Gregory rings down the curtain on her Lacey family trilogy (begun with Wideacre and continued in The Favored Child) in breathlessly dramatic form, offering devotees of historical romance a heroine who's heads above the usual drabs of the genre. This time on center stage is Sarah, product of the wretched marriage between Julia and Richard Lacey, abandoned to gypsies as a baby (and known as Meridon to the Romany tribe that raises her) so that Wideacre might be free of the Lacey curse forever. At 15, she and her foster sister join a traveling show, with Sarah riding bareback and Dandy introducing England to the wonders of the trapeze; but when Dandy falls to her death, Sarah runs away, miraculously ending up again at Wideacre. In the hands of trustee James Fortescue and foreman Will Tyacke, the estate has become an agricultural commune. Both men expect the harshly reared Sarah (whom they immediately accept as the lost heir) to have sympathy for the poor, and thus to continue the experiment.
But Sarah, empty and bitter over the loss of both her natural family and adoptive sister, sets a course toward disaster, affiancing herself to Lord Perry Havering, a degenerate gambler completely under the thumb of his domineering mother. The marriage is finalized while Sarah is in the throes of typhus fever, and after she recovers, it's to find Perry using the deed to Wideacre at the gaming table. Fortunately, Will Tyacke turns up to help Sarah win back the title; and before the dawn breaks, Will and Sarah are riding back to Wideacre for a utopian socialist happily-ever-after. The circus detail early on is as good (if not better) than that in Gary Jennings' Spangle, and the heroine beguiles even as readers ache to box her ears. In short, then, no letdown for series fans here.
Philippa Gregory ( - ) Born in Kenya in 1954, Philippa Gregory moved to England with her family and was educated in Bristol and at the National Council for the Training of Journalists course in Cardiff. She worked as a senior reporter on the Portsmouth News, and as a journalist and producer for BBC Radio. Philippa obtained a BA degree in History at the University of Sussex in Brighton and a PhD at Edinburgh University in 18th-century literature.
Her first novel, Wideacre, was written as she completed her PhD and became an instant worldwide bestseller. On its publication, she became a full-time writer. Wideacre was followed by a haunting sequel, The Favoured Child, and the delightful happy ending of the trilogy: Meridon. This novel was listed in Feminist Book Fortnight and for the Romantic Novel of the Year at the same time. She lives in the North of England with her family and in addition to interests that include riding, walking, skiing and gardening (an interest born from research into the Tradescant family for her novel Virgin Earth) she also runs a small charity building wells in school gardens in The Gambia.
Meridon, a desolate Romany girl, is determined to escape the hard poverty of her childhood. Riding bareback in a travelling show, while her sister Dandy risks her life on the trapeze, Meridon dedicates herself to freeing them both from danger and want. But Dandy, beautiful, impatient, thieving, grabs too much, too quickly.
And Meridon finds herself alone, riding in bitter grief through the rich Sussex farmlands towards a house called Wideacre – which awaits the return of the last of the Laceys. Sweeping, passionate, unique: Meridon completes Philippa Gregory’s bestselling trilogy which began with Wideacre and continued with The Favoured Child. This was the book that I was longing to write from the moment that I finished Wideacre as it was the conclusion of the story and the happy ending. I had a wonderful summer of research when I stayed with a circus for the summer season and travelled with them and worked as a circus hand so that I could understand the life. The Wiltshire sequences are set in a well-loved house near Warminster where I used to stay as a child, and the return to Wideacre took me back to my beloved Sussex. The London sequences I traced out walking around London with a valuable 18th century map as my A to Z, seeing where Meridon might live and how she would ride in the park. It was a hugely joyful book to write and I foresaw in it a happy time for myself, and the horse that I bought after writing about Meridon's beloved grey horse: my own grey horse, Comet.
The book opens in 1805. As the nineteenth century opens, the Industrial Revolution is gaining momentum and driving significant economic and social change throughout Great Britain. This combined with the ongoing expansion of the British Empire has led to the United Kingdom becoming the richest and most powerful country in the world.
As a result, it is facing threats from its old enemies - Napoleon's France and Spain. Within England, the Industrial Revolution is transforming the economy and leading to a widening gap between the rich and poor. Social dissatisfaction and unrest is increasing.
When this book opens in 1416, with the birth of Jacquetta of Luxembourg, Henry V is on the throne and England is at war with France in a series of conflicts that would later become known as The Hundred Years' War. Henry VI takes the throne in 1422 and begins his long reign of England through some of its most turbulent times including Joan of Arc's mission and beginning of The Wars of the Roses - though at the time it was known as The Cousins' War as the feuding families of York and Lancaster fought for power and position. The Lady of the Rivers Released 2011 “ When I started research on Jacquetta Duchess of Bedford I found pretty much nothing. There was a chapter in a PhD thesis, and one essay.
And yet this is the mother and grandmother of queens of England, and a major player at both royal courts of Lancaster and York. There was more magic in this story than any I have written since the more fictional novel The Wise Woman and this was because Jacquetta was descended from a family who claimed to have a water spirit in their family tree, and she was associated for all her life with the practise of witchcraft. I found her to be utterly fascinating, and I hope that historians go on to research her life in detail. Henry VI is a child king, only nine years old, crowned before his first birthday after the death of his father Henry V on campaign. England is in the midst of the Hundred Years' War in France, however life in England is peaceful for most. Sensing an opportunity to overthrow the weakened House of Lancaster, the House of York led by Richard Duke of York claim a stronger link to the throne. This rivalry brings about a series of devastating battles which would come to be known as The Wars of The Roses and would turn neighbour against neighbour, cousin against cousin.
Now a grown man, Henry VI has maintained his hold on the English throne, despite decades of political and military challenges by the House of York. The Hundred Years' War comes to an end in France and England is defeated, losing all of her territory except for Calais. News of defeat drives King Henry into an unresponsive stupor. His wife, the despised Margaret of Anjou, cannot keep control and their great rival Richard Duke of York becomes Protector of the Realm. England is in limbo: a king crippled by insanity, a disliked and mistrusted queen, and two great families vying for control of the kingdom. Meanwhile a third potential line of succession is emerging from the agreed marriage of the newly ennobled Edmund Tudor Earl of Richmond to the child heiress Margaret Beaufort. Order of Darkness Volume IV – Dark Tracks Released 2018 “ I think this is my favourite volume of the Order of Darkness series so far.
This series is set in the fifteenth century, during the rapid expansion of the Ottoman Empire into Europe. They brought with them the Arab learning in maths, science, medicine and astronomy. For the resident Christians, this was thought to signal the end of the world and the Pope named all non-Christians enemies of the true faith. In this time of great fear and superstition our fictional travellers have been recruited by the Order of Darkness, a Christian group tasked with investigating and reporting on the signs of the end of days. In Dark Tracks, the group have reached Austria, where they are confronted with the reality of medieval antisemitism. Unusual occurrences are happening in the village of Mauthausen, Austria.
People have begun to dance, endlessly and without stopping. They are constantly joined by new dancers, like a plague spreading from one person to next. The villagers are terrified of becoming dancers themselves, believing they have been possessed by demons. This unexplainable phenomenon must be investigated and the truth discovered.
Are these people truly possessed, or is there some kind of rational explanation to explain why people are literally dancing themselves to their deaths? The White Queen Released 2009 “ This was my first step back in time from the Tudors. I had read that Elizabeth of York, wife of Henry VII had been Richard III's lover, and this was such an extraordinary claim that I started to read about her, and from her to her mother, the almost-unknown Elizabeth Woodville.
When I started to look at her there was only one reliable biography, by historian David Baldwin, and it was on his biography and my own research that I based this first book in the series that has gone on to be a major BBC TV series. The White Princess Released 2013 “ Oh! I love this book so much. This is the story of Elizabeth of York who is forced to marry Henry VII as part of the peace settlement to bring about the end of the Cousins' War. To her horror she finds her throne is threatened by a young man who is claiming to be her brother Richard, missing from the Tower of London.
