Retro Review – The Flame and the Flower (Birmingham #1) by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss

Ms. Woodiwiss’ book was THE ONE to herald a change in romance novels. ~ Leigh, Guilty Pleasures

Description:
The Flower

Doomed to a life of unending toil, Heather Simmons fears for her innocence—until a shocking, desperate act forces her to flee. . . and to seek refuge in the arms of a virile and dangerous stranger.

The Flame

A lusty adventurer married to the sea, Captain Brandon Birmingham courts scorn and peril when he abducts the beautiful fugitive from the tumultuous London dockside. But no power on Earth can compel him to relinquish his exquisite prize. For he is determined to make the sapphire-eyed prize. For he is determined to make the sapphire-eyed lovely his woman. . .and to carry her off to far, uncharted realms of sensuous, passionate love.

 

Meeting under circumstances where both were mistaken about the true identity of the other, timid English rose Heather Simmons and American ship captain Brandon Birmingham have a love that is one of my all-time favorites in any romance novel I have ever read. Perhaps it is because this was the first book of its kind that I was ever exposed to, pulling it out of a stack I found in our garage as a teenager, or maybe because Ms. Woodiwiss’ book was THE ONE to herald a change in romance novels. Or maybe because it simply is a beautifully descriptive and well-written book. Either way, over the years, I have read my yellowed and frayed copy more times than I can count. Brandon is the archetype of the alpha-male persona. He is a handsome and bold take-charge hero that is in control in all situations and he plays the perfect foil to Heather’s beautiful and dainty heroine that needs rescuing. I realize now that as the first book of its kind that I ever was able to get my hot little hands on, Brandon set the tone for all of the strong, uber-alphas that have been my favorite heroes over the years.

Having gone back to read The Flame and the Flower for the umpteenth time, this time with a more critical eye, I have to acknowledge that there are things about it that will bother people when taken the time to analyze them individually. For instance, when Brandon and Heather meet, Heather is running away and lost on the London docks. In search of a prostitute for their captain for the evening, Brandon’s ship hands locate Heather and bring her to him. Heather is under the impression that she is being brought before a magistrate, and Brandon mistakenly believes that he has been brought a prostitute who is merely being coy. Without mincing words, he rapes Heather and the two are forced into marriage.

In addition, there are historical inaccuracies that do not correctly depict the Carolina’s in the early 1800s. Slaves were not treated as members of the family, as they were here, I don’t believe women were given the freedom that many of the younger ladies in this book seem to have. And frankly, I don’t believe the hygiene was up to the standards that are depicted, unless Brandon and Heather were the exception and bathed more frequently than everyone else of the time.

Reading this novel with a modern eye, the love scenes are quite tame, the formal language may be considered stilted and the premise of a deep love growing from an initial encounter that can only be characterized as rape will certainly offend many people.

And yet, I can’t see these things when I read The Flame and the Flower. What I see is a love story between two stubborn people who fall in love despite themselves. With others trying to tear them apart through jealousy and greed, their worst enemies are actually themselves and their own pride which prevents each one from seeing the person in front of them. Their own mistakes are what keep them from being able to admit their love for one another for so long, and when they are finally able to see what has been staring them in the face, and the people that they have been able to grow into with the love of the other, it is just beautiful. The formality and the gentility of the language just adds to the spell the book weaves, and we get a chance to see two likeable characters fall deeply in love with all of their heart.

While by today’s standards the book would probably not receive the attention it did back when it was published in 1972, there is no debate that it changed an entire genre. The Flame and the Flower contains wonderfully descriptive writing that transports the reader back to the Carolinas and London in the 1800s and introduces them to funny, emotional and loveable characters, the quintessential alpha male, and an epic, enduring romance.