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Morland Dynasty #35
The Phoenix
1931: post-Crash depression; Hollywood and the Talkies; Edward and Mrs Simpson
Polly has saved Morland Place, but tenant farmers resist her modernising ideas, until the handsome John Burton becomes her agent. James finds an unexpected new life as an explorer, and falls in love. Jack has to face that his flying days may be over, but won't go down without a fight. Violet accepts that her children must make their own way in the world, but Charlotte's choice of direction raises her eyebrows - until Richard's proves even more shocking. And Basil, determined to be the bad boy of the family, shows he can go one better, as the restless Thirties move inexorably towards another war.
Polly has saved Morland Place, but tenant farmers resist her modernising ideas, until the handsome John Burton becomes her agent. James finds an unexpected new life as an explorer, and falls in love. Jack has to face that his flying days may be over, but won't go down without a fight. Violet accepts that her children must make their own way in the world, but Charlotte's choice of direction raises her eyebrows - until Richard's proves even more shocking. And Basil, determined to be the bad boy of the family, shows he can go one better, as the restless Thirties move inexorably towards another war.
592 pages, Hardcover
First published September 26, 2013
18 people are currently reading
259 people want to read
About the author
Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
168 books492 followersCynthia 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
June 13, 2016
This series is somewhat of an addiction to me and spans from the War of the Roses to this instalment (No 35!) pre WWII. Despite the sometimes slightly dated writing style it provides a fascinating insight in the lives of the landed gentry and aristocracy of Britian incorporating their lives with historical events.
Given the unfinished storylines I'm really hoping that the series continues and the legendary black Morland pearls make a stunning reappearance before the end.
Given the unfinished storylines I'm really hoping that the series continues and the legendary black Morland pearls make a stunning reappearance before the end.
December 15, 2013
I would have given this book a five if it weren't for the ending. You see, I thought this was the final book, but the way it ended, Hmmm...I'm not sure. So if it was the last book it gets a four for the less than satisfying ending, and if there's another coming, then a five. They still haven't found those black pearls yet either! Is that ever going to happen or has the author forgotten about them!
October 20, 2013
This fabulous series about a landed gentry family in England tracks the Morland family from the 1200s. This is the 35th book in the series and it takes place in 1931, in between the wars but with Hitler coming to power. The family is still reeling, with everyone else, from the Crash of 1929 as well as the changes in the status of the aristocracy. Death taxes on estates are putting old titled families looking for other ways to support themselves. Women are going to work instead of spending their time looking for a husband to support them.
The characters (of course, I 'know' their whole families) rub shoulders with the aristocracy and those close to the king. King Edward before he was crowned king and was called David and Mrs. Simpson are seen through the eyes of their social friends. Some of the Morlands found their way to the States, so the film industry is seen through them. One Morland joins two exploration teams—one for a film outfit across Canada— and has a different take on them. One of the London Morlands goes into bankruptcy, which is a huge shame on the family.
But through it all, the Morland family manages to keep its estate and family together.
This series really needs to be read from the start and, if you like historical fiction, this is a great series. It's a very different and personal look at England through the ages than from the aristocratic view mostly king/queen-centric or the middle- and lower-class view. I highly recommend the entire series.
The characters (of course, I 'know' their whole families) rub shoulders with the aristocracy and those close to the king. King Edward before he was crowned king and was called David and Mrs. Simpson are seen through the eyes of their social friends. Some of the Morlands found their way to the States, so the film industry is seen through them. One Morland joins two exploration teams—one for a film outfit across Canada— and has a different take on them. One of the London Morlands goes into bankruptcy, which is a huge shame on the family.
But through it all, the Morland family manages to keep its estate and family together.
This series really needs to be read from the start and, if you like historical fiction, this is a great series. It's a very different and personal look at England through the ages than from the aristocratic view mostly king/queen-centric or the middle- and lower-class view. I highly recommend the entire series.
September 30, 2013
Another worthy instalment in the Morland saga. And with an ending like that here's hoping for volume 36!
April 8, 2014
The Phoenix by Cynthia Harrods-Eagles is the latest of a long line, some thirty-five, novels of an English country minor nobility named Morland, which is also the name of the country estate. I picked up my first experience in the series somewhere about nine or so books ago, prompted by an interest in the pre-WW I era.