Half of England sides with the young man against the usurping Tudor, what should Elizabeth do? I think this is probably one of the most complex historical novels I have ever written - the merging of the personal and the political is very intense, and the blending of the historical research and the imagined psychologies has been a great joy. Henry Tudor is king, snatching the crown from Richard III in a surprise victory at the Battle of Bosworth.
Raised in exile in Brittany and having taken the throne with a French and Scottish force, Henry had neither the easy popularity nor the longstanding political allegiances of the House of York. As a result, he had to face repeated rebellions and threats to his throne. In an attempt to unify the warring Houses of Lancaster and York, Henry marries the York Princess Elizabeth, daughter of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville.
The Constant Princess Released 2005 “ The story of Katherine of Aragon who is very neglected by historians, but who was the longest-serving wife of Henry VIII, and who helped him to take the throne and learn the trade of kingship. I was fascinated by her background, I travelled to Granada to see for myself her childhood home, the beautiful Alhambra palace, and I became certain that the young woman that she became was far more interesting and active than the picture we have of her of the 'old woman' that would be replaced by the 'young mistress'. Deliberately I ended the novel at the moment of her greatest triumph when she was a successful queen militant as her mother Isabella of Spain had been. The King's Curse Released 2014 “ This is a novel which changed its nature, content and significance from when I started research until publication.
Right up until the last stage of copy editing I was revising and adding material and characters to this dark story. I started it, thinking that it would be a relatively simple telling of the tragic story of Margaret Pole – daughter of George Duke of Clarence and Isabel Neville.
George was the brother of Edward IV, probably drowned in a vat of Malmsey wine for treason against Edward and Queen Elizabeth. As the book progressed I discovered that Margaret was a central figure in the Tudor court, and probably actively involved in the endless conspiracies against Henry VIII and his advisors. This hidden rebellion reached its peak in the uprising of the North called the Pilgrimage of Grace. The pilgrims won their aims of defending the Roman Catholic traditions and the return of the traditional advisors, but Henry reneged on his promises and sent his troops for a terrible persecution to men who held a royal pardon. Margaret, and her entire family, came under suspicion too and this novel moved far from the template of a persecuted heroine and became the story of a merciless murder of a family. Margaret's betrayer, and her defenders all come under the gaze of a king who was increasingly frightened and, I believe delusional. It's been a chilling and powerful book to write and the image of Henry VIII, composer of 'Greensleeves' beloved of primary school history, will never be the same again for me.
He was a serial killer and this book traces his steps towards psychosis. Three Sisters, Three Queens Released 2016 “ 'Three Sisters, Three Queens': the title of my new book featuring Margaret Tudor, Henry VIII's older sister, only came to me when I realised that the book was not just about this extraordinary woman who married three times, twice against the wishes of her family for love, ruled Scotland and raised a king; but also about her equally formidable sister-in-law, Katherine of Aragon, and her sister Mary Tudor. It was extraordinary to see how the fortunes of one woman rose coincidentally with the failure of another, and how the issues of arranged marriage, widowhood, divorce and re-marriage dominated the lives of all three. I was also writing very much to the idea of sisterhood – the rivalry, love, pride and jealousy that sisters often bring to each other. I wanted this book to go to the very heart of being a sister, a queen, and sister to a great queen.
The Other Boleyn Girl Released 2001 “ This has to be one of my favourite books of all time for it is the one that made my name, was adapted by the BBC and Hollywood, and established the style that has come to be my 'signature' style: the first person view of history from a lesser known, or perhaps unknown, historical character. Mary Boleyn was a great find and this novel has given rise to three biographies about her, and established her as a historical character instead of being the sister that nobody knew about. Henry VIII has reformed the Church of England, breaking away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church. Keen to reinforce his position as the new head of the Church and to take advantage of the wealth of the Catholic Church, Henry began the Dissolution – the raiding and wrecking of all of the Catholic convents and monasteries in England. In this time of religious tensions and instability, belief in witchcraft and the supernatural began to spread throughout the country, causing increasing concern. As a result, King Henry decides to introduce an Act of Parliament making witchcraft punishable by death – and making England a much more dangerous place for a young woman without wealth or family.
The Boleyn Inheritance Released 2006 “ I remember writing this novel very vividly for a bad fall from my horse had confined me to bed for six weeks in a lot of pain, and I dived into this novel so that I could take myself somewhere else. What a world I stepped into! My Anne of Cleves, unlike the cliche of the fat Flanders mare, is a pretty courageous energetic survivor, and my Katherine Howard is not a 'slut' (as a modern historian has called her) but a young girl foolish and vain as young girls sometimes are, but dangerously ill advised and married more or less against her best interests to the most dangerous man in England. I tackle the enigma of Jane Rochford in this novel too. Nobody knows for sure why she would be complicit in the execution of two queens of England - I suggest madness, but readers must make up their own minds. The Taming of the Queen Released 2015 “ All of my titles are a bit of a labour of love, because I see them as a sort of cryptic message to the reader which sometimes says what the book is simply about, and sometimes says what it means.
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The title for this book had to reflect my real admiration for the heroine, and also the challenge she faced – not just to survive, but also to retain her courage and her power and her vision. The heroine/narrator is Kateryn Parr, Henry VIII's last and little-known queen, a woman who came to her own individual understanding of her husband, an increasingly sick and tyrannical king, and the world that she lived in.
She was a leader of reform and (to me the most important) the first woman to publish her own work in print under her own name in England in English. This is so extraordinary I don't know why we aren't all taught her in schools. But what to call her fictionalised biography? Of course, I knew that she had to silence her voice and keep her writing secret during the months that Henry suspected her, and so I wanted something that would acknowledge his power over her. This is not trivial or romantic – this is tyranny to a murderous degree.
And I wanted something which put her in the bitter context of all the other women who are silenced. In this way, Kateryn speaks for all who have not been allowed an education, or to speak, or to write.Then I learned that Nicholas Udall, the playwright, had possibly premiered a play before her called 'Ralph Roister Doister' – a play about a household of women with a woman head and their spirited and violent defence against an aggressive bullying man. Borrowed by Shakespeare and skewed towards male power this became 'The Taming of the Shrew' – the story of a powerful furious woman who submits to an aggressive bullying man. I had my title: ‘The Taming of the Queen’ – a novel about a woman who is silenced by male power and terrorised by male threat, but who survives to write, to make her own life, and even to love. Only months after the king sentenced his fifth wife to death, he was looking for his sixth, and chose the recently-widowed, thirty-year-old Kateryn Parr, who was planning to marry the handsome bachelor Thomas Seymour. As soon as the king showed his interest in the beautiful widow she had to serve the interests of her family and agree to marry him, become Queen of England and stepmother to his children, and rule England in his absence. But the king, old, angry and in pain, was hard to please; and very soon Kateryn’s outspoken support of the Reformation put her in grave danger from the courtiers, conspiring for power.
Henry VIII is dead, succeeded by his only legitimate son, nine year old Edward VI. Too young to rule, the realm is governed by a Regency Council, led by his uncle, Edward Seymour. Edward has continued his father's reformation of the church and Protestantism is becoming established, however England is still unsettled with rioting and rebellions common. Edward was close to and well loved by both of his half-sisters: the Catholic Princess Mary, daughter of Katherine of Aragon and the Protestant Princess Elizabeth, daughter of the executed Anne Boleyn. However, he and his advisors were concerned that should he die without issue, his sister Princess Mary would return the country to Catholicism. The Last Tudor Released 2017 “ This has been a journey of discovery for me into the lives and characters of the Grey girls.
