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The Wild Dark Flowers
When May came that year in Rutherford, it was more beautiful than anyone could ever remember. More beautiful, and more terrible…
From inside their sprawling estate of Rutherford Park, the Cavendish family had a privileged perspective of the world. On the first morning in May, 1915, with a splendid view that reached across the gardens to the Vale of York, nothing seemed lovelier or less threatening. And yet…
At the risk of undoing the Cavendish name with scandal, William and Octavia Cavendish have been living a lie, maintaining a marriage out of duty rather than passion. But when their son Harry joins the Royal Flying Corps in France, the Cavendish family are forced to face the unavoidable truths about themselves, the society in which they thrive, and the secrets they can no longer bear.
In the wake of a terrible war, the emotional shifts between a husband and a wife, a wife and her lover, and a mother and her children, will shake the very foundation of the Cavendish family, and change the uniquely vulnerable lives of all who reside at Rutherford Park.
From inside their sprawling estate of Rutherford Park, the Cavendish family had a privileged perspective of the world. On the first morning in May, 1915, with a splendid view that reached across the gardens to the Vale of York, nothing seemed lovelier or less threatening. And yet…
At the risk of undoing the Cavendish name with scandal, William and Octavia Cavendish have been living a lie, maintaining a marriage out of duty rather than passion. But when their son Harry joins the Royal Flying Corps in France, the Cavendish family are forced to face the unavoidable truths about themselves, the society in which they thrive, and the secrets they can no longer bear.
In the wake of a terrible war, the emotional shifts between a husband and a wife, a wife and her lover, and a mother and her children, will shake the very foundation of the Cavendish family, and change the uniquely vulnerable lives of all who reside at Rutherford Park.
341 pages, Paperback
Published July 1, 2014
About the author
Elizabeth Cooke
14 books28 followersSee also Elizabeth McGregor and Holly Fox.
Elizabeth Cooke lives in Dorset in southern England and is the author of fourteen novels, many of which she wrote under the pseudonym Elizabeth McGregor, as well as a work of nonfiction, The Damnation of John Donellan: A Mysterious Case of Death and Scandal in Georgian England. Acclaimed for her vivid, emotionally powerful storytelling and rigorous historical accuracy, Cooke has developed an international reputation. She is best known for her novels Rutherford Park and The Ice Child. Her work has been translated into numerous languages.
Elizabeth Cooke lives in Dorset in southern England and is the author of fourteen novels, many of which she wrote under the pseudonym Elizabeth McGregor, as well as a work of nonfiction, The Damnation of John Donellan: A Mysterious Case of Death and Scandal in Georgian England. Acclaimed for her vivid, emotionally powerful storytelling and rigorous historical accuracy, Cooke has developed an international reputation. She is best known for her novels Rutherford Park and The Ice Child. Her work has been translated into numerous languages.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
February 7, 2019
Probably closer to 4.5 stars but I'm rounding up because this book hit the reading need I was hoping it would. I'd read a couple of lackluster books before this and I was craving, simply and not much else , a good story. This book filled the ticket perfectly. It felt like a good old fashioned 80s or 90s TV mini- series which is one of my favorite guilty pleasures. My only complaint was that I had a bit of trouble keeping characters straight in my head. Part of that is my fault because it has been many years in between this and the first book in the series. I wish the author would have been kind and reminded us who everyone was and how they related to the overall story. I'm going to try to be better about finding and reading book #3. If I can track it down I will read it yet this year.
5*(4.5)/3.70*
5*(4.5)/3.70*
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December 1, 2022I can do nothing but SCREAM.
THAT LAST SCENE
HOW
WHAT
I WAS SO SURE
And like tbh I don't even like him or anyone in this book BUT HOW IS THIS
THE TWIST
The
Anyways that's all.
p.s. not a perfectly clean book, fair amount of cussing and some innuendos of various types
THAT LAST SCENE
HOW
WHAT
I WAS SO SURE
And like tbh I don't even like him or anyone in this book BUT HOW IS THIS
THE TWIST
The
Anyways that's all.
p.s. not a perfectly clean book, fair amount of cussing and some innuendos of various types
July 8, 2014
Fantastic! Review will be posted soon.
