Jena, the woman with a golden handbag, has just returned from Florida to present her latest Golden Chapter. Inspired by the title of the book choice, it’s time for Jena to present a novel with her sister.
I selected a Golden Chapter, inspired by the land of the Golden Horn and the Golden Age of Byzantium, I’m eager to share this new book with you, our golden readers. Let’s take a peek at A Tale of Two Sisters by Merryn Allingham.
YOU WILL FIND A TURKISH DELIGHT!
Chapter One
ALICE
London, February 1907
The book begins with a vivid word picture…
“Fingers of pink-tinged could drift through a sky of blue and mauve and deep violet…the spires of Hagia Sophia thrust upwards amid the crumbling beauty of narrow streets and winding alleys. A city at peace.” Istanbul or Constantinople?
In the United Kingdom, the Edwardian period is sometimes portrayed as a romantic golden age of long summer afternoons with leisure garden parties, and elites basking in a sun that never set on the British Empire. But it was also an age that heralded great changes in political and social life. And the first chapter of A Tale of Two Sisters resonates with many of the contrasts of the Edwardian Age. Societal and class expectations, fading gentility, and a woman’s place in the world all lead to interesting contrasts and stories.
In my correspondence with the author, she described her book as one of mystery, romance and sadness. The first chapter delivers on this promise and deftly draws us in to a different time, compels us to bond with the characters and care deeply about their plights.
We meet the older sister, Alice. Alice tells us, “I’m twenty-six. My star has waned.” She lives with her invalid parents in a staid house in Pimlico. Their once prosperous life has faded. Alice has succumbed to being the spinster daughter, destined to live a life of service to others.
She had a brother Charlie, who recently died in a puzzling accident. He was adored and well-loved. She also has her sister, Lydia, the youngest in the family. And a take-charge Aunt Cecily enters the fray!
“Lydia is a free spirit.” And a free spirit who apparently left for an exotic place, wrote a few letters home, and then was not heard from.
Lydia might be impulsive, thoughtless even, but Alice was certain she would never simply disappear without telling her family.
Where is Lydia? Alice has been trying to cover for Lydia because she doesn’t want to trouble her fragile parents. But when her Aunt visits, an idea is sparked. An idea that will take us on the Orient Express. (And we know what kind of things happen on that train!)
When I realized that the sisters reveal their stories in their own chapters, I asked Author Allingham to send me a “Lydia” chapter. I found it was easy to switch characters and pick up the story and that this would be an interesting way to present the mystery of what happened to Lydia as we also follow the journey of Alice.
A Tale of Two Sisters starts with a first chapter that sorts out the many characters in good fashion and immediately presents an intriguing mystery, tinged with family tragedy and problems. The allure of Constantinople, where East meets West, adds to the intrigue.
Who is like me and wants to read more? Take a look at the lovely cover! Have you read this book- please comment and tell us your thoughts. Here are a few questions I have, to start our book discussion.
- Do you think Lydia is missing and in danger, or missing because she is on another adventure? A romantic one, perhaps?
- Will there be a happy ever after ending for Alice?
- Will we learn more about why Charlie died?
BONUS QUESTION: Why did Constantinople get the works? Do you know this song- hum along!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wcze7EGorOk
Jena C. Henry, 2019
Merryn has written an impressive number of novels and is a member of the Romance Novelists’ Association. She writes historical novels, all mysteries with a helping of suspense and a dash of romance. Merryn was inspired to write The Tale of Two Sisters following a visit to Topkapi Place in Istanbul. She said, ‘It was so opulent – so beautiful, and it stayed in my mind.’
The Tale of Two Sisters is out on 21st March 2019.
It is my pleasure to celebrate this book with Jena. I look forward to ‘an emotional historical drama perfect for fans of Linda Finlay and Rosie Goodwin.’
Biography
Merryn Allingham was born into an army family and spent her childhood moving around the UK and abroad. Unsurprisingly it gave her itchy feet and in her twenties she escaped from an unloved secretarial career to work as cabin crew and see the world.
Merryn still loves to travel and visit new places, especially those with an interesting history, but the arrival of marriage, children and cats meant a more settled life in the south of England, where she has lived ever since. It also gave her the opportunity to go back to ‘school’ and eventually teach at university.
She has written seven historical novels, all mysteries with a helping of suspense and a dash of romance – sometimes set in exotic locations and often against a background of stirring world events. Her latest novel, A Tale of Two Sisters, is set in Constantinople at the turn of the 20th century when rebellion within the Ottoman Empire is growing Against this background the novel traces the fate of two sisters, Alice and Lydia Verinder, dramatically exploring themes of family, love and loss.
For the latest news of Merryn’s writing, visit her website at www.merrynallingham.com or join her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MerrynWrites/ or twitter @MerrynWrites
Jena is travelling around the world with her Golden Handbag looking for more opening chapters. Here she is planning her next adventure with her lovely niece. Do you want Jena to visit your opening chapter? Contact her at: jena.c.henry@gmail.com
Please see all of Jena’s Golden Chapters and my website and blog at JessieCahalin.com.
My novel is available here.
This does sound like a very intriguing book. Thank you for sharing it Jena.