The Morning Gift [Paperback]

Eva Ibbotson (Author)

Book Description

Release date: September 6, 2007

Twenty-year-old Ruth Berger is desperate. The daughter of a Jewish-Austrian professor, she was supposed to have escaped Vienna before the Nazis marched into the city. Yet the plan went completely wrong, and while her family and fiancé are waiting for her in safety, Ruth is stuck in Vienna with no way to escape. Then she encounters her father’s younger college professor, the dashing British paleontologist Quin Sommerville. Together, they strike a bargain: a marriage of convenience, to be annulled as soon as they return to safety. But dissolving the marriage proves to be more difficult than either of them thought—not the least because of the undeniable attraction Quin and Ruth share. To make matters worse, Ruth is enrolled in Quin’s university, in his very classes. Can their secret survive, or will circumstances destroy their love?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The grim political problems of Europe before and during World War II set in motion the plot of this upbeat, gently humorous romance, but such grave matters are soon left behind so the author of Madensky Square can spin a predictable but engaging story of love denied, then finally triumphant. As the Nazis march into Vienna, British paleontologist Quinton Somerville decides to save 20-year-old Ruth Berger, daughter of his Jewish-Austrian colleague, by marrying her and whisking her off to England, where the couple plan to obtain a quick annulment. Naturally, complications delay the dissolution of their marriage, so Ruth enrolls in London's Thameside College, where Quin is a highly sought-after professor. Indeed, wealthy, aristocratic Verena Plackett has set her cap for him. Ibbotson's spirited novel features atmospheric locales--Budapest, Vienna and the Somerville estate in Northumbria among them--and a colorful supporting cast of European refugees whose eccentric behavior mystifies their upper-class British sponsors.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

In this novel, Ibbotson ( Magic Flutes , St. Martin's, 1984, and A Glove Shop in Vienna , LJ 1/92, among others) offers an engaging love story set in pre-World War II Europe. Ruth, a vibrant, passionate young woman, is separated from her family when Hitler enters Austria. She marries Quin, a longtime family friend, in order to flee Vienna, intending to have a quick annulment once they reach England. However, neither has counted on the growing attraction to each other. Writing with humor and intelligence about this rocky relationship, Ibbotson creates a cast of charming characters. Readers will find Ruth a delight and applaud her awakening as a woman. This well-written romance will be welcome in popular fiction collections.
- Barbara E. Kemp, Library Consultant, Reston, Va.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Speak; Reprint edition (September 6, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0142409111
• ISBN-13: 978-0142409114
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #315,959 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 41 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautifully told story September 22, 2007

By Janeifer Drew

Format:Paperback

Ruth Berger lives in Austria during the onset of Nazi-takeover. Because she is Jewish, thought not orthodox, she and her family decide to flee to England. Ruth goes ahead of her family, but is unable to leave Austria, unbeknownst to her family who have successfully arrived in England.

Alone and bewildered, separated from family and fiance, Ruth meets her father's friend and colleague, Quin Sommerville, a British paleontologist. He feels sorry for Ruth, and suggests a civil wedding as the solution to their problems. By marrying Quin, Ruth will become an English citizen, and so be able to leave Austria. They agree that the marriage will be annulled as soon as they reach England. There are no feelings between them: just pity on Quin's part and dependency on Ruth's part. Of course. The annulment is not as easily gained as Quin had planned, and there is an added difficulty in the appearance of Ruth's fiance and Quin's would-be-soul-mate.

Ruth is a sweet character, but a little too consciously naive. I was able to overlook it because her faults reminded me that she is human, like everyone else. The front cover is a bit incongruous, because Ruth's musical talent (if it can be called such) is not a big part of the story.

Ms. Ibbotson's writing is excellent. She writes with humor and a great deal of intelligence. She is capable of writing of music, literature, history, paleontology and whatever else comes up. Not only does she speak of such things, she proves that she actually knows what she is talking about! There are musical and literature references throughout, but any ignorance the reader might have on those subjects will not affect the comprehension of the story. This is a lovely romance, and I highly recommend it.

I was not very impressed with the publishers. As with the other recent re-prints of Eva Ibbotson's books by Speak (A Song for Summer, The Countess Below Stairs, A Company of Swans), there are numerous typos that I hardly think were Ms. Ibbotson's. Not to mention erroneous summaries on the back covers (especially in the case of A Song for Summer).
However, this did not detract from my enjoyment of The Morning Gift, or any of the other aforementioned books.