January 19, 2018
A good second book in the series. To me the most interesting part was the sinking of the Luisitania.
May 7, 2021
Overall, a disappointment.
I quite enjoyed RUTHERFORD PARK, but this was trying too hard to be deep & serious & illuminating to the point where it became dull...which is why I began skipping certain storylines entirely, because zzzz. Instead of a literary soap opera (ie., the first book), it became a homage to ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT with occasional boring ‘home scenes’ tossed in. Where were the threads & interactions I liked in the first book? The story as a whole lacked any cohesive focus or drive except to show Harry & Harrison’s travails & John’s time on the Lusitania—not that these are bad things to include, per se, but the remainder just kinda mushed around & put me to sleep.
I don’t have the final book yet, & I’m not sure whether to bother. I’m a bit curious how Charlotte & Louisa’s arcs spin out, but now that Harry is returning to the front & Jack is joining the veterinary corps...meh. I’m not sure I have enough interest (or backbone, because I can’t deal with Warhorse stories period).
So. 2.5 stars, rounded up for the good bits. It’s not poorly written, but there’s too much war for a lolzy soap & too much blah domestic drama to please fans of war novels.
NB: If you’re looking for an escapist OTT read featuring the clash of generations & shellshocked characters in the aftermath of WWI, try Phillippa Gregory’s FALLEN SKIES. It features similar themes as this novel, but ties them into a much more interesting tale.
I quite enjoyed RUTHERFORD PARK, but this was trying too hard to be deep & serious & illuminating to the point where it became dull...which is why I began skipping certain storylines entirely, because zzzz. Instead of a literary soap opera (ie., the first book), it became a homage to ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT with occasional boring ‘home scenes’ tossed in. Where were the threads & interactions I liked in the first book? The story as a whole lacked any cohesive focus or drive except to show Harry & Harrison’s travails & John’s time on the Lusitania—not that these are bad things to include, per se, but the remainder just kinda mushed around & put me to sleep.
I don’t have the final book yet, & I’m not sure whether to bother. I’m a bit curious how Charlotte & Louisa’s arcs spin out, but now that Harry is returning to the front & Jack is joining the veterinary corps...meh. I’m not sure I have enough interest (or backbone, because I can’t deal with Warhorse stories period).
So. 2.5 stars, rounded up for the good bits. It’s not poorly written, but there’s too much war for a lolzy soap & too much blah domestic drama to please fans of war novels.
NB: If you’re looking for an escapist OTT read featuring the clash of generations & shellshocked characters in the aftermath of WWI, try Phillippa Gregory’s FALLEN SKIES. It features similar themes as this novel, but ties them into a much more interesting tale.
August 7, 2023
More stuff happens in this book. Still nothing special but the book is fine. I will say the book ends on an interesting note and if the third book was made into an audiobook I’d read it but as it stands that’s not available so it’s not worth the time to physically read.
August 3, 2018
Not sure why....just couldn’t get into this book.
July 1, 2014
http://openbooksociety.com/article/th...
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele
*Beware of mild spoilers*
The Wild Dark Flowers is the second book in the Rutherford Park series, but, having not read the first, I thought it read just fine as a standalone. It provides a snapshot of the life of an English aristocratic family and their staff in the midst of World War I.
The Cavendish household is having a hard time. Many members of their staff have joined the war effort leaving the household shorthanded. Their horses have been requisitioned by the army. Staff members discover the true horrors of life on the front lines, and the sweethearts they left behind are worried and distracted. The housekeeper becomes more and more eccentric and hateful to her mistress and the staff. The youngest daughter wants to volunteer at the hospital (how unseemly). The son, a fighter pilot, is injured in the line of duty. The older daughter is recovering from the scandal of an elopement gone wrong. Octavia, the wife and mother, is mourning the end of an affair and the stifling circumstances of her sex and station. The American, the object of Octavia’s affection, continues to write to her and wants her back. William finds it hard to return to life as normal after his wife’s betrayal, and he is resistant to the world changing around him.
