Lovers All Untrue is a sordid tale of the appalling control men held over women in Victorian England. Mr. Draper, a prosperous merchant, is a horrid, despicable man who selfishly intends to keep both his daughters at home forever to serve his needs in his old age, but he wasn't prepared for his eldest daughter's strong will. While his wife and younger daughter, Ellen, both bow to his will, Marion—who realizes early on she cannot live under her father's oppressive rule—is equally determined to outsmart her father but is soon caught up in a web of tangled lies that turns deadly. I found the story slow at first, but halfway through, I couldn't wait to find out how their fates unfolded, only to be disappointed by an abrupt and disturbing end. ( )

A carefully detailed portrait of Victorian England serves as the background for this ultimately tragic story of two young women taking their first eager and awkward steps towards adulthood. For the Draper sisters; headstrong Marion and her more docile-natured sister Ellen, living under their father's thumb has reached nearly intolerable levels. Their father is a strict disciplinarian, a controlling, domineering man who seeks only to stifle his daughters youthful exuberance and incipient passions.

From the inevitable conflict that is created by such strong personalities living under the same roof, arises feelings of frustration and bitterness. The struggles of a young woman who is trying to escape an impossible situation by finding love, quickly deteriorate to the point of no return. What should be easy and natural in the life of a young, passionate girl, however, is not, and her circumstances go from bad to worse.

I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I found myself completely swept away by this story. In my opinion, this is typical Norah Lofts fare - a superbly-crafted plot and intriguing story; filled with well-developed and believable characters, and realistically suspenseful gothic atmosphere. I give this book an A+! ( )