I knew of Jane before I started research but I knew next to nothing about her sisters and it was a lucky guess that there was more behind the sentimental portrait of Jane that took me to the stories of the three of them. I struggled for a title until I had finished the book and then I chose this ambiguous one. Mary is the last Tudor of the Brandon branch – a fascinating and unknown character to end such a famous line – but Elizabeth is the last ruling Tudor, the throne inherited by a Stuart. She could have named Katherine as an heir and put a Tudor/Seymour boy on the throne of England and broken the jinx on Tudor male heirs. But her rivalry and paranoia was too much for her. The stories of the Grey girls show the enterprise and courage of young Elizabethan women who defied two queens, to make their own lives. Jane chose death rather than deny her faith, and her sisters conspired against the throne, pursuing their own loves and ambitions and risking their sister’s fate: execution for treason.
This is the darkest portrait I have ever seen of Elizabeth – I have responded only to the facts of her treatment of her cousins, who as kinswomen and heirs should have been under her protection but found themselves at the centre of her fears. The Virgin's Lover Released 2004 “ This is an interesting book for me since the logic of the narrative and the characters involved in the story made me look at the real life evidence for the accidental death of Amy Dudley. When I was writing the novel it was widely accepted that she had broken her neck as a result of a fall.
It seemed to me that murder was a far more likely cause, and you can read the novel to see who I suspect. It was very exciting when, long after publication, the original documents of her inquest were found showing that she died from blows to the head made by a weapon. Amy Dudley was indeed murdered, but we still don't know who was the murderer. Upon his unexpected early death in 1553, King Edward VI nominated his cousin, a committed Protestant, Lady Jane Grey as his successor. Just nine days after she was crowned, Edward's sister Princess Mary had raised supporters and persuaded the Privy Council to switch their allegiance - declaring her the rightful queen and imprisoning Jane. Queen Mary began to reverse the Protestant reformation of her father, restoring Roman Catholic bishops and persecuting Protestants. Despite several reported pregnancies, Mary's marriage to Philip of Spain produced no children. So on her death, her sister the Protestant Princess Elizabeth succeeded her to the throne.
The Other Queen Released 2008 “ It is a challenge to write a novel about Mary Queen of Scots – so much has been written about her already – a play and an opera as well as dozens of histories. In this novel I looked at her long years of imprisonment and the extraordinary triangle that developed between her, her gaoler the Earl of Shrewsbury and his wonderful wife Bess of Hardwick.
The dynamic between these three makes this novel not just a historical novel about the times but a psychological study of three people trapped together. Elizabeth I has been Queen of England for ten years. She is still unmarried, despite considering several suitors and having conducted a love affair with the married Robert Dudley Earl of Leicester – whose wife had then died under suspicious circumstances.
With no heir, Elizabeth refused to name a successor – leading to the dissolution of parliament and putting England in a potentially dangerous position. One possible successor to Elizabeth was her first cousin once removed – the Catholic Mary Queen of Scots, whom many English Catholics believed to be the true English heir to the throne. However Mary is under imprisonment in Loch Leven Castle after marrying her third husband James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell – the man widely believed to have earlier murdered Mary's second husband Lord Darnley – and she appeals to her cousin Elizabeth for support. Earthly Joys Released 1998 “ My editor had suggested that I write a biography – they were hugely fashionable in this year – and I wanted to write about someone who worked with his hands. While I was puzzling about who would be the subject of a fictional biography I was given a book on plant collectors and gardeners and read of John Tradescant. It happened that I visited a garden centre, and tripped and literally fell into a tray of Tradescantia.
It was enough of a hint! I started research on John Tradescant and found enough material for two books, and developed an entirely new style of writing: the fictionalised biography. Virgin Earth Released 1999 “ This was one of my favourite books to write, I researched it on a visit to Jamestown and went on to a reservation for the Pamunky (Powhatan) people. I was honoured with an invitation into a private home and had a long talk about the history of the people.
This book is divided between the two terrible conflicts: colonists against indigenous peoples in America, and royalists against roundheads in England. I met the great historian of the period Christopher Hill and asked him did he think it possible that a man like John Tradescant might leave England to escape the conflict and he laughed and said that any sensible man would leave England in the middle of a civil war - so I felt very justified in my development of John's character and the two locations of this novel of a man divided between two loves. Charles I is on the throne.
He has dissolved parliament for the third time and resolved to rule alone. In order to manage the debts generated during the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I and fund his overseas wars with Spain and France, Charles repeatedly invented new and re-established obsolete forms of taxation. This during a time when harvests were failing caused widespread poverty and social unrest. Charles had become increasingly unpopular with the English people – his friendship with the assassinated George Villiers Duke of Buckingham had alienated the noble families whilst his failure to successfully support Protestant forces during the Thirty Years' War and marriage to a Roman Catholic French Princess caused suspicion and mistrust amongst his people. As the country descended into civil war, many chose to emigrate to the recently settled American colonies in search of freedom – despite Charles's attempts to stem the flow. Wideacre Released 1987 “ This is my first novel, which I wrote as I completed my PhD in 18th century history and literature, when – without planning to do so – I served an apprenticeship in the 18th century novels which were being invented at that time.
The oppression of women, the rebellion of the poor all came from the history of the time, the love of landscape from my own childhood and the fevered sexuality all my own imagination. I wrote Wideacre in an old ruled notebook by hand, and put on the front, 'Philippa Gregory – Best Selling Novel'. Unbelievably it was. It sold world-wide in a bidding war and I decided to become a writer. The novel is set in the second part of the eighteenth century, during the time of the enclosure acts, a series of UK Acts of Parliament which enclosed open fields and common land in the country.
The 'Tragedy of the Commons' removed previously existing rights of local people to carry out activities. Private ownership of land is a modern idea, and was outside the comprehension of most people. The king, or the Lord of the Manor, usually owned an estate, but the people enjoyed all sorts of rights which enabled him, or her, to graze stock, cut wood or peat, draw water or grow crops, on various plots of land at specified times of year. A Respectable Trade Released 1995 “ A profoundly important book for me to write, this book tells the story of the English slave trade, the import of black people as slaves into England, an almost totally forgotten history when I started research. The great source book for me was Peter Fryer's Staying Power, in which he writes of the presence of black people in Britain from the Roman Empire onwards. It was a moment of great gladness when he wrote a generous review praising the novel. I travelled to the Gambia to research the African part of the story and while I was there met the schoolmaster who founded, with me, our charity, Gardens for the Gambia.
The novel scandalised my home town of Bristol which has tried to forget the terrible legacy of slavery, and inspired many black readers to study the history of 18th century slavery in England. I wrote the screenplay for the BBC TV drama based on the book and was proud to win the Committee for Racial Equality award for best TV drama, and be runner up for a BAFTA. As the 18th century draws to a close, Great Britain has become a major international power through victory over France in the Americas and the colonisation of large parts of India. In England, the Industrial Revolution is taking hold and radically changing both the environment and society. Alongside the spread of the Empire across the globe, the transatlantic trade in slaves also increased dramatically, becoming a very lucrative business for ports such as Bristol and Liverpool. The majority of the enslaved people, stolen from Africa by the British, were sold to the plantations of the European colonies, however, a number were also brought back to Britain to be kept or sold as domestic slaves. By the 1770s, some Christians were beginning to question the morality of the trade. However, the slavers would prove unwilling to give up such a profitable business without a fight.
Meridon By Philippa Gregory
The Favoured Child Released 1989 “ This is that difficult beast: the second novel. I rewrote it through more drafts than anything since.
I poured into it my thoughts about the gentrification of women, and their use as symbols of status. I still think of it as a novel which has more complexity than one might expect. I loved the heroine and especially the sequences in Bath. I went to stay in Bath to research the history of the town and uncovered a darker side to the spa which I think serves the story well, as it is so much about the shadows of regency England. England is in the grip of the Industrial Revolution.
