The Sparks Fly Upward (Makepeace Hedley) [Kindle Edition]

Diana Norman (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A new novel of love and courage in a time of war, from the author of A Catch of Consequence and Taking Liberties.

Few of those Philippa loves in London return her affection. Not the love of her life, who has a new bride. Not even her widowed mother, Makepeace Burke. So Philippa decides on a marriage of convenience to a prudish, if kind, man.

Across the Channel in France, the Reign of Terror is causing the beheading of thousands from the French nobility. Among those in danger is Philippa's friend, the Marquis de Condorcet. Not only has Philippa the means of rescuing him from the guillotine, she's got the courage. And as fate would have it, Philippa will find love where she least expects it-while staring death in the face.

About the Author

At twenty, Diana Norman became the youngest reporter on London's Fleet Street. Since retiring from journalism, she has taken up writing biographies and historical novels. She is married to a film critic and together they have two daughters.

Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 612 KB
• Print Length: 436 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0425211584
• Publisher: Berkley (September 5, 2006)
• Sold by: Penguin Publishing
• Language: English
• ASIN: B001NJA8UY
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #146,134 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars My Favorite In This Trilogy, October 10, 2008

By 

Barb Mechalke (in the lovely Finger Lakes Region of Upstate New York) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Sparks Fly Upward (Makepeace Hedley) (Mass Market Paperback)

I've read all three of the books in Diana Norman's historical trilogy. I did like the first two but I thought this was a much more satisfying read.

While this book focuses on the same themes as the other two; freedom, abolition and suffrage, the depiction of these issues was much more dramatic in this story.

We return to find Makepeace Burke and her always eventful life in England welcoming home her brother, the famous actor Aaron Burke and his theatre troupe, including Sir Michael Murrough, an Irishman.

Makepeace's eldest daughter Philippa Dapifer has just announced her betrothal to Stephan Heilbron, a man she's sure she doesn't love. The man she does love is married to someone else.

In France the Reign of Terror is beheading thousands, among those in hiding is an old friend of Philippa's, the Marquis de Condorcet. Philippa impetuously decides to save him from a certain death herself and travels to France directly into the chaos, betrayal and fear of the Reign of Terror.

There are a lot of historical reference that I didn't grasp that someone who is familiar with this period in time would better understand. But Norman vividly conveys the incredible fear and uncertainty that people endured during this period regardless of the specific names of the perpetrators and their politics.

I really enjoyed the two stories that simultaneously unfold in England and France and I thoroughly enjoyed the ending.

I think that this book would be satisfying as a stand alone book though it's certainly much richer when you understand the history of the characters. And if Diana Norman writes another, which I hope she does, I will certainly read it.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Continuing Good Yarn..., January 10, 2007

By 

Historical Fiction Fan - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Sparks Fly Upward (Makepeace Hedley) (Mass Market Paperback)

Diana Norman spins a great novel around historical events. The perspectives on time/place/events are appreciated as they enhance intriguing stories of life. I hope she keeps up the series!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Sparks Fly Upward, September 28, 2009

By 

Catherine B. Harris "Porch Owl" (Tucson, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Sparks Fly Upward (Makepeace Hedley) (Paperback)

Diana Norman is such a good writer. The Sparks Fly Upward is the third in a trilogy of interesting characters, set in historical periods of interest to many. Ms Norman actually uses the English language in her writing, I keep my dictionary at hand. Her characters develop, evolve. I plan to read any of her writings I can get my hands on!
So if you enjoy historical novels, Diana Norman's books will entertain you in style.