The House at Riverton - Kate Morton

[Jane B]

The House at Riverton (also published under the title 'The Shifting Fog.') is an engrossing look at the social mores of the artistocracy in Britain during the period leading up to WW1 and the two decades after. The story of the inhabitants of Riverton House is told by Grace Bradley, who is looking back at her life from the grand old age of 99. Sent into service at the age of 14 by her mother who thought that Grace should have a the security that a life in service could offer, the story gives readers an unforgettable account of life above and below stairs during the period of social upheaval that was the inevitable outcome of WW1 when Britain sacrificed a whole generation of young men to 'win' the war. Grace's life parallels Hannah's the oldest daughter of the Hartfords of Riverton, as they both do 'what is expected' of them with, in the end dire consequences. Kate Morton writes with sympathy to the period and with great insight into what it would be like to look back at life through the eyes of a dying woman. I enjoyed this book and was keen to read further on the period after finishing it luckily for me, Kate Morton kindly provided a reading list at the end of the Atria Books edition that I read.  I am looking forward to reading 'The Distant Hours' also by Kate Morton.

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[Merilyn]

I loved this book also and actually become a bit tearly at the end. Highly unusual for a hard nut like myself!!! Have you read the Forgotten Garden??