Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collection
Publication
Warner Futura (2001), Paperback, 438 pages
Description
1831: as England emerges from the post war depression, the country is changing, and the birth pains of the Reform Act bring it to the brink of revolution. The violent times breed violent acts, both outside and inside the Morland family. Sophie's life is shattered by a hideous crime. Rosamund learns that achieving her dreams brings as much pain as pleasure. Heloise, mourning her beloved James, lets control of Morland Place fall into chaos- Benedict has to flee his home and makes a life amongst the railway pioneers, while Nicholas now has the freedom to indulge the dark side of his nature. And amongst them all stalks the deadly, invisible threat of cholera.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Kasthu
#17: 1831-33; covers reform and the reign of William IV
This installment of the series focuses on the period just after the post-war depression, taking its reader into the reign of William IV and the Reform movement. Jasper Hobsbawm is a supporter of the movement in Manchester, but his involvement
This is another really great addition to the Morland Dynasty series, with some excellent character development. Nicholas is of course the villain of the piece, but he’s not a stock character; and Benedict, while technically the “good” guy, isn’t completely perfect, which I really like about him. I kept wanting Heloise to finally see the truth about Nicholas, though; and I wanted Benedict to grow a backbone and call Nicholas out. Maybe he’ll get his chance in future books in the series? But it’s that side of Nicholas’s character that he keeps hidden that keeps things interesting.
As with the other books in the series, Cynthia Harrod-Eagles’s historical research is excellent. She really makes you root for the characters (seeing as how many of them appear in multiple books). I was a little disappointed, however, that rosamond took a backseat in this novel. I’m told that the next book in the series, The Abyss, deals primarily with Nicholas and Benedict’s story, so I’ll be fascinated to see how things turn out.
This installment of the series focuses on the period just after the post-war depression, taking its reader into the reign of William IV and the Reform movement. Jasper Hobsbawm is a supporter of the movement in Manchester, but his involvement
Show More
leads to danger, both for him and Sophie. At Morland Place, Heloise is still grieving over the death of James, while her eldest son Nicholas forces his brother Benedict to find a job with the railway pioneers.This is another really great addition to the Morland Dynasty series, with some excellent character development. Nicholas is of course the villain of the piece, but he’s not a stock character; and Benedict, while technically the “good” guy, isn’t completely perfect, which I really like about him. I kept wanting Heloise to finally see the truth about Nicholas, though; and I wanted Benedict to grow a backbone and call Nicholas out. Maybe he’ll get his chance in future books in the series? But it’s that side of Nicholas’s character that he keeps hidden that keeps things interesting.
As with the other books in the series, Cynthia Harrod-Eagles’s historical research is excellent. She really makes you root for the characters (seeing as how many of them appear in multiple books). I was a little disappointed, however, that rosamond took a backseat in this novel. I’m told that the next book in the series, The Abyss, deals primarily with Nicholas and Benedict’s story, so I’ll be fascinated to see how things turn out.
Show Less
Language
Original publication date
1994-06-23
Physical description
438 p.; 6.93 inches
ISBN
075151246X / 9780751512465
Local notes
wien box