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Constance Savery (1897–1999)

Autor(a) de The Reb and the Redcoats

68+ Works 1,001 Membros 13 Críticas 3 Favorited

About the Author

Disambiguation Notice:

(eng) Constance Savery was the "Another Lady" that completed Charlotte Bronte's unfinished novel titled "Emma" by Charlotte Bronte and Another Lady. Please do not combine with the Jane Austen novel Sanditon which was similarly finished by a different "Another Lady".

Image credit: This is a family portrait of the author painted when she was in her twenties.

Obras por Constance Savery

The Reb and the Redcoats (1999) 443 exemplares
Enemy Brothers (1943) 212 exemplares
Emma (1980) 130 exemplares
Magic In My Shoes (1958) 17 exemplares
Young Elizabeth Green (1960) 12 exemplares
The Royal Caravan (1963) 11 exemplares
Breton Holiday (1962) 10 exemplares
To the City of Gold (1958) 10 exemplares
Meg Plays Fair (1963) 10 exemplares
Redhead at School (1951) 9 exemplares
Gilly's Tower (1969) 8 exemplares
The Sea Queen (1965) 8 exemplares
Emeralds for the King (1945) 7 exemplares
Lavender's Tree (1969) 6 exemplares
Tabby Kitten (1966) 5 exemplares
Dark House On the Moss (1948) 5 exemplares
Welcome, Santza (1956) 4 exemplares
The Good Ship Red Lily (1944) 4 exemplares
Three Houses in Beverley Road (1952) 4 exemplares
Five Wonders for Wyn (1955) 3 exemplares
The City of Flowers (1970) 3 exemplares
The Strawberry Feast 3 exemplares
Blue Fields (1947) 3 exemplares
Scarlet Plume (1953) 3 exemplares
Tenthragon (1930) 3 exemplares
The Silver Angel (1968) 2 exemplares
Strawberry Feast 2 exemplares
The Drifting Sands (1971) 2 exemplares
Peter of Yellow Gates 2 exemplares
The White Kitling (1900) 2 exemplares
Up a Winding Stair 2 exemplares
The Sapphire Ring (1969) 2 exemplares
Thistledown Tony 2 exemplares
The Sea Urchins (1959) 2 exemplares
The Memoirs of Jack Chelwood (2004) 2 exemplares
Please Buy My Pearls (1965) 2 exemplares
Nicolas Chooses White May (1931) 2 exemplares
Forbidden Doors (1929) 2 exemplares
Rebel Jacqueline 2 exemplares
Flight to Freedom (1958) 2 exemplares
In Apple Alley 2 exemplares
Joric and the Dragon (1964) 2 exemplares
Danny & the Alabaster Box (1956) 1 exemplar
Haggiston Hall 1 exemplar
In Apple Valley 1 exemplar
The Red and the Redcoats (1961) 1 exemplar
The Golden Cap 1 exemplar
Meg Plays Fair (1975) 1 exemplar
Four Lost Lambs 1 exemplar
Yellow Gates 1 exemplar
There Was a Key 1 exemplar

Associated Works

Alfred Hitchcock's Haunted Houseful (1961) — Contribuidor — 311 exemplares

Etiquetado

Conhecimento Comum

Nome canónico
Savery, Constance
Nome legal
Savery, Constance Winifred
Outros nomes
Cloberry, Elizabeth (pseudonym)
Xavery, Frith (pseudonym)
Xavery, Eleanor (pseudonym)
Rycon (pseudonym)
Another Lady (for "Emma" with Charlotte Bronte)
Constanze Savery (Germany)
Data de nascimento
1897-10-31
Data de falecimento
1999-03-02
Localização do túmulo
St. John the Baptist Churchyard, Pitchcombe, Gloucestershire, UK
Sexo
female
Nacionalidade
England
UK
Locais de residência
Middleton, Suffolk, UK
Pitchcombe, Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK
Froxfield, Wiltshire, UK
Birmingham, West Midlands, UK
Reydon, Southwold, Suffolk, UK
Dumbleton, Evesham, Worcester, UK
Educação
Oxford University (1920)
Ocupações
novelist
children's book author
Relações
Savery, Christine (sister)
Savery, Doreen (sister)

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The daughter of the Rev'd John Manly Savery and Constance Eleanor Harbord, Winifred grew up in rural Wiltshire. The family moved to Birmingham when Savery was nine, where she attended King Edward VI Hugh School for Girls. Earning an Exhibition (scholarship) to Somerville College, Oxford, Savery was a member of the first group to which Oxford granted degrees and graduated with Honours. She taught briefly, but returned to her father's home in Suffolk when her mother died. She wrote fifty books, either for children or about children, together with scores of short stories, articles, and poems. At the age of 98 she was honored at Oxford as the last surviving member of the group who had received those first degrees in 1920. She continued to write up to her 100th birthday despite being legally blind.
Nota de desambiguação
Constance Savery was the "Another Lady" that completed Charlotte Bronte's unfinished novel titled "Emma" by Charlotte Bronte and Another Lady. Please do not combine with the Jane Austen novel Sanditon which was similarly finished by a different "Another Lady".