Lastly, amazon states that the age group is 9-12. Not so. This is intended for adult readers, though perfectly acceptable for young adult as well. There is enough sexual content (though very little and mostly implied or behind closed doors) to make it unsuitable for ages 9-12.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Sweet romance though somewhat tedious October 26, 2011

By E. Raye

Format:Paperback

The story started off well and I became interested in the characters right away. The writing itself is excellent, with a lot of knowledge and references on a variety of subjects. However, towards the middle, Ruth, our young female protagonist, started to grate a bit on my nerves and the story stalled, becoming tedious and too drawn out. It picked up the pace again but unfortunately the misunderstanding between the characters which causes them to separate is...obnoxious. I was annoyed that Ruth jumped to such a sudden and silly conclusion, never allowing a chance for explanation or common sense to stop her head long rush into rash decisions. I don't want to give away what the misunderstanding is about, but let's just say it highlighted Ruth's immaturity and reminded me why I had begun to grow tired of her. Also, the book does not have adventure or action at all, which I thought it would. It is entirely a romance, maybe a drama. Even the possible suspenseful scenes, which would have illustrated the Nazi's reign of terror more adequately, are told after the facts. Such as Ruth being forcibly stopped and removed from her train in the beginning. We never see this encounter, are only told of it in passing terms. The refuge's living conditions are explained well but the deeper fear and uncertainty of their situation (and the cause of their situation) comes across somewhat superficially. I guess I expected more intensity, more action in this story since it had such potential for it. However, it was still a sweet romance with some solid writing.

Some reviewers have noted that this book is not for young adults and that it is definitely an adult novel. I don't agree with that assessment. There is no violence, little if no language, and very limited sexual content (what there is is implied not described). The writing could be mature (the references to philosophers, etc) but nothing that a teenager couldn't decipher (they should know who the personalities, such as Freud and Mozart, are anyway). I would feel entirely comfortable with a high school student reading this. They might even learn something from it.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Marriage of Convenience Story with a Difference May 1, 2009

By A. Woodley

Format:Paperback

Ruth Berger, happy and contented only child of a professor and his wife. Jewish and living in Austria prior to World War II. The extended family meet, briefly Quinn Somerville, a brilliant Archaeologist from Britain who comes and stays for a short time. Just prior to the outbreak of the war he returns at the Professors request to receive an honorary degree from the university. However the Nazi's have taken over and the professor and his wife have fled - forced to abandon virtually everything they own.

The don't realise they have also left behind Ruth, their teenage daughter who was supposed to leave on a student visa only was stopped at the border. Quinn discovers Ruth and realises he can't simply abandon her in the city where violence against Jews is rising. However there is no way to get her out except by marriage. Which they do - a marriage of convenience which he assures her will be anulled as soon as they arrive in Britain. After all, she has her own true love, a young concert pianist, and he has his work.

However annulling the marriage is not that easy - if it is annulled before she is confirmed as a resident she could be deported. And they must not ever see each other either, or that could complicate the divorce. All this must be secret from his family too. Ruth would be only to happy to do this - except due to circumstances she has been accepted to attend the university Quinn teaches at - and she is in his classes, after all fossils are her interest too.

The university is being run by an unpleasant man and his family - including an ambitious wife and her bright daughter. Their dislike of Ruth is obvious - not only as a competitor in intelligence to their daughter, but because she is Jewish.

No matter what Quinn or Ruth do they cannot seem to rid themselves of each other, and it is a wonderful moment when Ruth goes to talk to the detested Freudian psychologist downstairs.

This was a great read. As with all Eva Ibbotson books it is full of twists and turns where intertwined characters are drawn into the plot, not simply as plot devices but characters in their own right = with their own stories to tell - Quinn's Aunt, the Basher (who was quinn's father) and the various Vienese refugees.

Eva Ibbotson seems to specialise in their stories of European displacement to London, but she does it especially well.

The only part I found difficult was the 'Morning Gift' misunderstanding. It wasn't convincing as to why Ruth rejected Quinn, and the plot device of having her run off and then find the Aunt felt forced. However those peices aside didn't affect for me the story as a whole

Ibbotson invests her tales with detail, fey charm and immense good humour. They are thoroughly enjoyable.