And the world is indeed changing. Class barriers are coming down. What is, and is not, “appropriate” is in flux. The story seems to revolve around change: how hard it is, the inevitability of it, the senseless loss of war, and the truth that life continues on despite it all.
Ms. Cooke provides the reader with a descriptive landscape to inhabit, whether it be the lush spring in York or the muddy, bloody war front lines in France. However, at times the descriptions are a bit drawn out and become a little tedious. The story constantly switches from one scene (and location) to another, which I enjoyed because it moved the story along, but it did make things a bit choppy. The characters are well drawn, but the reader only gets a glimpse at some of them. I have a feeling they are featured more prominently in the previous installment.
I enjoyed this Edwardian tale, and would recommend it to those who have read the first Rutherford Park novel, fans of the period, and, it must be said, to Downton Abbey enthusiasts.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review as part of their ongoing blog tour*
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele
*Beware of mild spoilers*
The Wild Dark Flowers is the second book in the Rutherford Park series, but, having not read the first, I thought it read just fine as a standalone. It provides a snapshot of the life of an English aristocratic family and their staff in the midst of World War I.
The Cavendish household is having a hard time. Many members of their staff have joined the war effort leaving the household shorthanded. Their horses have been requisitioned by the army. Staff members discover the true horrors of life on the front lines, and the sweethearts they left behind are worried and distracted. The housekeeper becomes more and more eccentric and hateful to her mistress and the staff. The youngest daughter wants to volunteer at the hospital (how unseemly). The son, a fighter pilot, is injured in the line of duty. The older daughter is recovering from the scandal of an elopement gone wrong. Octavia, the wife and mother, is mourning the end of an affair and the stifling circumstances of her sex and station. The American, the object of Octavia’s affection, continues to write to her and wants her back. William finds it hard to return to life as normal after his wife’s betrayal, and he is resistant to the world changing around him.
And the world is indeed changing. Class barriers are coming down. What is, and is not, “appropriate” is in flux. The story seems to revolve around change: how hard it is, the inevitability of it, the senseless loss of war, and the truth that life continues on despite it all.
Ms. Cooke provides the reader with a descriptive landscape to inhabit, whether it be the lush spring in York or the muddy, bloody war front lines in France. However, at times the descriptions are a bit drawn out and become a little tedious. The story constantly switches from one scene (and location) to another, which I enjoyed because it moved the story along, but it did make things a bit choppy. The characters are well drawn, but the reader only gets a glimpse at some of them. I have a feeling they are featured more prominently in the previous installment.
I enjoyed this Edwardian tale, and would recommend it to those who have read the first Rutherford Park novel, fans of the period, and, it must be said, to Downton Abbey enthusiasts.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review as part of their ongoing blog tour*
June 22, 2015
I must admit, I am surprised at how breathtakingly evocative Cooke's writing is. Truthfully when I typically read this type of historical fiction - which I wholeheartedly love, don't get me wrong - I am reading for story. I am reading because it is a time period or topic that piques my interest. I don't necessarily expect it to be transcendent or anything that might garner the label "high brow." But this series has moved me in a way that shatters that supposed distinction – and probably some of my own literary snobbishness which I clearly retain. I have read several books that cover this same late Edwardian to WW1 time period so none of the historical elements were altogether surprising. And yet, I was moved and had a very emotive response to several passages – particularly the scenes on the Lusitania and a battlefield scene with a secondary character (no spoilers, don't worry). I was troubled and tearful, respectively, after both of those mentioned and had to put aside the book for a moment to rally my feelings. What else is that besides great writing. The only qualm I might have is the ending for both of the first two books has had a slightly melodramatic upturn that feels somewhat out of tune with the tone of the rest of the book. This one even more-so than the first, but it's obvious that those moments are done in such a way to set you up for the next installment of the series. They don't feel forced necessarily but I feel like if the author had been writing them as standalones and not consciously as parts of a series, then they would have ended with a softer, quieter (and possibly even more somber) touch. Maybe that's an editorial decision but it felt noticeable. Either way, they're not over the top or bad turns, they're just slightly different to the rest of the book. But they also do their work because I am chomping at the bit for the next one. Of what I've read, I would compare this to Phillip Rock's very solid Passing Bells series, but while those books are sprawling and epic (and a little too laden with military fact at times), these books have a pinpointed intimacy that resonates me with a little more strongly. (They're being marketed and compared a lot to Downton Abbey – and while there are obvious similarities in time and content, these books far exceed DA's oftentimes schlocky, sentimental excesses.)
