In the aftermath of the Franco-Prussian War, George Morland becomes master of Morland Place and begins an ambitious programme of improvement. His sister Henrietta marries the scholarly Reverend Fortescue in the hope of leading a useful life, while their cousin Lady Venetia Fleetwood resolves to study medicine after witnessing the suffering created by modern war.
Each discovers that apparent progress may be a mirage. Agricultural depression threatens George’s plans, the medical establishment refuses to accept Venetia as an equal, and Henrietta learns that her respectable marriage conceals a painful reality. The novel examines late Victorian ideals of estate stewardship, professional service and domestic virtue, revealing the social and economic barriers beneath them.
Ken Follett
16 books
Gilbert Morris
104 books
Christopher Nicole
49 books
Philippa Gregory
32 books