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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
A fictional account, though with a selection of their real letters that they wrote to each other, of the relationship between Madeleine Hamilton Smith, and her lover, Pierre Emile L’Angelier. Set in Glasgow, Scotland in 1857. The story recounts their meeting and following relationship which results in the death of L'Angelier.
An interesting read.
An interesting read.
dark
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
In 1857, Madeleine Hamilton Smith embarks on a ill-advised love affair with Pierre Emile L'Angelier. Emile is Madeleine's social inferior and in Victorian Scotland, this spells disaster for all involved. Her parents refuse to allow them to even court so they see each other in secret, where Emile seduces Madeleine who is foolish enough to write down what happened between them in letters. After a couple of years, Madeleine wishes to marry someone else but Emile is not going to let her go without a fight and threatens to ruin her reputation by showing her letters to her father and fiance. Emile then dies, possibly poisoned. Was Madeleine guilty?
I had never heard of the case this historical fiction book was based on and the synopsis sold it to me, after my eye was caught by the cover. I may be in the minority but after reading it, I think I would have preferred a straightforward non fiction telling of the case. For me the factual and fictional didn't work as well as they could have together, however, it was an engrossing read.
I had never heard of the case this historical fiction book was based on and the synopsis sold it to me, after my eye was caught by the cover. I may be in the minority but after reading it, I think I would have preferred a straightforward non fiction telling of the case. For me the factual and fictional didn't work as well as they could have together, however, it was an engrossing read.