Never Such Innocence RP

"Never Such Innocence" is the first in a saga of four novels, The Askham Chronicles, a romantic story about an English Aristocratic family in love and war, the first book covering the period from 1898 to 1915. The story starts in Egypt, and as happened to me, readers just might find the "Egyptian introduction", so to speak, a bit slow and tedious, describing many details which do not at the time seem of much importance, but which will later prove of utmost importance to the saga which is about to unfold. But quite quickly one becomes captivated. This is not only a story about the life of the aristocrats in Victorian and Edwardian England. It is a saga of war, The River War/Reconquest of the Soudan 1898/99, The first World War (1914-18) and the politics of Woman Souffrage, Suffragists and Liberals. In other words, a historic and sociologic novel with an extensive bibliography at the end of the book. And at the same time, it is the story in great detail about the numerous members of the Askham family. About their lives and destinies, love, joy and sorrow. What is so remarkable about Nicola Thorne is that she manages to write a highly entertaining, moving, funny and yet intellectual and educational book. Never one moment is it boring. On the contrary, the book is unputdownable and I even searched on the Internet for more informaton about the many historical and social events. After having finished "Never Such Innocence", I could not get the three sequels fast enough - "Yesterday's Promises", "Bright Morning" and "A Place in the Sun". All of them of the same outstanding quality, if at all possible, only getting better. The whole saga goes on until 1967. I can only give these books, as well as all books by Nicola Thorne (or also Katherine Yorke, which is a pseydonym she has been using, particularly early in her authorship), my warmest recommendation. The author is a master writer as well as highly intelligent and knowledgeable. I have still not finished all her books and only hope my review will make new readers discover this marvelleous lady and experience the joy I am doing.