A novel of seduction, mystery, and danger set in New York’s Hudson Valley in the nineteenth century, by the author of Foxfire. There was, on the Hudson, a way of life such as this, and there was a house not unlike Dragonwyck . . . In the spring of 1844, the Wells family receives a letter from a distant relative, the wealthy landowner Nicholas Van Ryn. He has invited one of their daughters for … has invited one of their daughters for an extended visit at his Hudson Valley estate, Dragonwyck. Eighteen-year-old Miranda, bored with her local suitors and commonplace life on the farm, leaps at the chance for an escape. She immediately falls under the spell of both the master and his mansion, mesmerized by the Gothic towers, flowering gardens, and luxurious lifestyle—but unaware of the dark, terrible secrets that await.
Anya Seton masterfully tells the heart-stopping story of a remarkable woman, her remarkable passions, and the mystery that resides in the magnificent hallways of Dragonwyck.
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Dragonwyck is a fascinating story by Anya Seton both in terms of the story itself and in giving readers a look at 19th-century New York. Written in 1944, it centers around Miranda Wells, an 18-year-old farmer’s daughter who is invited by a mysterious cousin, Nicholas Van Ryn, to be the governess to his little daughter. Her parents set aside their …
Darkness begets darkness. Evil begets evil. Perhaps these are the major themes of Seton’s “Dragonwyck.”
Miranda, the young heroine is filled with dreams of far-away places and idealized romantic fantasies. Dissatisfied with her family’s old country farm and uncouth manners, she is elated when she is given the opportunity to visit her wealthy …
A young woman is invited to spend a few weeks with a formerly unknown, wealthy cousin at his estate. While there, she falls head over heels for him and he promises to marry her within the year. Returning to her parents’ farm all starry-eyed, the cousin fulfills his promise and they’re soon married. The story becomes darker and somewhat …