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“Entirely wonderful . . . chock-full of revenge, romance, duplicity, concealed identities and murder most frequent.”—Washington Post
Building on his haunting, superbly written debut, The Meaning of Night, Michael Cox returns to a story of murder, love, and revenge in Victorian England. The Glass of Time is a vividly imagined study of seduction, betrayal, and friendship between two powerful women bound together by the past.
Set in 1876, Cox's gripping second gothic thriller (after The Meaning of Night) follows the fortunes of 19-year-old orphan Esperanza Gorst, whose guardian charges her to go undercover as a lady's maid. Without knowing precisely why she's doing so, Gorst insinuates herself into the inner circle of Baroness Tansor, the fiancée of the preceding volume's villain, Phoebus Daunt. The fake maid soon learns that her mistress has many secrets, and may, in fact, have been complicit in the death of a former servant. Cox excels at conveying his heroine's conflict over deceiving her employer, especially after learning the role the lady played in her own difficult personal history. While readers unfamiliar with the first book will find themselves deeply engaged by the elegant descriptive prose, those with the benefit of the full context and nuances of The Meaning of Night will better appreciate this sequel. (Oct.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.The room below us, decorated in crimson and gold, is richly furnished and, though grandly proportioned, deliciously warm, even on this chill November evening, from the heat thrown out from blazing piles of pine logs in the two great stone fire-places.
. . . .
We now come to the three members of this evening’s party in which I — and you — have a particular interest: the permanent residents of this great house.
First, of course, my Lady — the former Miss Emily Carteret, now the 26th Baroness Tansor.
Look at her. She sits at the head of the board, as a queen ought, in black and shimmering silver silk. Who can deny that she is beautiful still, or that her fifty-two years have been uncommonly kind to her? In the candlelight below us, fluttering shadows play delightfully across her pale skin (she never allows the gas to be lit: candlelight is so much more flattering).
She captivates and charms the men gathered in her Crimson-and-Gold Dining-Room. See how they ogle her when they think no one else is looking! Mr FitzMaurice, Dr Pordage, even red-faced Sir Lionel Voysey (always comically maladroit in her presence): they all fall under her spell like silly boys, and see her only as she wishes to be seen.
Naturally, her famously tragical past — a father murdered, and the great love of her life slain a month before their marriage — only increases her allure. Men, I think, are such fools, at least men such as these. If she has suffered, well, there is suffering enough in the world, and we shall each have our share before we are released.
Yet she has been richly compensated for her suffering, which is by no means the least of her attractions, especially to her bachelor admirers. Beautiful, romantically scarred by tragedy, the possessor of an immense fortune and an ancient title — and now a widow!
. . . .
The truth is that she will never marry again, and certainly not a prize fool like Mr Maurice FitzMaurice.
Marriage would bring her no material advantage. Nor will she succumb to Love again, for her heart is shut fast against all further assault from that quarter. No man can ever displace the memory of her first and last love, whose terrible death is the great affliction of her life, greater even than the murder of her father. Her late husband, Colonel Zaluski, could not do it — that at least is the common opinion. I never met the gentleman; but Sukie Prout (my great friend below stairs) says that the two of them rubbed along well enough, and that the Colonel had a smiling, accommodating way about him that made you instantly like him. I must suppose, therefore, that his wife liked him too, and that this was enough for her.
The fruits of this unremarkable union are now sitting on either side of their mother: Mr Perseus Duport, the heir to her title and fortune, on her right hand, his younger brother, Mr Randolph Duport, on her left. But they are not at all unremarkable.
Mr Perseus — who has just raised a toast to gallant Lord Edward Duport — will shortly attain his majority, and is very like his mother in appearance: tall, deliberate in movement, watchful in attitude, and with the same fathomless eyes. His hair — as dark as those eyes — is worn long, so that it falls about his shoulders in a consciously romantic way, as befits the poet he aspires to be. He is very proud of his hair, a trait that he also gets from his mother. A most handsome young gentleman, undoubtedly, made more so by a carefully tended black beard, which gives him a dangerously heroic look, exactly like the portrait of the Turkish Corsair that hangs at the foot of the vestibule stairs, and for which, on first seeing it, I thought he must have sat, had it not been painted over twenty years since.
His younger brother, Mr Randolph Duport, is nearly twenty, and is no less striking than his brother, though very differently composed. He is shorter and stockier, stronger in limb, with warm brown eyes (Sukie says they are the spit of his late father’s), a rosy, outdoors colouring, and unruly brown hair. There is not the least resemblance to his mother; nor is there any discernible trace of her temperament in him, which makes people like him far more than Mr Perseus. Unlike his brother, he has none of Lady Tansor’s haughtiness and pride. He is, by contrast, a singularly unaffected and spontaneous soul, appearing to take things as they come, and (so goes the general opinion) hardly ever thinking of consequences, for which I am told he has often felt the sting of his mother’s displeasure. Yet, possessing the uncommon ability to acknowledge his faults, which Mr Perseus appears to lack, he is said never to complain, but promises to apply himself more soberly in the future to the art of properly considering matters.
