A Secret Alchemy
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Product Description
Review
Praise for THE MATHEMATICS OF LOVE: 'This is that rare thing, a book that works on every conceivable level... an uncommonly good read' -- The Times 'Fascinating!. If you're in a book club torn between lovers of 19th-century and modern fiction, The Mathematics of Love may be just the thing to square the circle... hauntingly beautiful' -- Washington Post 'Convincing and involving...a book to lose yourself in' -- Daily Mail 'A beautifully written, intelligent book...as historically graphic and passionately romantic as Sebastian Faulks's Birdsong' -- Waterstone's Books Quarterly 'A daring debut novel...Emma Darwin's prose is golden and convincing. Addictive' -- Daily Express 'The reader is spellbound...electrifying' -- Independent 'This sweeping tale of nineteenth-century war and courtship and twentieth-century teenage rebellion has a real flavour of its own that will grip you to the end...an accomplished, vividly realised debut' -- Marie Claire
Product Description
The story of the Princes in the Tower has been one of the most fascinating - and most brutal - murder mysteries in history for more than five hundred years.
In a brilliant feat of historical daring, Emma Darwin has recreated the terrible, exhilarating world of the two youngest victims of the War of the Roses: the power struggles and passion that lay behind their birth, the danger into which they fell, the profoundly moving days before their imprisonment, and the ultimate betrayal of their innocence.
In A Secret Alchemy, three voices speak: that of Elizabeth Woodville, the beautiful widow of King Edward IV; of her brother Anthony, surrogate father to the doomed Prince Edward and his brother Dickon; and that of present-day historian Una Pryor. Orphaned, and herself brought up in a family where secrets and rivalries threaten her world, Una's experience of tragedy, betrayal and lost love help her unlock the long-buried secrets that led to the princes' deaths.
Weaving their stories together, Emma Darwin brilliantly evokes how the violence and glamour of past ages live on within our present.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I wanted so much to love this novel unreservedly. The stories of Elizabeth Woodville and her brother Anthony drew me deeply into the past in a way that felt entirely convincing. The texture of everyday life, the outlook and beliefs of these people, and above all their inner pain, love, faith and insecurity, are all portrayed without any sensationalism or plot contrivances. In particular Anthony's inexorable progress towards his fate makes a compelling story and helps to anchor the many shifts into past time and memory. I did find it very difficult to keep track of who was who, and had constantly to refer to the family trees. However it all begins to make sense halfway through as the familiar tragic story of Richard III and the princes in the Tower emerges.
What spoilt this book for me was the parallel modern story. This too was confusing, with a large caste of inter-related characters, but I felt far less interested in sorting them all out. I didn't really care about these modern people; and although Una is supposed to be researching the Woodvilles, she never actually seems to do any research, and the chance discovery she makes at the end is not essential to the story and could easily have been incorporated into the earlier narrative.
Emma Darwin's writing is beautiful, and I'm glad I read this book even though I could not wholeheartedly recommend it.
What spoilt this book for me was the parallel modern story. This too was confusing, with a large caste of inter-related characters, but I felt far less interested in sorting them all out. I didn't really care about these modern people; and although Una is supposed to be researching the Woodvilles, she never actually seems to do any research, and the chance discovery she makes at the end is not essential to the story and could easily have been incorporated into the earlier narrative.
Emma Darwin's writing is beautiful, and I'm glad I read this book even though I could not wholeheartedly recommend it.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The Secret Alchemy is set in both present day and 15th century England. The interwoven stories are seen through the eyes of both Elizabeth Woodville, the beautiful widow of King Edward IV, and her brother Anthony; whilst the modern section is told by historian, Una, who is writing a book on Anthony Woodville's library. Elizabeth Woodville is the mother of the famous 'Princes in the Tower', who were imprisoned in the Tower by their uncle, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, after Edaward's death.
I was impressed by the way each section came across differently, with all three characters having a recognisable voice, although I'm not sure how accurate the language of the historical section was. I'm not an expert, but it just reads differently from other books written about this period.