I have found the novels generally well-written, long, sometimes rambling interwoven tales of the family members' lives, loves, fortunes and misfortunes. While it is at times difficult to remember who is what relationship to whom, there is a handy genealogical chart in the front of each novel.
The Phoenix covers the time from the Great Depression to just after Edward VII takes the throne, with his mistress, Mrs. Simpson, hovering in the background.All this plays out as different family groupings learn to cope with a very changed post war world, one in which wealth is being heavily taxed, families have been decimated at every social level by combat ad the influenza epidemic of the time.Times are changing: even the idle rich find themselves needing to have an income. Titled young ladies are taking secretarial courses, having seen service as war volunteers. Middle class young men see opportunities open to them once opened only to "public school " landed gentry many of whom were killed in France. It is a time ofsurvivors , for some to take stock, some to move forward, some to hold fast.
I enjoyed reading the book almost as I did the others in the series. My only quibble is that, no doubt because of the time it was written to cover, there is no sense of a big crisis point in the telling. Mostly love and marriage, business and gossip, a feeing of having to deal with change almost beyond understanding while trying to uphold standards. The Phoenix is rather a placeholder between the cauldron of 1914-1918 and the holocaust of 1939-1945.
If you are a fan of Upstairs, Downstairs and Downton Abbey you should enjoy this book. It is an enjoyable novel of times, manners and morals.
I have found the novels generally well-written, long, sometimes rambling interwoven tales of the family members' lives, loves, fortunes and misfortunes. While it is at times difficult to remember who is what relationship to whom, there is a handy genealogical chart in the front of each novel.
The Phoenix covers the time from the Great Depression to just after Edward VII takes the throne, with his mistress, Mrs. Simpson, hovering in the background.All this plays out as different family groupings learn to cope with a very changed post war world, one in which wealth is being heavily taxed, families have been decimated at every social level by combat ad the influenza epidemic of the time.Times are changing: even the idle rich find themselves needing to have an income. Titled young ladies are taking secretarial courses, having seen service as war volunteers. Middle class young men see opportunities open to them once opened only to "public school " landed gentry many of whom were killed in France. It is a time ofsurvivors , for some to take stock, some to move forward, some to hold fast.
I enjoyed reading the book almost as I did the others in the series. My only quibble is that, no doubt because of the time it was written to cover, there is no sense of a big crisis point in the telling. Mostly love and marriage, business and gossip, a feeing of having to deal with change almost beyond understanding while trying to uphold standards. The Phoenix is rather a placeholder between the cauldron of 1914-1918 and the holocaust of 1939-1945.
If you are a fan of Upstairs, Downstairs and Downton Abbey you should enjoy this book. It is an enjoyable novel of times, manners and morals.
June 24, 2014
A great family saga beginning 500 years ago is not to be continued after this book - why not? What is the matter with the publishers? Ending this in 1936 makes no sense! At least bring it to the end of the 20th century - there is so much more to be told. Ending it now is like having sex without an orgasim!
December 23, 2024
I was getting so much enjoyment from reading this latest instalment of the 'Morland family' I never wanted it to end because I knew I would have to wait what will feel like an eternity,for the next book in the series to be published. It was well worth 5 stars.Loved it!
June 1, 2024
Morland Dynasty #35 (apparently the final?). 1931 - 1936 or so, Edward VIII accedes to the crown. This is one of the most enjoyable ones, Polly is a really strong character. With a little help she works out how to make changes in the businesses and still keep people, mainly men, onside. Will she be lucky in love, though? Jack finally sees the need to give up flying, and work in ground occupations. Violet's circumstances are greatly reduced, and she and her children exist on the charity of Oliver, who is still persisting in the field of plastic and reconstructive surgery. He has to "market" the beauty surgery to the wealthy and powerful, and so he finds Oswald Mosley among his dinner guests - yuck.
Emma, who drove an ambulance in the war, is now a wealthy, titled lady and completely on the inside with soon-to-be Edward VIII and his mistress Wallis Simpson. There are plenty of new characters, too, particularly the grown-up children of some of our old friends.
