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The Rose Of Sebastopol
 
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The Rose Of Sebastopol (Paperback)

by Katharine McMahon (Author)
3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (52 customer reviews)
RRP: £7.99
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Product details

  • Paperback: 416 pages
  • Publisher: Phoenix; Reprint edition (27 Dec 2007)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0753823748
  • ISBN-13: 978-0753823743
  • Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.8 x 2.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (52 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 15,896 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Product Description

Sally Zigmond, HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW

'I loved everything about this book. With a cracking plot, wide in scope and yet exquisitely detailed, it conveys the world of England in the 1850s .... her best so far' --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.


Review

"a heart-stopping tale of love and war during Queen Victoria's reign" (Reader WOMAN & HOME )

"Brilliant... if you like Jane Austen, you'll probably like this. It's beautifully written" (Amanda Ross )

"absorbing" (My Weekly )

'In her novel writen with great attention to detail and obvious affection for her characters and the time period, Katharine McMahon has penned a deeply affecting piece of historical fiction.' (HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW )
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Customer Reviews

52 Reviews
5 star:
 (13)
4 star:
 (18)
3 star:
 (15)
2 star:
 (3)
1 star:
 (3)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.7 out of 5 stars (52 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Great War Writing, Cliched Characters, 2 Jun 2008
The historical aspects of The Rose of Sebastopol are excellent. The horror of trench warfare and the inadequacy of the battlefield hospitals are effectively portrayed and not for the squeamish. McMahon also conveys the pigheadness of the British male in the mid nineteenth century very well. The contempt with which women were held in Victorian England comes through strongly and the sections that deal with their attempts at emancipation are some of the best in the novel.

Sadly, the story doesn't live up to the richness of the background in which it's set. The characters are cliched, bland and two dimensional and although the action and plot do drive the reader towards the end, the denouement is predictable in almost every respect. In addition, at the end, the whole thing suddenly grinds to a halt in a most unsatisfactory manner.

On balance, The Rose of Sebastopol is a solid 3 star novel. The story although told well, won't deliver anything you haven't read before but the vivid depiction of the period and the affecting war scenes rescue this novel and render it a worthwhile read.
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19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars stunning, 4 Feb 2008
By J. Delaney "Avid Erycina" (Birmingham, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
I have just finished this book and I wish I was picking it up for the first time. I was hooked from start to finish with this moving and compelling tale of self-discovery, friendship, love and war. The characters are involving, the English and battle landscapes tautly drawn and I found myself mourning the loss of reading this book for the first time.
In the beginning timid Mariella and her fiery cousin Rosa could not be more different in character even though the facial similarity between the two is often remarked upon. However, their respective journeys to and in the Crimea and their relationships with the other characters alter one of them in particular and following her journey of self-discovery is a very rewarding one.
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50 of 58 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting historical novel, 12 Jan 2008
By Scarymushrooms (Dublin, Ireland) - See all my reviews
Admittedly it took me quite a while to get into the flow of the book, but once that happened i was engrossed. The Crimean war is a period of history that i really didnt know alot of, except for Florence Nightingale. The story is told by Mariella, a young women who has grown up in London, without actually seeing any of London. She has lead a very sheltered life, that is until her delightful cousin Rosa descends from the North and lives with Mariella and her family. I loved the contrast of stern and innocent Mariella and Rosa who just wants to help every individual that comes across her path. In the middle of this, is Henry Thewall, Mariella's fiancee who is a doctor and working in the Crimea. Rosa leaves London to nurse in the Crimea, her letters detailing the horror and expressing how she cant seem to do enough to help the soldiers. Suddenly the letters from Rosa stop and no more is heard from her, worried about her cousin and her fiancee, Mariella leaves London to search for them. I really enjoyed the book, once Mariella had left London, discovering how strong she actually is without the people she loves around her. And again, its an interesting period in British history that is rarely written about.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing, carefully planned novel
I absolutely adored this novel and couldn't bear to put it down. I was totally captivated by all the characters, and felt they were developed in a masterly way. Read more
Published 13 days ago by K. G. Keet

3.0 out of 5 stars Rose of Sebastopol - Mediocre
Was a bit disappointed with this novel. Had read a couple of reviews which recommended it so was looking forward to it. Read more
Published 1 month ago by C. A. Osborne

4.0 out of 5 stars Better than I expected
Had this lying around for ages and did not think it would be a good read. It is a little slow to begin with and the flashbacks are a little baffling too. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Jaz

1.0 out of 5 stars Six chapters in - and I quit!
I'm sorry but, whilst I'm sure this book is historically accurate & perhaps even has a good storyline, its initial flaws have driven me to do something I don't often do - give up... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Kelly A19

3.0 out of 5 stars A good summer read, not too heavy
I read this book on a caravan holiday and it was just right as it didn't need lots of concentration but yet had a good story to make me want to read it while sunbathing. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Trickle Tree

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing
I'm a big fan of historical fiction, and was looking forward to this unusual setting, but like some other reviewers I'm afraid I couldn't connect with any of these characters... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Bookworm

5.0 out of 5 stars Very engrossing story, but the ending was such a let-down!
I loved reading this book, rushed off to bed each night to find out how mariella was doing with her sewing, and if she was any nearer to solving the mystery of Rosa's... Read more
Published 5 months ago by L. Bretherton

3.0 out of 5 stars Couldnt put it down. A great read but not great literature!
I go along with many of the 3 star reviewers. This book is a bit of a curate's egg and is perhaps very correctly rated as a 'summer read'. Read more
Published 5 months ago by mcah

5.0 out of 5 stars Slow starting but a decent read
I took this book to, what I knew would be, a particularly long hair dressing appointment. I started the book and could not get into it at all, if I was not just sitting there in... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Campbell79

3.0 out of 5 stars historical aspect very informative, disappointing ending.
Not my ususal choice of book to read, but heard it had good reviews. Great historical aspect of past times and characters. Read more
Published 7 months ago by gabriella luchini

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Rosa and Mariella *spoilers* 2 2 months ago
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