The impact of the Enclosures Act and rapid growth of industry led to an increasing movement of people away from living and working in the countryside and into towns and cities. The earlier influence and status of the rich landowners was under threat from the intellectuals of the enlightenment and as a result, the rigid social hierarchies were beginning to change. Despite such changes however, women were still no closer to gaining access to legal rights or equal academic or professional opportunities. Property and money were held only by men and women were generally under the control of a man – her father and then subsequently her husband.
Most women - especially those from wealthy families had few rights and fewer life choices. Meridon Released 1990 “ This was the book that I was longing to write from the moment that I finished Wideacre as it was the conclusion of the story and the happy ending. I had a wonderful summer of research when I stayed with a circus for the summer season and travelled with them and worked as a circus hand so that I could understand the life. The Wiltshire sequences are set in a well-loved house near Warminster where I used to stay as a child, and the return to Wideacre took me back to my beloved Sussex. The London sequences I traced out walking around London with a valuable 18th century map as my A to Z, seeing where Meridon might live and how she would ride in the park.
It was a hugely joyful book to write and I foresaw in it a happy time for myself, and the horse that I bought after writing about Meridon's beloved grey horse: my own grey horse, Comet. As the nineteenth century opens, the Industrial Revolution is gaining momentum and driving significant economic and social change throughout Great Britain. This combined with the ongoing expansion of the British Empire has led to the United Kingdom becoming the richest and most powerful country in the world. As a result, it is facing threats from its old enemies - Napoleon's France and Spain. Within England, the Industrial Revolution is transforming the economy and leading to a widening gap between the rich and poor. Social dissatisfaction and unrest is increasing.
The Little House Released 1997 “ Still not yet completely committed to nothing but history I wrote The Little House at high speed and with a sense of the intense drama of the subject: the way that women can be rivals to the death over a man or even a child. Interestingly, I never felt that I took sides in this novel of conflict about a mother-in-law and her son's wife, but almost every reader thinks that I am on the side that she favours.
Almost every reader favours the woman who is in her own position! It's a very revealing book to read and discuss.
I have heard from very anxious mothers-in-law, and very angry daughters. Zelda's Cut Released 2000 “ This is an odd novel of mine. It's partly a satire on the business of publishing which I was starting to understand by this time in my career, partly an ironic commentary on the mistakes a woman makes when she takes responsibility for everything, but it is mostly a wry musing on the nature of being a woman – whether in our world femininity is so constructed that a man could do it as well as a woman, and perhaps – more optimistically – that a real woman will find love if she dares. It was a novel which I wrote with great imaginative leaps and little planning – I remember my own shock when the shoes were stolen!
It was not a scene I had planned at all, I didn't understand it then, I don't understand it now, but it has tremendous resonance for me – and of course, it gave me the last bizarre line.
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Other Boleyn Girl comes the final book of the extraordinary Wideacre trilogy as the heir to the great estate comes home at last. Meridon knows she does not belong in the dirty, vagabond life of a gypsy bareback rider. The half-remembered vision of another life burns in her heart, even as her beloved sister, Dandy, risks e From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Other Boleyn Girl comes the final book of the extraordinary Wideacre trilogy as the heir to the great estate comes home at last. Meridon knows she does not belong in the dirty, vagabond life of a gypsy bareback rider. The half-remembered vision of another life burns in her heart, even as her beloved sister, Dandy, risks everything for their future.
Alone, Meridon follows the urgings of her dream, riding in the moonlight past the rusted gates, up the winding drive to a house-clutching the golden clasp of the necklace that was her birthright-home at last to Wideacre. The lost heir of one of England's great estates would take her place as its mistress. Meridon is a rich, impassioned tapestry of a young woman's journey from dreams to glittering drawing rooms and elaborate deceits, from a simple hope to a deep and fulfilling love.
Set in the savage contrasts of Georgian England-a time alive with treachery, grandeur, and intrigue- Meridon is Philippa Gregory's masterwork. This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, So. The concluding volume of the Wideacre trilogy. Each book is different, but this is by far the tamest.
The story arc covers two years instead of 10 or more & the WTFery is kept to a minimum; for those that care, there's no incest in this book. Sarah's problems are unique in the Wideacre universe. Unlike her mother & grandmother, her initial contact with the land is metaphysical. She has a secret longing for somewhere else - a place manifested by vivid dreams of past women who look li So.
The concluding volume of the Wideacre trilogy. Each book is different, but this is by far the tamest. The story arc covers two years instead of 10 or more & the WTFery is kept to a minimum; for those that care, there's no incest in this book. Sarah's problems are unique in the Wideacre universe. Unlike her mother & grandmother, her initial contact with the land is metaphysical. She has a secret longing for somewhere else - a place manifested by vivid dreams of past women who look like her, but live in an elegant house with clean clothes & fancy horses on a beautiful stretch of land.
But she's not a Quality heiress. She's fifteen, a gypsy foundling, & her name is Meridon.right?
Even when her true identity is established, Sarah grapples with guilt, inferiority, & bitterness. Unable to conceive of a comfortable life without excessive wealth, she unwisely throws her lot in with the neighboring Havering family, believing they can teach her to become Quality. But Clara Havering is no fool; she smells an unschooled heiress with a giant purse, which is just what the Haverings need to revitalize their own bank account & beat down those fiendish revolutionaries next door - including Will Tyacke, the young estate manager that Sarah is ABSOLUTELY NOT attracted to.
(Yeah, right.:P) Wacky dramaz ensue. Ultimately, this is a novel about Sarah reaching emotional maturity. Her initial standoffish behavior & gimme-gimme attitude aren't always pleasant, but who can blame her? She's had a lot of shit to deal with.and she's only sixteen. By the last third of the book she's ready to consider her errors, but said wacky dramaz come first.
Typhus, a drugged-out marriage ceremony, & skeevy gambling hells come into play - all of which are born of the clash between Sarah's stubbornness & the Haverings' greed. Unlike the double-edged sword in Wideacre & The Favored Child, this book portrays the land in a positive light. Even if the land cannot be completely owned by one person - a major theme throughout the trilogy - Meridon sets out to redeem the lure of rural life vs. Urban London. Whereas Beatrice's natural perversions are enhanced by entwining with Wideacre, the land eventually accents Sarah's positives - a lost-and-found heiress, the last true Lacey daughter. Like Beatrice, Sarah would rather die than be apart from Wideacre soil.
But unlike Beatrice, Sarah learns to recognize her role as contented caretaker rather than dominant master. That key difference is courtesy of Sarah's mother - the downtrodden but earth-loving Julia - and it guides Sarah to a satisfying HEA, which neither of the previous heroines could attain. Despite the lack of WTFery, I quite enjoyed this one. N.B.: Apparently this is one of those rare books where we disagree.:D. After 2 trainwrecky and emotionally-wringing installments of incest and abuse, this one was very subdued and almost normal.
Unfortunately there were a lot of words in this brick of normal, and so many scenes dragged on and on with the painstaking description, particularly of the land. Now, in the past books, I loved the land bits because Beatrice was so invested in it. She practically orgasmed thinking about it.
Julia's love for the land was driven by a deep social conscience. Meridon was simply After 2 trainwrecky and emotionally-wringing installments of incest and abuse, this one was very subdued and almost normal.
Unfortunately there were a lot of words in this brick of normal, and so many scenes dragged on and on with the painstaking description, particularly of the land. Now, in the past books, I loved the land bits because Beatrice was so invested in it. She practically orgasmed thinking about it. Julia's love for the land was driven by a deep social conscience.