There's a lot going on in the post-Crash depression years. More so perhaps than in other books, I noticed the author's confident use of speech styles and argot of various lower classes. At 583 pages it's a long book, and I'm not going to do it justice in this review. Throughout the series, romances usually commence in a fairly syrupy fashion, but they sometimes don't continue so sweetly. So it is in this volume, but at least a few got lucky.
I've decided to rate this 4.6, thus five well-deserved stars.
Now to try and find some of the ones I haven't yet read.
Emma, who drove an ambulance in the war, is now a wealthy, titled lady and completely on the inside with soon-to-be Edward VIII and his mistress Wallis Simpson. There are plenty of new characters, too, particularly the grown-up children of some of our old friends.
There's a lot going on in the post-Crash depression years. More so perhaps than in other books, I noticed the author's confident use of speech styles and argot of various lower classes. At 583 pages it's a long book, and I'm not going to do it justice in this review. Throughout the series, romances usually commence in a fairly syrupy fashion, but they sometimes don't continue so sweetly. So it is in this volume, but at least a few got lucky.
I've decided to rate this 4.6, thus five well-deserved stars.
Now to try and find some of the ones I haven't yet read.
July 21, 2021
This was a bit of an odd way to finish up such a long series, an absolute ton of loose ends. It feels more like a usual Morland book with another coming after. The ending of book 34 had a much more epic feeling of closure to it (i was actually crying reading it) so part of me wishes the series had ended there, with the saving of Morland Place and the return of Polly.
It did feel a little like the message of the post WW1 books was "nobody really escapes their background". There were so many hints of characters who wanted to do something different and not follow the old paths only for them to end up marrying earls or rich well connected men, having babies, going to house parties, and living lives of ease and luxury. But then I suppose that has been true all the way through (Lucy, Charlotte, Venetia for example), but at least it felt like those characters really DID things first. When young Charlotte kept saying she didn't want to marry, I rather hoped she really wouldn't - but alas, another earl! The book blurbs kept talking about women making their own way but the actual stories were rather about women needing a husband and children to be complete.
It did feel a little like the message of the post WW1 books was "nobody really escapes their background". There were so many hints of characters who wanted to do something different and not follow the old paths only for them to end up marrying earls or rich well connected men, having babies, going to house parties, and living lives of ease and luxury. But then I suppose that has been true all the way through (Lucy, Charlotte, Venetia for example), but at least it felt like those characters really DID things first. When young Charlotte kept saying she didn't want to marry, I rather hoped she really wouldn't - but alas, another earl! The book blurbs kept talking about women making their own way but the actual stories were rather about women needing a husband and children to be complete.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2021
This series covering nearly 500 years of English history was amazing, I'm so sad the journey has ended. I learned so much in a realistic, entertaining and engaging way about history - battles, wars, farming techniques, women's role through time, politics, monarchies, social class structures, medical advances and religion through the centuries. It has helped me understand the world I live in far better than before and I loved every minute I devoted to the process. I fact-checked Ms. Harrod-Eagles so many times and she was always historically accurate that I finally believed her and stopped checking! There were many many characters that were near and dear to my heart (or that I really despised) and even this last book kept the possibility open, that my characters are still there just waiting for me to hear what they're up to again. I will truly miss the Morland Dynasty. Now, on to ready everything else that Ms. Harrod-Eagles has written!
March 12, 2021
Sadly this is the final volume is this almost 500-year long family saga. And I want so badly to know what happens to these characters that I have come to care for! This book covers the period from 1931 through 1936, following various family members around the world — from their home base in York, to London, and further afield in Paris, and even Hollywood. The history of England, and the world of the time, is revealed through the eyes of the Morland family. Highly recommended.
July 8, 2018
I've loved every one of the 34 books in this series, and this one is no different.
Can't help but wonder if there will be another one, with WWII just around the corner.
As always, love her detailed descriptions of the history of the time, innovations and daily life for both common people and royalty and all in between.
Can't help but wonder if there will be another one, with WWII just around the corner.
As always, love her detailed descriptions of the history of the time, innovations and daily life for both common people and royalty and all in between.
February 25, 2021
Anxiously awaiting the last book. hate to see it end. An AWESOME family saga!!! READ it!
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!
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!
February 11, 2018
For so many years I looked forward to my Christmas Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card that I used to purchase a few more books in this series. I loved every single one & I'm sad that it's over! Now what do I do? Maybe start over?
