Penmarric - Susan Howatch

WHAT IS IT? Penmarric is an epic style family saga, showing the life of a property-owning family in Cornwall from Victorian times to the end of the Second World War. It is told from five different points of view, all of them family members, so that you get to see the story from more than just one set of eyes, which makes it a more layered read. There is also an ongoing allegory throughout the book, linking the Penmar/Castallack family with Henry II, his mother, wife, children and mistress, which is quite cleverly done and, as a history enthusiast, helped me understand what the author intended by the writing and characterisation. In my opinion, it also made ...  Read the complete review

Penmarric is a family saga written by Susan Howatch. This was her first family based saga which the setting is in Cornwall. It was written in 1971 it tells us how the family called the Castallacks relates to each other in this amazing house Penmarric in this Cornish village where tin mining was in full flourish and the family become wealthy because of the tin mine industry. It spans from nineteenth and twentieth century and how the family evolves during this period. It begins with Mark Castallack bringing his bride home to Penmarric and her name is Janna, he was a very sensitive person and its story is spread over three generations and their battles of ...  Read the complete review