Written on Glass [Hardcover]

Judith Lennox (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 10, 2002

It is 1946 and the old families of the Temperleys and the Chancellors have been neighbours on the South Coast of England for many years. Now the younger generation has been touched by the second world war. Reserved, principled and cool-headed Marius Temperley has left the army and is struggling to fit into civilian life. His twenty-one year old sister, Julia, is quick-tempered, proud and passionate and, since her father's recent death, has been running the family business, fiercely independent in her ambitions. Handsome, but emotionally distant Jack Chancellor has been demobbed and has another problem to face. Both he and his younger, more naive and impetuous brother Will, are in love with Julia. Jack doesn't want to lose her, but his sweet, slightly gawky cousin, Topaz, lets slip that their imperious Aunt Carrie has a plan for him: if he leaves Julia, he will inherit Sixfields, the beautiful family farm...As the years go by, the family secrets come out, and it seems that the ties that bind can change relationships for ever...

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Judith Lennox is the bestselling author of The Dark-Eyed Girls (Macmillan 2000) and several other novels. She lives in Cambridgeshire with her husband and three sons.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 608 pages
• Publisher: Macmillan,London; First edition (May 10, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0333900561
• ISBN-13: 978-0333900567
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,851,619 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Friendship and love in the time of upheaval !, March 17, 2005

By 

Sabine Taylor "Sabine" (Germany) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Written on Glass (Paperback)

Judith Lennox provides an realistic insight into the time after the World War II . Two affluent families live in the South of England near London. The Temperleys with their adored daughter Julia and their sensible son Marius live in Missencourt, a great house that always was the place of security and decency. Their well known friends the Chancellors also have two children, the older and stronger son Jack and the younger son Will who was discharged. The story starts when Jack comes back home in 1946, he is physically and mentally unharmed, but has great fear that his one love Julia might not love him anymore. Insecurity fills the friends when they discover that they all became older and the sibling rivalry for Juila's love starts again between Jack and Will . The 4 years Jack fighted for England were passed and Julia had become a responsible and successful woman, she substituted her father who died while Marius fighted in Italy ,in the big firm. In one day of blindfold action Julia marries Will, though she still loves Jack. Marius tried to find his first love he had to leave when he disconnected into World War II. And still there is the young Topaz, the cousin of Jack and Will who lives with her uncaring mother in London. After the war this is the first time she spends her summer at the Chancellors with her old friends . In such a way the book is about the years 1946 till 1953 . Marriages were formed, children were born, the lovers and heartbreakers came and went away again, mysteries became public, surprises and secrets in love and friendship convulsed the friends. The book is written in the view of all of the friends and a great atmosphere is built. A sweeping family saga in the hard time after the World War II.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A novel in the style of Maeve Binchy, May 6, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Written on Glass (Paperback)

I bought this book at Heathrow while waiting for my flight home to San Francisco. I was hooked from the first page, and the discomforts of 10 hours in coach class just melted away. It is a charming book with well-drawn characters and plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader's attention. I could not help but compare the writing style and content to Maeve Binchy. There is great similarity in writing style between the two authors and fans of Ms. Binchy will not be disappointed at discovering Judith Lennox.

I recommend this book with enthusiasm to anyone who is looking for a vacation read. It wont win the Nobel Prize for Literature but it's extremely enjoyable, nevertheless.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book by Judith Lennox, July 6, 2003

By 

M. E. Newell (Georgia, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Written on Glass (Paperback)

"Written on Glass" is the second book that I read from Judith Lennox and I loved it! Ms. Lennox is able to write books that draw the reader in and able to hold their attention. She is also able to give her characters real emotions that make the reader continue on, to see how the story ends. A great book!