FICTION · ROMANCE
Mira Stables
Most acclaimed
Stranger within the gates
1939
Sylvia's impulsive young brother has come home from college with astounding news--news that throws the entire Garland family into confusion: He is married, and to a most unsuitable young woman named Florimel! But Sylvia determines that she will reach out in love to the difficult and selfish young bride. But Florimel has plans of her own--plans to get her hands on her young husband's inheritance. And in the process of carrying out her plans, she stirs up such strife and discord it seems that the Garland family will be torn apart, a fact that leaves Sylvia overcome with despair. And Sylvia's despair only intensifies when the crisis at home seems to leave her no choice but to turn her back on her own chance at love. . . .
Friends and relations
The story deals with relationships between four families - it begins at the wedding of a young couple where we are introduced to all the parties that form the story. The scandalous Lady Elfrida whose only scandal was that she is a divorcee seems to cause uneasiness wherever she goes. Hovering over it all are the Thirdmans just returned from Switzerland, seemingly lost with their precocious daughter Theodora who even as a teenager is out to create trouble wherever she goes. Fast forward ten years down the line and we see the two marriages. Steadfast true but rather dull going on in a very dull way. Theodora however is still very much there on the scene, still creating tiny little rifts without even seeming to do so. Over it all is Lady Elfrida and despite her relationship with Considine being very much in the past, and ancient history, it is still the elephant in the room. I like the way the author describes in detail the history of this particular time, the formality of day to day life is handled well. I found also excess of passion on one side and the absolute lack of it in other relationships in this story also an interesting feature.
Doubleday Romance Library
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