Meridon was simply greedy and wanted to own something. So I didn't feel the spark between Wideacre and protagonist in this one that I did in the others. Not by a mile. And that affected my enjoyment of the entire last half of the book. I really enjoyed the first half with Meridon being sold off by her stepfather to a horse trainer and traveling circus showman. Even if the character growth seemed stagnant at times, there were quite a few interesting characters and their interactions kept things moving (more or less). Meridon's affinity with horses (well, one horse - she's a miser with her emotions) was the only endearing thing about her.
She's pretty frigid, a soulless scrapper, and out for Number 1 the entire time. Her moods shift from desperately wanting to protect her slutty sister Dandy to 'Eh, fuck her. She's on her own.' I can empathize with her mood swings at that age, but Meridon would sneer at me for having any kind of sympathy for her, so you know what? Screw the pissy wench.:D Once Meridon got to Wideacre and she dug in her heels with her demands and fits of brattish temper and 'me me I me I I I', she dragged everyone down with her.
I thought both Will and Peregrine (her suitors of sorts) were pretty dull, and the manipulative Clara Havering and her greedy daughters kinda boring. I still can't believe that Meridon would have let that whole trick happen while she was in bed with typhus. Her character had been built up as having an iron constitution, an unbending will, and then she lets it all slip away from her with her active participation. The scene made me lose even more sympathy for her. I did like the climax with the card game because she actually WORKED with someone to achieve something. But even so, I was unsure what had actually happened until it was explained later.
Descriptions of card games and my comprehension skills aren't all that compatible. In all it was an ok ending to the trilogy and I'm glad there was an HEA in there for someone, eventually, but I wish it had been for a protagonist I had actual affection for, rather than active distaste. Buddy Read with Sarah. Her kinder review:P. If you like Jane Austen, but wish it wasn't quite so vanilla - this trilogy is for you! Each book is the story of a daughter of the grand estate, Wideacre.
Meridon is our heroine for this book. I can't say much without spoiling, but this one gives us a much different perspective on Wideacre, and it's little village. This is the best book of the trilogy, by far. If you are just looking for an easy period romance, I think you can have that here. My stepmother enjoyed this series, and she has no use If you like Jane Austen, but wish it wasn't quite so vanilla - this trilogy is for you! Each book is the story of a daughter of the grand estate, Wideacre. Meridon is our heroine for this book.
I can't say much without spoiling, but this one gives us a much different perspective on Wideacre, and it's little village. This is the best book of the trilogy, by far. If you are just looking for an easy period romance, I think you can have that here. My stepmother enjoyed this series, and she has no use for themes and discussion of those themes. Give her pretty dresses, pretty gardens to stroll in, grand balls, handsome men and fine marriages. She's a happy camper. However, if you need more from your period novels, like me, you will be VERY satisfied.
This is where Phillipa Gregory really stands out from the pack. This is what puts her up there with Jane Austen, in my opinion (except there's lots of sex! Yay!) Like most Gregory books, she explores the restrictive world of the female sex. These women live in a world where the only skills and talents that are valued are 1) the ability to marry well, and 2) the ability to produce healthy male heirs. Nothing else really matters. Your family's fortune can increase or decrease with every marriage and birth. You feel the pressure.
She has another theme that is pervasive throughout all her books - the responsibility of the ruling class to care for the lesser classes. It's extremely relevant even today - as congress debates restrictions on corporate greed, the progressive tax system, universal health care and the role and size of government.
In her other books, we watch the English monarchy and how it rules England and cares for it's resources on large scale. In this series, Wideacre is a microcosm of England itself. Fields don't plow and plant themselves, food doesn't get harvested and stored by itself. A noble family uses the local village population on it's land to get everything done. They are a resource, like trees, water, or soil. But they have to be managed properly for maximum long-term benefit for all, including the noble family. Each book, and each daughter of Wideacre has a different tactic, with a different effect on the health and wealth of the village people, and Wideacre itself.
Family Tree
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, Meridon is the reader's payoff for surviving Wideacre and The Favored Child. Meridon, the character, has all the best qualities of her mother and grandmother, plus somehow does not have six legs despite having only one set of great-grandparents. Meridon, the book, has all the best qualities of the two earlier entries in the series and is entirely absent of the unsettling incest from the earlier two. There are a lot of nice callbacks to the better aspects of the earlier books, and I think Gregory Meridon is the reader's payoff for surviving Wideacre and The Favored Child.
Meridon, the character, has all the best qualities of her mother and grandmother, plus somehow does not have six legs despite having only one set of great-grandparents. Meridon, the book, has all the best qualities of the two earlier entries in the series and is entirely absent of the unsettling incest from the earlier two. There are a lot of nice callbacks to the better aspects of the earlier books, and I think Gregory finds a satisfying resolution to the conflicts set up earlier in the series. (Yes, there are some contrived moments, but it is a book about a lost heiress who has visions and was raised by gypsies, so by contrast no other plot point seems to strain credulity.) Gregory also takes a much lighter hand with the antagonists here.
There was little or nothing good in Beatrice or Richard, but Perry and his mother can be understood as victims of the class system in their own way. The book definitely loses some momentum after Meridon finds Wideacre and I could have read a lot more about the traveling circus and those characters - it's kind of disappointing to lose touch with them almost altogether.
I also wish Ralph had made a reappearance. Overall though, it's a very satisfying stand-alone read and an excellent end to the trilogy. I couldn't put this book down. I stayed up until 4am to read it.
I had to know what was going to happen and couldn't wait. The last book of the Wideacre story. It's not what I expected, which was good.
The first two books were alot the same, so this was a change. Like so many characters from Wideacre I felt so sorry for Meridon and the hardships she went through, but it made her a strong, independent person.
She was able to experience so much more in life then the other characters in the first t I couldn't put this book down. I stayed up until 4am to read it.
I had to know what was going to happen and couldn't wait. The last book of the Wideacre story. It's not what I expected, which was good. The first two books were alot the same, so this was a change. Like so many characters from Wideacre I felt so sorry for Meridon and the hardships she went through, but it made her a strong, independent person. She was able to experience so much more in life then the other characters in the first two books. I had a feeling from the beginning that things wouldn't go well for Dandy.
How would she have fit in Wideacre life. I had hoped to hear about Ralph. I was disappointed he wasn't around. I thought James would have a stronger leading part also. I am glad it wasn't as cruel as the first two.the incest and rape.
I loved how Beatrice and Julia all stayed together, helping each other along the way and helping Meridon to find her way home. I loved the horse theme too. It made the story wonderfully touching having the connections there. Beatrice and Julia guided Meridon home with the help a beloved horse.wonder if each horse was related.I think so. Philippa Gregory writes absolutely brilliant historical fiction, but this was not one of her best.
Gregory is far more comfortable during the Tudor years, and it shows. It is very obvious, especially to a rabid Georgette Heyer fan like me, that she must have read quite a bit of Heyer before writing this book. Names, characterizations, and other details (like Meridon donning mens clothing all the time) were obviously borrowed from Heyer.
On a positive note, when Meridon is poor and working as a b Philippa Gregory writes absolutely brilliant historical fiction, but this was not one of her best. Gregory is far more comfortable during the Tudor years, and it shows.
It is very obvious, especially to a rabid Georgette Heyer fan like me, that she must have read quite a bit of Heyer before writing this book. Names, characterizations, and other details (like Meridon donning mens clothing all the time) were obviously borrowed from Heyer. On a positive note, when Meridon is poor and working as a bare-back rider, (the first two hundred pages)I was hooked. The circus portions were fascinating since I had just finished another book about circuses, Water for Elephants. After Meridon arrives at Wideacre, though, I quickly lost interest, and had to convince myself to finish it.
Also, there were a couple of historical details that were not quite accurate. During 1805, gypsies still slept in bender-tents when they camped. And men did not wear powder and patches during 1805 (they went out of vogue years before and had their final death knell with the taxes on powder in the 1790s!). I hate to say this, but I thought the final chapter of the Wideacre trilogy was going to be much better than that. By all means, share your opposing viewpoints, but I honestly thought that it was somewhat of a letdown.