I didn't think that the modern day section was really necessary. I felt the book could have benefited from concentrating on Elizabeth's story, as I really enjoyed reading about her. Una's character just seemed to be there to explain the history of the War of the Roses, which although I found useful, should have been able to be achieved within the historical section. I think that anyone who knows much about this period of history would feel patronised by the continual explanations of events, but luckily for me, my only knowledge of this period comes from reading Jean Plaidy books, and that was a while ago now! Towards the end the number of characters got a bit confusing for me, so I had to keep referring to the family tree provided in the front of the book, so I'm really pleased that was included.
This book is light and easy to read, but lacks the atmosphere of a great piece of historical fiction. I can see why this book would appeal to many people, but I felt that it meandered around a bit too much and so failed to really engage me.
I was impressed by the way each section came across differently, with all three characters having a recognisable voice, although I'm not sure how accurate the language of the historical section was. I'm not an expert, but it just reads differently from other books written about this period.
I didn't think that the modern day section was really necessary. I felt the book could have benefited from concentrating on Elizabeth's story, as I really enjoyed reading about her. Una's character just seemed to be there to explain the history of the War of the Roses, which although I found useful, should have been able to be achieved within the historical section. I think that anyone who knows much about this period of history would feel patronised by the continual explanations of events, but luckily for me, my only knowledge of this period comes from reading Jean Plaidy books, and that was a while ago now! Towards the end the number of characters got a bit confusing for me, so I had to keep referring to the family tree provided in the front of the book, so I'm really pleased that was included.
This book is light and easy to read, but lacks the atmosphere of a great piece of historical fiction. I can see why this book would appeal to many people, but I felt that it meandered around a bit too much and so failed to really engage me.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
An acknowledgement at the back of this book tells us that it was written as part of a PhD course in creative writing at Goldsmith's College. Did Emma Darwin get her doctorate, I wonder? Because, although she can obviously write, I wouldn't say that this is a success at all: in trying to juggle too many balls in the air at the same time she's managed to drop them all.
Perhaps her decision to choose a familiar story like the princes in the tower was her first mistake. Such a well-worn tale calls for a whole new twist or focus, but to avid readers of historical novels, like myself, all she's done is something very familiar - written parallel stories in both past and present - and she hasn't made a very good job of it.
However, she's attempted three narratives instead of the usual two: firstly there's Una, a present-day researcher visiting her old home to sort out some family business. Then in the 15th century there's Anthony Woodville, who re-lives his past on his journey to his execution at Pontefract Castle, and his sister Elizabeth, who tells the story of her marriage to Edward IV through to the death of her sons.
The historical sections are by far the best, especially those dealing with Anthony: he's the most convincing and interesting character and the decision to tell his story in flashback over the course of one day is a good one. But when it's intertwined with Elizabeth's narrative the timelines get hopelessly muddled, and some of the dates are actually wrong. Choosing to head chapters with things like 'the 31st yr of the reign of King Edward the Sixth' instead of the actual date doesn't help - it's not clever, it's obtuse and annoying. As is sometimes referring to the Woodvilles as the 'Wydvils'- so she's read some primary sources, so what? I'd have been more impressed if she'd tried to clarify the complicated politics and family connections of the Wars of the Roses instead. It's all explained in a 'Historical Note' at the end, but by then it's too late: readers coming to this book with little or no knowledge of this period in English history would have to read this first, instead of last, to understand what's going on.
The themes and historical parallels are all over the place too. Books and printing are the link, I suppose, with Una researching into the Woodvilles as collectors of books and patrons of printers, but it's not explored. Ms Darwin is obviously trying to say something about the perils of restoration and recreating the past, but what, apart from the blindingly obvious?
Where was the editor? I'd have thrown the whole thing back at her and told her to get some focus, think about structure, and ditch the modern sections altogether. Una is such a dull creation, there's no drama in the story about saving the printing press, and and her love affair with the mysterious (and also rather dull) Mark is very Mills & Boon, with poor dialogue and a very cheesy ending.
For a far better version of this story, try Sharon Penman's The Sunne in Splendour. Or for a much more successful attempt at a book with parallel stories in past and present, maybe Anya Seton's Green Darkness. And even Barbara Erskine's time-hopping gothic romances work better than this.
Very disappointing.
Perhaps her decision to choose a familiar story like the princes in the tower was her first mistake. Such a well-worn tale calls for a whole new twist or focus, but to avid readers of historical novels, like myself, all she's done is something very familiar - written parallel stories in both past and present - and she hasn't made a very good job of it.
