The Dream Kingdom

Morland Dynasty #26

by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles

Edwardian England is a country at the peak of its power; a kingdom of peace, prosperity and progress. As Jessie and Violet enjoy their coming-out in the glittering Season of 1908, their thoughts are of pleasure, dancing and falling in love.For the Morlands things seem set new business ventures expand their influence and wealth; there are weddings, babies in the nursery, careers for the boys now reaching manhood. It is an exciting age, with new technologies - motor cars, telephones, radio, aeroplanes - extending man's control over the natural world.But under the appearance of permanence, a different reality is stirring. Socialism, the suffrage movement, the constitutional crisis, all call forth ever more dissent and anger. Increasingly violent protests and strikes disturb the peace; war with Germany looms ever closer. With the King's death, it begins to seem that the safe Edwardian world was only a dream, from which the wakening will be hard indeed.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Romance, Fiction, Edwardian

638 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Cynthia Harrod-Eagles (aka Emma Woodhouse, Elizabeth Bennett)

Cynthia Harrod-Eagles was born on 13 August 1948 in Shepherd's Bush, London, England, where was educated at Burlington School, a girls' charity school founded in 1699, and at the University of Edinburgh and University College London, where she studied English, history and philosophy.

She had a variety of jobs in the commercial world, starting as a junior cashier at Woolworth's and working her way down to Pensions Officer at the BBC.

She wrote her first novel while at university and in 1972 won the Young Writers' Award with The Waiting Game. The birth of the MORLAND DYNASTY series enabled Cynthia Harrod-Eagles to become a full-time writer in 1979. The series was originally intended to comprise twelve volumes, but it has proved so popular that it has now been extended to thirty-four.

In 1993 she won the Romantic Novelists' Association Romantic Novel of the Year Award with Emily, the third volume of her Kirov Saga, a trilogy set in nineteenth century Russia.

Reviews

[Frances · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just when I am going to give the book 4 stars she comes up with a word that is so perfect for the time and the context which, also typifies the society in which it was used, that it becomes a 5 star. Anyone who doesn't love history and is willing to read a 600 page book that dissects history including every event that took place, they should not read this series. (uxorial) Wish could use it in Scrabble just once.

[John Hardy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Morland Dynasty #26, 1908 - 11. Jessie is an important character coming into her own, and has a lucky escape in the field of love. This introduces the concepts of marrying for a title in exchange for money. We also see the common? at that time practice of a husband taking lovers outside the marriage. This author does not miss any opportunity to add in little surprise snippets of culture or historical fact - or supposition. In return, the reader must put up with lengthy conversations, with only rare flashes of humour. There are sickly sweet and syrupy romances, some ending in happiness and some in disaster. My only defence is to skim. At 632 paperback pages this book is too long, so some boring bits are not read in detail. This sometimes makes it difficult to keep track of the myriad of characters, and forces me to turn regularly to the family tree in the front of the book.
Some themes of the time are explored - commencement of building the Titanic, increasingly militant suffragettes, the early development of flight, and a playboy prince messing around with an American divorcee.
I am enjoying the books set in more modern times, and look forward to finding more of these.
Rating 4.1.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

My absolute favorite in this series, so far. So much fascinating detail on the era — 1908 though 1911 — is provided from the women's suffrage movement, and the inhumane treatment of suffragettes to the dawn of airplane flight. In addition we experience both life at the court of Edward VII along with the political maneuverings of Parliament, as well as life in a country home in Yorkshire, seat of the Morland family. As always, I highly recommend starting the series back at the beginning, to understand just how everyone is related.

[Laura Willyard · Rating 5 out of 5]

AWESOME SERIES READ it!!!! Imagine if you could watch the family story of those in Downtown Abbey from like the 15th cent thru WWII. THAT is what this is like! LOOVED it and plan now to reread the whole series!

[Justin Neville · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh it's not perfect, but it's only when you are almost finished that you realise quite how much social, cultural and geopolitical history is deftly interweaved into the story of the various family members. One of the best volumes in this long-running series so far.

[Ann Chappe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Usual blend of interesting historical detail and absorbing story with a great cast of characters.

[Chrissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not think it would ever be possible to have a favorite Morland book since I give them all 5 stars but this one might be it. Absolutely a joy to read, so many warm fuzzies.

[TONI HARRIS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great historical content about the quest for votes for women!

[Sam Still Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

A long, but worthy episode of the Morland Dynasty. This looks at the female vote, death of King Edward and the birth of aviation- once again, with the Morlands tangled up in everything. I found a lot out about the struggle for the female vote (no idea that it got so violent). A highly recommended series.

[Edith Clayton · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only reason this isn't 5 stars is that it was a teensy bit predictable regarding the romances of the young people. Not a big deal, especially considering this is book #26 and events and characters are often still fresh and surprising!

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

The research she's done is incredible. I need to see the movie Suffragette now!