UNYIELDING FIRE

by Vivian Lord ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 1987

More historical hysteria from British author Lord (the mass-market Once More The Sun, etc.), this time set in London, New York, and South Africa, between 1885-1930. Amas Holder, 24 and resembling ""a young lion about to spring,"" approaches Martin Stifling, New York financier, demanding a loan to bolster Holder's South African Kimberley Mines, stuffed with diamonds. Stirling admires the man and gives him the money, but not before tall, tawny Holder has spawned great lust in the hearts of both of Stirling's daughters--dark, lascivious Bea, and blonde, delicate, musical Vanessa. Holder choses Vanessa, who steals away to South Africa with him, thus incurring the unending wrath of Bea, who later follows them, marries Holder's trusted foreman, drives him to suicide by her whoring around, and winds up seducing everyone in britches, including, eventually, her nephew, Vanessa's son Martin. We learn from Martin, Sr., Bea's father, that"" 'there was a time when she was only twelve years old. . .' his voice died away. 'She tried to seduce me.'"" Bea also manages to corrupt Vanessa's daughter Lesley, who marries a gay sadist who eventually drives her to a laudanum overdose; the daughter of that union, Megan, has her own story to tell. And from diamond miners, to jewel thieves, to Italian contessas, to incest and adultery, there is always lust (""He held her vibrant breasts in his huge hands""). A long, repetitious exercise, with laughably purple prose that fails (unlike some other things) to ignite.

Pub Date: April 1, 1987

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Severn--dist. by Kampmann (9 East 40 St., New York, NY 10016)

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 1987

Categories: FICTION