About two chapters of the story take place at Wideacre. I found myself missing the beautiful descriptions of the land that Beatrice and Julia so loved and understood so well. I was confused at the conflicting emotions in Meridon. She seemed to have this strong passion for the land I hate to say this, but I thought the final chapter of the Wideacre trilogy was going to be much better than that.
By all means, share your opposing viewpoints, but I honestly thought that it was somewhat of a letdown. About two chapters of the story take place at Wideacre. I found myself missing the beautiful descriptions of the land that Beatrice and Julia so loved and understood so well. I was confused at the conflicting emotions in Meridon. She seemed to have this strong passion for the land she couldn't know, but in the end couldn't understand the value of the people that make Wideacre what it is. I could look past the fact that the first half of the book isn't even about Wideacre at all and could easily have been cropped down to about half its length.
But the ending? Yay Meridon for running away from Perry and his psycho mother, but don't you find it odd that after all that effort, Lady Clara couldn't summon up the strength to track down her daughter-in-law and have it out with her in one big final battle? Gregory makes Meridon's situation to be a hopeless one, just as she did before with Beatrice and Julia. So it just seemed too easy for Meridon to almost magically get her estate back, run away, and never hear from anyone again. And her romance with Will? I was expecting the drama and downright craziness from the first two books. How can you say that Meridon refuses to be touched by anyone for the entire book, but all of a sudden is 'in love' with Will?
How predictable. Whatever happens to Perry and his mother? Why did James Fortescue play such a small part?
I just consider this trilogy to be so epic that I can't imagine why it just ended so quickly with so few clues to how it all ends up for them. What does Wideacre look like in 10 years?
Readers who have enjoyed all three books have grown attached to the land and will surely want to know its fate. Sadly, they will never know. With equal portions of dialogue and description in the depressing last book of the trilogy, I can say I'm glad to be done with this one. While there is descript kissing, there are only vague references to sex.making this particular novel equally a novel for adults and YA. I liked this one less than book 2 and consider book 1 the better of the three. Wideacre (book 1) was an impeccable novel; The Favoured Child (book 2) was a bit disappointing, and, well, Meridon Meridon was even more so. I like With equal portions of dialogue and description in the depressing last book of the trilogy, I can say I'm glad to be done with this one.
While there is descript kissing, there are only vague references to sex.making this particular novel equally a novel for adults and YA. I liked this one less than book 2 and consider book 1 the better of the three. Wideacre (book 1) was an impeccable novel; The Favoured Child (book 2) was a bit disappointing, and, well, Meridon Meridon was even more so. I like that Gregory made Meridon a strong female character. Until she met her fiance.I know, I have to keep reminding myself of the place women held during that time period, but for her to be so strong and then allow herself to be dominated by a joke of a fiance who is controlled entirely by her mother.and when he starts gambling with her money.
Well I almost bit the page off it annoyed me so much. Although Meridon frustrated me, that frustration shows how well written the book was to evoke such emotions in me.
It was a well written novel with some unexpected plot twists; but ultimately, compared to Wideacre, which was a brilliant novel, it could have been a lot better.at times, the plot plodded along at a snail’s pace, which wasn’t particularly engrossing, and it was, overall, a somewhat poor end to a very promising trilogy. One thing that irked me was wondering what happened to some of the minor characters from book 2; e.g., Ralph Megson. This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, In the style of the two previous novels, very similar plot development and structure.
But OMG, cannot believe this does not end with tragedy or death!!!!!!! A big surprise for this series. But, seriously, how stupid can you expect a character that was supposed to a smart-ass gypsy savvy about life in the dumps/streets etc to become in such a short time? This is what I didn't like about this whole series: the main characters were supposed to be smart, or at least strong in some capacities but even In the style of the two previous novels, very similar plot development and structure. But OMG, cannot believe this does not end with tragedy or death!!!!!!! A big surprise for this series. But, seriously, how stupid can you expect a character that was supposed to a smart-ass gypsy savvy about life in the dumps/streets etc to become in such a short time?
This is what I didn't like about this whole series: the main characters were supposed to be smart, or at least strong in some capacities but eventually, they all prove extreme moments of stupidity where they seem to lose all their strentgh or capacity to reason. After surviving such an unpleasant and poor childhood, it is just unbelievable how blinded Meridon becomes to the Haverings' machinations. I mean, seriously, it was so obvious they were trying to take advantage of her!
It is hard to believe her transition from savvy street child to such a flimsy, vulnerable young lady in distress. And how conveniently did she, at the end, come back to her old self. Sometimes Philippa Gregory seems to forget about the human capacity to reason.this is indeed fiction, but even when reading fiction there is a certain common sense to maintain. The only good part about this is that for once, the book was not so filled with disaster and tragedy and one could even go as far as saying the ending was decent, almost happy.
Better than the previous book, but still worse than the first one overall. I have to disagree with a lot of people about this series.
I absolutly loved it. I will admit that I found the first book, Wideacre, the least enjoyable, but I still rate it a 5. Has become one of my favorite authors, she tells such a vivid story. Her stories may not be everyone's cup of tea, especially this trilogy, but I enjoy them very much. I think that all three women in these books have qualities that can be admirable, yet they all have demons. I think it makes them more real. I like I have to disagree with a lot of people about this series.
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I absolutly loved it. I will admit that I found the first book, Wideacre, the least enjoyable, but I still rate it a 5. Has become one of my favorite authors, she tells such a vivid story. Her stories may not be everyone's cup of tea, especially this trilogy, but I enjoy them very much.
I think that all three women in these books have qualities that can be admirable, yet they all have demons. I think it makes them more real.
I like stories of women with the holy trinity; the good, the bad, and the ugly. Beatrice had knowledge and determination, but could not see past her own ambitions. She knew how to love, but she did not know how to be truthful or forgiving. Julia was kind in a way that Beatrice could never be, yet she was weak willed.
She also knew how to love, but was a terrible enabler. Meridon, or Sarah, seems to have a balance of both her mother, and grandmother, and through out the book she discovers that for herself. When it came down to it, she didn't let her demons keep her from happiness. I don't think you can appreciate the outcome of this series without all three, however that is only my opinion. Again, this trilogy is not a series for everyone, but if you like historical fiction full(and i do mean FULL) of scandal, this is a great set of books.
FINALLY, something good happens for this family.well.sorta. At least she doesn't throw her life away or die in the end and finds some sense of happiness. As always with these families, though, there's plenty of drama and trouble. I went into this book expecting nothing. Still, Phillippa, I love your writing.even when you do the unthinkable and scandalize me to where I want to throw the book across the room. My friends just laugh at me when I get worked up and tell them about what's going o FINALLY, something good happens for this family.well.sorta.
At least she doesn't throw her life away or die in the end and finds some sense of happiness. As always with these families, though, there's plenty of drama and trouble. I went into this book expecting nothing. Still, Phillippa, I love your writing.even when you do the unthinkable and scandalize me to where I want to throw the book across the room. My friends just laugh at me when I get worked up and tell them about what's going on.
Still, if you want to read a book that will evoke a wide array of emotions, this series is definitely one that can do it! My only complaint was, as others have said, the first part of the book was amazing. After that, it kind of dropped off. I also wanted a conclusion on what happened with Robert and Jack. Also, is that all Perry and his mother Clara are going to do? I find that hard to believe.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, I will also be doing a video review here at my channel: The final book in Philippa Gregory's 'Wideacre' trilogy, 'Meridon,' follows that of Julia's daugther, Sarah, who Julia gave to the gypsies at the end of 'The Favored Child.' Sarah is given the name Meridon, and she has no idea about who she truly is.
