This is the story of a tragic love triangle (or bizarre love triangle for you New Order fans). The characters in this story are:*Thomas Fraser, of the Fraser Highlanders who participated in the '45 with the Young Pretender, and thus lost everything. Thomas has struggled all of his life and must join the army to make a living. He and Jane have loved each other since childhood. (And yes, theses are the same Frasers as those featured in the Outlander Series)*Alex Gordon, the Duke of Gordon. His family supported the King in the '45 and thus kept all of their land and titles. There are rumors of the Gordon Madness afflicting the bloodline. Although Alex's mother tried to spend his entire fortune, he was able to hold on to some and rebuild. Alex was acquainted with Thomas and Jane during childhood, but he was a Duke, and therefore did not hang out with them.*Jane Maxwell, a beautiful woman from a lower ranking, somewhat poor, aristocratic family than the Gordans. She longs for family, love and independence, and freely expresses her thoughts and ideas on many subjects. Jane champions the cause of the underdog and struggles to keep Scottish traditions alive. She has been in love with Thomas since childhood, and promised to be wife someday.Through fate and meddling family, tragedy visits this trio many times throughout their lives, bringing heartache and despair. Jane and Alex come together first as friends and then as lovers. They share the bond of having loved and lost someone close to them. But when Thomas comes back from the dead, happy times are over, and Alex and Jane's life is a constant cycle of happiness, sadness and mistrust. Every time the reader thinks everything will work out, fate brings Thomas back into their lives and reopens old wounds.Alex is possessive and mistrustful of Jane due to his experiences growing up. Instead of just accepting that Jane will always love Thomas, Alex becomes furious and makes bad decisions, which usually hurt Jane. For her part, Jane always manages to pick herself up again and carry on. However, I do have one problem with Jane. I don't think she ever tries to see the situation form Alex's point of view. She is so consumed by her love for Thomas and how they can't be together, that she doesn't realize the pain she causes Alex. This may be my modern view of the situation, because for Alex's part, he never truly opens himself up to Jane. Men in those days didn't speak about their feelings. Alex already had trust issues, so why would he expose himself to being hurt further? And then there's Thomas, who can't be with the woman he loves, and never finds love again. Nothing compares to his Jenny. See...very tragic situation all the way around. The love story of these characters was deftly weaved within the life and times of Scotland in the 1760's and forward. I was completely immersed in this story and left the real world behind. I even uttered "Aye Lassie" to my co worker's questions a few times, which caused us to burst out into some much needed laughter. There is one scene in the book, when Jane and Alex are out in the Highlands raising an army to fight off the rebellion in the colonies. Alex and Jane are performing ancient Scottish dancing; the description of the dance, and the the undercurrents of the situation and their feelings are written so descriptively and accurately, it was as if I was there. I could see their faces doing that dance.Jane was also quite a force in her day as well. She was friends with many influential people and had an ongoing rivalry with the Duchess of Devonshire. Jane was also friends with PM Pitt and the poet Robert Burns. Jane's activities throughout the story also bring a richness and realness to this tale.If you can't tell by now, I thoroughly loved and enjoyed this book. I loved each and every character, despite their faults, and became quite fond of all of them. Although I knew a happy ending could not be had by all, I was riveted to this book and was sorry to see it end. My Rating: 100/100 I really loved this story. I loved Ciji's writing and look forward to reading the rest of her novels. I am so happy to have discovered this author! It's a shame I never heard of her before.
With Island of the Swans,Ciji Ware gives readers a sweeping historical romance of Scotlands's Jane Maxwell, the Fourth Duchess of Gordon. In love since childhood with impoverished Thomas Fraser, Jane is devastated when news reaches Edinburgh that Thomas has been killed fighting with the Black Watch regiment against the French and Indians in the American colonies. While still mourning Thomas, Jane begins to attempt to heal her heart by re-entering Edinburgh society, often in the company of Alexander, Fourth Duke of Gordon, who has recently suffered a similar loss. The two become strong friends and when Alex speaks of his growing love for her, Jane consents to marry him, believing Thomas gone forever and needing the support of a husband for others in her family as well as herself. On the day of her wedding to Alexander, word reaches Magdalene, Jane's mother, that Thomas is alive and just arrived in Ireland to rejoin his regiment. He will soon be free to return to Edinburgh and his beloved Jenny (Jane). Preferring a duke over a soldier for a son-in-law, Magdalene keeps the news to herself, and the wedding proceeds as planned. It is only upon her return to Edinburgh after an extended honeymoon that the new Duchess of Gordon learns of the folly that has befallen Thomas, Alexander, and herself.The romance of Island of the Swans is not really a lover's triangle, more a tug-o-war, with Jane being pulled between Thomas, who is her soul mate and Alexander, the man she loves as a husband and father to her children. Jane intends loyalty to Alexander, but his unreasonable and sometimes vicious jealousy prevents them from deepening their friendship and ties as a couple. For over 30 years Jane and Thomas lead separate lives, occasionally seeing one another through local ceremonies or mutual interests. The history of the story is exciting, as it rolls through the dessication of the Scottish Highlands, two American wars, and the madness of King George. Jane's intelligence and forthright manner make her the toast of not only Edinburgh but London as well. A confidant to King George III, and active in election campaigns, she becomes the patroness of the unknown poet Robert Burns, and is elemental in the publication of his first collection of poetry.Jane was instrumental in raising Scottish Highland troops for the Gordon Regiment during the war with the American Colonies, and even created the Gordon tartan, based on the Black Watch tartan. While doing all of these public things, Jane gives birth to seven children and creates her own farm at Kinrara in the Highlands far North of Edinburgh.Although Island of the Swansis a work of historical fiction, the characters of Jane and Alexander seem much like the descriptions I have read of them in my own brief research. Jane, a lover of books, new ideas, and people, was at her prime in the salons of London and Edinburgh, while Alexander loved the country life of hunting and animal husbandry. Even without the specter of Thomas Fraser hanging over them throughout their marriage, Jane and Alex were obviously not a suited couple. While Jane was able to use the Gordon title to make change and effect political decisions, Alex wanted nothing more than to be left alone in the countryside then known as Morayshire.
What do You think about Island Of The Swans (2010)?
What a disappointing book! I had such high hopes for it - it's one of my favorite periods of history and I've read quite a few books about other notables of the era. I knew of the Duchess of Gordan from other books and was interested to get her Tory side of the story, since most of the books I've read have favored the Whig point of view. I thought a novel of historical fiction would be just the thing to bring all that history to life. Unfortunately the book is more a standard romance with some historical facts thrown randomly about.Instead of focusing of what the Duchess is famous for - being close friends with King George & Queen Charlotte, being an ardent supporter of Pitt and one of the leading ladies of the Ton (along with Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire) discovering the poet Robert Burns & managing to marry off 3 of her 5 daughters to Dukes (even though they had miniscule dowries)- the romance novel focuses on a love triangle between her, her husband and her childhood "true love". Bleh.The book is nearly 600 pages yet manages to cram all mention of Georgiana into about two paragraphs, slightly more than that about Pitt & really none at all to explain how she became so close to the King & Queen. The book totally leaves out her trip to France with her youngest daughter, whom she was attempting to marry off to Josephine's son Eugene. Really??? The most interesting parts of her life are minimized or ignored completely and instead the novels goes on & on & on about this magic childhood love of hers. We get chapters about her true love's adventures in America. Chapters!To add insult to injury, this sweeping grand passion that is the central focus of the novel is so not passionate. Frankly, Jane comes off as an asshole who can't make up her mind and her true love Thomas is so spineless. I've been reading the Outlander series intermittently and kept comparing this lame couple with the awesomeness of Jamie & Claire from Outlander. If a romantic relationship is going to be the main focus of a novel, it better be damn good. And the romantic relationship in this book sucked.One star for the potential of the book. Sigh. Such a missed opportunity for a great book.
—Julie Barrett
For the sake of friends that may read this in the future, I won't go into much detail about my thoughts on this book and just make them vague. Why have I been writing my thoughts down so much lately, though? Anyway, this book was not how I thought it would be as far as subject/content, writing style, or length (for some reason I had thought it was on the average size but it is a more lengthy tome). For a while I was thinking it would only have three stars until I realized how much I had fallen in love with the characters and story. In the past I think I gave some "guilty pleasures" lower scores but this one seems like it should have a higher score.Also, I was very good and avoided going after what was real and what was not until after I had finished. This area is one of my passions (thank you to Jean Plaidy and her Georgian Saga!) and going into it I felt like I had a little more knowledge than most. I was quite shocked to learn how wrong I was after fact checking at the end! Move over Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, there's a new duchess in town!
—Lady Jane Grey
This was another of my lucky Kindle finds -- I believe it was only available for a few days and then POOF, it's no longer available on Kindle. After 20 years, it was re-issued in its original length, and I'm SO VERY GLAD I bought it. Not only is it a passionate, amazing story, but it's a TRUE story.My favorite books of all time are Diana Gabaldon's "Outlander" series, and any fans of hers will love and devour this book. First, it involves clan Fraser, and occurs right before the Revolutionary War. Thomas Fraser, godson of Simon Fraser, relation of Simon the Fox. Thomas, now titleless was close childhood friends with Jane Maxwell, who had a title but lived in poor gentility. Jane's mother was absolutely dead-set against a match between Thomas and Jane, despite the two's insistence, and looked for a higher match in order to save the penury of her family.Thomas and Jane, secretly bethrothed, are thrown into a quandry when Thomas is called to fight in America during pre-Revolutionary skirmishes. He tries to reason with Jane that after the two year assignment, he'll have his commission and will be able to better take care of her. The two part with some harsh words (Jane wants to elope, Thomas holds fast).Jane's mother burns all of Thomas' letters to Jane, and one day, the family is visited by a messenger who tells them that Thomas, along with two others, have been hacked to pieces by Indians. Jane falls into mourning, but her mother continues her matchmaking scheming, and after about six months, has convinced Jane to marry Duke Alexander of Gordon, an earlier rival of Thomas Fraser.Right before Jane's wedding day, though, the tables are completely overturned when a letter arrives saying that Thomas is NOT dead, but had escaped the fray and has been convalescing in Maryland. His benefactress and nurse has fallen in love with him, though, and had hidden HIS earlier letters to Jane assuring her of his life. Jane ends up marrying Duke Alexander, Thomas arrives home, and we're set with hundreds of pages of starstruck lovers.I won't say more, but it is SUCH a good read. Not only is the love triangle between Jane, Alexander, and Thomas a heart-rending story, but the history of the time is fascinating. Robert Burns, the poet, shows up -- William Pitt, the prime minister -- the madness of King George -- lots of court intrigues -- there's plenty to keep the pages turning. I lost a lot of much-needed sleep reading this amazing book.This one ends up on my Favorite Books of All Time list.Highly recommended.Lori AndersonBlogShop
—Lori Anderson
