Download or read book Queen of Beauty written by Paula Morris and published by Penguin Random House New Zealand Limited. This book was released on 2004-12-03 with total page 332 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Spanning three generations of a large Pakeha/Maori family in a narrative that skilfully handles interwoven stories and multiple voices, Queen of Beauty explores the fragility of truth, the elusiveness of the past, and the transcendent power of love. Virginia Seton lives in rainy, seedy New Orleans, working as a researcher for a historical novelist with a 'strip-mined' imagination. On a brief trip back to New Zealand for her sister's wedding, Virginia is drawn into the family secrets, lies and tensions of both the past and the present.