''To Have and to Hold'', is a novel by English author

Deborah Moggach Deborah Moggach (née Hough; born 28 June 1948) is an English novelist and screenwriter. She has written nineteen novels, including '' The Ex-Wives'' (1993), ''Tulip Fever'' (1999; made into the 2017 film of the same name), ''These Foolish T ...

, first published in 1986 by

Viking Vikings were seafaring people originally from Scandinavia (present-day Denmark, Norway, and Sweden), who from the late 8th to the late 11th centuries raided, pirated, traded, and settled throughout parts of Europe.Roesdahl, pp. 9� ...

. The novel started as the script for an eight-part television drama for

London Weekend Television London Weekend Television (LWT; now part of the non-franchised ITV London region) was the ITV (TV network), ITV network franchise holder for Greater London and the Home Counties at weekends, broadcasting from Fridays at 5.15 pm (7:00&nbs ...

, screened in September 1986.

Plot introduction

Liberated Viv, happily married to Ollie, decides to bear a surrogate baby for her sterile sister Ann, but instead of

artificial insemination Artificial insemination is the deliberate introduction of sperm into a female's cervix or uterine cavity for the purpose of achieving a pregnancy through in vivo fertilization by means other than sexual intercourse. It is a fertility treatment ...

conceives naturally with her brother-in-law Ken, who falls in love with her.

Reception

*According to

Nicholas Shakespeare Nicholas William Richmond Shakespeare FRSL (born 3 March 1957) is a British novelist and biographer, described by the ''Wall Street Journal'' as "one of the best English novelists of our time". Shakespeare is also known for his charity work. B ...

in ''

The Times ''The Times'' is a British Newspaper#Daily, daily Newspaper#National, national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its modern name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its si ...

'', "A very good novel indeed contemporary in its subject, compassionate in its treatment of the four central characters, and intelligent in its pursuit of the many hares they start." but goes on to write "While going a bundle on images of fecundity, Moggach does have an instinctive eye for the tell-tale gestures people use to hurt or avoid each other. Nevertheless, there is a sense she only realises half way through quite what she is taking on." *Its origins as a television script are exposed by Jill Neville writing in ''

The Sunday Times ''The Sunday Times'' is a British Sunday newspaper whose circulation makes it the largest in Britain's quality press market category. It was founded in 1821 as ''The New Observer''. It is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of N ...

'', "A VERY 'hot' subject like surrogate motherhood seems suspiciously commercial for a novel of quality. And each scene in Deborah Moggach's ''To Have and to Hold'' is written, frame by frame, as if set up for a TV camera, starring the Stringalongs, circa 1985." but she goes on to write "Despite the journalistic breeziness of her style, Moggach paces her sexual minuet with craft and conveys the authentic hot rush of maternal passion."Books: Manipulators and moralisers; Reviews of new fiction Source: ''Sunday Times'' (London, England). (May 4, 1986)

Television drama

* Viv –

Amanda Redman Amanda Jacqueline Redman (born 12 August 1957) is an English actress, known for her roles as Detective Superintendent Sandra Pullman in the BBC One series ''New Tricks'' (2003–2013) and as Dr. Lydia Fonseca in '' The Good Karma Hospital'' (2 ...

* Ann –

Marion Bailey Marion Bailey (born 5 May 1951) is an English actress. She is best known for her work with her partner, filmmaker Mike Leigh, including the films '' Meantime'' (1983), '' All or Nothing'' (2002), ''Vera Drake'' (2004), '' Mr. Turner'' (2014), ...

* Ollie –

Brian Protheroe Brian Protheroe (born 16 June 1944) is an English singer, songwriter, narrator and actor. He is best known for his first single, "Pinball", released in August 1974, which entered the UK Singles Chart at number 40 and reached a peak of number ...

* Ken –

Eamon Boland Eamon Denis Boland (born 15 July 1947) is an English actor. He has played Tony Walker in ''Casualty'', Frank O'Connor in ''Coronation Street'', Gerry Hollis in '' Kinsey'', Jim Gray in '' The Chief'', Phil Fox in ''Fox'' and Clive in ''Singles ...

References

External links

Author webpage
* Novels set in London 1986 British novels Novels by Deborah Moggach Novels based on films Viking Press books Novels about surrogacy {{1980s-novel-stub