The author-Barbara Taylor Bradford (one of my very favorite ones) described it as a SAGA. It is not. The novel tells stories of a few families: rich and titled and poor, but hard-working and ambitious. Among the latter are Blackie-from the very tender young age and that of Ms. Harte. Both dreaming to become rich and have their own shops and good money to afford great living for future families with children and spouses. Written quite well. The book is just dismembered, to my view.

The novel is absolutely heart-breaking and very well researched and delivered. In a meaningful and accurate (historically) way. A very young girl of about 14-15 is forced to mend for herself after her sister with husband escape Germany for Switzerland and she and her father work at his hospital as a nurse-assistant and he-as a prominent and a well-loved surgeon. A while later, her father is arrested by Nazi germany High Admiraliteit and sent to Dachau... His daughter, now 16, chooses to become a nun and to help the resistance that way. .. The story ends well for her, but costing unbelievable challenges and scars ... Unfortunately, but now so frequently, editorial work lacks good literal judgment and fail to correct unneeded repetitions and lack of eloquence .