Official Review: Dreams Within Dreams by Cate Parke

[David Dawson]

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Dreams Within Dreams" by Cate Parke.]

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Dreams Within Dreams by Cate Parke is an historical romance set amongst the British aristocracy - including a Colonial offshoot - against the backdrop of the impending American Revolution, the action flitting between Charleston, South Carolina, and the United Kingdom, specifically society London and the Scottish Highlands, as its characters, most especially married couple Richard and Alexandra Berkeley, do likewise.

At the very end of the book, Parke has included a note delineating her blending of historical fact and historical fiction. The note is classily written and well-argued, the novel bears out that blend of historical fact and the author’s prerogative to alter such details as it is useful to alter. Having said that, in the actual text of the novel the historical detail can feel a little bit overdone. I did feel at times as though I was wading through exposition.

Alexandra is a very modern heroine, which can be problematic. At times she appears to have been transplanted from the 21st century, she is impeccably enlightened about slavery, for instance. Unfortunately this almost encourages the reader to hold her and her husband to modern standards, where they fall a long way short when it comes to Richard’s callous disregard for his former mistress, his zeal for corporal punishment and, most especially for me, Alexandra’s lack of sympathy for the marital rape inflicted upon her cousin Betty. In some respects this is realistic; I am sure the history of the abolitionist movement is strewn with people who behaved badly in other areas or did not apply their humanitarian compassion across other issues. But realism cannot change the fact that it is alienating to the reader.

And not being able to sympathise with Alexandra and Richard is a problem because, for me, the novel hinged upon their relationship. Their loving and passionate marriage (they can rarely keep their hands off one another) is the engine for the story, everything that happens in the novel is viewed through that prism and it absolutely works. But it would have worked better had I liked Alexandra and Richard more.

That same self-sabotage afflicts the historical background to the novel. Alexandra and Richard are supporters of independence for the thirteen colonies, rightfully so, obviously. But their Revolution is not the Revolution of Jefferson and Paine, rather it is derived from their own self-interest. I am not naive. I know that many - most - people in history have been motivated by their own concerns, but when those concerns are the protection of the excessive wealth of aristocrats, it does rather reduce the reader’s sympathy.

Through the first half of the novel much of the tension is provided by the villainous machinations of Thomas Graham, who is consumed by loathing for the Berkeleys. I was unconvinced by Graham - he was just too bad, cartoonishly so. Why did he have to smell, for instance? Not least it created a plot problem: if he is as transparent awful, in every respect, as Parke wants us to believe him to be, how has he managed to wield the influence he does?

Some of the other characters lack definition. The ambition of creating a large set of characters is laudable, but at times it does become confusing, one chinless wonder of an aristocrat merging into the next. The author seems to place a weird value on blood - she seems as obsessed as her characters by (Thomas Graham being a third son, the “noble descent” of the Argyll family etc.)

Nevertheless, if the writing is at times a little olde worlde, a chocolate box conception of history, it can be very good; there are some very evocative descriptions and the chronology is brilliant used to heighten a sense of impending drama. When we are told it is the 28th June 1776 that enhances the sense of a gathering storm.

The review seems to have dwelt unnecessarily on the negative. Dreams Within Dreams is undoubtedly a flawed book (in addition to the above, it could afford to be shorter than its 300 or so pages), but the flaws are outweighed by its merits. It is well-written, thoroughly researched and driven powerfully a realistic and loving marriage between the central protagonists. If this is not excessively faint praise, I have no reason to regret having read it, and do not think anyone else would either - thus I award it 3 out of 4 stars.

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[Cate_Parke]

Thank you so much for your thoughtful review, David. I can't begin to tell you how grateful I am for your honest and thorough evaluation.
Regards,
~Cate Parke