. . . .
These three persons have become the principal and constant objects of my attention in this house, to which I have been sent for reasons that — at the time of which I am writing — have not been fully revealed to me. Thus I continue to wait, and watch, as I have been instructed to do.
This is the best book I have read in quite some time. The pacing of the story, the characters, the descriptions, the plot...I wish there could be more. Just today I learned the author passed a few weeks ago. I have but maybe 50 pages left in this gem, and it will be bittersweet to finish it knowing that a third is unlikely unless it is possibly written already. Best to the author's family.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted October 21, 2008
Mr. Michael Cox has done it again. What a lovely book to read. I enjoyed
this book just as much as "The Meaning of the Night". My admiration goes to Miss. Gorst. Her courage to work for Lady Tansor. All the secrets she had to keep from anyone knowing who she is and what her purpose for working at Evenwood. But she finally does find out whose keeping the really secret. I could not put this book down, it really is brillant book
to read.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Dalila21504
Posted February 20, 2010
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Continuing the Victorian-style saga of hidden parentage, murder, espionage, revenge, and romance that Michael Cox began in "The Meaning of Night", "The Glass of Time" is an old fashioned "good read". It is well plotted, has rich period detail, and draws on the traditions of Wilkie Collins and the "sensation" novels of the Victorian era. Most of the plot twists do not come as a surprise, but that does not make them any less thrilling. This is the very best that "escape reading" has to offer.
The brisk reversals of fortune, a life lived in terms of houses and relationships rather than meaningless "work" (making beds and dressing the hair of one's "mistress" seems refreshingly adventurous to today's readers, most of whom have spent our entire lives in sterile offices), the secrets and surprises, are a world one could lose onesself in for quite a long time.
I would advise reading "The Meaning of Night" first.
And I hope that the story is continued in a third volume.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 20, 2010
This book is not a quick read, but the characters and plot are interesting and unusual, with occasional unexpected twists. I am a fast reader and it took me several days ( a plus in my opinion). Interesting period detail.
I enjoyed it a lot.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Shortly after using the metaphor of a "Gem" to emphasize the persona of the work itself, I'm succumbed by the notion that the term falls midstream pertaining to what this book actually is, being no less than a diamond of numerous karats. The author, Mr. Michael Cox, within this book's predecessor (The meaning of night: A confession), redundantly illustrated a greedy and compassionless scenario during Victorian times in the mere heart of England, creating a point of origin setting in motion this colossal as well as beautifully fluent piece of contemporary literature. From its lively sceneries to its strong determined characters, this tale currently transcribed at the length of two volumes will exemplify a vivid recognition of revenge in all due splendor, as well as the slightest contemplation pertaining to the fact that in the end, love will consume each and every one of our beings.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.lbaat
Posted July 20, 2009
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This was a great book. Throughout the whole book there were clues for what would happen in the end. I thought I had figured out the ending, but I was surprised! I love when an author is clever enough to do this. Great!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Shortly after using the metaphor of a "Gem" to emphasize the persona of the work itself, I'm succumbed by the notion that the term falls midstream pertaining to what this book actually is, being no less than a diamond of numerous karats. The author, Mr. Michael Cox, within this book's predecessor (The meaning of night: A confession), redundantly illustrated a greedy and compassionless scenario during Victorian times in the mere heart of England, creating a point of origin setting in motion this colossal as well as beautifully fluent piece of contemporary literature. From its lively sceneries to its strong determined characters, this tale currently transcribed at the length of two volumes will exemplify a vivid recognition of revenge in all due splendor, as well as the slightest contemplation pertaining to the fact that in the end, love will consume each and every one of our beings.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Similar to "The Meaning of Night", Michael Cox does a superb job in the art of storytelling. He articulates each scene extremely well and plays to the senses. There are not too many twists or surprises, but enough to keep you second-guessing what the truth is. A lovely story, great follow-up to the first book, and a recommended reading to anyone who loves fiction.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.This book was almost as amazing as The Meaning of Night. I figured out quite a bit of what was going on before it was revealed but it was great nonetheless. I enjoyed this book very much.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.AvidAudioListner
Posted December 17, 2008
This is truly a great story! I actually listened to the audio version and had a hard time turning it off. I couldn't wait to find out what happened next. This story had so many twists. Each time that I thought I had everything figured out it would go in a different direction. Great writing by Michael Cox and outstanding narration by Josephine Bailey!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.The Meaning of Night was one of my favorite books in a long time, so to find out a sequel was coming out was great. The book picks up 22 yrs after the Meaning of Night and builds upon the great story that it created. The characters are so well written its easy to forget its a novel. Highly recommended for anyone that likes character driven books.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted November 15, 2008
