Set in the years of sudden prosperity following World War II, in the mansions and boardrooms of the Van Zale family, Sins of the Fathers is the story of a ruthless dynastic struggle to control the Van Zale fortune. From generation to generation, this obsession possesses the rival claimants, eventually destroying their happiness and their lives. When the world of the Van Zales-with its servants and country houses, polite marriages and discreet affairs-begins to fall apart, we begin to see as it really is: rife with ruthlessness, secret sex, blackmail, and violence.
"Full of fascinating dialogue, surprising twists of plot, and well-developed, memorable characters, a stunningly successful work of fiction."-Nashville Banner
Nicholas Darrow, a strong-willed and independent young man, has grown up under the shadow of the Church of England and the loving but watchful eye of his father, an Anglican priest. Like his father, he too has both a gift and a burden in the form of psychic abilities. Although his father warns him to nurture his special powers with care, Nicholas can see no harm in the occasional dazzling "psychic flourish"-until one results in a friend's attempted suicide.
Now, staggering under the weight of remorse, horrified by the dangerous edge of his powers, Nicholas moves toward the brink of emotional collapse. When a terrifying vision suggests to him that he might literally be possessed, he must at last begin to face the truth of his past-and, in particular, of his relationship with his father-to find the one path that may lead him out of the seemingly impenetrable darkness.
"Arguably no one writing today can equal Howatch's ability to write compelling novels that combine theology and psychology in a complex, fast-moving plot offering beautifully delineated characters and the suspense of a mystery/thriller....the denouement will leave readers breathless."-Publishers Weekly
Charles Ashworth, the bishop of Starbridge, is a man of great accomplishment, confidence, and conviction. Within the Church, he has earned a reputation as a strong, efficient, no-nonsense bishop. Outside the Church, he is known as "Anti-Sex Ashworth."
But when Ashworth's beloved wife dies, a profound crisis of his faith begin. unexpectedly and with brutal force. As bereavement overwhelms his spiritual equilibrium, his strict morality is quickly revealed to him to be nothing more than a facade. Spiraling downwards, Ashworth knows he must find his way out of the maze of his own psyche. In doing so, he will face the most difficult spiritual test of his life: to acknowledge the absolute truths-both good and bad-that have shaped his past, and that may be the only keys to his future.
"[A] powerful combination of psychological insight, theological depth, and storytelling ability. Howatch simultaneously provides her reader with both marvelous entertainment and genuine insight into the human condition. Highly recommended."-Library Journal
The Rich Are Different is the story of Dinah Slade, a young English woman of immense vitality and sensual power, whose life becomes intertwined with the fate of a great American banking family. When the handsome and powerful American banker Paul Van Zale meets Dinah in London, he commits the imprudence of falling in love.
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