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188 of 237 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
An almost brilliant study of an abusive relationship, October 16, 2001
By A Customer
Judith McNaught has created a story of an abusive relationship that could have been taken from a psychology textbook (minus the sometimes romanticism). Whitney , an attractive teenager feels like an ugly duckling although she simply is not fully developed, and her aunt who has come to England to take Whitney to Paris sees her possibilities at once. Brought up by a cold and unfeeling father who had wanted a son, Whitney was never able to fulfil his expectations. She therefore developed a deep minority complex. Consequently she falls in love with Paul who has never showed any interest in her and only sees her deficits - exactly like her father. That sets up the pattern of her future relationships. Whitney unconsciously thinks herself unworthy to be loved, yet like every human being yearns to be loved. When she comes to Paris, blossoming in to a sophisticated and witty young lady, she meets Nicolas DuVille who would be the love of her life in a real romance. He has all the attributes of a regency hero. He is handsome, aristocratic, rich, urbane and sophisticated. Furthermore he is warm-hearted and caring. When Whitney has her debut, he sees that she gets a good start, and provides her with dancers by asking his friends for a favour. He deeply falls in love with Whitney, but never presses his love on her. He patiently waits for years, and offers her friendship instead of the love he would like to give her. But Whitney is unable to respond to true love which comes without abuse. Finally she finds her true match (although not her true love) in Clayton, Duke of Westmoreland. Just like her he thinks himself unworthy of love (although the book never gives a reason for that). Unable to approach Whitney openly for fear of being rejected by her ( a fear that never bothered the far more self-confident and mature Nicolas)he makes his first move at a masquerade (!) where he doesn't have to show his face or reveal his identity to her. The first encounter is a fiasco. The insecure duke therefore prefers to gain Whitney in an underhanded scheme buying her like a horse from her father. He approaches Whitney again, still hiding behind an emotional mask, not giving away his identity, and not revealing the business-like way he acquired her. The way he makes advances to her is typical. Emotionally to insecure to show his feelings for her, he prefers to sexually harass her. But this is exactly the sort of treatment Whitney is able to respond to. She fights her feelings in the beginning, but she fights an already lost battle. In one of her early encounters with the duke, he beats her up after a quarrel (in an earlier and far more consequent version of the book) and makes amorous advances to her after that.. Her destiny is now sealed. This is the ongoing tune of their relationship: The carrot or the stick. The abusive and dominating behaviour of the duke slowly destroys the spunk and feistiness of Whitney which signified her in the beginning. The hurting culminates when the duke who is mad with jealousy hauls away Whitney from a party to brutally rape her, then stops at last, but only to emotionally blackmail her to submitting to violent and painful sex which he uses as a means to punish her (which is even worse then ordinary rape). He shows all the traces of a borderline personality. Othello must have been one of his ancestors. But it doesn't need a cunning Iago to put Clayton into a cruel fit of rage. The grossest lie delivered by an archenemy of Whitney (something Clayton was fully aware of) will do nicely. After that he eases his bad conscience by sending a cheque and breaking of the engagement, unable to really face his behaviour. That's the coward's way out, but nobody seems to notice that, least of all the duke himself. After an arranged meeting Whitney doesn't believe the duke's declaration of love, and he doesn't show any patience with her plight (not accepting it as a part of his richly deserved comeuppance), but treats her with cold indifference instead. He doesn't need much time to come to terms with himself and detracts himself by pursuing another woman, only a few weeks after that fateful night. When Whitney learns about that, she practically throws herself at his feet. This is one of the saddest scenes in the book because it shows the full impact of the damage that his been done to Whitney in her childhood. Again having refused the faithful and loving Nicolas (he hasn't devoted himself to another woman in the meantime!), she loves the duke even more dearly for what he has done to her. But his is not the end of Whitney's self-inflicted torment. After they have married, they don't live happily ever after. The whole hurting and abuse starts all over again after Whitney has got pregnant. Due to a relatively harmless incident the duke concludes at once that Whitney has betrayed him shortly after he had brutally deprived her of her virginity (!). He makes plans to cruelly revenge himself on her by letting her love her child for one year and then take away the child from her. This sadism left me speechless. After a while he sees the errors of his ways, but is unable to reflect his real problem which remains still unsolved. He comes back to Whitney who awaits him with open arms. This is the end of this depressingly real sadomasochistic story which holds all the fascination of a bloody train accident. And this book is considered to be a romantic classic. A lot of women seem to be stuck in similar abusive patterns which I find quite alarming. As a dark tale of subjugation and emotional and physical abuse I would give it a five-stars review. As a romantic love story I can only give but one star.
