Sheila Bishop: A Speaking Likeness

A Speaking Likeness is the last Sheila Bishop book that Allan Kass illustrated. It was published by Fawcett in 1976 and is the story of widow Diana Pentland, who adopts a little boy born out of wedlock. She is content to raise her son until she visits Brandham Castle and sees a resemblance between him and the heir to Brandham. What happens next is very surprising!

Allan Kass paints a beautiful picture for this book. Our couple is riding in a rowboat and enjoying a nice summers day! Note the casual garb of both though the heroine does carry a sunshade to protect her complexion! She is a pretty redhead and the braid in her hair is unique in his covers along with the lily pads floating in the lake!

It wasn't uncommon for out of wedlock children born to aristocratic people to be adopted out or to be left in the care of a respected family in the country. Many times schooling was provided and the child could grow up in the mileau that his birth required.