Seton writes beautifully and with an understanding of human nature that is heartrending. The main characters are complex and human, and must struggle with their own natures, and against a turbulent period in English history.įor all the density, the book is an engrossing read. In the tradition of romantic historicals of the times, it is a dense book, with a cast of hundreds that form a rich and elaborate weaving of past and present. In some ways, Green Darkness is not an easy read. While the others fear for her life, Celia is forced to relieve her former life with Richard, then called Stephen, a monk of singular devotion and beauty who is tormented by his love for the young, innocent, and beautiful Celia Bohun. Richard’s moods become nearly violent, and after one particularly brutal scene, Celia retreats into a catatonic state. Matters come to a head one weekend when guests arrive, unwittingly reassembling the major players in a tragic drama played out four hundred years before. Afterward, he is contrite, and loving, but his mercurial moods leave Celia bewildered and unsettled. Richard Marsdon has brought his American bride Celia home to his family estate in England, and the blissfully happy pair are set to settle in and build their new life together, touring the English countryside, admiring the old ruins of castles.īut as the weeks pass, a strange mood settles over Richard and he withdraws, seeming distant and even brutal at times. Green Darkness is a tale of love and loss and redemption, told against a sumptuous backdrop in two centuries. Unlike a good many of my old favorites, it stands the test of time brilliantly. Since then, I’ve read it again at least a dozen times, once very recently. Aside from genuine astonishment over how many books I packed away that year between work and school and boyfriends, one fact stands out rather dramatically: I read Green Darkness six times. The year I was fifteen, I kept a reading diary. I own two copies, battered and yellowed, so I can loan one out and never be without one.

It is not just my favorite Anya Seton, or my favorite romantic historical of the period, but one of my top five favorite books of all time. My favorite is Green Darkness, which spent six months on the New York Times bestseller list the year it was published. I’ve sat in many a happily heated discussion of which book is better, and why, and by now I can usually pick out who will like which book best. Western historical romance writers often confess an early love of Louis L’Amour and Zane Gray.Īmong a certain set, two books by Anya Seton stand out: Katherine and Green Darkness.

Romantic suspense writers point to Mary Stewart and Victoria Holt. Regency writers will pick out Georgette Heyer.

Whenever a group of romance writers turn to the subject of influential books, certain writers and books come up over and over again.

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