Kate morton the forgotten garden family tree
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Later she earned first-class honours for her English Literature degree at the University of Queensland, during which time she wrote two full-length manuscripts (which are unpublished) before writing the story that would become the 2006 novel The House at Riverton.
Following this she obtained a scholarship and completed a Master's degree focussing on tragedy in Victorian literature.
Nell realizes that she is the daughter of American artist Nathaniel Walker and the aristocratic Rose Mountrachet. Nell’s parents were killed in a train crash when she was four, and the Authoress placed her on a ship bound for Australia.
On impulse, Nell buys Cliff Cottage. Inside is a book of children’s fairy tales written by a woman named Eliza Makepeace.
So Eliza moved from the big house to a small cottage near it.
Kirkus Reviews
Discussion Questions
1. She is methodical, independent, and deeply affected by the secrets surrounding her past. She gets married, has a child, but once her husband and son get into an accident and die. And as she couldn’t fulfill this role, she felt useless in this life.
Her journey to Cornwall is marked by introspection and a longing for closure.
Cassandra Andrews
Cassandra is Nell’s granddaughter.
Nell Andrews (Ivory Walker) is one of the main characters of the story. They lived somewhere in a poor district of London. The quest takes her to Cornwall and Cliff Cottage, the home of Eliza, whom she calls “the Authoress.” Cliff Cottage acts as a trigger to awaken Nell’s earliest memories.
This disclosure alienates Nell for the rest of her life. In doing so, she heals her own wounds.
Character Arc
Cassandra’s journey mirrors Nell’s but is ultimately more redemptive. Grieving her own losses, Cassandra is drawn to uncover the secrets that haunted Nell. Her mother, a daughter of the Montrachets, a noble family, fell in love with a poor sailor and run away with him.
Her inability to change or empathize leads to her isolation.
Relationships
| Other Character | Nature of Relationship | Key Dynamics |
|---|---|---|
| Rose Mountrachet | Daughter | Overbearing, emotionally abusive |
| Eliza Makepeace | Niece by marriage | Resentful, views as a threat |
| Hugh Mountrachet | Husband | Dismissive, controlling |
Nathaniel Walker
Traits and Motivations
Nathaniel is humble, loyal, and deeply empathetic.
create a thicket of clues...but the puzzle is pleasing and the long-delayed "reveal" is a genuine surprise. She arrives completely alone with nothing but a small suitcase containing a few clothes and a single book—a beautiful volume of fairy tales. He forms a close friendship with Eliza, offering her kindness and understanding. Her love for Eliza is her greatest comfort.
Character Arc
Rose’s arc is one of victimhood.
In what ways do Eliza's fairy tales underline and develop other themes within the novel?
11. He was born in New York to Polish immigrant parents, Antoni and Marya Walker.