Green Darkness

Haunting, moving, thought-provoking and beautifully written

Green Darkness is certainly not the first piece of Tudor-era historical fiction I've read. However, it is without a doubt the best I've come across. This book was breathtaking in so many ways: the romanticism, the rich history, the convincing, realistic characters...
Seton has truly tapped in the vein of human emotion through her writing. This is the third book I've read of Anya Seton's, the other two being Katherine and Avalon. Katherine remains my favorite; but Green Darkness, in its own way, is equally as good. You simply MUST read it.

One of Seton's greatest works

Spoiler alert!
Avalon happens to be my favorite Anya Seton work, but Green Darkness comes in second! Both books are better than her famed Katherine (a mon avis anyways).
Seton's ability and belief that love can pass the test of time (centuries in this case) is visible through Celia and priest Stephen's final reunion in the bodies of Richard and Celia Marsdon centuries after they first encountered eachother.

A Hauntingly Delicious Read!

A seductive read that feeds the mind, heart and soul! I first read this book as a teenager and replaced my original copy again, so that my daughter could read it is well! Anya Seton has a writing style that turns from just typeface to a movie running in your head. She draws you in and the next thing you know you are part of the story. You care for the characters and become entwined. She brings it all, love, hate, honor, deceit, religion, spirituality, and all the while you're thinking of what comes next. She drew me in and I have become an avid follower of her works. Yet Green Darkness has become the standard by which I judge other works! A must for all!

37 years later, it still haunts me!!

I checked out the availability of this book today 37 years after having read it as it has stayed with me all these years. I recall calling into work sick one day because I could not tear myself away from it. I plan to reread it now, later in life. Certainly worth checking it out.

A reviewer

This was a very quick read for me however agree with the reviewer below me. It was a very odd love story. I did not feel the connection as you think you would between the characters. They were hardly ever together enough to be madly in love with each other. I do recommend the book because it is very rich in the period detail and characters.

Um..A little odd

While the book was very historically accurate and the language was quite descriptive, I thought it was one of the oddest, stangest books I've ever read. It didn't really strike me as 'a beautiful love story' but more of two people driven insatiably by lust. Mostly I found myself rolling my eyes at their declarations that they could not live w/o each other because they never spent more than 3 pages together at a time in the book. Also there were some very random parts like the rape scene in Part 1 of the book that did not really make sense in the context of the story. Mostly I was confused.

Not bad for a beach read, but don't expect great things

I once had a writing professor who said a good author doesn't tell a story, they put their reader in it. Unfortunately, I found this author to tell her tale more than create a fictional world. I often found myself encountering the same descriptive phrases over and over again. This is more on the higher end of dime store romance than a philosophical interpratation on timeless love. For any fans of reincarnation stories such as the movie 'Dead Again' you will be sorely disappointed. There is very little mystery and the relationship and past lives of the characters are very predictable and not very interesting. Although the book spans 590 pages, the central two characters don't actually interact together for more than 50 pages. The main romantic struggle doesn't seem worth several lifetimes of strife. The plot seems contrived, the historical surroundings are weak, and the ending is quickly and conveniently wrapped up in less than 100 pages. Any eighth grade histroy textbook could tell you the same things that this book uncovers about the English monarchy from Henry VIII through his second daughter Elizabeth. Even then, the author takes great liberties with history and many of her characters' accounts of real events are highly speculative.

Must Read for History Lovers

This is a one-of-a-kind gothic historical fiction that you won't want to put down. Anya Seton has flawlessly intertwined modern-day fictional characters with actual 16th century counterparts in a beautiful tale of reincarnation that is both tragic and triumphant. After losing track of my first two copies to borrowers, I now have two - one to keep and one to loan!

I'm still shaking it off!

I just finished reading this last night at 3 AM. The story behind this book is so beautiful, I can't stop thinking about it! It's amazing how well she intertwined history with fiction. And the fact that it's based on real people..I want to go to England now and see all of these places. I still can't get my head out of the story long enough to concentrate on the real world. Highly recomended!

Wow.

My mom read this when she was my age, and now i have her original copy from 1972. Its an incredible book and I would highly reccommend it.

Favorite Book!

Although it hasn't been 20 years, I too read this book in high school and once since. My mother introduced me to it, as she has read it numerous times starting in high school also. I have told anyone who will listen about this book & highly recommend reading it. The history in it is awesome and the love story is the best I've ever read. Truly an amazing book!

Awesome Story!

I too read this book over 20 years ago and have bragged about it to friends. My friends would 'borrow' - keyword - my copy of 'Green Darkness' and guess what? I never got it back!!! I've ended up buying this book at least 3 or 4 times and every time people 'borrowed' my copy, I've never gotten it back!!! That's how good this book is. I finally found a rough hardcopy with the paper cover of this book at a book sale. I will NEVER let anyone borrow this book from me again!!! It's under lock and key!!! This is one of those you insist on keeping and rereading again and again and again.

AN ALL-TIME FAVORITE

I first read Anya's Seton's GREEN DARKNESS in high school. Since then, I've read it and found deeper, nuanced layers that relate to things unexperienced in high school. It's atmospheric and beautifully drawn. It you enjoy past-life novels iced with gothic suspense, this book is highly recommended.

A haunting love story!

I read this book over 20 years ago .It still has a very profound effect on me !The best love story you'll ever read

Excellent Book

I READ THIS A FEW YEARS AGO FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THEN. THE STORY IS TRULY EXCLLENT; WONDERFULLY ROMANTIC AND ALSO HISTORICALLY ACCURATE(FOR A CHANGE). I ALTERNATE BETWEEN TEARS, LAUGHTER, AND HORROR.

Good read

I read this a couple years ago, and sinse then I've read it three other times. It was a good read overall. It seems long at first but when you get into it the pages fly by. Very insightful on reincarnation and history as well. I loved it, and would still read it over if I had the time.

Great story

This is a wonderful story of past lives full of mystery and romance... I reccommend this book to anyone interested in mystery and excitement. Read this book and you won't be dissappointed.

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