Gerald and Elizabeth

De: D. E. Stevenson

Narrado por: Gordon Griffin

Gerald Brown is a handsome and brilliant young engineer - wrongfully accused of stealing diamonds from his South African firm. Why has he been framed?

Elizabeth Burleigh is a beautiful and talented West End actress - compelled to deny herself what marriage could bring her. What is the secret that impairs her love?

Gerald and Elizabeth are half-brother and sister. They are reunited in London and together they face the mysteries that have made them both so unhappy. In discovering the truth about their pasts, each finds the happiness for which neither had dared to hope.

©1969 D. E. Stevenson (P)2005 Soundings

First-rate narration

The plot is a little thin, but the characters are pleasant and the narrator is just right.

The story is dated

I read this years and remembered enjoying it. However times have changed and I have changed.

The general plot of the story was fine but it never added any complexity other than some circular introspection of "why oh why" by Gerald.

I was distressed about the casual statements indicating white race superiority when referring to native South Africans working in diamond mines. This was apartheid South Africa.
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I was also uncomfortable with the inconsistent character of Elizabeth. She was strong and had made her way in the theater and managed her life efficiently. That she wanted to marry a man she loved and have children leaving the stage behind may be an excellent choice but the desire to be taken care of and submit to a stronger wiser person rather than entering an equal relationship did not fit.

Geralds naivety and vasilation between despair and courage seemed over done. Sir Walter was strong and smart and wise. In general the characters in the story are described more than demonstrated and developed into seemingly believable people.

I was disappointed in the book and have returned it. It is a book written for different era -- and era with casual assumptions about colonialism, race, gender, and character that I believe have changed in some of us.