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Morland Dynasty #4
The Oak Apple
1630 - Charles I; the Civil War
When civil war destroys the long years of peace in England, the clash between King and Parliament is echoed at Morland Place. Richard, the heir, brings home a Puritan bride, while his dashing brother Kit joins the Royalist cavalry under Prince Rupert, leaving their father, Edmund, desperately trying to steer a middle course. As the war grinds on, bitterness replaces early fervour and divisions grow deeper, and through it all Edmund struggles grimly to protect his inheritance and keep Morland Place intact.
When civil war destroys the long years of peace in England, the clash between King and Parliament is echoed at Morland Place. Richard, the heir, brings home a Puritan bride, while his dashing brother Kit joins the Royalist cavalry under Prince Rupert, leaving their father, Edmund, desperately trying to steer a middle course. As the war grinds on, bitterness replaces early fervour and divisions grow deeper, and through it all Edmund struggles grimly to protect his inheritance and keep Morland Place intact.
416 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1982
53 people are currently reading
356 people want to read
About the author
Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
169 books494 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 - 29 of 29 reviews
October 11, 2017
I've been a fan of the long-running Morland Dynasty series ever since I first discovered it in my early 20s. One thing I love about this series is the way in which the author depicts a wide variety of character types. She especially seems to like strong women, some likable and others not.
Mary Esther Morland in this novel is a more traditional female character of her time, but she has a quiet strength that shows through and as the story moved along, I quite liked her. She weathers the storms of family life and civil war with dignity and intelligence,and I had to respect that.
The book starts in 1630 and takes readers most of the way through the English Civil War. While I enjoyed the plot action, I always had the feeling that this wasn't exactly the author's favorite time period. The author does do a good job of highlighting vignettes to show readers just how torn apart the country was by this war that now seems so faraway to the average reader. However, the book jumped across large gaps of time with an abruptness that made it feel as if I was reading a summary. It was hard to get attached to characters and story in the way that I have in other installments of this series.
Even so, I do like reading about the Morlands and their world and I know I'll be rejoining the family saga again someday.
Mary Esther Morland in this novel is a more traditional female character of her time, but she has a quiet strength that shows through and as the story moved along, I quite liked her. She weathers the storms of family life and civil war with dignity and intelligence,and I had to respect that.
The book starts in 1630 and takes readers most of the way through the English Civil War. While I enjoyed the plot action, I always had the feeling that this wasn't exactly the author's favorite time period. The author does do a good job of highlighting vignettes to show readers just how torn apart the country was by this war that now seems so faraway to the average reader. However, the book jumped across large gaps of time with an abruptness that made it feel as if I was reading a summary. It was hard to get attached to characters and story in the way that I have in other installments of this series.
Even so, I do like reading about the Morlands and their world and I know I'll be rejoining the family saga again someday.
January 1, 2018
This is the fourth book in the Morland Dynasty series and it's (so far!) my favourite. The Oak Apple covers twenty years around the Civil War and a new generation of Morlands. Mary Esther, Daughter of Bear Cub's son Gabriel, is the strong female character that holds the family together this time. I started reading this book with no knowledge of the Civil War, So The Oak Apple was a great introduction to this period. I found the battle scenes at Marston Moor and Naseby compelling, and admired the overwhelming sense of camaraderie between the men, but also the futility of fighting and dying for a losing cause. Now I can't wait to read what comes next!
March 22, 2025
Book four in the Morland Dynasty series is quite harrowing in places. Some of the action takes place during the English Civil War and the effects are felt back at Morland Place. As always, this book had me completely and utterly gripped. Onto book five now.
July 27, 2016
So after reading the third book in the Morland Dynasty series I was afraid these would start getting repetitive but this book might be my favorite so far. It takes place during the English Civil War and divides the family and brings battles to their doorstep. It had a good mix of fighting and history and love stories and family drama and scandal. I also liked that it spread the story out a bit more with family members in different places and not as cooped up at Morland Place, especially the sections that took place in America. I have ancestors who came to America at about the same time and it's crazy to read about how hard life was here. The family had left England even earlier and gone to the Netherlands to avoid religious persecution, so the parts in the book about religion were also interesting. It reinforced my opinion that while I believe in God I'm not a big fan of religion or at least not the kind of zealotry that leads people to harm people who don't do things the same way you do or to try to prevent them from worshipping in their own way.
