A riotous, enthralling portrait of leisured life at the family home of Garonlea in the early years of the century
This is the story of one glorious gothic mansion, Garonlea, and two rather different women who would be Queen. Lady Charlotte French-McGrath has successfully ruled over her family with an iron will, until the arrival of Cynthia—beautiful, young, talented, selfish, and engaged to her son Desmond. Cynthia is a denizen of the Jazz Age and, on the surface, her life passes in a whirl of hunting, drinking, and romance. But the ghosts of Garonlea are only biding their time. They know the source of their power—a secret handed down through generations.
A riotous, enthralling portrait of leisured life at the family home of Garonlea in the early years of the century
This is the story of one glorious gothic mansion, Garonlea, and two rather different women who would be Queen. Lady Charlotte French-McGrath has successfully ruled over her family with an iron will, until the arrival of Cynthia—beautiful, young, talented, selfish, and engaged to her son Desmond. Cynthia is a denizen of the Jazz Age and, on the surface, her life passes in a whirl of hunting, drinking, and romance. But the ghosts of Garonlea are only biding their time. They know the source of their power—a secret handed down through generations.
One glorious gothic mansion - Garonlea - and two rather different ladies who would be Queen . . .
Lady Charlotte French-McGrath has successfully ruled over her family with a rod of iron until the arrival of Cynthia: beautiful, young, talented, selfish - and engaged to her son Desmond.
When Cynthia enters the Jazz Age, on the surface her life passes in a whirl of hunting, drinking and romance. But the ghosts of Garonlea are only biding their time: they know the source of their power, a secret handed on from one generation to the next.
“ 'The Prodigal Spy is a mystery and a novel of ideas ...distinguished by a mastery of structure and a lucid style' - AllanMassie 'This is a beautifully written book' - Sunday Telegraph **'Kanon is a wonderfully fluent writer with a gift for honed dialogue'- Observer”
'Molly Keane ... is robust about sinful human nature and the intrigues of the heart...' - V.S. Pritchett 'Psychologically sharp, socially knowing and closely knit' - Irish Times 'The characterisation of women is first class' - Sebastian Faulks 'She is akin to Jane Austen in her feeling for the minutae of human behaviour' - Polly Devlin
Molly Keane was born in Co. Kildare, Ireland, in 1904 into a 'rather serious Hunting and Fishing Church-going family' who gave her little education at the hands of governesses. Molly Keane's interests when young were 'hunting and horses and having a good time'; she began writing only to supplement her dress allowance. She died in 1996.
This is the story of one glorious gothic mansion, Garonlea, and two rather different women who would be Queen. Lady Charlotte French-McGrath has successfully ruled over her family with an iron will, until the arrival of Cynthia--beautiful, young, talented, selfish, and engaged to her son Desmond. Cynthia is a denizen of the Jazz Age and, on the surface, her life passes in a whirl of hunting, drinking, and romance. But the ghosts of Garonlea are only biding their time. They know the source of their power--a secret handed down through generations.
This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.