July 2, 2014
Elizabeth Cooke has written a noble, admirable follow-up novel to Rutherford Park: A Novel. The stereotypical characters and events of old are all about to be blown to bits!
Harry Cavendish has grown up as a Dad and now is about to serve as a member of the Royal Flying Corps fighting in World War I in 1915. The world’s not a pretty place at all and aristocracy and servants are all expected to “do their part” in the war effort at home and abroad. The dreams, the fantasies and the reality unfold in amazing, step-by-step scenes that grip the reader’s full attention and participation immediately, never flagging throughout the 300+ pages that follow.
Harry’s mother, Octavia, has dramatically changed. She’s suffered a tremendous loss of her great love, lives amid the frozen shambles of a marriage and is trying to find purpose in her life. She’s a suffragette before her time and begins making a difference on the home front by forcing healthy and safe changes in those who work in the family business. William, her husband, must face reality to recover from a broken heart, a truth previously hidden by the “stiff upper lip” so much part of the problem with the upper class in England at that time.
Servants and even the town’s chaplain join the military as well; their descriptions of before and after the “Great War” are brutally surrealistic but oh so real!
Octavia’s lover, John, writes letters to his love every day and is about to make the most pivotal journey of his life, a stunning portion of this powerful novel in so many ways.
The Wild Dark Flowers: A Novel of Rutherford Park is a very well-crafted story involving changes that force several conclusions about war and relationships but do so in a style full of tension and evolving progress. The characters in this novel have depth as we share their brutal and tender reflections about this memorably turbulent time. One can’t stop turning the pages of this very engaging novel – loved every page of it and know readers will as well! Fine, fine historical fiction!
Harry Cavendish has grown up as a Dad and now is about to serve as a member of the Royal Flying Corps fighting in World War I in 1915. The world’s not a pretty place at all and aristocracy and servants are all expected to “do their part” in the war effort at home and abroad. The dreams, the fantasies and the reality unfold in amazing, step-by-step scenes that grip the reader’s full attention and participation immediately, never flagging throughout the 300+ pages that follow.
Harry’s mother, Octavia, has dramatically changed. She’s suffered a tremendous loss of her great love, lives amid the frozen shambles of a marriage and is trying to find purpose in her life. She’s a suffragette before her time and begins making a difference on the home front by forcing healthy and safe changes in those who work in the family business. William, her husband, must face reality to recover from a broken heart, a truth previously hidden by the “stiff upper lip” so much part of the problem with the upper class in England at that time.
Servants and even the town’s chaplain join the military as well; their descriptions of before and after the “Great War” are brutally surrealistic but oh so real!
Octavia’s lover, John, writes letters to his love every day and is about to make the most pivotal journey of his life, a stunning portion of this powerful novel in so many ways.
The Wild Dark Flowers: A Novel of Rutherford Park is a very well-crafted story involving changes that force several conclusions about war and relationships but do so in a style full of tension and evolving progress. The characters in this novel have depth as we share their brutal and tender reflections about this memorably turbulent time. One can’t stop turning the pages of this very engaging novel – loved every page of it and know readers will as well! Fine, fine historical fiction!
July 8, 2014
The Wild Dark Flowers is the second novel in the Rutherford Park series. If you've not read Rutherford Park, I would urge you to do so before reading this book. I didn't read it first, and while Elizabeth Cooke does a fantastic job of laying out the story, I felt as if I didn't get a clear picture.
