Cinderella's Secret and other Classical Poems by Brian Edward Hurst [Kindle Edition]

Brian Edward Hurst (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A totally different version of the Cinderella story in classical stanza form together with a collection of the poems that won first prize at California State College, San Bernardino. Romantic, amusing, sometimes bawdy, this is no fairy tale for young children, but a young adult version that should please lovers of traditional poetry that rhymes. English teachers may find this version to be an intriguing introduction to poetry for their teenage pupils, who will no doubt love the purple passages and learn some new vocabulary in the process! British spelling has been deliberately preserved.

The Story: When Baron Beaumont marries a plump widow, seventeen years after the death of his first wife in childbirth, he discovers his new wife comes with some appalling baggage: two very ugly daughters who are immediately jealous of the Baron's beautiful daughter, Ella Beaumont. When Ella's father is sent to prison for a crime he did not commit, the ugly stepsisters Ermentrude and Agatha De Ville take full advantage of the situation. Ella is demoted to the role of kitchen maid and prevented from attending the Royal Ball held in June. King Louis is hosting the ball to allow his shy son, Ferdinand, to meet some pretty girls. After the ugly sisters have left for the palace with high hopes of meeting some rich lord, Ella has an amazing spiritual encounter and is given the lost key to her dead mother's bedroom, a room that had been locked for many years. After the unexpected arrival of her Aunt Althea, Ella is dressed for the ball and with the assistance of Althea's coach is delivered to the palace. There, Prince Ferdinand is captivated by her beauty and some very extraordinary things occur. Set in the later eighteenth century, prior to the French revolution, real and fictional events are intermingled in a lively and entertaining manner. A few guffaws and chuckles are quite in order!

Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 131 KB
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Brian Edward Hurst; First edition (April 22, 2010)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B003IWYFI0
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #501,608 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

More About the Author

BRIAN EDWARD HURST (1938 - )was born in Huntingdon,Cambridgeshire,UK. He won a scholarship to the London Guildhall School of Music & Drama, appeared in several stage productions, worked for The Law Society, traveled widely and taught English in a London school and also in Ahmedabad, India for 2 years. In 1980 he left England for California,where he attended California State College in San Bernardino. His work with the Spiritualist Movement in England was well-known and he continued his psychic demonstrations in California.His work with Doris Tate, mother of the murdered movie star Sharon Tate led him to work with Parents of Murdered Children and other bereavement groups. He appeared on a TV show "The Other Side" with Dr. Will Miller and in a Margaret Wendt Production "Beyond Death" where he was one of the featured mediums. He also had a favorable writeup in the Los Angeles Times Magazine. The TV show "Hard Copy" did not attack his work but credited him with real ability to communicate with deceased loved ones. His first novel "Some Go Haunting" went through 3 editions, the latest one having an extended final chapter with a different and more satisfying ending. His Autobiography "Heaven Can Help" tells of his struggles to find himself, his friendships and sittings with some outstanding physical and mental mediums, and his evaluation of his own contributions to psychic research.
As an internationally known 'sensitive' Brian Edward Hurst has received inspired spirit writings, some of which won first prize at California State College, San Bernardino in 1981. These have now been published as "Cinderella's Secret and other Classical Poems" Now officially retired, the author hopes to produce further works of interest and to continue with his artwork. During his very successful career as a medium, the author met thousands of people of every race, color and creed, earning their love and respect and a large following. "Heaven Can Help" has already sold hundreds of copies worldwide and the mystery thriller "Some Go Haunting" will (the author predicts) one day be turned into a successful movie.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Back to Basics, June 20, 2011

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T. Elmanovich "Tatyana Tanika" (Encino, California United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Cinderella's Secret and other Classical Poems by Brian Edward Hurst (Kindle Edition)

BACK TO BASICS! The $3 that I spent buying Cinderella's Secret and other Classical Poems by Brian Edward Hurst proved to be the best spent dollars ever!
It was fun to read the humorous period piece, but surprisingly contemporary poem, Cinderella's Secret, which could be described as a novel in verse. However, what followed was even better. I was deeply touched by Brian Hurst's collection of Classical Poems. I started reading them at a time when my head was exploding from financial, health and personal problems, and I was not sure that I would be able to concentrate on poetry. I was mistaken: the poems really soothed my worry and irritation. These poems are truly classical, beautiful, and have an enormous healing effect. While reading them I asked myself why was I always in such a hurry, running, worrying, in a non-stop effort to reshape my life, like trying to compete with God? I continued reading and when I had finished, I realized there was sun, heaven, life, death and eternity, and we are all part of this continually evolving cosmos. If we could only allow our awareness to listen to the distant sounds of a briefing universe, perhaps it would heal and cleanse our souls. Such is the power of poetry. And we are made to believe that we have no time for it! How stupid of us! Maybe, it is time to return to basics, and see poetry as one of God's healing tools.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great remake of a classic, May 6, 2010

By 

Robin Landry "Robin Landry, Author of "Wh... (Seatac, WA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Cinderella's Secret and other Classical Poems by Brian Edward Hurst (Kindle Edition)

Brian Edward Hurst has written a most unusual retelling of the Cinderella story, and he did it as a poem. Hurst says that he channeled the story, but however it came about, it's just brilliant. This new version of Cinderella, (her name is Ella) is so clever and makes so much sense. It really stretches the mind. Like the Wicked books, Hurst opens up the story giving it depth and realism making the characters come to life. I hope he keeps writing-channeling-whatever it takes to spin more classics into literary gold.
When I Dream