Charlotte's Inheritance

by Mary Elizabeth Braddon

This is a reproduction of the original artefact. Generally these books are created from careful scans of the original. This allows us to preserve the book accurately and present it in the way the author intended. Since the original versions are generally quite old, there may occasionally be certain imperfections within these reproductions. We're happy to make these classics available again for future generations to enjoy!

Genres: Classics, Fiction, Victorian, Roman, British Literature, Mystery, Historical Fiction

350 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1868

About the author

Mary Elizabeth Braddon was a British Victorian era popular novelist. She was an extremely prolific writer, producing some 75 novels with very inventive plots. The most famous one is her first novel, Lady Audley's Secret (1862), which won her recognition and fortune as well. The novel has been in print ever since, and has been dramatised and filmed several times.

Braddon also founded Belgravia Magazine (1866), which presented readers with serialized sensation novels, poems, travel narratives, and biographies, as well as essays on fashion, history, science. She also edited Temple Bar Magazine. Braddon's legacy is tied to the Sensation Fiction of the 1860s.

She is also the mother of novelist W.B. Maxwell.

Reviews

[Classic reverie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this before my review days but before you read "Charlotte Inheritance" you must read the first book, "Birds of Prey", they are my ultimate favorite Mary Elizabeth Braddon reads. Both books are a whole story and " Birds of Prey" comes first. I loved "Lady Audley's Secret" but these two are better IMO. I found out about Richardson's Clarissa Harlowe from this book! I plan on re reading that January 2020, which I slowly will re read books that I read in the past but did not write a review. I mention that because in the far off future, I would love to read this again and plan on reading more Braddon in the future.

This was a terrifying, mysterious and romantic series! 🌸💞🌼 Loved it. I decided to write this until and better review comes which I will add.

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second part of the complete story of Charlotte Halliday, the first novel being Birds of Prey. I enjoyed this novel more than Birds of Prey. Indeed, this book could be a stand-alone read although Braddon does not take much time or effort to smooth the back story out for her readers.

Like parts of Birds of Prey, there seems to be much at the beginning of this novel that is placed without a smooth or neat coupling of ideas or plot. Even with the benefit of reading the first book this novel seems to meander too much. On the other hand, Braddon shows good skill in evolving the characters who appeared in Birds of Prey. This novel tended to be too long. Its premise was interesting and the ending of the novel both exciting and satisfying. Just be prepared for a journey.

[Tricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like many other people, I started this book and it wasn't making sense. After investigating I realised that Birds of Prey needs to be read first. Once I did that the whole book made a lot more sense. This is not a book that you can read without reading Birds of Prey first. They really are the same book but split into two parts.

I really enjoyed this book. Birds of Prey was good and this book explained so much in Birds of Prey that I didn't quite understand how it came about. Like the first book it starts with something seemingly unrelated (a couple that fall in love and are disinherited from the man's family) and then moves into the aim to get Charlotte her inheritance and her strange illness.

I loved how the two stories wove together and provided answers to a lot of questions I had at the end of the first book. While the book was written a long time ago, the themes of love and greed are still as relevant today. When the villain got outsmarted I cheered out loud.

Definitely a book I would recommend.

[Anumita Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a while I was vacillating between 3 and 4 stars but only bcoz I loved the first part [Birds of Prey] which was perfect and this book was dragging a bit too much for my taste! Although I love meandering, rambling, poetic prose in old fashioned books- loads of characters and their individual stories even if it doesn’t concern the main plot & I absolutely adore the way Braddon writes - I was restless towards the end as it went on and on.. even after all loose ends were tied seamlessly and the little suspense had already been cleared in the beginning. However, I settled for four in the end as loved the way it concludes and in the last part the story redeems itself. Also bcoz Braddon doesn’t waste time repeating whatever was written in the first book. Highly entertaining & highly recommended.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlotte's Inheritance is Part 2 of the intriguing story of Charlotte and her family and friends, with Birds of Prey being Part 1. The major plot theme revolves around hunting out the rightful descendant of a wealthy man whose large inheritance was waiting to be bestowed. And within that context there are several more or less unscrupulous men who are tracing that genealogy, some of whom develop into better people, one who dives deep into treachery and continues to be evil until his bitter end. He seems so entirely respectable on the surface, but his secret actions and manipulation of others were reprehensible, making me want to throw the book down and walk away. (But I am glad I didn't). Several sweet love stories develop among the interested parties, as well as some grave disappointments.

I do not recommend reading Part 2, without having read Part 1: you would miss out on so many important details and great background for character development.

I listened to this novel as a free download from LibriVox.org. First published in 1867.

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beware! This is the second of two fairly obscure Victorian novels which form one story. If you're tempted make sure you read "Birdsof Prey" first. I was fortunate enough to so, but I didn't know until I got to the end of the first book that it was "to be continued..." Could easily have got it the wrong way round. Typical sensation novel, full of deadly intrigue and unbelievable coincidences, but an entertaining read nonetheless.

