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Through A Glass Darkly
Through A Glass Darkly
Author: Karleen Koen
A magnificent tapestry of — a grand and glorious eraAs opulent and passionate as the 18th century it celebrates.Through a glass darkly kill sweep you away tothe splendors of a lost era. Like gone with the wind,it is richwith characters so vivid -- from aristocrats toscoundrels--they create their own immortality Here is thestory of a great ...  more »
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ISBN-13: 9780394553788
ISBN-10: 0394553780
Publication Date: 7/12/1986
Pages: 743
Rating:
  • Currently 3.6/5 Stars.
 29

3.6 stars, based on 29 ratings
Publisher: Random House
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback, Audio CD
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

Cattriona avatar reviewed Through A Glass Darkly on + 200 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 7
This is not a sunshiney, happy read; there is betrayal and the usual psychological warfare that tends to go on among females in this era and type of fiction, and the author pulls no punches -- people die, etc -- but the imperfect protagonist survives it all and is the stronger for it, which is what I feel makes it a good read. I also feel it leans a bit more toward historical fiction than romance (though there is plenty of passion and sex), the storyline just goes deeper than that and involves more politics.

It may help to know that the title is taken from 1 Corinthians 13, about how human nature often fails to perceive reality as it truly is, and the title fits the book: the protagonist's rose-colored glasses are broken, and she perseveres. This is not to say that it is Christian fiction, for it is not; simply that the author has delved a bit deeper below the surface than some of the more fluffy romance novels.

"Now Face to Face" is an equally good sequel to this one, and the author has recently released a third, "Dark Angels".
reviewed Through A Glass Darkly on + 134 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
Sweeping, Epic, Heartbreaking... these are just a few words I'd use to describe this book. It's a must read,.. in my opinion. I had trouble not crying at parts and had trouble not grinning like a fool at others.
reviewed Through A Glass Darkly on + 270 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
One of the best books I have read in quite some time. It is amazing all the wonderful detail about Barbara's family, the locations, the historical aspect, etc. Very very thick book and it took me exactly a week to read. Would love to see this made into a movie. I have heard there is a prequel so i'll definately check that out. I highly enjoyed this book and know you will as well!!
reviewed Through A Glass Darkly on + 55 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
What a page-turner this romantic historical novel is! Though it was published more than 20 years ago, it holds up very well, and I seem to re-read it every year, though my copy drops a few pages after every reading. It's one of those thick, sweeping sagas, with many, many characters, full of atmospheric descriptions of the fashions, the jewelry, the furnishings, the street scenes. Set in 18th century England, within an aristocratic family clearly modeled on the Spencers and the Duke of Marlborough. The heroine, Barbara, is a beautiful, naive young girl, in love with a handsome, charismatic older man, and she can't believe her luck when she's betrothed to him in an arranged marriage. But Barbara soon finds out that being married to the man of her dreams doesn't, of itself, ensure her happiness. I don't think I'm giving away too many spoilers when I say that this was one of the pioneering works within its genre to feature a gay male romance as part of the love triangle. If you like the big, thick historical romance precursors (like "Gone With the Wind" and "Forever Amber"), and can deal with the ups and downs of Barbara's journey, you will like this one. Also watch for one of the best secondary characters in the genre: Barbara's grandmother, the masterful, cranky, manipulative old Dowager Duchess, who's probably my favorite character in the book.
reviewed Through A Glass Darkly on + 7 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
This is one of my favorite books. A very good read if you like historical fiction with a lot of betrayal, sex & love.
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reviewed Through A Glass Darkly on + 2 more book reviews
You know a book has lived up to its hype when you are sad to reach the end. Such is the case with this. Fortunately, "Now Face to Face", the dynamic follow-up, is also available. Koen is fantastic!
reviewed Through A Glass Darkly on + 27 more book reviews
This is one of the first historical romance novels I read. It got me hooked! Great story with a little of the unexpected.
nelliebly1025 avatar reviewed Through A Glass Darkly on + 141 more book reviews
What a great book! I read this shortly after reading the Wideacre series by Philippa Gregory, because I was on a historical kick. This was just as good, with a little less drama. Barbara is an amazing women! Loved it.
reviewed Through A Glass Darkly on + 2 more book reviews
I loved the first half of the book, but was somewhat disappointed by the second half and ending. I think the author skips a really important part in the middle of the story and only tells it as though the character was remembering it. I would probably still read another book by her though.
canadianeh avatar reviewed Through A Glass Darkly on + 242 more book reviews
The beginning was slow, but momentum built gradually and by the end of the first quarter I was hooked. Gradually it drew me into a well-written, character-rich time and place. Descriptive prose flows naturally and the willful heroine grows from a silly young girl to an independent woman. 18th century elegance and decadence...


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