NO ANGEL

Penny Vincenzi

The Overlook Press

ISBN 1-58567-481-8

October 15, 2003

Historical/Women's Fiction

NO ANGEL chronicles the lives of women and their families in all stages of life and in various social strata against the backdrop of England and New York during the Suffragette moment and World War I.

Celia Lytton is used to getting her way in life. When her wealthy and aristocratic parents disapproved of her choice for a husband she took drastic steps to insure that she would indeed marry the man she loves. Her husband, Oliver, is initially quite distressed by Celia's manipulation until her machination produced a healthy baby boy. Oliver throws himself into fatherhood quite readily and expects Celia to take a similar view. Indeed he believes Celia's place is in the home with their baby. Celia, on the other hand, has designs on working with Oliver in the publishing house he came into control of after the death of his father. Oliver has come to realize he cannot refuse Celia once she sets her mind on something. Of course, Oliver is quite used to working side by side with his sister Margaret or LM as she is known to the family.

Celia is soon recognized as a true asset to Lytton's (albeit rather grudgingly by Oliver), which thrives under her influence. World War I will take Oliver and a great many men away to fight, leaving control of the publishing house to Celia and LM. Whereas Oliver's standards of quality and tradition have made Lytton's a well-respected force in the business world, Celia and LM are driven to make compromises simply to keep things afloat during the troubled wartime economy. After the war is over, will Celia and other women be expected to step aside for the returning men? Can life realistically go back to normal for any of them?

This short review cannot begin to relate all the immense complexities and intrigues of this epic family drama, which maintains a perfect balance of grit and glamour. NO ANGEL is a world unto itself. Events and characters are imbued with such realism and depths that NO ANGEL reads almost like a biography. Celia is the center of the book, but readers will also come to know a great deal about the many lives touched by this strong-willed, intelligent and passionate heroine. This book serves as a reminder to modern women of things we take for granted in our society: the right to vote, the right to work outside of the home and earn as much as a man, etc. It also demonstrates issues in life that are out of our control. Readers will feel themselves pulled into the lives of Celia and her family, experiencing all of the tragedies, triumphs, temptations and betrayals almost first-hand.

This isn't my usual reading fare but I relished the opportunity to be completely engrossed in the intense narrative. However, I must admit it took me a little bit of time to warm up to the characters and it still frankly amazes me that I have come to care about them as much as I do. I particularly enjoyed how events were often seen simultaneously from different characters' perspectives. Details about the world of publishing houses were also fascinating. The ending will leave many readers eager for more and I look forward to reading everything from Ms. Vincenzi's backlist as well as her future works.

It is my humble opinion that NO ANGEL is truly unforgettable and destined to become a modern classic. NO ANGEL is by no means a light or casual read, it demands the reader's full attention through every turn of the page and I believe it is definitely worth the effort!