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9781592115099

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Late 18th to early 19th-century Ireland comes alive in this book, as the characters speak to us from the past in dialect true to the time. There is a great deal of epistolary work, and it is woven in beautifully. Letters, articles, documents, and diary entries highlight the many voices, bringing each character to life with great effect.Honest and intriguing, this gripping saga will transport and inspire you, and it just might break your heart. Highly recommended.--Historical Novel Society Mezzacappa (The Maiden of Florence) whisks readers to 18th-century County Down, Ireland, for this lavishly detailed historical romance. In 1767, after Thomas Kearney's wife and newborn die in childbirth, he sends his grown daughter Mary to join two of her siblings who work in service at Goward Hall. Mary becomes enamored of James, Viscount Kilkeel, who lives at the estate, which he will one day inherit, with his married mistress, Lady Mitchelstown. After Lady Mitchelstown dies in an accident, Mary is the only one willing to help prepare her body for burial, impressing James with her grit. He attempts to seduce her--but fails until he offers marriage. The catch is that Mary wants a Catholic priest to officiate, which would require their marriage to remain secret because James would lose certain rights if he revealed that he was Catholic. Eventually, Mary agrees to marry James in the Anglican Church, but their relatively contented life is threatened with the possibility of James's exposure as a member of the rebel group the United Irishmen. Mezzacappa brings nuance and a great depth of historical knowledge to the cross-class romance between a servant and a nobleman. Readers who like their romance heavy on the history will be enchanted.--Publishers Weekly

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Katherine’ s short fiction in a variety of genres has been published worldwide. She has in addition published academically in the field of 19th-century ephemeral illustrated fiction. She holds a Bachelor’ s degree in History of Art from UEA, an M.Litt. in English Literature from Durham, and a Masters in Creative Writing from Canterbury Christ Church (all UK). Katherine is a committee member of the Irish Writers Union and holds professional membership of the Society of Authors, the Historical Novel Society (she is a regular reviewer for their quarterly journal and was on the organizing committee

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