Customer Reviews

The Miracle at St. Bruno's

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This is a historical novel about the people and their lives during the reign of Henry VIII. Damask Farland grows up in an aristocratic home near St. Brunos abbey. St. Bruno's abbey has a child within its walls who is considered a miracle because he mysteriously appears at Christmas in the manger scene. Damask and her cousion Kate become friends with Bruno, the miracle child of the Abbey. Their lives are all touched by the violent upheavals of the court of Henry VIII. Damask tells the story of her family and her connection to St. Bruno's abbey and to the miracle child, Bruno. This is not a bad historical but I have read better. I did enjoy reading about the history of Henry VIII and how the people of England fared during his reign.

This is the first novel of the all time popular "Cornwall Saga" written by Philippa Carr (Who is also Victoria Holt.)

As always ,her attention to the detail of historical facts is, in my opinion, matchless. The data is not only superbly correct from a historical standpoint but she can somehow make the most minute fact seem of interest. Characters, whether kings, queens or peasants come to life as real people, not simply historical icons.

The heroine's name is Damask Farland and her name itself is even a tie to the historical period. She was named after the damask rose, brought to England by King Henry's doctor. It would be completely plausible that creative parents would choose it as a name. It's these tiny details that make the book real. When I read it I am not reading ABOUT a period of time. I am BACK there.

The pulsing question underneath all the excellent historical entertainment is; Will Damask find love and come to some peace in her life? Or is it even possible to find happiness in such a turbulent time in history? Readers will not find a typical answer, OR a typical ending.

Richly entertaining with believable, lovable (and sinister) characters! MANY a twist and turn to carry you along.

I started reading Victoria Holt novels some 30+ years ago and instantly liked her style.

"Lord of the Far Island", "Mistress of Mellyn", "Bride of Pendorric" and "Devil on Horseback" were similarly satisfying reads, but for me the "Daughters of England" series of books (ca. 20 volumes) is unsurpassed. Victoria Holt wrote "Daughters of England" under her Philippa Carr pseudonym. Volume one (Miracle at St. Bruno's) starts in the 1500's (the closing of the monasteries) and follows the same family through many generations into the 20th century. The first 5 or 6 sequels are especially good and unpredictable!

The narrator for this book is Damask Farland, daughter of a prosperous attorney during the reign of Henry VIII. Damask has grown up around the legend of the Miracle of St. Bruno's abbey, that of a lost child found in a crib on Christmas Eve. The child was named Bruno after the abbey and brought prosperity and wealth to the abbey - that is until King Henry starts hankering for Anne Boleyn. During the destruction of the abbey Bruno's real parentage is revealed, and since it's one he can't accept he high tails it out of town for a few years, but when he does return his fortunes have significantly improved, although no one knows the source of his great wealth.

Anywho, there's a marriage and a few deep dark secrets, but it takes years and years of endless exposition from Damask to get the reader to the big reveal on the last few pages and by then I was so darned weary of it all I really didn't care much. Part of the problem is that today's readers are fairly up to snuff with Henry VIII and his six wives, and the last thing one needs is another recital of it all, particularly from a character who is stuck in the countryside raising children and gets it all second hand. I suspect this might appeal better to younger teens or die-hard fans of Carr who also wrote at Jean Plaidy and Victoria Holt, but for anyone else I'd suggest giving this a miss.