Green Darkness
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| Green Darkness | |
 First edition cover |
|
| Author | Anya Seton |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Historical, Romance novel |
| Publisher | Hodder & Stoughton |
| Publication date | 1 November 1972 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 480 pp (first edition, hardback) |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-340-15979-0 (first edition, hardback) |
Green Darkness is the 1972 novel by Anya Seton.
[edit] Plot summary
In the 1960's, young Celia Marsdon travels to England to visit the ancestral lands of her husband, Richard Marsdon. Once they get there, things get strange--Richard begins acting out of character, while Celia starts to have strange fits and visions. Celia's mother has befriended a Hindu guru, Dr. Akananda, and it is he who figures out what's wrong with the young couple. The troubles of the present time can only be solved by revisiting a tragedy from the past.
And so the older story begins, in the reign of Edward VI, as lovely young Celia de Bohun and her loving aunt take up residence with a grand family as "poor relations." Celia is a fascinating and "real" character, full of contradictions and human failings. She is headstrong and impulsive; dreaming of true love but entranced by male flattery; innocent but coquettish. She creates a scandal when she falls in love with the family chaplain, Stephen, who in turn desires Celia but does not want to break his vow of chastity. They part, but never forget each other. Time passes; Edward's persecution of Catholics gives way to Mary's persecution of Protestants; the family fortunes rise and fall; sympathetic characters harden into detestable ones. When Celia and Stephen finally meet again, nothing can stop the power between them. It ends tragically. The Tudor story and the narrative heads back to the 1960's to find resolution to the present.
[edit] Characters in "Green Darkness"
- Celia Marsdon – the 20th century protagonist
- Richard Marsdon – her husband
- Dr. Akananda – a Hindu guru
- Celia de Bohun – the Tudor period protagonist
- Stephen Marsdon – the family chaplain
[edit] Allusions/references to actual history, geography and current science
The Manor House setting in Green Darkness at Ightham Mote was faithfully replicated at Cape Elizabeth, Maine by Charles Henry Robinson. It was named 'Hidden Court' and can still be seen as of 2004.
