Orphans of the Storm
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- $20.99
Publisher Description
THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
The story of a mother's quest to find her children against all odds, set against the epic backdrop of the sinking of the legendary Titanic.
'Smashing . . . I was hooked on page one and literally could not put it down. I loved all that she wrote about the true story behind this thrilling tale' JOANNA LUMLEY
Nice, France, 1911: After three years of marriage, young seamstress Marcela Caretto has finally had enough. Her husband, Michael, an ambitious tailor, has become cruel and controlling and she determines to get a divorce.
But while awaiting the judges' decision on the custody of their two small boys, Michael receives news that changes everything.
Meanwhile fun-loving New York socialite Margaret Hays is touring Europe with some friends. Restless, she resolves to head home aboard the most celebrated steamer in the world – RMS Titanic.
As the ship sets sail for America, carrying two infants bearing false names, the paths of Marcela, Michael and Margaret cross - and nothing will ever be the same again.
From the Sunday Times-bestselling author, Celia Imrie, Orphans of the Storm dives into the waters of the past to unearth a sweeping, epic tale of the sinking of the Titanic that radiates with humanity and hums with life.
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'Gripping . . . An epic adventure' ROSIE GOODWIN
'A gripping read' DAILY MIRROR, Summer reads
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Imrie (the Nice Series) returns with an engaging if drawn-out story based on two boys who were rescued from the Titanic. In 1911, Marcella Navratil, age 21, secretly visits a solicitor in Nice, France, to seek a divorce from her husband, Michael. Ever since the birth of their second child, her overriding thought has been to leave Michael and protect herself and the boys from his physical abuse. The story goes back in time to Marcella's first days in Nice at 16 when she plans to become a famous singer, but is persuaded by her Italian parents to learn sewing. Michael is her teacher, and it isn't long before they're involved. He manipulates her into marrying him at 17 without her parents' permission, and though their marriage is happy at first, Michael becomes increasingly abusive and Marcella fearful and lonely. The narrative's first half is nearly sunk with extensive, sometimes gratuitous depictions of Michael's demeaning behavior, but things pick up after Michael goes on the run with the boys and boards the Titanic with them, while Marcella pursues. A New York City debutante, Margaret Hays, narrates a portion of the voyage, and during the rescue operation, Margaret and the boys are fatefully joined. Despite the unnecessary length, this casts vivid light on a little-known chapter of the tragic voyage.
