Customer Reviews

Robin

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

 

 

This is an interesting novel about a young girl, Robin, her romance with Donal and his loss during World War One. The book was published in 1922.
Robin is the neglected daughter of a beautiful but shallow widow. Her mother's protector, Lord Coombe, provides for a more caring living arrangement and Robin rarely sees her notorious mother, "the Lady downstairs".
Robin becomes the companion/secretary to a kind Duchess. She meets handsome soldier Donal, a former childhood companion, and they renew their friendship. Donal recognises Robin as his soulmate, they fall in love and are secretly married. Cruelly, young Donal is reported as dying in battle. Lord Coombe, the Duchess, and Robin's childhood nurse, Dowie, all work to save Robin from her overwhelming grief and despair.
This war romance has selfish mothers, gossiping neighbors, secret marriages, tragic deaths and a secluded pregnancy. What it doesn't have is a three dimensional hero and heroine.
Robin is childlike, utterly malleable, quietly loving and accepting. Donal is tall and brave and true. The Author tells the reader about Robin and Donal, there is very little dialogue or conversation that gives insight into the young lovers. They are the saintly casualties of a cruel war.
We learn more about Lord Coombe, loyal Dowie and the terrible death and destruction that result from World War One. The Author effectively creates the character's feelings of pride and resolve that gradually slide into despair and hopelessness at the loss of so many young soldiers.
The Author also mounts an explanation and defense of Spiritualism. Spiritualism eventually becomes as large a feature in the romance as Robin and Donal's courtship, and is integral to Robin's recovery from despair.
Not as entertaining as The Making of a Marchioness, but not bad.
Recommended.

'Robin' is a the conclusion of the story told, but only begun, in The Head Of The House Of Coombe. Read in the proper sequence, from beginning to end, this is a totally unique, engrossing tale. Be prepared for being taken on an emotional roller coaster ride reaching new plateaus of joy and anguish. Having now read several of her books, Francis Hodgson Burnett has fast become a favorite author of mine. You will not be disappointed in the story, but remember, start with The Head Of The House Of Coombe.

"Robin", by Frances Hodgson Burnett is a lovely slightly gothic romance with many of the bells and whistles that the author is known for: dreams, miracles, other-wordly stuff that we are so familiar with in "Secret Garden". However, I DO NOT recommend this paperback edition. It's over-priced and it's only the first of two volumes. Save your money. Buy "Robin" second hand or take it out of your library. Unless you need to read jumbo print, this is a silly investment for a paperback.

Set in England in the early 1900s, Robin is a little girl who only knows her mother by sight. Robin is raised by nurses and governesses. When she was five years old, she meets Donal in the park and they play together. When she is in her late teens, kind friends find her a position as a companion, secretary to a kindly Duchess. Robin meets Donal at a party and they fall in love. Donal then enlists in the army and goes to war. When he is reported dead, Robin is discovered to be expecting. Robin's friends take care of her until the baby is born.