novels; if you are interested in joining please mail me!

A great story with unexpected depths
Susan Howatch's ability to spin a good yarn is well known. Add to that the complexities of the Church of England and characters who have a realistic relationship with God (what a refreshing idea!) and you get this un-put-downable novel. I've recommended it to all my friends, and my husband - all have loved it.

And don't forget to read the rest of the Starbridge Novels after this cracking opener...

Glittering Images
Set in Starbridge, which is really Salisbury, this is a story of love, life, morals and conscience. She brilliantly describes the struggles between the generations and the way we live we our lives within the framework of the Church of England. There are no bad characters, only acts which are not good.