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64 of 79 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Judith McNaught utterly shines!, December 1, 2002
Judith McNaught utterly shines in this spectacular debut novel that launched her career. WHITNEY, MY LOVE was a delight from start to finish. Never having read the original version of this book, I read the glorious 708 page extended version without ever taking a break. Emerging my self from a blurry-eyed dream that is this novel, I'm pleased to say this classic lives up to it's reputation. Whitney Stone, a young and impetuous girl believes herself in love with Paul, the recipient of all her youthful feelings and dreams. Her disapproving father deems her behavior inappropriate and she finds herself sent to France with her beloved Aunt and Uncle. These she is allowed to bloom into the beautiful, unique women she is. She finds herself groomed into a lady and becomes the toast of Paris. As she perfects her arts as a lady she deems it time to return home to win the heart of Paul, her childhood sweetheart. Unbeknownst to her, her father has betrothed her to Clayton Westmoreland, the Duke of Claymore. Her father's uncontrollable debts have wiped out her inheritance and her dowry and the Duke is the answer to his financial difficult. Whitney, however, wants nothing to do with the Clayton and pursues Paul and finally wins his heart. From there, you'll have to read the story yourself! There is a disturbing scene in this book that is often times discussed. I'll leave the reader to draw his or her own conclusions and opinions on it. I, however, found this to be a powerful story and enjoyed it immensely. I'm certain I will not forget the names Whitney or Clayton Westmoreland and they will continue to burn in my mind as one of the more stormy and passionate couples I have ever read about it. One might draw parallels to GONE WITH THE WIND and this novel, However where Scarlet O'Hara does not realize her love for Rhett Butler until it is much too late, Whitney is not so foolish. Enjoy reading this classic romance! ...
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40 of 49 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
You've got to be kidding..., June 12, 2000
By A Customer
I've read a lot of reviews written by people who try to excuse Clayton's heinous behavior towards Whitney as being "realistic in the eighteen hundreds." While it is true that women were not liberated during this era, I have serious doubts that his actions were the norm during this time. Rape is never appropriate during any time period or in any context. Clayton did not "rape" Whitney (as so many people are inclined to write), he RAPED her. Rape is when someone forces sex on another person who is not willing, which was the case in this novel. They were NOT married, which is the only way the "realistic in the eighteen hundreds" arguement would even be remotely valid (which is still questionable in my opinion). Was behavior like this acceptable in England, a country who prided itself on the civility and delicate manners of its aristocracy? I doubt it. And while we're on the subject of realism, how realistic is it for a woman to fall deeply in love with a man who verbally abuses her, whips her like a dog, rapes her, and then accuses her of carrying another man's child? The worst part of all, was the fact that she had to practically grovel at his feet like some pathetic weakling in order for HIM to take HER back. Instead of being realistic, this book was utterly ridiculous. I feel truly sorry (but at the same time disgusted) for those who consider this kind of relationship the epitomy of what "perfect" love should be and for those who dream of a man as controlling and violent as Clayton. I despised him from almost his first appearance in the book. My feelings about the character of Whitney are not much better. I just could not comprehend how she kept going back to him and giving in to him after everything he did. It made me ill, and by the time the book was half finished, I hated her too. How I ever read this entire infuriating book is beyond me. It is NOT realistic and it is NOT romantic. The conflict between the two main characters was over the top. As it is obvious from my extremely negative review, I do not recommend this book.
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