Queen Lear
(Book)

"Originally published in Great Britain under the title Loving and giving by Andre Deutsch Ltd."--Title page verso.

"A Dutton Obelisk book."

Eight-year-old Nicandra is named after a horse. She lives with her parents. Sir Dermot and Lady Forester, and her aunt Mrs. Fox-Collier (Aunt Tossie) at Deer Forest. An Irish country mansion, and loves to love and be loved. One day as she prattles about the grounds visting Lizzie the housemaid, Twomey the butler, Mrs. Geary the cook and all the underlings, this delightful structure of life is struck as if by lightning: her mother has committed an act too dreadful ever to be spoken of and vanishes forever from Deer Forest. Nicandra grows up cooing with the dogs, sleeping in Belgian lace, teasing the retarded peasant boy, Silly-Willie and yearning to love and to give. Frayed memories of her mother's perfume and a missing stableman vaguely disturb her. When the dandy, Andrew catches her eye, Nicandra, beautiful, rich and badly dressed, marries him. Queen Lear tells the story of this frightful marriage and a world that has passed into oblivion.

BSLW RECAT 2023