" The Countess " is a novel written by Catherine Coulter. It is a Gothic novel masquerading as a regency, for the setting is in late 1800's in Europe. This means that the characters are dukes and duchesses, counts and countesses, and knights and damsels. The novel is a kind of a regency romance. It is the love story between a young woman who married an old earl and the earl's handsome young nephew who was regarded as the heir of the earl.
Andrea Jameson, because of her father, grew up hating all young men. So, when her grandfather who raised her up died, she agreed to a bargain with an old widowed earl who promises her all the protection and comfort she needs without touching her. That means that they are only married by name and nothing else. But as she moved to live in the mansion of Lawrence, her new husband, she discovered long-ago secrets buried in the house. This includes the tale of Caroline, the previous mistress of Lawrence who believed to have jumped out of insanity at the top of the tower, and the mysterious Black room which was obviously painted with black and of which an evil force seems to dwell. At the midst of these secrets, she discovered that someone wanted her dead. So, when John, the handsome young nephew of her husband, offered help and protection, she agreed. She was so frightened that moment. As the threats for her life come and go, John fell in love with her, and to her dismay, she found herself falling in love with him, a feeling forbidden for someone like her, a wife and a man-hater. The mystery deepened when her father whom she hoped to be dead wrote to her saying to get out of the house. Because of her willingness to solve the mystery, she declined to leave. Days after that, she discovered that the one who threatened her life was Lawrence, her husband. Instead of leaving, she stayed in the mansion, for she found her father's letter in his room. It was already too late when she decided to leave. That was when she learned the whole truth. All along, she was the bait to make her father appear to rescue her. According to her father, who was held prisoner like her, he loved Caroline when the latter became the mistress of Lawrence. When Lawrence realized this, he murdered Caroline. Now, Lawrence wanted to kill him for what he did. As Lawrence moved, Andrea and John stopped him and managed to unarm his men. As a result, Lawrence died and Andrea and John married months later.
The theme of the novel is revenge. If a man accidentally or intentionally despised a man, the latter would certainly come back and punish the former for what he had done. This is what happened to Lawrence. Because of his anger to Andrea's father, he was able to kill Caroline and threaten the lives of Andrea and his father. Therefore, revenge is never good, and it doesn't have a better effect either.
Andrea Jameson, because of her father, grew up hating all young men. So, when her grandfather who raised her up died, she agreed to a bargain with an old widowed earl who promises her all the protection and comfort she needs without touching her. That means that they are only married by name and nothing else. But as she moved to live in the mansion of Lawrence, her new husband, she discovered long-ago secrets buried in the house. This includes the tale of Caroline, the previous mistress of Lawrence who believed to have jumped out of insanity at the top of the tower, and the mysterious Black room which was obviously painted with black and of which an evil force seems to dwell. At the midst of these secrets, she discovered that someone wanted her dead. So, when John, the handsome young nephew of her husband, offered help and protection, she agreed. She was so frightened that moment. As the threats for her life come and go, John fell in love with her, and to her dismay, she found herself falling in love with him, a feeling forbidden for someone like her, a wife and a man-hater. The mystery deepened when her father whom she hoped to be dead wrote to her saying to get out of the house. Because of her willingness to solve the mystery, she declined to leave. Days after that, she discovered that the one who threatened her life was Lawrence, her husband. Instead of leaving, she stayed in the mansion, for she found her father's letter in his room. It was already too late when she decided to leave. That was when she learned the whole truth. All along, she was the bait to make her father appear to rescue her. According to her father, who was held prisoner like her, he loved Caroline when the latter became the mistress of Lawrence. When Lawrence realized this, he murdered Caroline. Now, Lawrence wanted to kill him for what he did. As Lawrence moved, Andrea and John stopped him and managed to unarm his men. As a result, Lawrence died and Andrea and John married months later.
The theme of the novel is revenge. If a man accidentally or intentionally despised a man, the latter would certainly come back and punish the former for what he had done. This is what happened to Lawrence. Because of his anger to Andrea's father, he was able to kill Caroline and threaten the lives of Andrea and his father. Therefore, revenge is never good, and it doesn't have a better effect either.
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