July 22, 2011
Good read about the English Civil War. trying to read one per month otherwise will forget all the characters
February 13, 2022
Kit si ten večer pamatoval ještě dlouho potom. Noc byla chladná možná blízko prvnímu z nočních mrazíků, a oheň byl ve svém středu krvavě rudý a hořel pronikavě jasným plamenem. Seděli kolem něj a krvavá záře se jim odrážela v obličejích, vrhala ďábelské stíny nosů a obočí a důvěrně známé přátelé proměnila v nadpozemské bytosti. Uvrhla noc kolem nich do ještě větší temnoty, takže se zdáli odříznuti od všeho ostatního, od světa, času i druhého dne, v magickém kruhu mrazivě rudého ohně, horkého piva a nejasných, rozesmátých hlasů. Potom k nim přiběhl Boye a bílá barva plamenů se změnila v růžovou. Kit se rozhlédl po jeho pánovi a princ se v temnotě tyčil jako hora, hlavu tak vysoko nad září ohně, že když promluvil, jeho slova byla pro Kita ztracena a nikdy potom si na ně nedokázal vzpomenout. Pamatoval si jen spršku zlatých jisker, která vystřelila z kouřového plamene a ověnčila princovu hlavu prstencem malých hvězdiček.
Nebudu lhát, když jsem se dozvěděla o čem bude čtvrtý díl Morlandů, byla jsem trochu zklamaná. O občanské válce v Angliin toho zas tak moc nevím, a minimálně mi toto téma nebylo blízké. A nakonec jsem byla mile překvapena.
Konečně mám pocit jakoby se tahle série někam hla, první tři díly nebyly špatné, ale občas mi některé pasáže přišli spíše jako popis děje, než že by mě vtáhli.. Oproti v tomhle díle jsem prožívala každé písmenko. Pořád nechápu jak autorka píše knihy tak že věřím tomu že mě všech 36 dílů bude bavit.
O mnoho se zlepšili postavy, přecijen se pořád bavíme o jedné rodině a komplikovaných vztazích. Miluju jak autorka popsala dopady války na celý Morland, jak rodinu a celou zemi rozdělila a stmelila zároveň. Boj katolíků vs. evangelíků který krásně vysvětlil situaci i v dnešní Anglii, skvělá linka byla i v Americe, a interakce kolonizátorů s původními obyvateli. Mary Esther, Ruth a Kit mi asi nejvíc přirostli k srdci, a linka Mary Esther s Edmundem <33333333.
Prostě mě tenhle díl absolutně vtáhl, nechal zamyslet, rozbrečel, rozesmál, přinesl nové obzory a miluju to. Morlandi mi s každou další stránkou mnohem víc přirůstají k srdci. Zatím rozhodně nejlepší díl, a totéž mužů říct i o knihách za celý letošek (prozatím). Přesně to co jsem potřebovala. Prostě miluju knihy které sledujou celý lifetime.
1. věta; Během noci se vítr obrátil a déšť, který vypadal, že bude trvat věčně, konečně ustal.
Poslední věta; Zůstávaly na skle, postupně ho zasypávaly a přinášely brzký únorový soumrak.
Nebudu lhát, když jsem se dozvěděla o čem bude čtvrtý díl Morlandů, byla jsem trochu zklamaná. O občanské válce v Angliin toho zas tak moc nevím, a minimálně mi toto téma nebylo blízké. A nakonec jsem byla mile překvapena.
Konečně mám pocit jakoby se tahle série někam hla, první tři díly nebyly špatné, ale občas mi některé pasáže přišli spíše jako popis děje, než že by mě vtáhli.. Oproti v tomhle díle jsem prožívala každé písmenko. Pořád nechápu jak autorka píše knihy tak že věřím tomu že mě všech 36 dílů bude bavit.
O mnoho se zlepšili postavy, přecijen se pořád bavíme o jedné rodině a komplikovaných vztazích. Miluju jak autorka popsala dopady války na celý Morland, jak rodinu a celou zemi rozdělila a stmelila zároveň. Boj katolíků vs. evangelíků který krásně vysvětlil situaci i v dnešní Anglii, skvělá linka byla i v Americe, a interakce kolonizátorů s původními obyvateli. Mary Esther, Ruth a Kit mi asi nejvíc přirostli k srdci, a linka Mary Esther s Edmundem <33333333.