However, she's attempted three narratives instead of the usual two: firstly there's Una, a present-day researcher visiting her old home to sort out some family business. Then in the 15th century there's Anthony Woodville, who re-lives his past on his journey to his execution at Pontefract Castle, and his sister Elizabeth, who tells the story of her marriage to Edward IV through to the death of her sons.
The historical sections are by far the best, especially those dealing with Anthony: he's the most convincing and interesting character and the decision to tell his story in flashback over the course of one day is a good one. But when it's intertwined with Elizabeth's narrative the timelines get hopelessly muddled, and some of the dates are actually wrong. Choosing to head chapters with things like 'the 31st yr of the reign of King Edward the Sixth' instead of the actual date doesn't help - it's not clever, it's obtuse and annoying. As is sometimes referring to the Woodvilles as the 'Wydvils'- so she's read some primary sources, so what? I'd have been more impressed if she'd tried to clarify the complicated politics and family connections of the Wars of the Roses instead. It's all explained in a 'Historical Note' at the end, but by then it's too late: readers coming to this book with little or no knowledge of this period in English history would have to read this first, instead of last, to understand what's going on.
The themes and historical parallels are all over the place too. Books and printing are the link, I suppose, with Una researching into the Woodvilles as collectors of books and patrons of printers, but it's not explored. Ms Darwin is obviously trying to say something about the perils of restoration and recreating the past, but what, apart from the blindingly obvious?
Where was the editor? I'd have thrown the whole thing back at her and told her to get some focus, think about structure, and ditch the modern sections altogether. Una is such a dull creation, there's no drama in the story about saving the printing press, and and her love affair with the mysterious (and also rather dull) Mark is very Mills & Boon, with poor dialogue and a very cheesy ending.
For a far better version of this story, try Sharon Penman's The Sunne in Splendour. Or for a much more successful attempt at a book with parallel stories in past and present, maybe Anya Seton's Green Darkness. And even Barbara Erskine's time-hopping gothic romances work better than this.
Very disappointing.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Needed another edit.
I started out enjoying this book, but it became more and more of a struggle to get through & by page 329 (less than 100 pages from the end) I very nearly gave up. Read more
Published 1 month ago by J. Brown
Strong voices but confusing narratives
I like books that are written in different voices, and Darwin makes a good job of making her individual narrators distinct, so you know (even without the section headings) exactly... Read more
Published 3 months ago by annie hughes
Enjoyable read if you already know of the War of the Roses history. If...
I enjoyed this book - having said that though if you weren't familiar on the story and historical facts of the war of the roses - i.e. all the names and titles etc .. Read more
Published 9 months ago by F. L. Desborough
Confusing but worth plodding on
I started to read this book and became so confused with a multiplicity of characters both ancient and modern I put it to one side. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Riverside Reader
SORRY, COULDN'T READ IT
A Secret Alchemy
Oh dear, thought I would really love this book from the formal reviews, but how wrong can you be? Read more
Oh dear, thought I would really love this book from the formal reviews, but how wrong can you be? Read more
Published on 29 May 2010 by Mrs. Judith Lugg
Are you kidding?
Far from being the feat of historical daring that the cover blurb promises us, this book follows the traditional path already trodden by Shakespeare and Thomas More - that Richard... Read more
Published on 23 Mar 2010 by avid reader
A good example of literary fiction at its best
Emma Darwin has a masterful ability to tell double-stranded stories, in which one leg is set in the past and another in the present day, and in which the two legs are somehow... Read more
Published on 25 Dec 2009 by Mr. D. Hazel
On of the worst "Historical" Novels I have ever read
Do not bother wasting your money on this book. One of the worst books I have ever tried to read. It is almost as if the author was trying to combine two books in one, by switching... Read more
Published on 23 Nov 2009 by A. Mcintosh
Magical novel
I had enjoyed Emma Darwin's debut novel, "The Mathematics of Love" and felt drawn to the subject of her new novel about the murder of the two Princes in the Tower in the world of... Read more
Published on 3 Oct 2009 by Alice
Dreadful
Thought this was dreadful, blurb on back practically trade description and not sure where she researched her history. Modern day story line added nothing. Read more
Published on 17 Aug 2009 by S. Newell
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