Little by little, the old world crumbled, and not once did the king imagine that some of the pieces might fall on him

Little by little, the old world crumbled, and not once did the king imagine that some of the pieces might fall on him

In Jennifer Donnelly's novels, particularly in her historical fiction works like "The Tea Rose" and "The Winter Rose," the theme of societal change and the crumbling of the old world is a prevalent and powerful one. Donnelly expertly weaves together the personal struggles of her characters with the larger backdrop of a changing world, showing how individuals are both shaped by and can shape the world around them.

The quote "Little by little, the old world crumbled, and not once did the king imagine that some of the pieces might fall on him" is a poignant reflection of the blindness of those in power to the forces of change that are at work in the world. In Donnelly's novels, we see this theme play out in various ways, from the crumbling of the old social order in Victorian London to the upheaval of the Russian Revolution.

In "The Tea Rose," we follow the story of Fiona Finnegan, a young woman who rises from poverty to become a successful businesswoman in the cutthroat world of the tea trade. As Fiona navigates the challenges of her new life, she comes up against the entrenched power structures of the old world, including corrupt businessmen and aristocrats who will stop at nothing to maintain their grip on power. Through Fiona's eyes, we see how the old world is crumbling, and how those in power are blind to the fact that their own actions may hasten its downfall.

Similarly, in "The Winter Rose," we are introduced to India Selwyn Jones, a young doctor who becomes embroiled in the political turmoil of early 20th century London. As India fights for the rights of the poor and disenfranchised, she comes up against the entrenched power of the old world, including corrupt politicians and businessmen who will do anything to maintain their hold on power. Through India's story, we see how the old world is crumbling, and how those in power are blind to the fact that their own actions may ultimately lead to their downfall.