Customer Reviews

The Child from the Sea

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Goudge depicts Lucy Walter as a warm, loving but wronged wife of Charles ll. We are led to belive throughout the novel that Charles truly adored his first "wife" and she was cast aside because of politics. The contents of the book have been denounced as historically inaccurate, however, that is insignifigant to the wonderful story-telling talents of Elizabeth Goudge. As an avid reader of historical facts and historical fiction, "The Child from the Sea" is the most well written account of a time long gone by. Truly, 'The Child From the Sea" is a novel that moves your heart while giving the reader a full account of life in 17th century London. You cannot afford to miss this one if you can find it!

I read this book a few months ago for the first time, and decided that I would purchase it as soon as I could find a good but not-too-expensive copy (being only a poor college student!) An avowed bookworm, I have read extensively in the different genres of fiction, including fictionalized history (a novel written about a real historical person) and historical fiction (set in history, can include real events and people but is not required to) and I can say unreservedly that The Child From The Sea is the best novel of either genre I've read. So many authors writing historical fiction fall into the trap of approaching historical events and people from a twenty-first century mindset. I have read so many books where medieval or renaissance or eighteenth century characters have all these modern ideas and mindsets, and even (and this is where I really cringe) talk like American teenagers in 2008! Elizabeth Goudge, however, has avoided both mistakes. She has written a book that rings true in every way; her characters are to the core of their time period. The story itself is fascinating, but it is the quality of the writing and the haunting beauty of the tone and setting that makes this book truly a masterpiece.

I read this book for the first time almost 30 years ago as a teenager. It has remained my favorite book of all time and I also find myself re-reading it every few years. The character of Lucy Walter as developed by Ms. Goudge is one of depth and great feeling. I love her ties with the sea and the Welsh landscape. On a trip to Wales I could see Roch castle in the distance and felt so connected to it. I recommend this book for anyone who loves British cultural history and the land on which it evolved.

It is diffcult for a book to bring tears to my eyes, but this one did. It's extremely moving & powerful - the love story of a young Charles II of England and Lucy Walter. I recommend it highly for those who want a tender love story (without smut) and to those who just want to read an excellent historical novel.

I am not given to romantic stories but this one is the exception. Lucy Walter was treated badly by historians but her lineage contributed to the rise of democracy in Great Britain and her ancestry, maligned by historians as "low born" was anything but - in fact, she shares a set of great-great-grandparents (8-10X removed) with Diana Spencer and the current heir to the British throne, William. This book treats her fairly and in a beautiful and compelling story and, like one of the other reviewers here, I re-read it every 4-5 years or so. It never fails to move me.

Goudge's novel is a romanticized version of the life of Lucy Walter, long-time mistress to Charles Stuart (or was she his wife?), before he ascended the throne of England and mother to the Duke of Monmouth. Raised at Roche Castle in Pembrokeshire, Wales. Lucy is a bit of a tom-boy who loves the sea, although her parents eventually become estranged and she must leave her beloved home and start a new life with her mother in London. As a child, Lucy meets Charles by chance and a friendship of sort is born and when they meet again at sixteen love blossoms and they marry in secret although they only have a couple of days of bliss at Roche castle before Charles must return to his family and their struggles with the Parliamentarians.

Charles eventually flees to Europe and a heartsick Lucy follows him, although Charles is now a poor refugee living on the charity of his royal relatives and Lucy can only be acknowledged as his mistress - never his wife. Charles soon finds Lucy entirely inappropriate as a wife in his new role as King of England, and needing a wealthy heiress to fund his efforts oust Cromwell forces conspire to discredit Lucy and the marriage and to take her child from her.

And that's as far as I go. If you know Lucy's history you know what happens, and if you don't you won't want me to spoil it for you. Taking a person of whom very little is known about gives Goudge a lot of creative license to craft a lovely tale of what may have happened and the consequences of youthful indiscretion. My only quibbles are that this novel, original published in1970 could easily lose 200-300 pages and lose none of its potency, and I suspect many of today's younger readers will give up too soon. Skim the first parts if you must, it's worth it. Too much time is spent on Lucy's childhood relationships and descriptions of the Welsh countryside but other than that her writing was lovely - and ohhhhhh that ending - tissue worthy.

I first read this book over 30 years ago & no less than 5 times since. All I really remember about it was that every so-many years I feel compelled to read it again. Why I never bought a copy when it was more available I'll never know. This book could have been true, which made it all the more interesting. I have since read almost everything by Ms. Goudg

I loved this book! It's an all-time favorite. The reviewer prior to myself pretty much said it all. I will add that I was also most impressed with myself to reach the end of it to find a note from the author addressed to "those who persevered!" The book is enormous, which is an absolutely fine thing since a good story well written can never be too long. I highly recommend it!

This is a premiere work of historical fiction. I'll say it again: this is historical fiction at its best. The landscape leaps into being with a few well-chosen words; the characters seem to live and breathe. The prose peers into a long-lost time and evokes it in astonishing, true-to-life detail, showing how the broader sweeps of political fortunes and indeed the fates of nations stem ultimately from choices arising in the conflicted human heart. This book is breath-taking. After reading Goudge I judge all other works of historical fiction by this one, and when the imaginations of other authors disappoint, I come back to Goudge to be refreshed.

I read this book over and over as a teenager. The last time would have been about 30 years ago but it made such an impression, I still remember most of the plot and large chunks of the text. It's beautifully constructed and written with lots of skilfully-drawn and believable characters. I highly recommend it to anyone with a romantic nature who's not too concerned with historical accuracy. But who knows - maybe Charles II really did marry Lucy and the Duke of Monmouth was the rightful heir to the throne after all ...