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| The Rose Of Sebastopol | 
 enlarge | Author: Katharine Mcmahon
Publisher: Weidenfeld & Nicolson
Category: Book
List Price: £12.99
Buy Used: £0.01
You Save: £12.98 (100%)
New (32) from £0.64
Avg. Customer Rating:  37 reviews
Sales Rank: 58481
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 400
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 8.6 x 5.2 x 1.7
ISBN: 029785092X
EAN: 9780297850922
ASIN: 029785092X
Publication Date: July 12, 2007
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: Slight edge wear and creases to the covers: tiny dents to the back of the cover.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 32 more reviews...
 Underwhelming (2.5 stars) October 11, 2008
The Rose of Sebastopol is a novel set against the backdrop of the Crimean War. The three main characters are Mariella, our over-sheltered narrator; Henry, her fiance, who goes off to the Crimean War as a doctor; and Rosa, Mariella's idealistic cousin and best friend, whose progressive ideas lead her to become a nurse in the Crimea with Florence Nightingale. When Rosa goes missing, Mariella goes off in search of her cousin, encountering a very sick Henry along the way.
The historical detail is top-notch, but I had a slight problem with the characters: Rosa is a little too modern, and Mariella is a little boring, though I realize that McMahon may have made her so on purpose for historical accuracy. The constant references to skirts, petticoats, and corsets were a little too intrusive, and I believe that if a real 19th century woman had been narrating, she wouldn't have even mentioned her clothes, much less her underclothes. It's almost as though McMahon wanted to say, "look, look, I did my research!"
In addition, the non-linear narrative is jumpy, and the novel doesn't truly get interesting until Mariella goes to the Crimea. But even then, I thought the entire journey in the first place was a little out of character for Mariella, who seems to be the kind of person who would normally put a lot of thought into something before doing it. Also, the ending is a little rushed and inconclusive, and the book could have used a better editor (for some reason the author, or her proofreader, is afraid of commas). But other than that, I enjoyed the story and the historical details.
Disappointing novel October 7, 2008
The novel was well researched from the historical point of view but the style of writing was plodding. The repeated use of period words such as skirts, petticoats, robe drove me mad. So unsubtle. It didn't create an atmosphere and was merely a distraction. And I couldn't see Rosa as the luminous unforgettable creature remembered by the other characters. In fact she didn't come over at all. I stuck with it but read it with gritted teeth.
 Beautifully written novel September 14, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The book follows Mariella a typically demure and naive girl from England in the mid 19th century as she leaves her ordered world and enters the chaotic Crimea.
The novel touches on lots of different subjects including unrequited love, forbidden love, the futility of war and medicine in the 19th century.
Unlike a lot of others I really liked the characer of Mariella who matures throughout the novel.I also loved the passionate Rosa who wanted to right the wrongs of the world single handedly but who realises the futility of her presence on the battlefield amidst such destruction.
'your death here, like everyone elses, will be utterly meaningless. They fling us about like handfulls of sand'
The ending doenst tie everything up nicely but i liked it better for this. As i put the novel back on my bookshelf i found myself thinking more on it and wondering what the future held for the characters.
Wonderful! August 12, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I read this book on holiday last week, and absolutely loved it! I was so sorry when I got to the last page. Everything about it was brilliant, but particularly the journey of the characters.
Captivating. July 26, 2008
This book is a lovely read even though it takes place during the crimean war. I bought this book because of it's reviews but i didn't realise just how good it would be. Mariellas relationship with rose is like one of two young lovers at first they become great friends but once seperated they realise just how much they love eachother. i'm 16 and this is really my first step into adult fiction and what a step! i'm so glad i chose this as the book to help with that transition since reading this book i haven't read anything other than adult fiction. very highly recommended.
i felt i came of age with mariella in a way.The Outcast
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