Prostě mě tenhle díl absolutně vtáhl, nechal zamyslet, rozbrečel, rozesmál, přinesl nové obzory a miluju to. Morlandi mi s každou další stránkou mnohem víc přirůstají k srdci. Zatím rozhodně nejlepší díl, a totéž mužů říct i o knihách za celý letošek (prozatím). Přesně to co jsem potřebovala. Prostě miluju knihy které sledujou celý lifetime.
1. věta; Během noci se vítr obrátil a déšť, který vypadal, že bude trvat věčně, konečně ustal.
Poslední věta; Zůstávaly na skle, postupně ho zasypávaly a přinášely brzký únorový soumrak.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2024
I didn't enjoy this one as much as previous books in this series. I think perhaps I read it too soon after book three, The Princeling, and wasn't ready for this new set of Morland characters. I didn't find them as compelling (or interesting). The other thing is purely personal ... the civil war in England is simply difficult to read about. The questions over religious observances, the divine right of an anointed king (or not) are tough subjects to grapple with. All that said, as always, CHE does a phenomenal job of setting the reader right down in the middle of every scene, as if I were an unseen and unheard member of every conversation or situation.
August 10, 2017
Another generation has passed; Edmund is now head of the Morland family, and Charles, son of James, has succeed to the throne. Against the background of the English Civil War marriages are made, some with Edmund's approval, others without. Slowly Puritan ideals invade even the north, to find a foothold at Morland Place, and divide a usually united family. One young couple set out for the American colonies to establish a new foothold there — if they can survive. Compelling story; highly recommended.
February 2, 2022
I had to skip ahead a couple of books so there are gaps in my knowledge of the Morland family. This book filled in some of the vague historical events I had of this era of history. Of course, I had some knowledge of Cromwell and the Royalists. In addition, it was interesting to learn about the very early colonial settling of Maryland. I felt the actual fiction story of the Morland family was rather thin and confusing. However, I do want to back and read volumes 2 and 3 ( the books I have missed. Of course I will go forward with future volumes when I locate them.
December 30, 2025
Na mne bylo v tomto dílu příliš mnoho rodinných sporů a válečné vřavy. Těžko se mi hledaly sympatie a náklonost k některé z postav, a to se mi zároveň zamlouvá myšlenka, že ne každá silná osobnost musí být kladným (a mě sympatickým) hrdinou.
Druhou věcí, se kterou v každém díle bojuji, je velké množství postav a ani rodokmen mi v tomto moc nepomáhá. Nebaví mě neustále listovat na první stránku a hledat o kom je teď vlastně řeč.
Co mě ovšem baví moc, je jistota, že je přede mnou ještě mnoho dílů a já se tak můžu těšit na další příběhy a kus historie.
Druhou věcí, se kterou v každém díle bojuji, je velké množství postav a ani rodokmen mi v tomto moc nepomáhá. Nebaví mě neustále listovat na první stránku a hledat o kom je teď vlastně řeč.
Co mě ovšem baví moc, je jistota, že je přede mnou ještě mnoho dílů a já se tak můžu těšit na další příběhy a kus historie.
June 29, 2017
Unter Charles I. herrscht in England mehr und mehr das Chaos. Parlamentarier kämpfen gegen königliche Truppen, Katholiken streiten erbittert mit den Protestanten, während die äußerst sittenstrenge und spaßfeindliche Splittergruppe der Puritaner immer mehr an Einfluss gewinnt.
Auch in der Familie Morland gibt es Reibungen. Einer der fast erwachsenen Söhne von Edmund Morland ist auch nach Jahren noch nicht bereit, Edmunds zweite Frau Mary Esther als Stiefmutter anzuerkennen. Der Umbau des Familiensitzes Morland Place stößt nicht bei allen Familienmitgliedern auf Gegenliebe, und als die jungen Männer der Familie nach und nach heranreifen, wollen die meisten von ihnen auf der einen oder anderen Seite der andauernden Auseinandersetzungen kämpfen. Schließlich kommt es sogar zu einem Zerwürfnis zwischen Edmund und seiner Frau, weil sich ihre politischen Ansichten grundlegend unterscheidet und sie ihm Verrat vorwirft, während er das Beste für Morland Place und für die Familie will, als sich die Kämpfe im ganzen Land ausbreiten.
Im vierten Band dieser großartigen historischen Saga um eine britische Familiendynastie zeichnet Cynthia Harrod-Eagles das Bild eines religiös wie politisch zerrissenen Landes mit einem schwachen König, das sich selbst zu zerfleischen droht. Die vielen Mitglieder der inzwischen weit verzweigten Großfamilie Morland sind früher oder später gezwungen, sich für eine Seite zu entscheiden, was unvermeidlich auch Spaltung innerhalb der Familie zur Folge hat, ganz zu schweigen von den traurigen Folgen all des Blutvergießens.