Who will like this book? Fans of Downton Abbey, Upstairs, Downstairs, and the like. Rutherford Park is a huge estate (like Downton) that is run by a small army of servants and staff. And just like Downton Abbey the story focuses not only on the family but the staff as well. So you get a broad picture of how the war had an effect on every class.
Lord and Lady Cavendish are trying to repair their marriage after her affair with the American. William knows that Octavia still has romantic feelings toward her seducer, but he still tries to do everything in his power to win her back. The Cavendish's have many more worries to contend with. They worry over their children, especially their son who is involved in the war. They worry over the household and the staff that has been sent or is going off to war.
This story is full of emotional turmoil that will keep you turning pages until the very end. It would be hard to put in every detail and focus on every story line (there are a few) without giving away the entire plot or making this review thirty pages. The Wild Dark Flowers is a wonderfully written book that will leave you wanting more. This is the series to read while you're waiting for new episodes Downton Abbey.
Read more at http://www.toreadornottoread.net/2014...
Who will like this book? Fans of Downton Abbey, Upstairs, Downstairs, and the like. Rutherford Park is a huge estate (like Downton) that is run by a small army of servants and staff. And just like Downton Abbey the story focuses not only on the family but the staff as well. So you get a broad picture of how the war had an effect on every class.
Lord and Lady Cavendish are trying to repair their marriage after her affair with the American. William knows that Octavia still has romantic feelings toward her seducer, but he still tries to do everything in his power to win her back. The Cavendish's have many more worries to contend with. They worry over their children, especially their son who is involved in the war. They worry over the household and the staff that has been sent or is going off to war.
This story is full of emotional turmoil that will keep you turning pages until the very end. It would be hard to put in every detail and focus on every story line (there are a few) without giving away the entire plot or making this review thirty pages. The Wild Dark Flowers is a wonderfully written book that will leave you wanting more. This is the series to read while you're waiting for new episodes Downton Abbey.
Read more at http://www.toreadornottoread.net/2014...
February 8, 2015
I received a copy in exchange for my review
When I heard there would be a sequel to Rutherford Park, I was happy. I enjoyed the first novel and was looking forward to catching up with the family again. Starting where the last book left off is a big plus and I like that the author weaves in a recap of the first book so you are not at a loss.
This book is rich in the history of the first World War and the author has included an in depth look at the the tragedy of the fighting and the effects the war has on the residents of Rutherford Park. Some spots are very graphic and there is a lot of detail added about the war but it all comes back to how the war changed the family and their staff.
William and Octavia go through a lot of changes and yet they continue to work through the scandals and issues they have. But there are a few romances along the way to lighten the mood and add interest in the midst of the war. This book ends in another cliffhanger that comes completely from left field, setting up the next book in the series which I will be waiting for with great anticipation.
If you are looking for a story that includes a lot of history, British charm and all of the drama you can handle, then Elizabeth Cooke is the author you need to look for and this series of Rutherford Park.
When I heard there would be a sequel to Rutherford Park, I was happy. I enjoyed the first novel and was looking forward to catching up with the family again. Starting where the last book left off is a big plus and I like that the author weaves in a recap of the first book so you are not at a loss.
This book is rich in the history of the first World War and the author has included an in depth look at the the tragedy of the fighting and the effects the war has on the residents of Rutherford Park. Some spots are very graphic and there is a lot of detail added about the war but it all comes back to how the war changed the family and their staff.
William and Octavia go through a lot of changes and yet they continue to work through the scandals and issues they have. But there are a few romances along the way to lighten the mood and add interest in the midst of the war. This book ends in another cliffhanger that comes completely from left field, setting up the next book in the series which I will be waiting for with great anticipation.
If you are looking for a story that includes a lot of history, British charm and all of the drama you can handle, then Elizabeth Cooke is the author you need to look for and this series of Rutherford Park.