Meridon has dreams about a place called 'Wide'-a place that she feels strongly connected to but doesn't know why. Through a series of events, Meridon and he I will also be doing a video review here at my channel: The final book in Philippa Gregory's 'Wideacre' trilogy, 'Meridon,' follows that of Julia's daugther, Sarah, who Julia gave to the gypsies at the end of 'The Favored Child.' Sarah is given the name Meridon, and she has no idea about who she truly is. Meridon has dreams about a place called 'Wide'-a place that she feels strongly connected to but doesn't know why.
Through a series of events, Meridon and her sister, Dandy, become part of a circus act. Meridon leaves the circus after a devastating event and miraculously comes across Wideacre and learns she is the long lost heir. Meridon regains her birth name, Sarah, and is thrown into a world of riches, and treachery and has to learn to find her place in this new world and discover who she really is and what Wideacre means to her. 'Meridon' is a stunning conclusion to the 'Wideacre' trilogy and you just simply cannot put it down.
This final book was so amazing! It's just weird that I've finally reached the end after having such a rocky start with the very first book. Like I said in my other reviews, in 'Wideacre' I absolutely hated and despised Beatrice and could form no sort of attachment or feelings to her; in 'The Favored Child' I really sympathized with Julia and was heartbroken by the end of the novel. Here in 'Meridon' everything falls rightly into place. Meridon/Sarah is a captivating heroine and so unlike her grandmother and mother. Meridon starts off as a very capable girl-very cold and calculating and planning out the future she desires with her sister, Dandy. When she becomes Sarah she is suddenly thrown into the life of the rich and famous and her only desire to to get her upper-class training complete so she can have all the money she's ever wanted.
Sarah has no feelings or compassion for the people of Wideacre because she herself has lived in extreme poverty her whole life. So the idea of endless riches thrills her and she feels no remorse for the things she plans on doing to Wideacre.
But as Sarah learns more and more about the gentry, she sees the corruption of the wealthy and that they are no better than the poor. Meridon was just perfectly thought out as a character. In some ways, you can understand her feelings for wanting to ignore Wideacre because of how she grew up and the events that have occurred just right before she arrived at Wideacre. But then in other ways, you want to root for Meridon to see the error of her thoughts. Meridon is very petulant at the start.
It's not until her visits to the city and her viewing of the corruption of the wealthy when she starts to change her mind. Plus, it's her relationships with Perry Havering, Lady Clara, and Will Tyacke that help her to see the light. One of the things Philippa Gregory does so well in this novel is how she keeps Meridon/Sarah separate-as if they are two different people, when they are really not. Once Sarah comes to appreciate the power of her new life, the power of her money, and the fact that she can be her own person and love whoever she wants, she ends the novel by saying that she is Meridon and 'this is where I belong.' She no longer refers to herself as Sarah. I guess the one thing that bugged me a little was that it seemed like once Meridon left the circus, it felt like Philippa Gregory kind of forgot about Meridon's fear of heights. I thought her fear was going to come back and bite her and some pivotal part of the novel because it seemed so stressed in the first part of the novel.
Once again, the two major themes in this book (as in 'Wideacre' and 'The Favored Child') were the ideas of women's rights and the rich vs. Sarah learns the hard way about a husband's rights over his wife. Meridon/Sarah even dresses as a man on multiple occasions and finds it's easier to pretend to be a man and gain respect and entry into certain places. As far as theme #2, Will says at one point: 'If we go on as we are going, with people thinking of nothing but making fortunes and caring nothing for their workers and caring nothing for the land, then they will regret it. They think they can count the cost of living. But the cost is even higher. They teach themselves and they teach their children a sort of callousness, and once people have learned that lesson it is indeed too late.
There is nothing then to hold back rich people from getting richer at the expense of the poor, nothing to protect the children, to protect the land. The rich people make the law, the rich people enforce them. Time after time we have a chance to decide what matters most-wealth, or whether people are happy. If they could only stop now, and think of the happiness for the greatest number of people' (546-547). This paragraph is one of the most simplest ways to describe these major theme that places through all three books. It is exactly this message that Beatrice, Julia, and Meridon struggle with in their own way.
They think it all about the money, when it's truly not. They struggle to love others and they struggle to love their own land. It's this idea of happiness that both Beatrice and Julia failed at, but Meridon achieves. Books 1 and 2 had unhappy endings. People died and they themselves died. Meridon gets her happy ending with Will and the money means nothing to her in the end.
One other thing that frustrated me was the lack of the Gowers at the end of the book. Sarah did have a confrontation wit Robert Gower about the death of her sister, but we never saw a final confrontation between Sarah and the man who killed her sister, Jack. I really thought Sarah was going to come into her inheritance and it would all be about vengeance for her to destroy Jack.
● Fixed false reports about deviation from the route just before a railway crossing. City car driving 1.2.2 cars. Graphical bug fixes: ● Fixed most of the errors associated with the landscape. ● Fixed false reports about false driving direction.
But instead the novel took a turn elsewhere. Robert and Jack were basically forgotten which I found odd. I just felt there should have been a better ending for them and some more dramatic confrontations. Overall, such a fantastic conclusion to this series.
Just so much character depth (whether you loved or hated characters), and the storylines were so intriguing from start to finish. Everything fell into place right at the end and, I think as a reader, you will really appreciate the conclusion.
I won't hide this review because of spoilers, but if you have not read the first two novels in the Wideacre trilogy, then this review will indeed be a massive spoiler to you!!!!. Meridon is a gypsy brat raised with her 'twin' sister, Dandy, by her abusive Da and neglectful Step Ma. Meridon wakes up every day in their dirty old wagon thinking 'I don't belong here.' Her Da has her training horses to sell to the Quality, and teaches her how to cheat at cards.
One day both Meridon and Dandy are. I won't hide this review because of spoilers, but if you have not read the first two novels in the Wideacre trilogy, then this review will indeed be a massive spoiler to you!!!!. Meridon is a gypsy brat raised with her 'twin' sister, Dandy, by her abusive Da and neglectful Step Ma. Meridon wakes up every day in their dirty old wagon thinking 'I don't belong here.' Her Da has her training horses to sell to the Quality, and teaches her how to cheat at cards. One day both Meridon and Dandy are sold to Robert Gowan, who owns a traveling equestrian show. Dandy is to learn the trapeze; Meridon is to learn to dance of a horses back.
Despite essentially being a slave, Meridon and Dandy are treated really well in their new home. Meridon brings a small fortune Roberts way when she wins a wager to stay on a unbreakable horse. Robert even goes as far to say that he might even love Meridon as a daughter, although he warns both girls to stay away from his handsome son Jack, as he has a Quality marriage in mind for him and he'll stop at nothing to make it happen. Robert and Jack came from nothing, and are now well enough in the world to nearly be Quality. Robert got there by being ruthless and unattached to anything, so a petty thing like love for a daughter will not stop him turning the girls out on their backside. This is not upsetting to Meridon as she loathes being touched. Dandy on the other hand, has higher aspirations for herself, and foolishly convinces herself that she can change Robert and Jack's mind about her.
This puts into effect how Meridon ends up running away on her newly won horse, and it is the horse that leads Meridon to the life that she had somehow sensed was meant for her: That she was in fact Sarah Lacey, and Wideacre is where she was meant to live. All of this happens in the first two hundred pages of the book. It is almost like another book in itself, and I had to keep reminding myself that this was in fact, the final book in the Wideacre trilogy. Although it was a good story, this whole book barely took place on Wideacre, and I feel I had come to love it almost as much as the Lacey woman themselves, and I felt a bit cheated that we didn't get to be there as much this time around. I am happy to say that I enjoyed this book the most out of the three.
