Cover of The Unknown Heart

The Unknown Heart

  • 1969 first published
  • 236 pages
  • 10 editions

The Unknown Heart is a 1969 historical romance novel by Barbara Cartland. The story is set in England, in 1901. It features Virginia Clay and Sebastian Ryll Duke of Camberford.

26 Open Library readers have it on their want-to-read list. It has been published in 10 editions across 3 languages.

It runs to roughly 236 pages — 4–5 hours of reading at an average pace.

About The Unknown Heart

In 1902. Plump Virginia Clay, was dominated by her mother, Mrs. Stuyvesant Clay, widow of an American millionaire. She knew quite well why Sebastian Ryll, the future Duke of Camberford, wanted to marry her. He was sorely in need of money--and Virginia's mother had offered him two million dollars! Virginia tried to refuse. She wanted to marry for love. She could only detest a man who would marry her for her fortune, no matter how handsome and noble. But soon the unhappy girl found herself at the altar, vowing her love to a tall, dark, cynical stranger. At that moment Virginia thought her life had ended. She collapses from the strain, recovering a year later to find herself slim and stunning. Hoping to obtain a divorce from the man she barely knows but despises for wanting her money, she travels incognito to his ancestral home -- only to discover that the man she wed is not what she expected him to be. It was only the beginning... the beginning of dangerous intrigue and secret romance--and a most unexpected love....
Description from Open Library

Themes, setting & tropes

Genres

Setting

Era

  • 1901
  • Edwardian Era

Characters

  • Virginia Clay
  • Sebastian Ryll Duke of Camberford

Subjects

  • Edwardian Historical Romance

Quick answers

Who wrote The Unknown Heart?

The Unknown Heart was written by Barbara Cartland and first published in 1969.

What genre is The Unknown Heart?

It is usually shelved as Historical Romance.

How long is The Unknown Heart?

The median edition has 236 pages, about 4–5 hours of reading at 250 words per minute.

What books are similar to The Unknown Heart?

Readers who like it often enjoy The Thorn Birds, The French Lieutenant's Woman and Mistress of Mellyn.

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