I wasn't sure whether I would be that interested the history of someone else's family, although I was quickly proven wrong. To start, this family is full of characters, drama, intrigue and different kinds of romance. The book is made even more fascinating though by the inclusion of beautiful black and white photos and flowery, deep, fanciful and humourous letters - especially those written by the Pre-Raphaelite painter, Edward Burne-Jones, to May Gaskell, one of the main characters. They really allow you a glimpse into his mysterious Pre-Raphaelite world and leave you wanting more.

From a historical perspective, this book is also interesting and revealing on so many levels as the story of this family spans the period covering the Boer War as well as the First and Second World Wars. Not only that, it gives a real insight into the way the people lived their lives during these times (at least those of the middle to upper classes). I found the romantic friendships reflected in correspondence particularly enthralling. In some ways these people were surprisingly liberal and the women in this book appeared very independent in some ways and would often travel for extended periods alone - was this normal for wealthy women in these times?

This book was very readable and captivating throughout. I would definitely recommend this to anyone with an interest in British history from major events to daily life (especially during Victorian times) and/or family drama. If you love the Pre-Raphaelites even better! ( )

The subtitle of this breathlessly boring biography is 'A True Story of Family, Forbidden Love, and the Secret Lives of May Gaskell, Her Daughter Amy, and Sir Edward Burne-Jones'. There are three stories Dimbleby tries to tell and while there is the basis of something interesting in their stories, she manages to make it exhausting and drawn-out. The title gives the implication of some tragic connection between Burne-Jones and both Gaskell women, but this is not true: only the first third of the book is devoted to Burne-Jones, and it is simply a vehicle for reprinting his platonic love letters to May. He paints a striking portrait of Amy, and later dies. The last two-thirds of the book explores the events leading up to Amy's mysterious and unexpected death; and May's remaining life through the two World Wars. Dimbleby tells her family's story by inserting commentary on her research and her thoughts on her discoveries, which should have provided tension or brightened the narrative, but instead, reads trite and cliched: all museums and libraries were accommodating, and when needed, the weather was appropriately shiny or stormy. Another complaint--the illustrations referenced by Dimbleby appear chapters later, out of context and jarring at times. In the end, a disappointing exploration of a very interesting family.

I think I resented this book from the first page, when Dimbleby mentioned partying with Andrew Lloyd Webber, who is a rapid collector of Pre-Raphaelite art; he is also the owner of a Burne-Jones portrait of Dimbleby's great aunt Amy Gaskell. From the start, Dimbleby's research is easy and accommodating: fortune and coincidence keep her on a steady search for three years. Even the weather matches her discoveries: thunder when something is awful, streaming sunlight when things are cheerful. I feel like her experiences are underscored by her family's history, social standing, or economic status: that if her family were less-well connected her experiences would have been vastly different. Perhaps I'm just covetous of the Pre-Raphaelite connection. But despite Dimbleby's warm affection for her family, I felt very cold while reading her book (a reflection, perhaps, of the well-known Gaskell tendency toward reservedness). ( )

The story of love between artist Burne-Jones and Mary Gaskell, and her daughter Amy. Told in a loving and tender way. You might think a lot of family history is just dry facts and figurs, but this is a tender love story of a family and their friends. ( )