Aber natürlich gibt es nicht nur Krieg und Kampf, auch das Alltagsleben der Familie geht weiter mit allem, was dazugehört – es wird geliebt, gefeiert, gestritten, geheiratet, es gibt Geburten zu bejubeln und Todesfälle zu betrauern, kurz, man hat, fesselnd geschildert und gut recherchiert wie immer, am Leben einer neuen Generation von Morlands teil.
Es ist beeindruckend, wie es der Autorin immer wieder gelingt, neue, frische Charaktere einzuführen, die – wie in einer echten Familie – mal sympathischer und mal weniger sympathisch, aber allesamt vor dem Hintergrund ihrer Lebenszeit und –umstände glaubwürdig sind. Endlose Neuaufgüsse einiger weniger Figuren muss man bei ihr ganz sicher nicht befürchten.
Der vorn im Buch abgedruckte Stammbaum ist anfangs bitter nötig, um sich nach dem Sprung über zwei Generationen, der zwischen diesem Buch und seinem Vorgängerband liegt, wieder zurechtzufinden, wobei man nur kurz und gezielt hinschauen sollte, wenn man sich nicht Spoiler für den Verlauf dieses Buches einfangen möchte.
Das einzige, was man sonst noch kritisieren könnte, ist, dass es immer noch keine deutsche Übersetzung dieser wunderbaren Serie gibt, der ich noch viel mehr Leser wünschen würde.
Auch in der Familie Morland gibt es Reibungen. Einer der fast erwachsenen Söhne von Edmund Morland ist auch nach Jahren noch nicht bereit, Edmunds zweite Frau Mary Esther als Stiefmutter anzuerkennen. Der Umbau des Familiensitzes Morland Place stößt nicht bei allen Familienmitgliedern auf Gegenliebe, und als die jungen Männer der Familie nach und nach heranreifen, wollen die meisten von ihnen auf der einen oder anderen Seite der andauernden Auseinandersetzungen kämpfen. Schließlich kommt es sogar zu einem Zerwürfnis zwischen Edmund und seiner Frau, weil sich ihre politischen Ansichten grundlegend unterscheidet und sie ihm Verrat vorwirft, während er das Beste für Morland Place und für die Familie will, als sich die Kämpfe im ganzen Land ausbreiten.
Im vierten Band dieser großartigen historischen Saga um eine britische Familiendynastie zeichnet Cynthia Harrod-Eagles das Bild eines religiös wie politisch zerrissenen Landes mit einem schwachen König, das sich selbst zu zerfleischen droht. Die vielen Mitglieder der inzwischen weit verzweigten Großfamilie Morland sind früher oder später gezwungen, sich für eine Seite zu entscheiden, was unvermeidlich auch Spaltung innerhalb der Familie zur Folge hat, ganz zu schweigen von den traurigen Folgen all des Blutvergießens.
Aber natürlich gibt es nicht nur Krieg und Kampf, auch das Alltagsleben der Familie geht weiter mit allem, was dazugehört – es wird geliebt, gefeiert, gestritten, geheiratet, es gibt Geburten zu bejubeln und Todesfälle zu betrauern, kurz, man hat, fesselnd geschildert und gut recherchiert wie immer, am Leben einer neuen Generation von Morlands teil.
Es ist beeindruckend, wie es der Autorin immer wieder gelingt, neue, frische Charaktere einzuführen, die – wie in einer echten Familie – mal sympathischer und mal weniger sympathisch, aber allesamt vor dem Hintergrund ihrer Lebenszeit und –umstände glaubwürdig sind. Endlose Neuaufgüsse einiger weniger Figuren muss man bei ihr ganz sicher nicht befürchten.
Der vorn im Buch abgedruckte Stammbaum ist anfangs bitter nötig, um sich nach dem Sprung über zwei Generationen, der zwischen diesem Buch und seinem Vorgängerband liegt, wieder zurechtzufinden, wobei man nur kurz und gezielt hinschauen sollte, wenn man sich nicht Spoiler für den Verlauf dieses Buches einfangen möchte.
