The cost of making partner in a large Manhattan law firm
has never been too high for Clementine Evans and her broken
engagement is proof of it. At her Grandmother Addie's 99th
birthday, all Clemmie's hard work seems inconsequential.
She's alone, never having known a love like her Grandma
Addie and Grandpa Fredrick's. Clemmie has to wonder if
she's been working for all the wrong things. Every family
has its secrets and as Clemmie digs into her incredible
grandmother's history, she unearths an unknown relative Bea
Gillecote who was as close as a sister to Addie. But if
Addie loved Bea so much, why has Clemmie never heard of her
and why will no one tell her who Bea was?
THE ASHFORD AFFAIR by Lauren Willig spans generations and
continents as it follows the lives of three determined
women as they try to find their happiness in a world
dominated by strict social rules. The early relationship
between Addie and her cousin Bea and the struggle of these
two women to find their place in the years following WWI is
emotionally staggering. Clemmie's story on the other hand
didn't have the same emotional pull as Addie and Bea's.
There is a beautiful fairytale poem written by Christina
Rosetti called Goblin Market about two sisters, Laura and
Lizzie, that Addie is extremely fond of. Every day the
goblins go past Laura and Lizzie's house selling their
goblin fruit. Laura wants the fruit so badly, she cuts off
a lock of her hair in exchange for the fruit. But with all
magical items there is a price. Laura yearns only for the
goblin fruit she can no longer have. Every day she gets
sicker until she is on the verge of dying. Lizzie saves her
sister. "'For there is no friend like a sister In calm or
stormy weather; To cheer one on the tedious way, To
fetch one if one goes astray. To lift one if one totters
down, To strengthen whilst one stands.'" I read this and
thought how beautiful and perfect. But Addie never tells
Bea how Lizzie saved Laura. It's left out and I feel that
what started as a major theme of this story, the love of
two sisters, gets left out in the spanning of eras.
Clementine doesn't have a sister or brother or significant
other who can fill that role so how can her story
strengthen what for me was the core of this story?
Addie and Bea are fantastic characters with a fantastic
story. Unfortunately, their story is only half of this
novel. The prose is evocative and really brought to life
the turmoil of England in the years following WWI and that
is where this story excels. Trying to tie Clemmie's story
to the emotional upheaval of a world on the verge of change
wasn't as successful. Her struggles to succeed in a
Manhattan law firm paled in comparison to the conflict and
love between Addie and Bea.
THE ASHFORD AFFAIR is a compelling story that draws the
reader into an era of change; half the time. Unfortunately,
the story feels unbalanced because Addie and Bea are
strong, dynamic characters. Clementine is a solid character
but she doesn't have the same emotional pull that
accompanied Addie's point of view. This is an interesting
story and Willig's writing is evocative and dramatic. I
would definitely read more from Willig, especially her
her historical pieces, because she captures the essence of
the time beautifully, but for me THE ASHFORD AFFAIR doesn't
capture the essence of a saga where the past and present
create a seamless truth for all characters.
As a lawyer in a large Manhattan firm, just shy of making
partner, Clementine
Evans has finally achieved almost everything she’s been
working towards—but
now she’s not sure it’s enough. Her long hours have led to a
broken engagement
and, suddenly single at thirty-four, she feels her messy
life crumbling around
her.
But when the family gathers for her grandmother Addie’s
ninety-ninth birthday, a
relative lets slip hints about a long-buried family secret,
leading Clemmie on a
journey into the past that could change everything. . . .
What follows is a potent story that spans generations and
continents, bringing
an Out of Africa feel to a Downton Abbey cast of
unforgettable characters. From
the inner circles of WWI-era British society to the
skyscrapers of Manhattan and
the red-dirt hills of Kenya, the never-told secrets of a
woman and a family
unfurl.
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