"Ceremony of the Innocent" presents a multifaceted plot. First and foremost it is a historical romance. it appears to be a fairy tale come true of a poor house servant marrying into wealth and position. However, appearances are often deceiving. The ultimate question is, what happens when an innocent young woman loves unconditionally and blindly trusts everyone simply because she can’t comprehend the selfish, greedy nature of human beings and has no concept of evil?

The opening scene is in the midst of a church service as the Pastor preaches about “Love and Trust”. Certainly love and trust are desired in life, and a beautiful sentiment… if the recipients are worthy. However, Taylor Caldwell illustrates the tragic consequences of offering undeserved love and blind faith.

Layers of depth in the plot occur as Taylor Caldwell uses Ellen Watson Porter’s innocence and blind faith as an allegory for how the vast population of the United States in their naivety allowed their beloved country to tumble to the depths of despair. “There were times when Jeremy felt that his wife, Ellen, exemplified America herself, guileless, naive, and unwilling to believe in evil and plotters, unwilling to believe that man is imperfect, destructive, and malicious.”

Covering the years from 1900 to 1930, Ellen’s demise occurs in conjunction with the demise of America. As most Americans were loving patriots and trusting in the government leaders they elected, the elite powerful international bankers and financiers plotted evil to bring public disorder, chaos, revolutions, war, massacres, hatred and destruction. Their ultimate goal was to take control of a global government and subjugate humanity, thus intentionally orchestrating world events that resulted in World War I and the Depression. Love and trust, indeed!

Although the plot is ominous and extremely depressing Ceremony of the Innocent is a 5 Star book. Extensive research was required to present all the historical facts and create a realistic picture of life during those years. In addition, Caldwell imposes thoughts derived from Bible quotes (both Old and New Testaments), and various acclaimed philosophers and poets. She has enormous insight and intuition about human behavior. The characters come to life, and poor, poor Ellen - oh how she suffers. If the evil characteristics of cast members seems overly exaggerated perhaps that was intentional - intended to emphasize the negative side of indiscriminate “love and trust”.

In many ways the novel reminds me of Tolstoy’s "Anna Karenina". Ellen and Anna were from different continents, had totally different lives, and vastly different personalities - but both followed the same demise as the downward spiral of their respective countries.

Rated 5 Stars 2023 ( )

I literally am enraged at every character in this book... absolutely infuriating.
Writing is amazing though. I read it in it's entirely in one day. ( )

The author describes the crumbling of the American Dream in 1929. Caldwell's words are prescient for today. The American Dream then, and now, is a progressive one -- and conservatives then, and now, hate it and try to undermine it. In 1929, bankers and political conservatives caused and aggravated the Depression.

In Ceremony of the Innocent, Caldwell displays insight into the ways of the world, with a well-told story about love, the marriage agenda of males and females, and tragedy. The theme of the book is how the American people have been lied to and launched into foreign wars, with many dying for the banking cartels and so-called "conservatives" who play games with the people. She writes of the betrayals by cartels of oligarchs. The grand plans for corporatist monopoly are covered in this one book, eloquently. Taylor Caldwell truly is one of the great writers. You will recognize America today, including the role of the Murdock/Ailes media and right-wing distraction radio. ( )

vg ( )