This is the second time I've read this and I enjoyed it even more than the first. At first, you have very little sympathy for the maleable Mariella, who seems to lack any personality or any desire other than to sew her way complacently through life. I wanted to give her a good shake. Her cousin Rosa by comparison is vibrant and instantly likeable. And yet very slowly and subtly your empathies switch. Rosa is selfish, overbearing, and Mariella is repressed, you wonder what she will do if she'll just loosen her tightly-laced corsets a little. And that's what circumstances make her do.
I loved this. The ending was not at all clear cut and those who like all ther t's crossed will find fault with it, but the imagery of the last scene was so stark and vivid I didn't think you needed any more. The atmosphere in the Crimea was horrific and vividly drawn, the pointlessness of the war, the tragedy of the needless suffering made me angry and at the same time fascinated. And the exploding of the myths around Nightingale, Cardigan and the Charge of the Light Brigade were so subtly done that you had no cause to question them.
I would highly recommend this, and I'm very surprised it hasn't been turned into a film, it would make an excellent one.
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The Rose Of Sebastopol: A Richard and Judy Book Club Choice Paperback – 30 June 2020
by
Katharine McMahon
(Author)
Katharine McMahon
(Author)
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Product details
- Publisher : W&N; 1st edition (30 June 2020)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 416 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1474616844
- ISBN-13 : 978-1474616843
- Dimensions : 12.8 x 3.6 x 19.6 cm
-
Best Sellers Rank:
599,766 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 31,918 in Contemporary Literature & Fiction
- 48,564 in Literary Fiction (Books)
- 73,609 in Historical Fiction (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
Product description
Review
This is the best kind of historical fiction with a searing climax and characters you really believe in ― DAILY MAIL
A heart-stopping tale of love and war during Queen Victoria's reign ― WOMAN & HOME
Absorbing ― MY WEEKLY
In her novel written with great attention to detail and obvious affection for her characters and the time period, Katharine McMahon has penned a deeply affecting piece of historical fiction. ― HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
McMahon is a talented writer whose twists will keep you turning pages ― THE LADY
Katharine McMahon is a great storyteller
McMahon combines a thriller writer's grip, pace and punch with the true novelist's depth and warmth of feeling ― GUARDIAN
Its themes of medicine, contagious disease and the control of medicine speak to us as we battle with a global pandemic ... But it is not all war and medicine. There is a strong storyline, centred around the relationship between Rosa and Mariella, and the men who complicate their lives ... an enjoyable and thought-provoking read -- Karen Warren
a heart-stopping tale of love and war during Queen Victoria's reign ― WOMAN & HOME
absorbing ― MY WEEKLY
A heart-stopping tale of love and war during Queen Victoria's reign ― WOMAN & HOME
Absorbing ― MY WEEKLY
In her novel written with great attention to detail and obvious affection for her characters and the time period, Katharine McMahon has penned a deeply affecting piece of historical fiction. ― HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW
McMahon is a talented writer whose twists will keep you turning pages ― THE LADY
Katharine McMahon is a great storyteller
McMahon combines a thriller writer's grip, pace and punch with the true novelist's depth and warmth of feeling ― GUARDIAN
Its themes of medicine, contagious disease and the control of medicine speak to us as we battle with a global pandemic ... But it is not all war and medicine. There is a strong storyline, centred around the relationship between Rosa and Mariella, and the men who complicate their lives ... an enjoyable and thought-provoking read -- Karen Warren
a heart-stopping tale of love and war during Queen Victoria's reign ― WOMAN & HOME
absorbing ― MY WEEKLY
Review
Brilliant ... if you like Jane Austen, you'll probably like this. It's beautifully written - Amanda RossAbsorbing - My WeeklyIn her novel writen with great attention to detail and obvious affection for her characters and the time period, Katharine McMahon has penned a deeply affecting piece of historical fiction - Historical Novels ReviewA heart-stopping tale of love and war during Queen Victoria's reign - Woman & Home
Book Description
A spellbinding novel of love and courage set in the England, Italy and Florence Nightingale's Crimea.
A Richard and Judy Book Club bestseller - includes a fascinating and moving brand new final chapter.
From the Publisher
Katharine McMahon is the author of ten novels, including The Alchemist's Daughter and The Crimson Rooms, that focus on astonishing women and their ability to find a voice and make a mark, even at times and in societies when they are risking everything. The Rose of Sebastopol was a Richard & Judy pick and a Sunday Times bestseller. http://www.katharinemcmahon.com
About the Author
Katharine McMahon is the author of ten novels, including The Alchemist's Daughter and The Crimson Rooms, that focus on astonishing women and their ability to find a voice and make a mark, even at times and in societies when they are risking everything. The Rose of Sebastopol was a Richard & Judy pick and a Sunday Times bestseller. http://www.katharinemcmahon.com
Customer reviews
3.9 out of 5 stars
3.9 out of 5
74 global ratings
How are ratings calculated?
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyses reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Top reviews from other countries

Marguerite
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent, why hasn't this been made into a film!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 November 2019Verified Purchase
One person found this helpful
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Trevor Cobb
3.0 out of 5 stars
A little disappointing given the characters and backdrop
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 May 2018Verified Purchase
An interesting novel set against the trauma of the Crimean War. All of the leading characters change as a result of their experiences and inter-actions. A relatively slow start; I couldn’t engage initially with the practical and conventional, Mariella. But she was well cast as a well meaning yet unreliable narrator. And as soon as Rosa came onto the scene, she swept me away with her determination, enthusiasm and zeal (as she did Mariella). The appalling conditions in the Crimea are a prominent theme together with the state of medicine and entrenched attitudes of society. I enjoyed The Rose of Sebastopol but came away a little disappointed, given the characters and backdrop it could have been better.
Overall 3/5. (Plot 3/5, Characterisation 4/5, Literary Merit 3/5, Readability 3/5.)
Overall 3/5. (Plot 3/5, Characterisation 4/5, Literary Merit 3/5, Readability 3/5.)
One person found this helpful
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Susan Stead
3.0 out of 5 stars
The ending left me in the air with no closure!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 June 2018Verified Purchase
I really enjoyed this book. The adjectives and adverbs were uniquely put. She had a different way of describing feelings and images that was really interesting. The only problem I had was the way it ended. I felt as though I needed at least one more page to read. In fact I kept looking for another page as I couldn't believe the story had ended where it did.
Will still look for other books by the same author though.
Will still look for other books by the same author though.
One person found this helpful
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oldboy1
4.0 out of 5 stars
Got there in the end
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 June 2020Verified Purchase
The storyline was very slow to start with, in fact, it took a couple of goes to get into it.
Eventually persevered and found once I got into it it became a good read, so don't give up.
Eventually persevered and found once I got into it it became a good read, so don't give up.

Mrs. EJ WILLIAMS
4.0 out of 5 stars
Before women had rights
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 March 2018Verified Purchase
I liked the story and the people inside but always find flitting from place to place and different times a bit annoying.
Good to imagine how hard it must have been to be dressed in most unsuitable clothes and to step right out of a very cloistered life into a strange country and to fend for oneself.
Good to imagine how hard it must have been to be dressed in most unsuitable clothes and to step right out of a very cloistered life into a strange country and to fend for oneself.
One person found this helpful
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