Goudge's blockbuster classic: A new mother's desperate decision sets in motion a dramatic series of events leading to an epic romance Sylvie wants to be a good wife to Gerald, who offers the privileged life she could only dream of, growing up. When they wed eight years ago, the country was in the throes of the Depression, and she thought she'd made the right choice.  She wants to please her new husband, and bear his children. But no matter how hard she tries,  she cannot  give him her whole heart.   She thinks something is wrong with her until Nikos, the earthy Greek handyman, shows her what real passion is — and gives her a child. Sylvie knows Gerald will never accept the newborn, with her black eyes and dark hair, and she despairs until a fire in the hospital gives her a way out. In the confusion she switches her daughter for another's, a bold act that resonates through the decades and culminates in one of the most passionate love stories portrayed in contemporary fiction.   This ebook features an illustrated biography of Eileen Goudge including rare photos from the author's personal collection.