Sara Hylton

It's tough going, shedding the reflex of being victimized by a sister with the face of an angel and "the soul of a harlot" who "destroys everything she touches." The good guys in this tale never shake the reflex entirely; Fate ultimately intervenes, with the assistance of the proverbial Sin Finding You Out.

Still, it is a good story because the good guys are done well, and even though their judgment is poor for quite a long time, they do good, and do well. Younger sister spends about three decades being ethical, and by the way cleaning up the messes left behind by other family members, and by thus sticking to her principles, and good luck, she prevails.

Hylton is perceptive about human nature, and describes Anglesey well.… (más)

THE HILLS ARE ETERNAL is written in first person and takes place in 1900 to the1920s. It has 498 pages and the momentum of the beautifully written family saga is kept up throughout the novel. It is a story which revolves around Glamara, a palatial family estate where Tessa’s mother Diana had been banished because she went against her father’s wishes and married a man he did not approve of. When Diana’s husband dies she and her daughter, Tessa, are forced to live in poverty. There are many fascinating sub plots which span through the generations sparked by life’s uncertain outcomes by the choices people make. This book provides insight into the human spirit, the power of love set in the memorable time period of days gone by. The many interesting locations have picturesque descriptions with an affinity to nature that make you feel like you can see and hear the sights and sounds. Without a doubt with my preference for classic books, this is one of the best books I have ever read. I am truly surprised THE HILLS ARE ETERNAL has not achieved more notice since it is a true masterpiece!
I actually found it by a fluke. I was in the library looking for a book to read, preferably a Historical Fiction. As if by instinct some strange force guided me directly over to Sara Hylton, who I had never heard of. I opened up this book which had a solid green cover and began to read the first page and was unable to put the book down. She is an amazing author who has been somehow overlooked by the mainstream. She has become one of my all time favorite authors and I intend to read all of her books!… (más)

There are some well-known elements woven into this book: unsanctioned love, illegitimate children, mistaken identity, rich versus poor, false piety... they're very familiar in literature because they're very familiar in life. This book has them in what feels like some very obvious ways, but on some level, it works. Ellen Adair is a compelling character, and the way the series of events in her life play out, almost by chance (as most lives do) is expertly written. This is one of my favorite novels.… (más)