This was a sweet, clever little novella. So much packed into this heart wrenching, sensitively executed short story.Lydia Charingford at the tender age of 15 has been diagnosed as being pregnant by a narrow minded, unsympathetic Doctor who advises her parents to have her put away as she is ruined. In the company of this physician is a young man named Jonas Grantham about to embark on his medical training and accompanying the elderly Doctor to gain experience, warned to keep his opinions to himself, Jonas feels unable to intervene in the treatment proposed, although he does not agree with the medication prescribed....a decision he forever regrets.Six years later Jonas returns, he is by now a fully qualified Doctor with some ground breaking ideas. Young, enthusiastic, tactless, sarcastic and incapable of being anything other than direct and truthful, he is on the lookout for a wife. He draws up a list of eligible young women of which Lydia...whom he does not recognise...is no.11 on said 'wife list'. Lydia is immediately aware that this tall, good looking young man was present at the moment of her disgrace and this knowledge puts her on the defensive. She decides she does not like him and even after Jonas is made aware...by Lydia herself...that it was she 6 years previously, she is convinced he thinks her easy and could not possibly be attracted to her. This is the catalyst for Jonas to decide that no other will do and he embarks on a 16 month pursuit of Lydia, during which, due to the directness of his speech and his inability to lie, she misunderstands every remark he makes to her. To his credit Jonas will not be turned from his goal and doggedly carries on trying to win Lydia's heart. As a physician he recognises that she has not recovered and that she is really very badly affected by her ordeal six years previously, he patiently tries to help her, his methods and manner of speech, however, do not endear him to her. Courtney Milan has tackled a taboo subject in a brave and sensitive manner, in an era, where disgrace of this kind would have, under normal circumstances, completely ruined a young woman. Lydia may have escaped wider censorship with the aid of her friend Minnie and her own caring and loving parents, but she is deeply troubled and hides it with a cheerful and happy disposition, her own worst critic, she is resigned to never allowing herself to find love and is afraid of the natural urges of her own body. There are also warm and evocative scenes with Jonas and his own Father, a self made man who is desperately ill....real tear jerkers....hankies at the ready! 5 well deserved stars for this wonderful little gem Courtney Milan. And yet another excellent entry from Ms. Milan. Even though I have never had anything so horrible happen to me as what Lydia went through, I could totally identify with her as someone who always tries to look for the bright side of things and generally presents a cheerful face to the world, no matter what my inner thoughts might be. Sometimes it takes a lot more effort to see the good in the world than to just give in and believe that everything is horrible. I love that Jonas could see that Lydia was stronger (and smarter - she fixes her father's accounting!) than anyone gave her credit for. Also, Jonas gets the vote for best sense of humor! Sometimes laughing at the tragedy of life is the only way to make it through. I think the historical notes for this novella were also some of the most fascinating and educational ones so far. Medicine sure has come a long way!
What do You think about Zärtlicher Winter (2013)?
Nice to see Lydia get her happy ending. But what ever happened to Dr. Granthams father?
—jasmine
A lovely and clever tale. This author is always interesting!
—lauren774