Das einzige, was man sonst noch kritisieren könnte, ist, dass es immer noch keine deutsche Übersetzung dieser wunderbaren Serie gibt, der ich noch viel mehr Leser wünschen würde.
August 27, 2024
I enjoyed this book. Many complicated and intriguing characters with flashbacks to previous ones. Thankfully a family tree was included as I was referring to it often. Although it would have been helpful to also have a map to follow the many years of battles this book covered. I am looking forward to reading book 5 in the series.
February 15, 2018
There is a little bit of a feeling of more of the same with this book, as the series moves into the civil war period. It does give you a decent overview of British history but sometimes it is more of a sketch and you don't feel involved. Still a series of note and worth persisting with.
January 16, 2024
Soap opera with history woven in. Glad there was a change in venue for a while.
November 20, 2024
A bit thin on plot & conflict.
Another one for bookmooch.com
Read November 2024
Another one for bookmooch.com
Read November 2024
July 29, 2010
The Oak Apple starts a few years after the Princeling ends. The characters that ended the last book as children are now adults with children of their own. The master of Morland Place is Edmund Morland and the historical setting is the reign of Charles I and the fights between Parliament and King. A significant part of the book is devoted to the description of battles, although they are not usually my favourite reading subject Harrod-Eagles does a very good job with it and I was actually interested and horrified by what I was reading. There are no heroes or villains in this, just men who believe in different things and defending their ideas.
As in previous books the gap between generations widens due to different political sides. While Edmund is mostly worried with protecting his birthplace his son Richard marries a puritan and his second son and several cousins join the King's army. The political situation will take its toll on Edmund's marriage and the war effort will affect the whole family. I thought it interesting that there was the introduction of a puritan character but I think that sadly we only get to know the basics about Puritanism. I at least was curious to know more.
I liked it that, as in previous books, the author included a female character that stands out. Here it is Ruth Morland. In love with her cousin Kit she sees him marry another cousin - Hero - and ends up having to give Hero and their son shelter when the war reaches their doorsteps. She manages her brother's home and after his death manages to live alone and independent. Ruth eventually bears a daughter out of wedlock, Annunciata, and doesn't seem to worry about the scandal. Another thing I liked was that a branch of the family sets out to America. Since Edmund doesn't have enough land to divide for all his sons, Ambrose Morland and his wife Nell sail to Maryland where they hope to claim lands and build their lives.
I have mentioned Ruth as the strong character in this story but I have to say that Edmund's wife Mary Esther is the one that does everything to keep the family together no matter what. Despite the war there are still a household to organise, marriages to plan and funerals to arrange. And I really did enjoy reading about all of it, not everyone is nice or easy to understand but that's what life is made of...
Grade: 4.5/5
As in previous books the gap between generations widens due to different political sides. While Edmund is mostly worried with protecting his birthplace his son Richard marries a puritan and his second son and several cousins join the King's army. The political situation will take its toll on Edmund's marriage and the war effort will affect the whole family. I thought it interesting that there was the introduction of a puritan character but I think that sadly we only get to know the basics about Puritanism. I at least was curious to know more.
I liked it that, as in previous books, the author included a female character that stands out. Here it is Ruth Morland. In love with her cousin Kit she sees him marry another cousin - Hero - and ends up having to give Hero and their son shelter when the war reaches their doorsteps. She manages her brother's home and after his death manages to live alone and independent. Ruth eventually bears a daughter out of wedlock, Annunciata, and doesn't seem to worry about the scandal. Another thing I liked was that a branch of the family sets out to America. Since Edmund doesn't have enough land to divide for all his sons, Ambrose Morland and his wife Nell sail to Maryland where they hope to claim lands and build their lives.
I have mentioned Ruth as the strong character in this story but I have to say that Edmund's wife Mary Esther is the one that does everything to keep the family together no matter what. Despite the war there are still a household to organise, marriages to plan and funerals to arrange. And I really did enjoy reading about all of it, not everyone is nice or easy to understand but that's what life is made of...
Grade: 4.5/5
October 24, 2014
I've never read this author before. This book has a wealth of characters most of whom are related to each other. Even with the family tree written in the front of the book I had trouble keeping track of who was who. As a result there are too many stories going on and not enough focus on the main ones. The English Civil War takes place throughout the book and where it does do well is in its clear depiction of the ordinary man's dilemma at this time. Should you support a monarch who is tyrannical and wont listen to anyone else and who insists on exorbitant taxes which cripple your business? or should you support the idealistic but extremist roundheads who start off fighting for their rights and end up dictating against every possible aspect of private life? Herein lies the problem of so many. In this book we have different cousins fighting on different sides and husbands disagreeing with wives. This is the book's strength. The accounts of battle are OK but the impact both political and social are skated over. A battle takes place, so many people die, and the next part of the book is all about romance and farming - we barely know who won or where that victory might fall in the bigger scheme of events.