August 24, 2019
(3.5 stars) This is the second book in the trilogy. With England at war, life begins to change at Rutherford Park. While Octavia has ended her affair, she mourns for the life she could have had. The estate is losing men and horses to the war effort and Harry is flying aircraft, a highly dangerous position. When Harry is injured, Octavia begins to see how the world is changing, and what she might do to make strides for herself. Each member of the family must find a way to adjust to the new reality or be left behind. The book shows both the horrors of the war and the challenges for those at home.
March 6, 2018
I didn’t realize this book was part of a series and so I hadn’t read book 1. That wasn’t a big issue though as you could pick up on most of the plot and what had happened before. The premise of the story was good, an estate in Yorkshire and the book is built on following the different parts of the members of the main family and their servants as WW1 has started. I just found the writing to not be very good. Some sentences didn’t make sense and as one character was being focused on there might be a reference to an unrelated character in the future which just didn’t connect very well.
April 27, 2015
This book brings the reality of World War I in England to life. I just finished Rutherford Park and found it a bit slow to get through--but this second book in the series-WOW! I loved it. I can hardly wait for the third book. The character development in this book is so much deeper, and as you read what the young men encountered in the trenches of WW I it is hard to imagine how anyone survived. I am very much looking forward to the third book in this series.
July 3, 2017
2nd book in this series about the Cavendish family. The son off to war and the rest of the family living at Rutherford Park. The story is set in 1915 and William and Olivia Cavendish are husband and wife in name only as Olivia had an affair with an american a year ago. The son Harry leaves for Frnce and is a pilot in the Royal Flying Corp. Two daughters still living at home but most of the servants are involved in the war effort.
April 4, 2021
Cała trylogia to ciekawe spojrzenie na okres przemian, które dotknęły społeczeństwo wraz z wojną. Czas, w którym każdemu trudno odnaleźć się w nowej epoce- z perspektywy angielskiej szlachty tkwiącej od wieków w jakimś "inny wymiarze". Dobrze napisana, plastycznym językiem. Niezwykła obserwacja totalnej metamorfozy głównych bohaterów, czasów w których żyli i obowiązujacych społeczeństwo konwenansów.
November 27, 2014
I was kind of hesitant in my review of Rutherford Park, Book 1, as to whether the series was worth continuing. After reading Wild Dark Flowers, Book 2, I can definitely say I'm hooked on the characters, events, and happenings at Rutherford Park. Waiting patiently for Book 3 to be finished to see what happens next in their lives.
November 25, 2014
The first book in the Rutherford Park series is good, but this, the sequel is magnificent. Powerful moving story lines, with complex character development. I raced through this book, but wish I could have taken more time to really savor it. Worthy of a re-read for sure. The imagery will stay with me forever. Highly recommend!
May 6, 2015
A quick read if looking for an escape. Definitely inspired by the success of Downton Abbey. I read the first novel, Rotherford Park sometime in the last year or so. Not the worst, but not great lit either.
August 2, 2024
Turbulent and very sad time in history and how people struggled with the changes it brought about. The author kept the characters true from the first book Rutherford Park. Looking forward to the next one!
July 9, 2014
This is the follow-up to Rutherford Park. I loved RP and I had high hopes for this one. It met all my expectations. Terrific book!
September 23, 2015
I got to page 128 and could go no farther.... I don't like not finishing a book but it happens. There are to many good books to read out there so I gave up on this one
October 27, 2015
Elizabeth Cooke delivers a perfect sequel to Rutherford Park delving deeper into each character and I love how the stories of the staff were integrated in. Best sequel I've ever read
April 3, 2016
Ok, I'm hooked on another series!
March 13, 2018
Książka mnie niczym nie zaskoczyła, nadal mam wrażenie że już gdzieś to czytałam.
April 15, 2018
Couldn’t put this one down! I actually liked this one better than the first! I’m glad that I found this series, looking forward to reading the next one!
November 26, 2018
The family dramas continue. The war starts. Gentrified families of England change.
Still not over the top.
Still not over the top.
December 10, 2018
Très bon deuxième tome. J'ai hâte de découvrir ce qu'il se passe dans le troisième.
January 6, 2019
That ending though!!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews