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Morland Dynasty #28
The White Road
August 1914
The whole country is thrilled by the declaration of war. The British Expeditionary Force goes off to France to defend gallant little Belgium, and thousands more young men rush to volunteer, hoping to see action before the war ends at Christmas. At home everyone competes to be doing the most for the war effort. The Morlands have their share of volunteers, and no-one can say they aren't at the very heart of things. But when Christmas comes the war is far from over, and nine in ten of the men who marched, singing, down the white road to Mons have fallen.
The whole country is thrilled by the declaration of war. The British Expeditionary Force goes off to France to defend gallant little Belgium, and thousands more young men rush to volunteer, hoping to see action before the war ends at Christmas. At home everyone competes to be doing the most for the war effort. The Morlands have their share of volunteers, and no-one can say they aren't at the very heart of things. But when Christmas comes the war is far from over, and nine in ten of the men who marched, singing, down the white road to Mons have fallen.
480 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
20 people are currently reading
256 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 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 16, 2019
I could see why some people wouldn't like it because it's almost all about the War. I loved it. It's a period of history I love learning about. The detail of the battles and the conditions the men endured was brilliantly done. I enjoyed the parts about the family back home and it broke up the book a bit.
There was heavy emphasis on how brutal and almost inhuman, the Germans were which made me cringe a bit. I suppose when it's written from the English point of view that's what happens.
An excellent addition to the series.
There was heavy emphasis on how brutal and almost inhuman, the Germans were which made me cringe a bit. I suppose when it's written from the English point of view that's what happens.
An excellent addition to the series.
April 6, 2021
The continuing saga of the Morland family, now facing World War I. This book is very heavy on details of the war, especially the battle of Ypres and the smaller actions leading up to it, but again, it is heavily researched and fascinating reading.
December 19, 2018
1915 and...
There’s nothing left to do, but to keep going with all of The Morland’s and their relatives close and distant living near and far! I’ve been with them before The War of Roses ever began! They feel more like my ancestors much more than my own!
Book #29 please
There’s nothing left to do, but to keep going with all of The Morland’s and their relatives close and distant living near and far! I’ve been with them before The War of Roses ever began! They feel more like my ancestors much more than my own!
Book #29 please
August 6, 2020
Excellent depiction of the first six months of World War I, as it affected members of the Morland family. As a reservist, Bertie is immediately called up, and is sent to France as part of the BEF. Jack, an aviator and airplane designer, is recruited to join the new air corp, used to spot enemy troop movements — planes carried only the pilot, and no weapons, making this extremely difficult. Ned joins the York "Pals" unit, that Teddy, the family patriarch helps organize. Others are involved in their own ways, even the women. Hard to put down. Highly recommended.
August 9, 2024
Morland Dynasty #28, 1914, mainly about the war.
I suppose if someone writes a book covering 1914, readers should expect it will be about the war. I just happen to think that this one was a bit TOO much about the war. I've been having mixed reactions to this series, and in particular I liked those covering WW1 the least.
Don't get me wrong, the author researches well, and she writes darned good stories. It's just my opinion, so don't let me stop anyone from reading this, or any of this series, or any of the author's books.
Rating 3.4.
I suppose if someone writes a book covering 1914, readers should expect it will be about the war. I just happen to think that this one was a bit TOO much about the war. I've been having mixed reactions to this series, and in particular I liked those covering WW1 the least.
Don't get me wrong, the author researches well, and she writes darned good stories. It's just my opinion, so don't let me stop anyone from reading this, or any of this series, or any of the author's books.
Rating 3.4.
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August 18, 2020continuing story of the moorland dynasty. this is set during 1914. jack is in the royal flying corps and Ned has joined the pals unit. the description of war is brilliant, I felt as if I was there with them.
August 3, 2019
This was good but the war makes everyone stupid.
July 16, 2009
The book opens as England daily expects war with Germany. Bertie Parke, one of the Morland cousins (family tree helpfully provided in front of the book, along with maps of The Front), a veteran of the Boer War, is recalled to service even before the official outbreak of war. By the book's end, months later, nearly everyone in the family is doing something for the war effort, whether in the forces, visiting wounded soldiers, raising a regiment or making uniforms. Harrod-Eagles covers many well-known facets of the war's early months as well as less familiar aspects. The December 1914 shelling of Scarborough and other East Coast cities by German destroyers was not an event I'd even heard about. I had also been unaware that in the early days of military aviation, bombing was considered a criminal activity. Jack Compton, another Morland cousin, is placed by Harrod-Eagles first in the Sopwith aircraft factory and then as a member of the Royal Flying Corps (predecessor of the RAF), flying reconnaissance missions but wishing he could shoot at the German pilots!
Of course, there is family drama as well, with romance, birth, and death, although amazingly no major character dies in this book. Uncle Teddy is rehabilitated after his harrowing post-Titanic years when he raises a "Pals" Regiment among the commercial class of York.
A constant theme in the military portions of The White Road is social class and the preference to be with one's own class, even when serving in the armed forces. Each of the Morland men who becomes an officer has a similar experience in his new unit -- brother officers sorting themselves out by their schooling, pastimes, and other class indicators. The only exception seems to be Jack, the flyer -- the brotherhood of aviation extends even to the German pilots in some circumstances.
As usual, one can see that Harrod-Eagles has done her research; there are times when it's a little too obvious, but those portions are easily skimmed through. All in all a worthy and necessary entry in this long-running series, which tells English history through the experience of one extended family.
Of course, there is family drama as well, with romance, birth, and death, although amazingly no major character dies in this book. Uncle Teddy is rehabilitated after his harrowing post-Titanic years when he raises a "Pals" Regiment among the commercial class of York.
A constant theme in the military portions of The White Road is social class and the preference to be with one's own class, even when serving in the armed forces. Each of the Morland men who becomes an officer has a similar experience in his new unit -- brother officers sorting themselves out by their schooling, pastimes, and other class indicators. The only exception seems to be Jack, the flyer -- the brotherhood of aviation extends even to the German pilots in some circumstances.
As usual, one can see that Harrod-Eagles has done her research; there are times when it's a little too obvious, but those portions are easily skimmed through. All in all a worthy and necessary entry in this long-running series, which tells English history through the experience of one extended family.
June 11, 2014
Do not read this if you do not like history especially if you don't like history about war. This is 75% World War I, 1914. I think it took the author too long to develop Jessie into a character that I could like. She did it in the last 40 pages of the book. Now she will have to kill off Ned, which will be easy since he's a soldier, how she is going to get rid of Maude I don't know. This author dumps these superfluous people off frequently enough, I know eventually Jessie and Bertie will be happy, for a chapter?
March 15, 2009
At first I thought this book would be nothing but a blow by blow account of fighting by the English army (not my favourite thing to read about). But after the first hundred pages, this really heats up- an incredibly fascinating look at the first year of World War I. Highly enjoyable.
November 2, 2015
I usually have trouble focusing on books about war, but this one had me on the edge of my seat! In a way I can't wait to read #29, but in a way I'm in no hurry because I don't want this series to end for me.
January 7, 2014
WWI. Yawn.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews