“From the first word to the last, The Heir by Anne Kelly brings the reader on a journey, immersing us in the lives and happenings of characters whose relationships are entwined in despair, loss, hope and love. Romance and mystery create a most compelling story of an arranged loveless marriage for the main character Elizabeth Wilding to Sir Charles Anderson and the uncertainty over the future for their young son, George. The story unfolds with violence, abuse, deception, alongside the healing power of hope, forgiveness and love. Anne Kelly has created wonderful, intriguing descriptions into nineteenth-century Victorian Yorkshire, and beyond. This book is a page turner, Anne has succeeded in mastering the skill of novel writing, with a natural story telling technique and keen observations to detail.” Those are the words of Jane Mealy from the Clogh writers group. Like many of her fellow writers from the Castlecomer area, Jane attended the launch of The Heir at The Avalon recently.
And it was a coming home for author Anne Kelly who is a proud Castlecomer woman. Now living in Eadestown, Naas, Co. Kildare, she has three grown up children and four delightful grandchildren. Anne has a deep interest in writing, music, painting and drama. She is one of the dwindling members of the original Deenside Players of Castlecomer and she is published in the Deenside book Castlecomer, which is circulated widely abroad at Christmas time. She soon realised her deep love of words and attended writing courses with Dr Shauna Gilligan, Paddy Byrne, Pauline Clooney, John McKenna, Paul Fitzsimons and Fiona Scarlett. She is an active member of the Naas Writers Group, and published in their Anthology Book.
According to Barker and Jones book shop in Naas Co Kildare the recently launched novel The Heir has been their number one bestseller for the last two weeks. Wonderful news for the author Anne Kelly. Anne’s wish is that sales will also be brisk in Castlecomer and Kilkenny following the book launch in The Avalon. Anne was formerly Anne Gleeson.
Synopsis
Elizabeth Anderson is trapped in a marriage arranged by her father to Sir Charles Anderson, a much older man. Theirs is a marriage doomed to failure, as there is no love shown to either George her baby or Elizabeth. She is not a wife but a convenience. She fears for her life if she stays under the same roof as Charles. She must escape. Taking her young son George, heir to her husband’s vast estate and Nutley House, The Heir brings the reader on an intriguing journey with lots of unexpected twists and turns as we follow Elizabeth while she searches frantically for answers and ultimately freedom … but what will she find? Danger? Love? Healing? Or will Charles find her and punish her? This is the introduction to Anne Kelly’s new novel, The Heir .
The Heir transports us into the heart of wealthy nineteenth-century Yorkshire and beyond.
According to Shauna Gilligan. Kelly’s wonderful eye for period detail, and keen observations of the beauty of the natural world, readers will find this novel a true escape
Author and creative writing tutor Pauline Clooney gave the book a glowing reference, equating the writing with Gaskell or Austen. “References are made to events happening in the world as it was then, including the Irish famine and this lends authenticity to Kelly’s fiction. One of my favourite episodes in the novel is the chapter set in Dover before the departure of Elizabeth and Grace to France. The scenes at the White Cliff Hotel, bristle with intrigue and will leave the reader on the edge of their seat. Kelly’s use of tension in these scenes is page turning brilliance. In the world of historical fiction, Anne Kelly is a name to look out for. In this debut novel, The Heir, I felt I could be reading some newly discovered Gaskell or Austen.”
The Heir is Anne’s first novel and the inspiration came from a postcard of a painting called ‘The Cradle’ painted in 1872 by Berthe Morisot and dedicated to the memory of her dear childhood friend Helen. Available in bookshops in Castlecomer and Kilkenny.