I was happy that there was no gross incestuous sex or raping in this novel. Nevertheless, there was still injustices and awfulness in the book, which still made it dramatic and infuriating at times. I was really disappointed with James Fortescue however. You will remember him as the gentleman who almost married Julia Lacey. When Julia died at the end of the second book she left James as guardian to Wideacre for Sarah, and bid him to find her. I feel just as Sarah does, that he did not look for her that hard. I felt like that if he had really felt like he loved Julia he would have stopped at nothing until he found her.
And to have finally found her and just let her go off with the first Quality family she stumbled across was surprising to me, as he made it very clear how much he loathes them. I really thought he would be more of a father for Sarah but that was not the case.
He got off way too easy in the book for my liking. I had guessed that James would have employed Ralph to try and find Sarah, as he was brought up by the gypsy ways, but surprisingly, he was not in the book at all! Like what happened to this guy anyways?? I really wanted him to come back in this book!!!
All in all, I really enjoyed this trilogy. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in historical fiction, to anyone looking for a strong female character, or to anyone who likes a good thriller. The writing was awesome, and the plots were very believable. Excellent, excellent!!!
This is one of my favourite Philippa Gregory books and the only one I like out of the Wideacre series. I have reread it several times. If you've read the other two and have found the incest a bit weird - don't worry, there isn't any in Meridon. The story is split into two parts, being Meridon when she is poor and living as a gypsy/horse trainer, and Meridon when she is rich and trying to fit in. The story provides a fascinating expose of the nasty rich of the time (if you enjoy Diana Norma books, This is one of my favourite Philippa Gregory books and the only one I like out of the Wideacre series. I have reread it several times. If you've read the other two and have found the incest a bit weird - don't worry, there isn't any in Meridon.
The story is split into two parts, being Meridon when she is poor and living as a gypsy/horse trainer, and Meridon when she is rich and trying to fit in. The story provides a fascinating expose of the nasty rich of the time (if you enjoy Diana Norma books, you'll like this) without romanticising them at all (Stephanie Laurens would have a heart attack).
I like the gritty determination of the character and I love the fact that she makes mistakes. I like her interaction with those around her and the way that she doesn't instantly want to help people just because she was once poor herself.
Its a fascinating plot turn and excellent characterisation. Highly recommended and a good read on its own even if you haven't read the other two. I should have liked this book more than I did. It was the third of a series I had read almost accidentally, and the other two were surprisingly readable in spite of my personal predjudice against historical novels. I even enjoyed the first part of this one, but once the pivotal moment occurred in this story, (notice the careful avoidance of detail in an attempt not to spoil) I began to dislike not only the heroine, but all the other people involved as well because they felt like caricatures of r I should have liked this book more than I did. It was the third of a series I had read almost accidentally, and the other two were surprisingly readable in spite of my personal predjudice against historical novels.
I even enjoyed the first part of this one, but once the pivotal moment occurred in this story, (notice the careful avoidance of detail in an attempt not to spoil) I began to dislike not only the heroine, but all the other people involved as well because they felt like caricatures of real people. At times I wanted to shake the stupid heroine (and her stupid friends), and then I got annoyed with the author for so much repetition-yes, we got it already.
She's grieving. Ok, now let it go. Almost made up for it all in the last few pages.
I was a little dissapointed with this book. I liked the beginning about the horse show. Then after that.it was a little boring compared to the first 2 books. I was expecting something a little more twisted, bigger, grander.
I wanted Meridon/Sarah to let robert gower know she was quality and that he lost or something like that. I wanted what he said about not being good enough for his son to be smacked back into his face. I wanted to know what happened to Ralph. Did he know that wideacre was gi I was a little dissapointed with this book.
I liked the beginning about the horse show. Then after that.it was a little boring compared to the first 2 books.
I was expecting something a little more twisted, bigger, grander. I wanted Meridon/Sarah to let robert gower know she was quality and that he lost or something like that. I wanted what he said about not being good enough for his son to be smacked back into his face. I wanted to know what happened to Ralph. Did he know that wideacre was give to the people?
And James's character was a little lame. The ending was ok i guess. Like i said, i wanted something bigger. Everyone who did her wrong to know what they lost.
I love Phillipa Gregory and I expect to love her books. Which can set the bar a little high when I pick up one I haven't read. I didn't read the first 2 of this trilogy (and I didn't need to to follow this story) but I could not put this book down!! I tried reading while folding clothes, while eating breakfast, while pretending to play with the kids. Seriously, it was such a great, great escape book! Is it literary fiction? Full of perfectly formed paragraphs?
Are the characters Six Stars!!! I love Phillipa Gregory and I expect to love her books. Which can set the bar a little high when I pick up one I haven't read. I didn't read the first 2 of this trilogy (and I didn't need to to follow this story) but I could not put this book down!! I tried reading while folding clothes, while eating breakfast, while pretending to play with the kids. Seriously, it was such a great, great escape book! Is it literary fiction?
Full of perfectly formed paragraphs? Are the characters consistent?
I'd say no to the above, but as a book for pure reading enjoyment, I LOVED it. Loved it loved it loved it. The final Wideacre Series book! The final scene in this book (again, won't give anything away!) leaves the reader feeling satisfied and as if all-is-right with the world, if you will.
Philippa Gregory is a master at historical fiction and the Widacre Series is wonderful (and under-rated, I think!). One of the best thing about this series is to see the stark contrast between the women in each book, their various personalities, and different love-stories. Despite being mothers-daughters, they are The final Wideacre Series book! The final scene in this book (again, won't give anything away!) leaves the reader feeling satisfied and as if all-is-right with the world, if you will. Philippa Gregory is a master at historical fiction and the Widacre Series is wonderful (and under-rated, I think!).
One of the best thing about this series is to see the stark contrast between the women in each book, their various personalities, and different love-stories. Despite being mothers-daughters, they are all unique and choose vastly different paths. Well thank goodness we seem to have moved away from some of the darkness that filled the first two books - possibly at the price of losing some of the grip of the series.but maybe not. I didn't find this book quite as enthralling, although I couldn't help but be continually wondering when the depravity would set it.
As in The Favored Child, I found myself mostly irritated by Sarah as the book progressed - I guess the story-line didn't go quite as I hoped. At least she ended up with the right g Well thank goodness we seem to have moved away from some of the darkness that filled the first two books - possibly at the price of losing some of the grip of the series.but maybe not. I didn't find this book quite as enthralling, although I couldn't help but be continually wondering when the depravity would set it. As in The Favored Child, I found myself mostly irritated by Sarah as the book progressed - I guess the story-line didn't go quite as I hoped. At least she ended up with the right guy, but it sure took long enough. Philippa Gregory was an established historian and writer when she discovered her interest in the Tudor period and wrote the novel The Other Boleyn Girl, which was made into a TV drama and a major film. Published in 2009, the bestselling The White Queen, the story of Elizabeth Woodville, ushered in a new series involving The Cousins’ War (now known as The War of the Roses) and a new era for the acc Philippa Gregory was an established historian and writer when she discovered her interest in the Tudor period and wrote the novel The Other Boleyn Girl, which was made into a TV drama and a major film.
Published in 2009, the bestselling The White Queen, the story of Elizabeth Woodville, ushered in a new series involving The Cousins’ War (now known as The War of the Roses) and a new era for the acclaimed author. Gregory lives with her family on a small farm in Yorkshire, where she keeps horses, hens and ducks. Visitors to her site, become addicted to the updates of historical research, as well as the progress of her ducklings. Her other great interest is the charity she founded nearly twenty years ago; Gardens for The Gambia.
She has raised funds and paid for 140 wells in the primary schools of the dry, poverty stricken African country. Thousands of school children have learned market gardening, and drunk the fresh water in the school gardens around the wells. A former student of Sussex University, and a PhD and Alumna of the Year 2009 of Edinburgh University, her love for history and her commitment to historical accuracy are the hallmarks of her writing. She also reviews for US and UK newspapers, and is a regular broadcaster on television, radio, and webcasts from her website. Philipa's Facebook page.