A very powerfully moving novel of a young woman caught between the attractions of two very different men, Sylvia's Lovers is set in the 1790s in an English seaside town. England is at war with France, and press-gangs wreak havoc by seizing young men for service. One of their victims is a whaling harpooner named Charley Kinraid, whose charm and vivacity have captured the heart of Sylvia Robson. But Sylvia's devoted cousin, Philip Hepburn, hopes to marry her himself and, in order to win her, deliberately withholds crucial ...
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A very powerfully moving novel of a young woman caught between the attractions of two very different men, Sylvia's Lovers is set in the 1790s in an English seaside town. England is at war with France, and press-gangs wreak havoc by seizing young men for service. One of their victims is a whaling harpooner named Charley Kinraid, whose charm and vivacity have captured the heart of Sylvia Robson. But Sylvia's devoted cousin, Philip Hepburn, hopes to marry her himself and, in order to win her, deliberately withholds crucial information-with devastating consequences. The introduction discusses the novel's historical and geographical authenticity, as well as its innovative treatment of gender and human relationships
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Add this copy of Sylvia's Lovers to cart. $23.49, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2017 by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform.
Add this copy of Sylvia's Lovers to cart. $45.48, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2017 by CreateSpace Independent Publis.
Raised by caring, older parents on a country farm on the outskirts of a seaside English town, Sylvia, when we are first introduced to her, is exactly as we would expect her to be: immature, flighty, stubborn and headstrong. She's still very likable, though, because her nature isn't cruel or selfish. Because of this, it's easy to sympathize with her as she is torn between the love of two men: one a dashing young sailor who sweeps her (like many of his other conquests) off her feet with his romance and gallantry and the other a steadfast, loyal merchant who stumbles and falters in his relentless pursuit of her happiness and love. She never has the option of really choosing between them, though, for other forces - namely, a press gang whose sole intent is to gather "recruits" for the battle against Napoleon - intervene and alter the entire course of her life. One of her lovers is spirited away while the other is left behind, closely guarding the secret of his opponent's whereabouts. As Sylvia faces trial after trial, she is forced to turn to this less-respected lover for help and security. But what happens when she discovers the treachery he has hidden underneath his love? Can love save her? Him? The answer lies in the climax of the book and is a unique combination of sadness and hope... Only then do we see all of the book's themes come together into a beautiful lesson on love, honesty and forgiveness.