Membros

Críticas

Out of the countless historical fiction books and World War II novels I have read and loved, there is one that crowns them all as the best among all my beloved favorites - Enemy Brothers by Constance Savery. But it is more than just a fabulous tale of World War II. At its heart, Enemy Brothers is a story of two brothers and the love and loyalty between them that transcends the evil and hate of war. It is a story of the fight to preserve all that is light and good when destruction, darkness, and evil threaten to destroy it. It is a story of a choice - a choice of which side to serve - the light or the dark - a choice that each individual or nation must make for themselves. Each level of this conflict and battle between good and evil - between nations at war and between individuals in a personal conflict - is played out against the backdrop of World War II in this novel that is by turns heartwarming, humorous, and rivetingly intense.

When Max Eckermann, a young German boy raised in the Nazi ideology, is caught up in a whirlwind and deposited against his will in the home of a large and boisterous English family, he stubbornly fights to serve his German homeland and to escape at all costs. Dym Ingleford, a young Royal Air Force officer, believes that Max is his lost brother Tony - stolen as a baby and found again by chance or fate. But Max - or Tony - defies Dym's resolve and hates his English captors - and hates Dym most of all the Ingleford siblings.

Tony is faced with a choice, and everything depends on what he will choose. If Tony is to be won back to the light - if his Nazi training is to be defeated - then Dym must tread carefully. One false move, one harsh word, could destroy all hope of Tony's being saved.

The tumultuous story that follows is one of loyalty and betrayal; home and family; truth and lies; redemption against all odds; and sacrificial love that will go to the ends of the earth to find the lost soul and bring it back to the light.

Written in the midst of World War II, before America joined the Allies, when Britain still stood alone against the forces of darkness, this book is a bright and powerful picture of what it was like on the home front during the war, of the people and ideologies of Germany and England, and of the courageous, strong, determined people who held on to hope and fought against all odds for the side of the light.

Then he made another survey of his captor. His eyes rested first on Dym's hands, slender but with a look of strength in repose about them. A feeling of respect crept into his heart as he remembered the iron grasp in which he had found himself for the second time imprisoned. "He held me as if he would never let me go," said Tony to himself. . . . But his eyes, drawn unwillingly again and again . . . could not help seeing that there were other marks on the airman's hands--jagged scars of shrapnel wounds.

As with most books, especially favorites, the characters are the best part of the book for me. But every other part of the book is shining and wonderful as well. However, I have loved these characters for almost exactly a decade, and my love for them only grows with each read-through.

Dym, first of all - he is grave and steady, wise and intelligent, self-disciplined and patient, kind and compassionate and caring. He is incredibly humble, incredibly selfless. He is a loving and devoted brother who helps and cares for his family, his friends, and people in need. When he is not grave and serious, he is cheerful and bright, full of merriment and laughter, twinkling blue-gray eyes and a ready smile. He is smart and sharp and observant, missing nothing, and he loves books and learning and knowledge. He loves children and knows exactly how to handle them - and he always notices them and cares for them instead of discounting them like many adults. He understands so well - understands Tony, people, and the world, with incredible perception and insight. It is Dym's quiet influence that brings hope for change in Tony's life, his steady presence in the storm that makes a difference - his unconditional, sacrificial, fierce, redeeming love that chases and finds Tony in the darkest, most fearful, most destructive places - and sacrifices to bring him back. Even when Dym has been deeply hurt himself, he never becomes bitter or fails to love Tony and to choose to forgive those who have wronged him so grievously. In addition to all this, he is a Flying Officer in the English RAF who fought in the Battle of Britain, which makes him about as cool and courageous as it is possible to be. He continues to fight for what is right, to fight for his country against the forces of evil, and to fight for Tony - and to hold on to hope, truth, and faith in God and in the coming victory, even when the odds are grim. At times in my life, I have wished for a big brother, and if I had one, I would want him to be a lot like Dym. For all these reasons, Dym might possibly be the number one contender for the high honor of being my favorite male character of all time ...although he might also be tied with Faramir from the Lord of the Rings books for the top spot - they are definitely the top two, I've realized.

It was only Dym who was resolved to keep him at any cost . . . Dym whose steely hands would never let go.

And I love Tony just as much as Dym. He is a wonderful protagonist. I can't say as much about him without major spoilers, but his struggle between good and evil is so powerful. He is an intelligent, inquisitive, mischievous, clever young boy with a biting wit - and an incredible sweetness. He is a fighter, incredibly stubborn and determined, and he refuses to be defeated without a cataclysmic struggle. I love him dearly, and I love his journey over the course of the book.

The relationship between Tony and Dym is so powerful. It is the heart of the book. I love each of them, and I love their relationship - and the way it gradually grows and changes over the course of the book, and Tony's beliefs along with it. I love the way Dym loves Tony unconditionally and fiercely when every sign and person tells him he shouldn't. And I love the way Tony's regard for Dym evolves over the course of the book.

Tony flung himself into his brother's arms and felt them close round him tight. "Hold me tight so I can't get away!" he said, and found himself queerly rejoicing in the steely strength of those scarred wrists.

I first read this book almost exactly decade ago when I was a little younger than Tony. Many re-reads later, I'm very close to the age of his older brother, Dym, minus a mere few months. And I have a younger sister who is about a decade younger than me, give or take a year, the same as these two brothers. During this re-read, I've been contemplating what Dym must be feeling after losing a baby sibling in the way that Dym lost his - and possibly finding them again in such a way. It is fascinating to contemplate what emotions and thoughts Dym must have over the course of the story, behind the steady control that is hardly ever broken - except to give glimpses that reveal what he's going through, deep down. And now that I am his age and an older sister, I notice and understand his struggle better, when I didn't focus on it as a preteen or teen. I felt his emotion while reading the book.

And I also felt everything Tony goes through, as I always have - more intensely than ever, if anything. I often came close to crying as I read due to the depths of my feeling about what Dym and Tony go through separately and together, and at the beautiful themes and truths expressed in their relationship.

There are so many other things I love about this book besides Dym and Tony, but the two of them are the most wonderful part. This review only scratches the surface of the treasure that this book contains, but here are a few other favorite aspects:

-I adore the Ingleford family. They are wonderful. A gigantic, boisterous, uproarious family of siblings, with a loving and happy home, full of laughter and humor and kindness and cheer. I love how loyal they are to their country's fight and the war effort, from big, kind Thomas to the youngest and smallest. I would love to be a part of their family, or be a guest in their house - I would love to experience it just for a short while, cause it's wonderful!!! They fight and bicker and lose their tempers - they all have a spark - but above all, they love each other dearly and are devoted to each other, and I love that.

-I love all the other characters. Even the random strangers the characters meet, and the supporting characters from sweet to annoying, are so vivid and well-developed and unique and full of life - not to mention the large cast of main characters. And I realized to my great amazement and admiration that even though there are more than a dozen main characters of varying prominence - closer to two dozen - every single one is incredibly vivid and well-developed, with unique personality, mannerisms, way of speaking, motivations, disposition, and humanity. I see each one so clearly in my mind, vivid in detail of appearance and movement, which only happens with characters that are well-rounded and developed. The fact that each of a family of eleven or twelve siblings is deeply developed and unique, with not a single one falling by the wayside, speaks of the masterful greatness of this author's craft and writing.

-The prose and descriptions of this book are delightful and glorious. The beautiful and deep descriptions are used sparingly, but they are tantalizing, and I can't get enough. I love seeing Tony's world through his eyes and perspective - observant, perceptive eyes and a deep, thoughtful mind that appreciate rich or delicate beauty; fairy-like landscapes and objects; pulsing color and soft grayness; the delight of nature and life; and little, fascinating aspects of people.

-In other parts of my review, I have already touched on many of the themes of this book. They are utterly gorgeous and incredibly profound. Yet they are subtle and natural, unobtrusive, never forced or preachy. The book is full the deepest truth - the only kind that is truly life-giving.

