Karleen Koen Knihy

Originally published: [New York?]: Crown Pub., 2011.

A bride at fifteen, widowed at the tender age of twenty, Barbara, Countess Devane, embarks for colonial Virginia financially ruined by the death of her husband in scandalous circumstances. Dressed in mourning as is proper for a woman, she is patronizingly described as a "fragile black butterfly," but the fragility is deceiving. She makes a place for herself in the new world, takes lovers and friends across political divides, and questions the established traditions of slavery. Facing enemies she never suspected, she must return to England and deal face to face with the problems created by her husband, who haunts her even in death. Back in London, she quickly finds herself pulled into Jacobite plotting, and the treachery of powerful men suddenly threatens her family, her friends--and a new love

A magnificent tapestry of a grand and glorious era As opulent and passionate as the 18th century it celebrates. Through a Glass Darkly will sweep you away to the splendors of a lost era. Like Gone with the Wind, it is rich with characters so vivid -- from aristocrats to scoundrels -- they create their own immortality. Here is the story of a great family ruled by a dowager of extraordinary power; of a young woman seeking love in a world of English luxury and French intrigue; and of a man haunted by a secret that could turn all their dreams to ashes...

Set in the vibrant backdrop of seventeenth-century England, this prequel delves into a world filled with passion, extravagance, and intrigue. Readers can expect a rich tapestry of danger and scandal that captures the essence of the era, expanding on the beloved characters and themes from the original novel. The narrative promises to engage with the complexities of the time, offering a compelling exploration of relationships and societal norms.