December Love   By: Robert Smythe Hichens (1864-1950)

December Love by Robert Smythe Hichens is a captivating and emotionally charged novel that explores the complexities of love, fate, and the consequences of our actions.

The story follows the life of Sir Dene Conway, a successful author and journalist famed for his cynical and detached perspective on relationships. However, everything changes when he meets Lenora, a captivating and mysterious woman, during a cold December evening. Their encounter turns into a whirlwind romance that defies all logic and pushes Sir Dene to question his entire worldview.

Hichens expertly explores the transformative power of love, showcasing how it can break down even the most resistant hearts. Through compelling prose, he delves deep into the minds of his characters, unraveling their fears, desires, and insecurities. The author’s skill in creating complex and multidimensional characters adds depth to the narrative, making readers genuinely invested in their journey.

What sets December Love apart is its exploration of the consequences of our choices. Hichens delves into the intricacies of fate and how our decisions can shape both our lives and the lives of those around us. The novel skillfully navigates themes of regret, forgiveness, and redemption, leaving readers contemplating their own past actions and their potential for change.

The atmospheric descriptions of London during the winter season serve as the perfect backdrop for the characters' emotional turmoil. Hichens paints a vivid picture of a city cloaked in fog and darkness, mirroring the characters' internal struggles. The vivid imagery allows readers to experience the setting alongside the protagonists, adding an extra layer of immersion to the story.

While the love story at the core of the novel is undoubtedly captivating, December Love also compels readers to reflect on the nature of love itself. Hichens prompts us to question whether love can truly transcend time and circumstance, or whether it is simply an evanescent emotion that fades as quickly as it comes.

One slight downside of the book is its occasional tendency towards melodrama. At times, the characters' reactions and dialogues may lean towards the overly dramatic, edging towards the realm of cliché. However, the overall strength of the narrative and the depth of the characters overshadow this minor flaw.

In conclusion, December Love is a thought-provoking and beautifully written novel that explores the complexities of love, fate, and the lasting impact our decisions can have. Hichens’ captivating storytelling and vivid imagery ensure that readers will be engrossed in the story from beginning to end. Whether you're a fan of romance, introspective narratives, or simply well-crafted literature, this book is sure to leave a lasting impression.

First Page:

Alick Craven, who was something in the Foreign Office, had been living in London, except for an interval of military service during the war, for several years, and had plenty of interesting friends and acquaintances, when one autumn day, in a club, Francis Braybrooke, who knew everybody, sat down beside him and began, as his way was, talking of people. Braybrooke talked well and was an exceedingly agreeable man, but he seldom discussed ideas. His main interest lay in the doings of the human race, the "human animal," to use a favorite phrase of his, in what the human race was "up to." People were his delight. He could not live away from the centre of their activities. He was never tired of meeting new faces, and would go to endless trouble to bring an interesting personality within the circle of his acquaintance. Craven's comparative indifference about society, his laziness in social matters, was a perpetual cause of surprise to Braybrooke, who nevertheless was always ready to do Craven a good turn, whether he wanted it done to him or not. Indeed, Craven was indebted to his kind old friend for various introductions which had led to pleasant times, and for these he was quite grateful... Continue reading book >>