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I read the Meaning of Night and enjoyed it more and more as it went on. This book picked up right where it left off. I absololutely loved it even more than the first one. The characters are well defined and the story original. Some mysteries you will figure out, but others you will be surprised at in the end. This has become one of my favorite books. It's a must read if you enjoy character driven stories.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I read Michael Cox's "The Meaning of Night" a while ago and loved it. I have just read "The Glass of Time" and I loved it even more if that's possible. If you love London in the 1800's, mystery, murder, unsavory characters and a plot that has you reading late into the night, this book is for you. You don't necessarily have to have read "The Meaning of Night" first even though that was a highly enjoyable book, but it would help because some of the characters show up in this book again. I think this book can stand on its own but it may be better to read the books in order. I was hooked from the very first page and read this book every spare second I had. I love the time period and the writing just drew me in. I loved Esperanza's character and how she discovered clues to her "Great Task" that she had to perform. I felt as though I was actually right beside her as she attended Lady Tansor and as she was unlocking doors and listening in on conversations to gather information. Again, a great read ... over 500 pages and I wished it would have gone on way beyond that!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 1, 2012
easily kept interest up, a lot of characters with old English names that are hard to keep track of, but still a worthwhile read.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 21, 2010
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The characters in this book were very engaging and the plot was tremendous, although I do recommend reading "The Meaning of Night" first, as I feel that would give all elements of the book more meaning to the reader. Like the first, the most interesting element of the book to me was the Victorian drama of the ends versus the means, or the struggle between personal feeling and strength of will. I only bread the book recently and am saddened to find that the author has passed away and that there will be no more writing from Mr. Cox. I am glad we received from him what we could and echo the sentiments of a previous reviewer: Bravo, sir!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Sue77
Posted February 3, 2010
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Just think if Austen's heroine had opened that chest in Northanger Abbey and had found some wonderfully Gothic diary or documents to match her expectations and vivid imagination! This book is a wonderful mish mash of 19th century influences...imagine Dickens and the Bronte sisters collaborating ...on speed. A wonderful read for a rainy day or any day, with a Dickensian feel, characters who are made memorable by their habits or/and features, no matter how small their part in the proceedings are. A masterful blend of mystery, adventure and Victorian derring-do comprising, of course, a heroine, a moody hero and a murky past peopled from all walks of life already broached in "The Meaning of Night". Murder, mystery and mayhem abounds. Read "The Meaning of Night" and then follow with this sequel. The only problem for me is that now I'm at a loss as to what to read next! It's a fun hectic roller coaster ride created by an expert in 19th century writings, and who, by turns, affectionately emulates the strengths of descriptive writing of the age and also affectionate pokes at some of the excesses of the same. Loved it and eagerly await another novel from Mr. Cox! Bravo, sir.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Michael Cox does it again, with a riveting and atmospheric suspense tale in a Victorian setting. Suspend disbelief at a wildly improbable plan that is put into motion, and simply enjoy the train of events and the Dickensian characters. Slightly less dark than the first novel, this is a great and serpentine tale with plenty of twists, turns, and secrets.
I have removed the offending spoiler (which was unintentional). Hopefully this lapse in judgment will not result in being "banned" as suggested!
ishgh
Posted December 29, 2009
A victorian thriller, with twists and turns, the second generation takes care of business. that started in the first book, The Meaning of Night.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 27, 2009
The Glass in Time is an excellent sequel to The Meaning of Darkness.
These two books were my best 'read' of not only 2009 but, indeed of this 1st decade of the new millenium. Mr. Cox superbly draws we readers into the mid -19th century and carries us there for a a more than 1300 page journey.....far too short in my mind. These two books represent Mr. Cox's life-long desire to write the great Victorian era novel. He succeeds immensely and more's the pity with his untimely death in early 2009 we, the reader, will see no more of his brilliance.
ChristelAnastasia
Posted November 14, 2009
It was one of the most beautiful and satisfying mysteries I have ever read. It depicts the time and the people of that era so well, it transforms you there. For those, who have already read "The Meaning of Night" by the same author, this book will be extremely satisfying, since it brings a closure to the story that started in the first book.
However, this book can be read independently as well.
Overview
“Entirely wonderful . . . chock-full of revenge, romance, duplicity, concealed identities and murder most frequent.”—Washington Post
Building on his haunting, superbly written debut, The Meaning of Night, Michael Cox returns to a story of murder, love, and revenge in Victorian England. The Glass of Time is a vividly imagined study of seduction, betrayal, and friendship between two powerful women bound together by the past.