The Homecoming

Morland Dynasty #24

by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles

Freed from her miserable marriage by widowhood, Henrietta is at last able to marry her beloved Jerome Compton, but his divorced state means that they have to make their home away from Yorkshire. Settling in London Henrietta finds she takes to urban life with great enjoyment, as does her daughter Lizzie. Soon their home is full of visitors from the best of the city's artistic and scientific circles, and she also makes contact with her cousin Lady Venetia - now a qualified doctor and married at long last to 'Beauty' Haselmere. Venetia's marriage has redeemed her reputation and they find themselves guests at Sandringham and Hatfield. Healthy children are born to both women and it seems as though the comfortable tenor of their lives will never be disturbed again, but clouds are gathering on the horizon and when the deluge comes one of them is forced out of society. Yet it proves more of a homecoming than an exile.

Another absorbing piece of English history, deftly told with a rich and colourful background.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Romance

525 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2002

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

[HattieB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coming back to this series feels like seeing an old friend you haven't seen in a long time but you're so happy when you see them again and yet wonder why you parted ways to begin with.

[Sam Still Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great chapter in this series. This books mainly follows Henrietta on her marriage and Venetia and her family. Some great conversations are had, linking to Jack the Ripper and Oscar Wilde. I really enjoyed this, but will sadly be taking a break from the Morlands as I have far too many other books to read!

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the Late Victorian era, this Morland Dynasty volume deals with divorce, Oscar Wilde, the Prince of Wales and other concerns of the time.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Morland family experiences ups and downs against the background of English history during the period from 1885 to 1898. It is best to start this series from the beginning to understand just who everyone is and how they are related, so the rest of this is hidden.


This story focuses a great deal on Henrietta. Now that she has been widowed, she's free to marry Jerome Compton, only he is divorced, so the church does not recognize the marriage. They move to London, along with Henrietta's daughter Lizzie, where Jerome becomes a stockbroker. There Henrietta meets her cousin Venetia, who has had to fight to achieve her ambition to become a doctor. Back in York, Henrietta's brother Teddy is able to buy back Morland Place from the bank after his brother's death, but he stays in his comfortable house in the city. But surprising changes are in store for him as well. And eventually family member return to Morland Place.

Fascinating glance into this era of history. Recommended.

[Teresa “Teri” · Rating 5 out of 5]

Old Friends

I stopped reading/listening to The Moreland Dynasty with the last book available on Audible (# 19 or 20?)
For some reason, I decided to try just reading them on my iPhone Kindle app. I’m even more delighted than I expected to be! Reading has always been more than a hobby with me and not to have a good book to “listen” to while doing mundane tasks is a serious dilemma! But, even though I still need my Audible book, reading historical fiction is more rewarding. Reading Cynthia Harrod-Eagles family saga of The Moreland’s and their extended family feels like catching up with old friends. I do wish the series could go on into WWII! But, I still have a way before I reach the last book - #35.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always entertaining - Venetia's medical career is advancing; there's a lot of interesting political information about the period - changing status of women, rise of the middle class -- and some major changes taking place at Morland Place where Henrietta and her family are helping bringing the lovely estate back to some semblence of normalcy

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really good opening which intrigued me when I picked it up in the library. I knew it was part of a series but hadn't realised it was No. 24. I've not read any of the others.
Meticulously historically researched but could perhaps do with an acknowlegements or bibliography. A scene from Lizzie's schooldays about the buttonhole is neatly lifted from A London Girl of the 1880s by Molly Hughes. If I can tell exactly what book you used in your research it would be polite to acknowledge your sources.

The plot meanders and is almost too crammed full of historical detail to work as a novel. I like a bit more structure. I might try another in the series but the author isn't the next Georgette Heyer.

[Cate · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is pretty good. Henrietta & Jerome finally get married & go to London where they have a successful life with Jerome working as a stockbroker. But it all ends badly. Or goes to shit. Whichever you prefer. Back in Yorkshire, Morland Place has fallen on hard times being vacant & run down. However, it provides a ready solution when Jerome (inevitably for the narrative) is declared bankrupt in the face of the South Sea Bubble stock market crash. Teddy Morland thoroughly redeems himself - not that he was bad, just lazy. Venetia is accepted back into "society". There are plenty of births, deaths, scandal & politics sitting in the back ground. All in all, a satisfying read.

[Winifred · Rating 3 out of 5]

continuing story of the morland's. henrietta is a widow but she has met Jerome Compton again whom she is in love with. they leave the village and go to London and get married. Jerome is a divorced man and this is not exceptable in Victorian England. their friends in London find out about his past and they are shunned. teddy Henrietta's brother lives in Yorkshire and owns moorland place but he does not live there. he has had someone look after the place but they are not very reliable. the place is damaged by fire. Henrietta and her family move from London to morland place.

[Marilu · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I'm further along in reading this series now, and have stuck to the time line they were written in, I feel more and more like the memories of the first books as the characters would. .of the old ancestors of long ago affecting the life of today with links long forgotten but still having an impact. .you really feel it when the ancient Morland property falls into misuse and when good people take it over again. .just love the journey these books take me on!! ! I'll be sorry when I read the last one!

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

After having read all if the books leading up to this one about 8 years ago it was good to dip back in. I enjoyed the historical element and was desperate when the marriage took place of the fatal Tsar!! No doubt this will crop up in a couple of books time! Good read and now need to catch up as think we are up to around 33.
So clever to follow a series of books about one dynasty right up to present day.

[Karoline · Rating 5 out of 5]

The saga continues and it is quite excellent!!

[Frances · Rating 4 out of 5]

A perfect book for those who think their life is depressing. Read about the Morland's, theirs are really depressing.