A Distant Hero [Hardcover]

Emma Drummond (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1997

In the second part of the Knightshill saga, Sir Gilliard's determination to continue the distinguished family line remains unshaken despite the interruptions of the Boer War and conflicts with his grandsons.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The Boer War competes for readers' attention with the more intimate psychological battles of the Ashleigh family in Drummond's sequel to A Question of Honour. Autocratic patriarch General Sir Gilliard Ashleigh ignores or deprecates his four remaining grandchildren while canonizing his lost heir, purported to have died a hero's death at Khartoum on his way to rescue General Gordon. The next eldest, Vere, an orchid-growing warrior-aesthete, wins fame both for his bravery on the battlefield and for his painting, but Vere's romantic temperament earns only his grandfather's scorn. The other three--brave young Valentine, accused unjustly of rape; passionate Margaret, who runs off with an Italian diplomat; loving Charlotte, who overcomes social prejudice and her shame over a deformed leg to marry a common man--fail to gain the old man's approval. Well-observed family dynamics, excellent pacing and effective changes of viewpoint characterize this chronicle of England's officer caste at the turn-of-the-century. Despite bits of purple prose and a few pat outcomes, this book should charm Drummond's growing readership.

Copyright 1997 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Fans of Drummond may be delighted to see this sequel to A Question of Honour (LJ 7/92), but they will ultimately be disappointed by the cardboard characters who move stiffly through the story. The Ashleighs were a proud line of men with noble military backgrounds, but the current generation is not concerned with embellishing the family's military legend. Sir Gilliard, the patriarch, is appalled. His grandson Vorne is dead; Vere, heir apparent, is an artist; and Valentine disgraced the family altogether, first with an affair and then by joining the cavalry under an assumed name. His granddaughters have little to recommend them either. The maligned grandchildren try desperately to find happiness under the thumb of the embittered old man. Unfortunately, very little actually happens in this book. The lives of the grandchildren unfold before us, but actions and emotions are thrust on us without a frame of reference. The writing is stilted in many places, marred by choppy descriptions and dialog. Libraries can pass on this except where Drummond's other books are popular.?Jodi L. Israel, Norwood, Mass.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 424 pages
• Publisher: St Martins Pr (December 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312171773
• ISBN-13: 978-0312171773
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.8 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #326,852 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dynamic historical family saga, November 13, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: A Distant Hero (Hardcover)

As the twentieth century is about to begin, family patriarch Sir Gilliard Asleigh, makes it abundantly clear that he loathes his four surviving grandchildren. In the mind of their martinet grandfather, they cannot live up to the legendary ghost of their now deceased oldest brother, who allegedly died while attempting to rescue General Gordon at Khartoum.

Nothing any of the four siblings do ever satisfies the senior citizen. The eldest living member of the foursome, Vere, duplicates his older brother by his valor on the battlefield. However, he mistakenly survives the mission in the Suden, refuses to rejoin a regiment, and turns to art leaves him (as usual) disappointing Gilliard. Valentine is in utter disgrace because he has been unfairly accused of rape. Margaret simply runs away with her Italian lover. Finally, imperfect Charlotte abused over a deformed leg) marries a commoner. Failure is all the patriarch sees for posterity.

A DISTANT HERO is a dynamic turn of the century family drama filled with superb characterizations that bring alive the strict social class system of England. The sequel to A QUESTION OF HONOUR is a top rate that will bring plenty of new fans beating to the drum of Emma Drummond.

Harriet Klausner