Customer Reviews

Fairer Than She

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This is an entertaining Romance/Suspense novel. Originally published in 1953, issued in paperback as a Gothic Romance in the late '60's and then re-issued in the 1970's. That's quite a bit of staying power.
The story concerns Yasmin Taverton and her experiences in an insular, snobbish English Village. Her reserved father is the new village schoolmaster. Village Society is led by the wealthy, aristocratic Liscombe family.
Yasmin meets the ne'er-do-well, rakish Edward, Lord Liscombe at the Liscombe House New Year's Eve Party. Edward is fascinated by Yasmin, but mistrusts her transparent honesty.
Yasmin has a weak heart and has always had to observe life while others around her enjoyed life without limitations. Edward is the first man to treat her as a woman and not a fragile child.
Yasmin has a special ability, all her life she has experienced flashes of intuition, clairvoyant glimpses into the lives of the people around her. She sees that there is more to Edward than the various sordid tales of his misadventures. For some reason he encourages the false gossip.
Edward is living a double life. The discovery of his true character and motivations makes this a really interesting and involved novel of suspense/romance.
The story includes the three dimensional characters of the two concerned families of the protaganists. It is realistic in the harmful situations that arise out of a family's desire to "protect" a loved one.
This is a great story, the protaganists are individuals with flaws, the suspense plot is tense, the romance is honest and realistic and the dialogue is revealing of character. Flawless.
Recommended.

Fairer Than She is a treasure from my past - and how delightful to find that there is someone one else fortunate enough to have a copy as well. This is such an enchanting book that I've kept it since 1968, and reread again and again. The two protagonists are splendidly drawn by a gifted writer, whose extensive command of the English language is effortless and unaffected. If you are ever lucky enough to find a copy, and you enjoy peeking into a slice of post-war English life, with a very well written and encorporated mystery, then this is absolutely the book for you. It is highly recommended.