[Mbuye · Rating 2 out of 5]

The second part of the 'Birds of Prey', which enhances the understanding and background of this novel, but doesn't really interfere with the plot.

Which is, in good old-fashioned Victorian manner, a murder story. Having heard of a great fortune, to which one of the leading ladies in the plot is the heiress, several no goodniks try to get themselves a slice. The heiress herself is unaware of the size of her fortune, but one day, she falls sick and thereafter falls into "a decline."

Meanwhile, great good fortune awaited her friend and companion, the other leading lady, the penniless daughter of an adventurer. A handsome, rich and well-born Frenchman falls in love with her and presents her with a happy ending. A really happy one!

Despite the dark shadows that seem to overhang events, this is not one of Braddon's better novels. Both plot and characterisation are flat, unidimensional.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plot is not as gnarled and weird as the best sensation novels, and it turns out it is the second book of a series and I had no idea, but I really enjoyed the writing here relative to the other Braddon novels I've read so far. My main takeaway is that several times people call each other "shady" in the modern sense and it's suggested that this is up-to-the-minute slang. Impressive lifespan for the Victorian version of "sus"

[Paola · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5

[Kemaria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book along with the first part, Birds of Prey, and thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s rather hard to review just this book, because the story picks up where the first book left off, so I'm lumping the two books together and considering them as one story.

I’ve been exploring various authors from this general time period and just downloaded a whole bunch of M.E. Braddon for free from Amazon, so that’s a good place to get this if you have a Kindle. They say you get what you pay for, but in this case, I am not disappointed at all! The plot was exciting, and I liked seeing how it unfolded (and never mind if you can predict where it’s going, it’s still enjoyable to get there!). Also, the development of the characters was fascinating, and the window into the Victorian world (sensationalism and all) intriguing as always.

To try to give this a somewhat deeper review than simply "fun book!", I'll say I liked the contrast of good vs evil, especially between how something seems vs how it is. The story opens with a description of the beautifully clean, prim, and proper house of Philip Sheldon, which everyone takes to be a mirror of its owner’s good qualities as well, and it ends with the description and destruction of the same once so eminently respectable gentleman who is now a mere wreck of a being, almost unrecognizable in his disease and ruin. He, who throughout the whole story, was so powerful and in control of others and their circumstances to such a frightening extent, has now lost everything, and perishes helplessly outside the door of the man he views as his enemy, unable to carry out his one last evil wish.

And on the other hand, you have Valentine Hawkehurst, the ostensible bad boy on the outside, who ends up being a very good guy. His character redemption worked well for me, and I’m glad it wasn't just the influence of loving Charlotte which accomplished this but also the work he was doing in uncovering the Haygarth descendants. To wit, honest work (compared to what he was doing before) bringing out the honest and good qualities in his character. Perhaps a bit idealistically Victorian, but it still works for me. Whenever I read this again, I’ll enjoy watching the character development a lot more than I did this time – I have to admit, I was so anxious to find out how things would end that I read more quickly than I should.

Lastly, the concept of power vs dependence in the Victorian culture is interesting to reflect on. When you think about it, Philip isn't that scary a guy in terms of plain actions. He doesn't chainsaw people, he doesn't strangle them, or do any of the things that typically "scary" people do. Instead, he controls things. He controls their health (or lack thereof), he controls their actions by staying one step ahead of them in the great race to find the Haygarth descendants, and he controls even their thoughts by his influence and personal presence (in how he bends his wife and stepdaughter to do what he wants without them realizing anything is amiss). He’s like a chess master or a puppeteer, moving people around and manipulating them, and that’s what makes him so scary. When Valentine & co are fighting to save Charlotte’s life despite Philip’s presence, you just want them to do what we would do in our time today – get outside help! Bring in the police! At the very least, openly denounce Philip to the rest of the household so others are aware of the situation and don't let him get near his step-daughter. But in this time and with these circumstances, their actions are constrained and they can’t. Valentine couldn't even stay with Charlotte all the time, so it was absolutely terrifying to see how a young girl and an old woman were all that stood between Philip and Charlotte’s certain death.

I’m also glad that it ended happily. I am a complete sucker for happy endings, and I rejoice when things end the way they should. So what if it’s not "true to life" when that happens – that’s why it’s a story! Doesn't have to be realistic.

Bottom line, if you enjoy books from this era, this is a fun and exciting read. :)

[Fiona Brichaut · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love ME Braddon and particularly enjoyed this one. I didn't know while I read it that it was the second novel in a story that starts with Birds of Prey, but it stands alone perfectly. This novel is quite Dickensian in its wide scope and characterisation, although with the added sensationalism that was Bradon's trademark.

[Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love love love M E Braddon - very melodramatic and outdated but the writing is intelligent and esoteric with many references to the classics. The goodies and baddies get their comeuppance. Highly recommend....

[Bettie]