Season of Light by Katharine Mcmahon
Season of Light begins in 1788, in the heady days just before the French revolution, when Paris is fizzing with new ideas about liberty and equality. Asa Ardleigh, the impressionable 19-year-old daughter of a country squire, has traveled to the city with her older sister, Philippa, and Philippa's new husband. In Paris, they are introduced to the literary salon of Madame de Genlis. It is in this salon that Asa meets, and falls in love with, a dashing intellectual and idealist, Didier Paulin. Their affair is curtailed when Asa is forced to return to England, but they continue to write as the storm clouds gather over France and war with England seems imminent. Meanwhile back at home, no one knows of Asa's liaison. Asa's middle sister, Georgina, has met Harry Shackleford, the most eligible man in London that season, and to whom the Ardleigh estate is entailed. After the death of their mother, the Ardleigh girls' father began to drink heavily and now the estate is nearly bankrupt. In Shackleford, Georgina sees not only a fortuitous marriage for her sister, but also the solution to their financial woes. However Asa's accomplishments need some polishing. Georgina therefore employs Madame de Rusigneux, a French Marquise. Asa soon discovers there is more to this woman than meets the eye...
McMahon takes no prisoners in this gripping, intelligent historical novel -- Emma Hagestadt THE INDEPENDENT 20111213 this densely-plotted novel is a spirited and engaging read -- Vanessa Berridge DAILY EXPRESS A lush, opulent tale of romance and revolution -- Eithne Farry MARIE CLAIRE Well-observed and absorbing to the end-- Fanny Blake WOMAN AND HOME 20111201 Asa carries the story. She is a fascinating, contradictory heroine: she may be reckless and sometimes naive, but she is also fiercely intelligent, ardent and loyal. HISTORICAL NOVEL SOCIETY 20120501
Katharine McMahon studied English and Drama at Bristol University. She has worked as a teacher in schools and universities, as a Royal Literary Fund Fellow supporting student writing, and has run national training courses. She is involved with local theatre and lives with her family in Hertfordshire. Visit her website at katharinemcmahon.com
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780297853398 |
| ISBN 10 | 0297853392 |
| Title | Season of Light |
| Author | Katharine Mcmahon |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Orion Publishing Co |
| Year published | 2011-11-10 |
| Number of pages | 384 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |