Customer Reviews

DEVIL WATER

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Anya Seton crafts a completely believable and utterly compelling portrait of life, love, and death in 18th century England and the Virginia colonies. Jacobite intrigues on behalf of the exiled Stuart dynasty catch many characters in a web of blood, and Seton's descriptions of imprisonment in Newgate gaol and the Tower are breathtaking in their detail and horror. This is grim stuff for a historical novel, but there is also a poignant love story that lights the darker passages. Based on true events, much like Seton's equally gripping "Green Darkness" (Tudor England) and "Avalon" (Dark Ages England and Iceland), this tale of the doomed Radcliffes of Northumberland will leave a lasting impression. Don't miss it. Why this beautiful book is out of print when the stores are so full of hackwork is a mystery to me.

This best selling novel by Anya Seton showcases her at her best. A master storyteller, she weaves a spellbinding work of historical fiction about the Catholic Radcliffe family. It tells the tale of James Ratcliffe, the Earl of Derwentwater, and his younger brother, Charles, first cousins on the wrong side of the blanket to exiled James Stuart, Catholic son of the deposed King James II of England, who had seen his crown usurped by his Protestant daughter Mary and her husband William, the Prince of Orange.

By right, James Stuart should have been King James III of England. He would see his crown usurped by Mary's sister, his own half-sister, the Protestant Anne. In aligning themselves with the cause of the Catholic Stuarts, James and Charles Radcliffe would become involved in a Jacobite rebellion that was to color and change their lives and the lives of those whom they loved.

The book also focuses on an early misalliance that Charles would have in Northern England that would give him the love of his life, his daughter Jenny. The lives of Charles Radcliffe and Jenny are artfully drawn, taking the reader through two Jacobite rebellions and the political wheeling and dealing that such engendered. The impact that these political intrigues would have upon their lives is well drawn, as is life in early eighteenth century England with all of its grandeur, cruelty, and class distinctions.

The author also takes the reader on a trip to the plantation wilderness of the early colony of Virginia in the New World. It was in Virginia that Jenny would seek refuge from the political quagmire that was England and search for Rob, the man whom she loved who had been transported for something he had done in service of her. It was in Virginia that Jenny would find great happiness, as well as great sorrow, only to discover that to show loyalty to her father she would have to make one final, heartbreaking journey to England.

Based upon actual historical events, the book is a beautifully drawn portrait of early eighteenth century England, as well as the colony of Virginia. Vividly descriptive and replete with the politics and well-known personages of the day, it details the struggle of the Stuart Dynasty to try to regain the throne of England through a number of ill-fated uprisings that were to impact greatly on any number of families, including the prominent Radcliffes. It is a rip-roaring good read and historical fiction at its finest.

"Devil Water" by Anya Seton will capture your heart and interest. A haunting tale of the doomed Stuarts of eighteenth century England and the two failed Stuart rebellions, this writer has convincingly captured the character of Charles Radcliffe, a charming, dashing hero who is destined to never love any woman truly, but shows undying love and loyalty to his brother, James, the Earl of Derwentwater, and his daughter, Jenny. A gypsy forsees the death and disaster ahead, but Charles brushes aside the warning. Two loving and loyal women love Charles, but he fails them both. Tragedy seeps through the pages like the fear which is synonymous with the devil's water. If it were to be made into a movie, Brad Pitt would have to play Charles Radcliffe. Don't miss this perfect book.

I am so pleased that this author's novels are being reprinted, I have thoroughly enjoyed each and every one of them, especially Katherine. This is a fascinating tale, based upon the Radcliffs of Derentwater (Devil Water), staunch catholics and loyal to the Stuart cause, and descended from Charles II via the wrong side of the blanket. Charles Radcliff, the younger brother has a secret marriage to a lower born woman who gives birth to the love of his life, his daughter Jenny.

The story takes you from the moors of Northumberland to the Jacobite rebellion of '15 to the tobacco farms of Virginia, and back again to London for a nail biting finish after the final Jacobite rebellion and the battle at Culloden. Seton has a wonderful way of setting her scenes so that you can almost feel you are right there with it. I also enjoyed her way of writing different dialects (the Northumbrians, and the Virginia "twangs"), which definitely enhance the reading experience.

All in all a highly entertaining read, and one I will pick up again and again over the years. It's not quite up to the same par as Katherine (that's a 10 star book in my rating) or the Winthrop Woman but definitely worth the time, especially for any lover of historical fiction.

If romantic historical fiction is your thing, this book is for you. Ms. Seton is incapable of boring anyone. There's a lot of history here but it's important to know that there were two errors discovered. The author states that Dr. John Radcliffe attempted to help Charles Radclyffe who had been condemned to death. Dr. Radcliffe died one year before the arrest of Charles. She also states that Jenny, illegitimate daughter of Charles emigrated to Virginia to be with Rob Wilson and they had a plantation named Snowden/Snowdon. The property referred to was purchased from the Indians by Thomas Jefferson's father. No white person had ever lived there or owned it. So it must be assumed that both Jenny and Rob were "made-up" characters to assist the writer in making the book more exciting. A great deal of research went into discovering these errors but I am not disappointed. It's still a fine book and as I recall was on the best seller lists, justifiably.

Anya Seton has developed the sad story of the Stuart uprising superbly. This is not the first book I've read about this era and the Stuarts, but it is certainly one of the best. I especially enjoyed the Colonial America namedropping and would like to research these characters. If you like historical fiction, Anya Seton excels. I'm sure I'll go on and read her again.

It's unfortunate that this title is no longer in print because it's easy to see why it was a best-seller. Anya Seton again brings the past to life in her story about the Radcliffe family during the Jacobite movement in England and Scotland. Brothers James and Charles participate in the rebellion, knowing that they risk their wealth, property, titles and even their lives in support of the exiled James Stuart, whom the Jacobites believe the rightful king of England. Eventually, with James Radcliffe having been executed and Charles himself in exile, the Radcliffes move to the background and the book focuses on Charles' daughter Jenny.

Seton's characters are not always likeable -- at one of the book's climaxes, Jenny's husband Rob Wilson seems to completely step out of character and I wanted to strangle him! -- but that doesn't stop the reader from becoming completely engrossed, sucked into this turbulent time in England's history. Before reading Devil Water, I had only the vaguest notion of what the Jacobites were about, and now I can't help but wonder how history would have been different had James Stuart managed to secure the English throne.

To begin with, I want to say that this is my first Seton novel, and the only reason I took it up is because I adore all things Jacobite. At first I was skeptical, as I'm usually weary of novels which have garnered a surreal amount of praise- an odd disposition, I realize. But this was really quite impressive. The characters are very endearing, from Charles (who was somewhat of an acquired taste for me, I have to say) and his ill-fated brother James (who was my favorite from the beginning) to Charles's daughter Jenny (who I wanted to bash over the head with a frying pan at times, but Seton still managed to make me like her anyways- an impressive feat in itself). I was amazed at the way Seton managed to take the historical figures in her novel and turn them into wholly believable novel-characters. Usually, if I give a bad review, it's because the characters are poorly developed, but even I couldn't find fault with Seton's master development.

The story itself is very touching- and I don't really think that this can be qualified as a romance novel, per se. It's really about Charles and Jenny, and the strong paternal love Charles has for his daughter, despite the fact that he has come to dislike (and even perhaps condescend upon) Jenny's mother and her Snowdon relations. It's also about the rift that these two very different bloodlines cause in Jenny, who sometimes lapses back into her low-born Northern dialect, and at other times toasts to the would-be King James like any proud Radcliffe would. With Rob and Charles seeming to pull her two different ways, Jenny has a bit of a struggle feeling truly rooted to anything. And I feel that this is the main conflict of DEVIL WATER. So, really, it's not a romance. If it had been, I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it as much, because I found the passages about Jenny and Rob to be the least interesting part of the story. Also, [SPOILER WARNING] I didn't approve of their reconciliation in the end, especially after what he did to her when she told him she was going to join her father. Abuse is not something that should be forgiven so lightly, if at all. And I also kept thinking that Rob was being rather petty (and, again, abusive), having jealousies over Jenny's relationship with her own father. He's probably my least favorite character in this story, and that being said, my point is that I'm glad this wasn't a romance novel. [/SPOILERS]

Also, that part about the Duke of Wharton? Correct me if I'm wrong, but that is fabricated, right? I know he had a Hell-Fire club, but there's really nothing to suggest that anything cruel took place during their meetings. I feel that might have been an injustice to him, although this is historical fiction and I realize the author has a right to take certain liberties with her characters. But still.

Overall, this book was an unexpected pleasure to read. It is very different than anything I've ever read, and I've rarely felt quite so attached to the characters of a novel before. A very good read, and very recommended.

A great tale of history that directly impacted the colonialization of American shores. While this is not Anya Seton's strongest writing, it is a compelling story of real people caught up in horrific times compelled by religious fervor to commit brave, heroic, and perhaps foolhardy acts. While Charles Radclyffe seems to be the "hero" of the story and takes up most of the pages, the secondary character who appealed most to me was his brother James, 2nd Earl of Derwintwater. Charles more or less escapes his come-uppances throughout life, and James pays the price for him until the very end.

This best selling novel by Anya Seton showcases her at her best. A master storyteller, she weaves a spellbinding work of historical fiction about the Catholic Radcliffe family. It tells the tale of James Ratcliffe, the Earl of Derwentwater, and his younger brother, Charles, first cousins on the wrong side of the blanket to exiled James Stuart, Catholic son of the deposed King James II of England, who had seen his crown usurped by his Protestant daughter Mary and her husband William, the Prince of Orange.

By right, James Stuart should have been King James III of England. He would see his crown usurped by Mary's sister, his own half-sister, the Protestant Anne. In aligning themselves with the cause of the Catholic Stuarts, James and Charles Radcliffe would become involved in a Jacobite rebellion that was to color and change their lives and the lives of those whom they loved.

The book also focuses on an early misalliance that Charles would have in Northern England that would give him the love of his life, his daughter Jenny. The lives of Charles Radcliffe and Jenny are artfully drawn, taking the reader through two Jacobite rebellions and the political wheeling and dealing that such engendered. The impact that these political intrigues would have upon their lives is well drawn, as is life in early eighteenth century England with all of its grandeur, cruelty, and class distinctions.

The author also takes the reader on a trip to the plantation wilderness of the early colony of Virginia in the New World. It was in Virginia that Jenny would seek refuge from the political quagmire that was England and search for Rob, the man whom she loved who had been transported for something he had done in service of her. It was in Virginia that Jenny would find great happiness, as well as great sorrow, only to discover that to show loyalty to her father she would have to make one final, heartbreaking journey to England.

Based upon actual historical events, the book is a beautifully drawn portrait of early eighteenth century England, as well as the colony of Virginia. Vividly descriptive and replete with the politics and well-known personages of the day, it details the struggle of the Stuart Dynasty to try to regain the throne of England through a number of ill-fated uprisings that were to impact greatly on any number of families, including the prominent Radcliffes. It is a rip-roaring good read and historical fiction at its finest.