I loved this book as a child. I loved reading about an old country house where mysterious figures flit about. I loved reading about Mrs. OldKnow who rules over the many beings […]
THE CHILDREN OF GREEN KNOWE (GREEN KNOWE #1) by Lucy Maria Boston
Cynthia
Cynthia Sally Haggard was born and reared in Surrey, England. About 30 years ago she surfaced in the United States, settling in the Mid-Atlantic region as she wound her way through four careers: violinist, cognitive scientist, medical writer, and novelist.
In June, 2015, Cynthia graduated with an MFA in Creative Writing from Lesley University, Cambridge MA.
Her first novel, "Thwarted Queen," a frustrating tale (hence the title) of a woman who was nearly crowned Queen of England, was shortlisted for many awards, including the 2012 Eric Hoffer New Horizon Award for debut authors. To date, sales have surpassed 38,000 copies.
Her second novel, "Farewell My Life," a Cinderella-ish tale with not-so-charming princes who inhabit the edgy setting of 1920s and 1930s Berlin during the rise of the Nazis, won a Pinnacle Award for Historical Fiction (2019) and was a Distinguished Favorite for the 2019 New York City Big Book Awards.
Reading Sundays: THE MARRIED MAN (Part 7) a short story by Cynthia Sally Haggard
She folded her arms, and glared. “Robert Prisley Caveley, I declare you are one of the selfishest individuals to ever inhabit this earth. You don’t care about me. You want to move […]
Victoria Holt’s THE TIME OF THE HUNTER’S MOON
Victoria Holt was one of those authors I loved as a child, and it wasn’t until I was nearly grown up that I realized that she, and Jean Plaidy, and Philippa Carr, […]
Georgette Heyer’s THE MASQUERADERS
THE MASQUERADERS by Georgette Heyer turned out to be the most unexpected delight. I cannot remember now why I put it on my reading list, but as I opened it to read […]
Philippa Gregory’s THREE SISTERS, THREE QUEENS
In this novel Philippa Gregory portrays the voice of an unknown Tudor princess, Princess Margaret, the elder sister of King Henry VIII who married James IV of Scotland at the tender age […]
Reading Sundays: THE MARRIED MAN (Part 6) a short story by Cynthia Sally Haggard
“After that first meeting, I rearranged my days so that I could pass through Thurrock on my way elsewhere, to have a cup of tea, and a chat with Emmy. She used […]
A wonderful novel with an outstanding ending (POSSESSION)
POSSESSION by A.S. Byatt employs a parallel plot device, in which two modern researchers (Maud Bailey and Roland Mitchell) try to find out what (if any) was the relationship between two Victorian […]
Margaret George’s MARY, CALLED MAGDALENE
What a wonderful book this is! Margaret George’s MARY, CALLED MAGDALENE is about the life and ministry of Jesus Christ and what happened to his disciples after his death. The book is […]
Madame Defarge knits in code…(A TALE OF TWO CITIES)
If there is one thing that people remember about Charles Dicken’s A TALE OF TWO CITIES, it is of Madame Defarge knitting while the heads roll: “The ministers of Sainte Guillotine are […]
Reading Sundays: THE MARRIED MAN (Part 5) a short story by Cynthia Sally Haggard
“Dreams and aspirations are all very well, but our family was poor, so when I turned fourteen in 1903, I had to leave school to find a job. My parents hid their […]
TOM’S MIDNIGHT GARDEN by Philippa Pearce
Poor Tom. It’s the beginning of his summer holidays, but his brother Peter catches measles. And so Tom is hustled off to stay with his Uncle Alan and Aunt Gwen, a well-meaning […]
She wanted to be a doctor, but it was 1861…(MY NAME IS MARY SUTTER)
MY NAME IS MARY SUTTER is the debut novel of Robin Oliveira, who gained an MFA at the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Ms. Oliveira has a story to tell about a […]
A well-brought-up young lady meets a mischievous sprite…(THE RUNAWAY)
THE RUNAWAY by Elizabeth Anna Hart was originally published in 1872, and tells the tale of an excessively conscientious, well-brought up young lady named Clarice, and what happens when she comes across […]
Reading Sundays: THE MARRIED MAN (Part 4) a short story by Cynthia Sally Haggard
Emmy was then about twenty, and was good-looking in a gentle, guileless way. Somehow, I found myself sitting beside her, pouring out all my troubles. Well, not quite everything. A bloke has […]
A LONDON CHILD OF THE 1870s by Molly Hughes
Molly Hughes’ memoirs, about her childhood in London in the 1870s give a vivid account of what it was like to be a child at that time. The youngest of five children, […]
Being kind makes anyone a princess (A LITTLE PRINCESS)
I loved this novel as a child, so it was a pleasure to read a re-issue of it which contains some material that had previously been cut out. A LITTLE PRINCESS is […]
Sentimental, yes, but still charming…(LITTLE LORD FAUNTLEROY)
LITTLE LORD FAUNTLEROY has been a byword in my family for a spoiled, too-perfect little horror dressed in black velvet suits with lacey collars. Having nothing better to do, I sat down […]
Reading Sundays: THE MARRIED MAN (Part 3) a short story by Cynthia Sally Haggard
“It would be an intrusion,” I countered. “It would be more money than we can afford. You know that.” Emmy, like the good girl she is, dropped the matter, and that was […]