June 3, 2018
Rather easy to get hooked.
Cynthia has a way of leaving each book up in the air and you feel you have to know the outcome. The Phoenix was going the way I expected it to but now I need to buy the next book to confirm his. Very clever.
Cynthia has a way of leaving each book up in the air and you feel you have to know the outcome. The Phoenix was going the way I expected it to but now I need to buy the next book to confirm his. Very clever.
April 4, 2018
Well I do hope there is another book although it will probably be about the war, but there was no real ending in this one. It just stopped. One more please.
March 18, 2020
I can't believe it's over. 😭😭😭
September 8, 2021
Oh no! This series just ended and I don't know what happens to everybody. Surely there will be a book 36.
May 25, 2020
An amazing story of a family spanning over 500 years or more.
January 31, 2014
Two things I enjoy about this series, the first is the way the family and the house lives on in ones mind after the book is put down, the second is the beautiful writing, the sense of presence in descriptions of landscape or sea scape. If it has been a while since I returned to the Morlands I find reading hard to start, in this case it has been mere weeks since I last read the series. I find the mix of history and family both charming and engaging, as if these were neighbours, about as interesting (very) as a family I have known in childhood, without being intrusively intimate. Besides, after years of studying Britain and Europe, it is vastly entertaining to twine daily lives with events one almost waits for, before they happen. Interesting also, to compare the Moreland WWI with the Anne Perry WWI. Though I wouldn't want to go into too great detail with that. Perry is more intimate, perhaps more ethically insightful, and definitely more dramatic. Harrod Eagles, with a lighter touch and a broader canvas (perhaps) can slice as deep, and take the reader unawares into that foreign country, with those strange children.
May 7, 2014
WWII looms. Last of the series. Sad, as at any ending, but also relieved I don't have to read any more of them. History happens all around these characters but the theme of the whole series is really "Honey, I'm pregnant!" Thank goodness for war and pestilence because otherwise you couldn't physically manufacture a book thick enough to keep up with the sisters and cousins and aunts. Also nobody ever suffers too long in an unhappy marriage or divorces a spouse. Inconvenient husbands just die. The whole edifice would have become completely unworkable in the age of antibiotics. But I did enjoy all the inside baseball about David and Wallis. History happens all around.
March 15, 2017
Another good entry in this series, which I like very much even though occasionally the author slips into a bit too much historical explanation. The series was originally planned as "easy English history" so I can understand the temptation. However, the characters are all interesting folks and it is fun for me as a genealogist to read this type of family history saga, especially since the Morlands seem to be involved in everything that happened in England from the Wars of the Roses on! (Reviewed well after the reading)
December 29, 2014
I enjoy everything I have read in this series (The Morland Dynasty), and The Pheonix is no exception. The story is a straight up history of people, with their (relatively) ordinary lives. I love it for the same reasons that I love Anne of Green Gables - because it is rich in detail and emotion, and doesn't require huge plot twists or action to carry the characters and make it engaging and readable.
At times the language can be a tad flowery, but it's the most recent in a wonderful series of British historical novels.
At times the language can be a tad flowery, but it's the most recent in a wonderful series of British historical novels.
January 15, 2014
The Morland Saga carries on in exceptional style. The characters are well rounded and are woven into the historical context seamlessly. The hangover attitudes of the pre WW1 generation are set against the more modern opinions and options of their children.
Looking forward to the next installment which will deal with the Abdication and the procession towards 1939 and the start of World War Two.
Looking forward to the next installment which will deal with the Abdication and the procession towards 1939 and the start of World War Two.
May 24, 2014
From the War of the Roses to just before WWII the 35 books about the Morland Family have been excellent. I love the way she puts her characters into real life historical events mixing with real life historical kings queens and politicians. I really hope this isn't the last book of the series.
November 8, 2013
So many Earls! Fairly makes your head spin...and what a set up for the next book.
December 14, 2013
I love, love, love this series
April 16, 2017
Enjoyable, my guilty pleasure.
July 29, 2014
I tried to make this book last longer since I knew it was the last one in the series. I can only hope there will be a number 36. My recommendation, read them in order and read them all.
November 17, 2014
I loved following the ups and downs of everybody's lives. It would be a terrible shame if this series weren't continued.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews