- Hardcover: 560 pages
- Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books; First Edition edition (Oct 11 2002)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0312288352
- ISBN-13: 978-0312288358
- Product Dimensions: 24.4 x 16.5 x 4.3 cm
- Shipping Weight: 916 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #575,733 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Donnelly indulges in delightfully straightforward storytelling in this comfortably overstuffed novel. In 1880s London, the squalid Thames-side neighborhood of Whitechapel is home to Fiona Finnegan, spunky daughter of Paddy Finnegan. Both are employed by unscrupulous tea merchant William Burton, but Fiona is saving to start a shop with her love, Joe Bristow. Just as her future seems assured, a string of tragedies toppledher hopes. Joe is tricked into marriage to another woman, Burton has Paddy killed for supporting a labor union, Fionas mother is murdered by Jack the Ripper and Fionas distraught brother is found dead in the Thames. Fiona had been attempting to get compensation from Burton for her fathers death, but when she overhears his boasts of killing Paddy, she must flee for her life with her sole remaining brother, five-year-old Seamie. She rushes to a seaport, but cannot get passage until the wealthy dandy Nicholas Soames offers it, pretending she is his wife. The scene switches to New York City of the Gay 90s, to the glitter of Delmonicos, the elegance of Gramercy Park and the crowded tenements of downtown. Fiona lodges with her alcoholic Uncle Michael and saves both him and his grocery on her way to making her fortune in the tea industry. But she never forgets her familys fate, and when she can, she returns to England to revenge herself on Burton. Though Donnellys indomitable heroine steps out of period character from time to time¢her easy acceptance of Soamess homosexuality is particularly unlikely¢the novels lively plotting, big cast of warmly drawn characters and long-deferred romantic denouement make this a ripping yarn. In the final dramatic settling of scores, Donnelly even ventures to unmask Jack the Ripper.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
In 1888, Fiona Finnegan and Joe Bristow hoard shillings and pennies so that they can marry and open a shop. But Jack the Ripper stalks the streets of London's East End, and poverty threatens from the shadows. Setting the story in motion is the murder of Fiona's father, a dock worker whose union activities angered his tea-company boss. Fiona and her younger brother must flee to New York City to avoid their own murders. Through hard work and luck, Fiona and her beloved Joe prosper on opposite sides of the Atlantic. Misunderstandings and mistakes keep them apart as they build separate lives and incredible fortunes. Children's book writer Donnelly effortlessly takes her narrative through slums and high society while intertwining a number of subplots without tangling them. Both major and minor characters capture and hold interest and sympathy. Although the number of Fiona and Joe's near encounters stretches the imagination, readers will forgive the tease once the lovers' reunion and Fiona's revenge for her father's death converge in an action-packed ending. Public library readers will relish this rags-to-riches romance. Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State Univ., Mankato
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
The scent of Indian tea leaves-back, crisp, and malty-was intoxicating. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
The scent of Indian tea leaves-back, crisp, and malty-was intoxicating. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Prepare to loose some sleep over this great yarn!,
By
This review is from: The Tea Rose: A Novel (Mass Market Paperback)
This was such a wonderful tale, I simply could not put it down. A tale of two star crossed lovers (they came SO CLOSE to finding each other time after time after time I wanted to scream!), a lovely glimpse of Victorian England and New York City. Many memorable characters, heartbreak and laughter and of course a truly evil villain waiting for the good guys to vanquish, and a surprise return from the dead at the end. Can't wait to read the sequel now.My only complaints are just a few too many famous people popping in and out of Fee's life in New York, and the reveal on the supposed identity of Jack the ripper was a bit over the top, but that's just splitting hairs. If you love Victorian England, true love and maybe a good cry or two, don't pass this up. And thank you Amazon for recommending items and a HUGE thanks to all those Listmania writers -- I would never have found this book or so many others that have enriched my life in the last year or so. **UPDATE*** I have just finished the sequel to The Tea Rose, The Winter Rose. It was wonderful to read more of Joe, Fiona and Seamie, the main story being focused on the character whose surprise return you will read about at the end of The Tea Rose. Lots of love, laughter, tears, action and one of the sweetest endings I have ever come across in a book.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Tea roses are always a lovely and unexpected delight-just like this book,
By Lilly Flora "by Lilo Drandoff" (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Tea Rose: A Novel (Mass Market Paperback)
picked this book up because a positive review compared it to the Thorn birds. I read forty pages the first night I had it, and finished the book (all seven hundred some pages of it) the next day. I literally couldn't put it down.The story of Fiona and her love Joe two poor kids from Whitechapel who've been in love their whole lives only to lose each other when Joe begins to make a success of himself and Fiona's parents die tragicaly, is compelling, but what's so great about this novel is the amount of historical detail that makes it some realistic. It's obvious that a great deal of research went into this book, and the work paid of for Ms. Donnelly, because this book is so vivid its like your there in Whitechapel with Fiona and Joe, and then in old glamorous New York where great steam ships roll in in and a fortune is there for anyone with the smarts to work for it. Buy this book, make some tea, and sit down with two enterprising young lovers, one scheming evil villain and a story of the true resilience of the human spirit. I've only know about this book for year and hald and I've allready read it three times. its one of those books I'll read every year.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fabulous!!,
By Erin Munro (Cobourg, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Tea Rose: A Novel (Hardcover)
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It was a heartwarming tale that captivated me right from the start and I couldn't put it down. I only wish that Donnelly had used more names; it seemed that every other character had either the same name or a similar one (too many Lucy's, McPearson and Pearson were confusing, etc). I loved the novel and enjoyed the twist at the end. I would strongly recommend this book!
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