-The plot and pacing are just as fabulous. Although it is a book that primarily focuses on characters and relationships, it also contains an intricate, complex plot and plenty of moments of excitement. Intense moments and sections of action are interspersed with calm, quietness, and peace. The book moves forward, building steadily, like the rhythm of the train the characters travel on. Fascinating questions are raised and threads of plot are perfectly woven together from beginning to end. The book culminates in a climax that more than does justice to such a wonderful story - and is more intense than all the rest.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys wonderful and quality fiction. It can be enjoyed by anyone, regardless of whether someone typically reads historical fiction, the World War II era, or stories about powerful family relationships. However, it is a must-read for those who enjoy those types of stories. This fabulous book should not be missed.
… (mais)
1 vote
Assinalado
Aerelien | 1 outra crítica | Mar 23, 2020 |
Magic in My Shoes is a short, light, and very, very sweet children's historical novel by a favorite author of mine, and I enjoyed it. It's full of innocent fun, laughter, and humor, and the characters - especially Sally, Josset, and Aunt Persis - are incredibly sweet. I love Josset's mischief and innocent charm, Sally's kindness and eagerness to help others, and Aunt Persis's strength, slight crustiness, and affection.

I guessed the twists from the very beginning, so it was a bit predictable, but the author wrote the book and revealed information in such a way that it's still fun to read it whether the reader guesses the twist at the beginning, at the middle (along with the protagonist), or at the end. Though I guessed the big twist, I was still surprised by little things. And even though I predicted what would likely happen, the ending was delightful.

I enjoyed the way the title came into play. However, for those who would like to know, please be assured that the book includes no magic. It's pure historical fiction.

This was a short book, and I have lots of reading time right now, so I read it in well under a day. It's not my favorite of Constance Savery's books, but I still liked it a lot - even if I wouldn't have read it so soon if it wasn't the only Savery book available through interlibrary loan. Two of her other books, Enemy Brothers and The Reb and the Redcoats, are my favorite historical fiction books in the world, and I recommend them very, very highly.

Magic in My Shoes is a sweet book for readers of all ages - young children all the way to adults - and it would make a great read-aloud. I recommend it in particular to fans of Constance Savery's other wonderful novels.
… (mais)
 
Assinalado
Aerelien | 1 outra crítica | Mar 23, 2020 |
This is such a warm and lovely book. I'm so pleased to own my own copy now, a gift from a dear friend. My copy is published under the alternate title Flight to Freedom.

I wish I could write down the full review I was mentally writing after reading The Good Ship Red Lily for the second time, but reviews are impossible for me right now. That will have to wait till next time.

In the meantime, I recommend this book to Constance Savery fans or to anyone who loves children's adventure stories about fascinating family relationships full of love and conflict.

This one is not as amazing as The Reb and the Redcoats or Enemy Brothers, but few books are. I recommend trying one of those first, if you haven't read anything by this author.

I've enjoyed this book immensely both times I've read it, and it holds a special place in my heart, one that is filled with a warm, bright, cozy glow. I give this book 4.5 stars.
… (mais)
 
Assinalado
Aerelien | Mar 23, 2020 |
Dark House on the Moss by Constance Savery is incredibly and infinitely wonderful, magical, mysterious, and sweet. Few other books have equaled the enjoyment and pure joy that it gave me to read this book. I adored Dark House on the Moss so much, and my review can by no means capture the amazing-ness or treat it as it deserves.

I've been wanting to read this book for a couple of years now. It has been the one book in all the world I most wanted to read, and I knew it would be amazing - and was it ever. It far surpassed my lofty expectations and more than lived up to all the anticipation and hype.

My favorite aspect of the book was the characters, of course. I love them so much, and they are absolutely delightful! Young Periwinkle is so, so sweet and loving and bright and lively. I love the sweetness, wonder, and joy she brings, and I identified with her quite a bit since I'm like her. Louis is clever, intelligent, kind, fun, determined, and much more. I love the way he protects and cares for his sister, Peri - and the way she relies on him and looks to him for protection and comfort. And I love how Louis is always putting together clues to figure things out and notices things about events and people. I love how both siblings are fiercely staunch and loyal in their love for and defense of their guardian. Which brings me to the children's cousin Morville - he's wonderful. Immensely kind and clever; courageous, capable, and calm; unfazed by any event; forgiving, honorable, humble, servant-hearted, strong, wise, and noble. He's flawed and has regrets, but he owns up to past mistakes and rises above them as a good man and a good leader, and he throws himself tirelessly into helping people who haven't been kind to him. And I love the way he protects, cares for, and enjoys the children - and the way they help him. I love his nickname for Periwinkle, his kindness toward the two children, the way they make him smile and laugh when he hasn't often done that in recent years, and so much more. I love the supporting characters as well - graceful and teasing Primrose, comforting Cousin Annabella, loyal Thady, hilarious Betty, and nearly all the rest. As for Mr. Ridwell, I love to hate him! *grins* And with regard to my opinion of Jack and Will Lanthorn . . . it's very complicated. They're both really nice but also really mean - and full of anger. It's so interesting how people can be two extremes at once, but it's realistic. And whether or not I like them, I can't respect them at all. I hope they learned from what happened and became better people as a result.

