The Memory of Lost Senses
On sale
23rd May 2013
Price: £8.99
THE MEMORY OF LOST SENSES is an absorbing, evocative and rich period drama of buried secrets and lost love.
When a mysterious countess arrives late in life to live at a large, deserted house on the edge of a sleepy Hampshire village, the local tongues start wagging. No one is more intrigued than Cecily Chadwick, idling away the long, hot summer of 1911 with nothing much to do. Cecily is fascinated by the exotic elderly lady and, as she gets to know her, is riveted by her tales of expatriate life on the continent, and of whom she once knew. But the countess is troubled: by her memories, her name, and by anonymous threats to reveal a ruinous secret… It is, she has decided, up to her close friend, a successful novelist who has come to stay for the summer, to put the record straight. For aspiring writer Cecily, the novelist’s presence only adds to the intrigue and pull of the house. But it is the countess’s grandson, Jack, his unanswered questions about his grandmother’s past and his desire to know the truth, that draw Cecily further into the tangled web of the countess’s life, and the place known as Temple Hill.
When a mysterious countess arrives late in life to live at a large, deserted house on the edge of a sleepy Hampshire village, the local tongues start wagging. No one is more intrigued than Cecily Chadwick, idling away the long, hot summer of 1911 with nothing much to do. Cecily is fascinated by the exotic elderly lady and, as she gets to know her, is riveted by her tales of expatriate life on the continent, and of whom she once knew. But the countess is troubled: by her memories, her name, and by anonymous threats to reveal a ruinous secret… It is, she has decided, up to her close friend, a successful novelist who has come to stay for the summer, to put the record straight. For aspiring writer Cecily, the novelist’s presence only adds to the intrigue and pull of the house. But it is the countess’s grandson, Jack, his unanswered questions about his grandmother’s past and his desire to know the truth, that draw Cecily further into the tangled web of the countess’s life, and the place known as Temple Hill.
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Reviews
Praise for Judith Kinghorn's The Last Summer:
'An enchanting story of love and war, and the years beyond'
'A sumptuous, absorbing tale of love in time of war. Judith Kinghorn's novel brilliantly illuminates the experiences of a generation of blighted youth'
'[An] enchanting debut of Rachel Hore/Downton Abbey ilk, big storytelling stuff of social and political change spanning the First World War and beyond. It's a glorious read, highly recommended'
'The year is 1914 and love and war are about to transform privileged 16 year old Clarissa's charmed existence forever. This sumptuous romance is made for fans of Downton'
'Judith Kinghorn's exquisite new novel [is] a sensual and visual feast of a story... a mesmerising book of finely wrought words... Beautifully descriptive, intriguing and full of emotion-packed, slow-motion snapshots... Thoughtful, delicately crafted and imaginative, The Memory of Lost Senses is a page-turning, atmospheric mystery story but with a powerful, all-consuming love affair burning deep at its core to direct the action ... and steal our hearts'
A lyrically written and wonderfully evocative, romantic historical novel that draws you into the intriguing and secret lives of the characters in the hot lazy summer of 1911. A Countess, her grandson, a famous author writing her memoir and a young village girl are brought together and as the long buried family secrets are revealed all their lives will be changed forever. After her enchanting, sweeping debut we think 'the tricky second novel' has been delivered with aplomb - highly recommended reading especially for reading groups
The Memory of Lost Senses is a witty, clever and compelling tale, with a beautiful love story at its heart. I loved it
'An evocative tale about the power of memory... Kinghorn's prose is lovely, lavishly describing both the characters and the setting... this book is sure to create a whole new legion of fans'