THE PASSION AND THE FLOWER

by Barbara Cartland ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 12, 1977

The passion is rouÉ Prince Ivan Volkonski, and the flower (white orchid) is Lokita, lovely, innocent young ballerina several hundred cuts above the usual Paris stage butterfly--so pure is she that she might wilt if touched by human hand. But Ivan brings her to life, and she inspires him with a holy love. The blocks to their passion are Lokita's fiercely protective duenna, the Prince's blue-blood (he must have the permission of the Tsar to wed), and Lokita's mysterious antecedents. Russian soul conquers all. The Prince contemplates deceiving Lokita with a purely civil marriage, but the spirit of his dead mother appeals to him and he tells all. When a fortunate assassination back home clears up their problems, the passion and the flower are finally united as he murmurs, ""You are mine! From the top of your shining head to the soles of your tiny feet!"" and she responds (with the usual Cartland speech impediment), ""I am so. . . afraid that I am. . . dreaming,"" and they adjourn to their marble pavilion open to the sea, where the bed is littered with white blossoms floating perpetually down from the ceiling while violins throb offstage.

Pub Date: Jan. 12, 1977

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Dutton

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 1977

Categories: FICTION