In addition to the individual characters, there are so, so many fascinating relationships in this book. I already covered some aspects of the wonderful relationships between Louis and Peri and between them and Morville - all of which I enjoyed so incredibly much. Those three characters and their relationships were definitely the best part of the book for me. Im addition to siblings, there were so many wonderful or formerly wonderful cousin relationships in the story, and I enjoyed them so much - I love reading about close cousins and don't often find books including them. Cousin Annabella's relationship with the three main characters was also super sweet. And I loved the loyalty and devotion of Morville's servants. But there were also so many strained or damaged or painful relationships in this book. They represent real life, and the author did such a wonderful job of handling them with gentleness and wisdom, as she is always so skilled in doing. There was such toxicity and hatred directed at one beloved character in particular from people who had used to be close to that person, and it was heartbreaking to see. In real life, I've seen relatives and friends have falling-outs, and once trust is broken and betrayal has happened, relationships can't be restored to be like they once were even once they are repaired. I'm very glad the characters of this book received a satisfactory yet realistic ending even if the pain and betrayal of the past can't be truly erased.

The setting of Dark House on the Moss is so powerful that it feels like a character in itself. The Moss has a dark, gloomy, mysterious, and magical beauty and power. It feels alive. And there's a sense of underlying danger and malevolence in its murky depths - although it shelters its friends, it poses a threat to friend and foe alike. But although it is constantly strange and mysterious, the Moss is often bright and sunny - and it's just as gorgeous in storms and in sun. The descriptions of the Moss are beautiful and full of life - the golden reeds swaying in the breeze; the delicate, bright marsh flowers; the tiny, colorful fish in the shining Perilous Pool; the black, dangerous water and mud; the blue glow of strange will-o'-the-wisps at night; the dark woods, open moors, and dark hills beyond. And the dark house itself is just as much a character as the Moss itself - it is at first forbidding, but it becomes a familiar, comforting home.

The themes of this book are beautiful and powerful. They include forgiveness, loyalty, leadership, family, friendship, anger, and much more. The author handled them wisely and thoughtfully, and they often made me think deeply about life and people.

And the writing style! My goodness, was it ever amazing! Sophisticated, natural, magical, and stunningly beautiful. I'm amazed at the author's wordcraft and her ability to bring characters, settings, and events to life with each vivid sentence. I soaked up every concise, gorgeous description with sheer delight.

I adore the great air of mystery that pulses throughout this book. From the very first, it kept me wondering about secrets big and small, asking endless questions, keenly watching for clues, and deciphering signs of what was going on beneath the surface of the story and characters - like the hidden depths of the Moss. The entire atmosphere of the story is mysterious and secretive, and it's incredibly enjoyable. The dark house, its dark master, the disgruntled tenants, the Moss itself, and so much more . . . all of it carried a tense feel deep down and raised question after question, each of which was answered gradually, bit by bit, at the perfect time. I was kept on the edge of my seat wanting to keep reading to find out the mysteries of the past - and needing to find out what would happen in the future. The story surprised me at every turn, with the end of the book most of all.

And boy, did the climax and ending ever deliver on the suspense the book laid in store!! The climax became so intense with danger and emotion, and the events and relationships came perfectly to a head. I had wondered how everything could possibly work out in the end, but the author covered every loose end, and the events of the climax resolved the entire story. My words fail me to express how wonderful the climax and ending were. The end was happy - yet bittersweet because of past pain, sadness, and regret. But the author beautifully portrayed real and raw relationships and restoration.

All in all, Dark House on the Moss is a wonderful and quality historical fiction book that will be enjoyed by all ages. I wish I could give more than 5 stars. I recommend this book highly along with Constance Savery's other best books, Enemy Brothers and The Reb and the Redcoats. While I grew up loving those two and only had the chance to read Dark House on the Moss as an adult, the latter is equal to them in quality and greatness, and I'm so glad I was able to read it at last. It's immediately become a new all-time favorite of mine, and I know my already-great love for the book and its main characters will only grow with time and re-reads.
… (mais)
 
Assinalado
Aerelien | Mar 23, 2020 |

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Estatísticas

Obras
68
Also by
1
Membros
1,001
Popularidade
#25,758
Avaliação
4.1
Críticas
13
ISBN
40
Línguas
9
Marcado como favorito
3

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