Starbridge (Howatch)

New York Times Bestseller: The first novel in the Cathedral of Starbridge saga about the history of the Church of England-and those who serve it. 1937. At the request of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Reverend Dr. Charles Ashworth goes on an undercover mission to investigate the possibility of scandalous behavior by the Bishop of Starbridge, Dr. Alex Jardine. A powerful critic of the Church of England's hardline position on divorce, Jardine presents a mystery which threatens to unmask the secrets of Ashworth's own private life. Meanwhile, Ashworth himself is struggling to understand the baffling triangle formed by the dynamic bishop, his pretty but featherbrained wife, and his wife's alluring companion, Miss Lyle Christie. Love and frustrations, desperate longings and the failure to resist them; dark realities behind glittering images-Ashworth must confront his own desires and recall past sins that threaten to consume him, body and soul. "Bold and exciting." -Los Angeles Times "Passionately eloquent. . . . [A] tale of God, sex, love, self-analysis and forgiveness . . . the dialogue throughout this book is brilliantly crisp." -The Philadelphia Inquirer "A terrific story. . . . Glittering Images is driven by passion, emotional and spiritual, and its spiritual antagonists are brilliant characters." -San Jose Mercury News

A minister endures a crisis of faith-and humanity-in this historical novel about the Church of England from the New York Times–bestselling author. 1940. Jon Darrow is an Anglican priest with psychic gifts and a fulfilling, well-ordered life. Suddenly, he receives a vision calling him to leave his monastery and embark on a journey which will require all his courage and strength-a quest to find a new life. Yet how can he be sure his psychic gifts-those glamorous powers-won't corrupt a new ministry in a world full of temptations and dominated by the Second World War? Darrow begins to fear the vision was a delusion. But a passionate romance is waiting for him in the Starbridge diocese, and Darrow must decide what spiritual path he is meant to follow in a dark and dangerous world. "Mesmerizing. . . . Holds the reader riveted." -The Washington Post "Fascinating . . . convincing . . . believable." -Newsday

A devoted family man walks a self-destructive path in this historical novel about the Church of England from the New York Times–bestselling author. 1942. Neville Aysgarth is a priest enjoying a successful career in the Church of England. As an archdeacon, he is the right-hand man of the Bishop of Starbridge. He returns to a comfortable home at the end of each day, greeted by his loving wife and family-rewards won in the game of life-and Aysgarth looks forward to a rosy future. Then he meets Dido Tallent. Her celebrity, lifestyle, and powerful personality combine to enthrall him, but eventually he realizes-too late-that Tallent is no dream come true, his ultimate prize, but a nightmare. Fighting to avoid a breakdown of his successful life, Aysgarth is led on a dramatic journey through his troubled past as he tries to find hope for the future. "Thoughtful and thought-provoking. . . . Ultimate Prizes offers a look at both the sacred and profane aspects of religious life as it is lived on the front lines." -Chicago Tribune "I did not want to put this book down. . . . [Howatch] is a skilled storyteller who makes the reader wonder and care about her people." -The Washington Post Book World

In this historical novel from the New York Times–bestselling author, a young woman earns the attention-and obsession-of a Church of England clergyman. 1963. Seeking meaning and purpose in her life in an era when traditional values are under attack, Venetia Flaxton arrives in Starbridge to stay with her best friend, whose father, Neville Aysgarth, is the renowned dean of the cathedral. For years, Venetia has seen Aysgarth only as a family friend, but now she realizes he is the only person who understands her-and in a single electrifying second, she falls in love. But Aysgarth, a senior cleric with a very possessive wife, is clearly not available for marriage, even as Venetia learns her love is reciprocated. A white-hot but baffling relationship, still far from what she wants, then explodes into being. For Aysgarth proves to be a convoluted mystery which Venetia has no idea how to unravel, and soon she sees that he is taking scandalous risks with his distinguished ecclesiastical career . . . "Wonderful." -The Plain Dealer "Rich in human interest, sex, scandal, moral crises and a great deal of humor, it is a book to keep you hooked throughout." -The Sunday Times

A young man's future as a priest depends on facing his past in this novel about the Church of England from the New York Times–bestselling author. 1968. Proud of his psychic powers, Nicholas Darrow wants to follow in his father's footsteps by becoming an Anglican priest in the Starbridge diocese, famed for its magnificent cathedral. But pride goes before a fall, and when he attempts to use his powers to heal a young woman devasted by the loss of her husband, the result is disastrous. Driven on by guilt, Darrow tries to discover exactly how her husband died and soon he's obsessed by a dangerous mystery which his gifts are powerless to solve. Will Darrow survive this crisis? Can he conquer his arrogance and abandon his promiscuity? This would-be healer urgently needs to be healed . . . and the answers to his questions may lie in events from his childhood-and in his relationship with his father. "Taking on the style of a psychological thriller . . . Mystical Paths covers in a profound and theologically thoughtful way the powers of light and powers of darkness. . . . Her success should not go unrewarded." -Catholic Herald "No writing today can equal Howatch's ability to write compelling novels that combine theology and psychology in a complex, fast-moving plot offering beautifully delineated characters and the suspense of a mystery/thriller. . . . The denouement will leave readers breathless." -Publishers Weekly

This historical novel about the Church of England from the New York Times–bestselling author follows a religious leader's doubt and possible fall from grace. 1965. Charles Ashworth is Bishop of Starbridge in the decade known as the Swinging Sixties, famed for its sexual excesses, and he considers it his duty to preach regularly on the evils of fornication and adultery. Backed up by his efficient subordinates and his loyal and attractive wife, he is confident, competent, and formidable. But suddenly, a catastrophe tears his life apart. Mentally and spiritually shattered, Ashworth must deal not only with his old enemy Dean Aysgarth, but with a series of devastating and shocking challenges. Worse still, Ashworth now finds himself tempted by the kind of sin he has always preached against so fervently . . . Is his old friend Jon Darrow able to save him or is Ashworth now quite beyond salvation? "A skillful blend of character, philosophy and narrative. . . . Formidable personalities embroil themselves in ruthless (and very entertaining) power struggles that would make a corporate raider blush." -The Washington Post Book World "Enthralling. . . . Rich, dense, almost indecently entertaining." -San Jose Mercury News "Powerful . . . miraculous." -Booklist (starred review)