For this reason and the convoluted stories of various characters, some even settling in the US which was totally superfluous, I give 2 stars.
For this reason and the convoluted stories of various characters, some even settling in the US which was totally superfluous, I give 2 stars.
May 2, 2015
This is perhaps the best of the four Morland Dynasty novels I have read. It is set during the Civil War in England, beginning in 1630 and closing with the execution of Charles I in 1649. The history unfolds through the lives of various members of the Morland family who find themselves divided by their loyalties and forced along different paths, often at odds with those they love most. The fictional characters here are, on the whole, more engaging than in the previous novels, and through their stories, I began to have a far better understanding of what had transpired during these years.
To be sure, I had been taught about the Civil War in England, and of course I knew that Charles I had been beheaded by his political enemies. But in spite of this, I did not understand much about it, especially the causes of the war and reasons for such bitterness and extreme action. Viewing the history through the eyes of “real” people made it concrete and far more tragic than it had ever appeared during a high school/college lecture or in the pages of any history book I had read.
This book was worthwhile and I certainly will continue my journey through British history with the Morlands. There are at least 35 books in this series, so it will be a long journey for sure. If the accuracy of the history and the quality of the narrative continue, I most likely will as well.
To be sure, I had been taught about the Civil War in England, and of course I knew that Charles I had been beheaded by his political enemies. But in spite of this, I did not understand much about it, especially the causes of the war and reasons for such bitterness and extreme action. Viewing the history through the eyes of “real” people made it concrete and far more tragic than it had ever appeared during a high school/college lecture or in the pages of any history book I had read.
This book was worthwhile and I certainly will continue my journey through British history with the Morlands. There are at least 35 books in this series, so it will be a long journey for sure. If the accuracy of the history and the quality of the narrative continue, I most likely will as well.
June 6, 2016
This is the fourth book in the Morland Dynasty series. We join the Morland family in 17th century York, just before and during the Civil War, beginning in 1630 and closing with the execution of Charles I in 1649. The family motto, Fidelitis (loyalty) is strained with members of the family battling each other in the Civil War. Kit Morland joins the Royalist forces under Prince Rupert, while Morland heir, Richard, marries a Puritan and opens the family home to the Roundheads. In one of the most interesting story lines, Ambrose and Nell Morland leave for the New World, where the build a homestead in Maryland.
There's plenty of intrigue in this book. The fictional characters are very engaging and there's a lot of action. It seems well researched and is filled with rich historical detail. I read the first three books in this series years ago but it was easy to get back into the family saga. I enjoy exploring the history of England through this factional family. I definitely plan to continue with book 5, The Black Prince.
There's plenty of intrigue in this book. The fictional characters are very engaging and there's a lot of action. It seems well researched and is filled with rich historical detail. I read the first three books in this series years ago but it was easy to get back into the family saga. I enjoy exploring the history of England through this factional family. I definitely plan to continue with book 5, The Black Prince.
January 28, 2015
At the conclusion of this book, I can safely say that Hamil remained a git of the first order until his end. Not surprisingly for a book that covers what is apparently known as the "First" English Civil War, there is a fair bit of death contained in this book. The Black Pearl then covers the Great Plague, resulting in even more of the family tree being obliterated.
I'm starting to suspect that really likeable characters in this series are few and far between. Mary Esther is one of those, however. Ruth is admirable rather than likeable, but I really do like what Harrod-Eagles did with Annunciata's father.
Oddly enough one of the few likable characters is one of the historical characters, Prince Rupert. I suppose it's not actually all that odd, but it feels odd to me.
I'm starting to suspect that really likeable characters in this series are few and far between. Mary Esther is one of those, however. Ruth is admirable rather than likeable, but I really do like what Harrod-Eagles did with Annunciata's father.
Oddly enough one of the few likable characters is one of the historical characters, Prince Rupert. I suppose it's not actually all that odd, but it feels odd to me.
October 19, 2016
This was a nice read in the Morland Dynasty family series covering some of the English Civil War timeframe, starting around 1630 and ending with the execution of Charles I. I feel like the author was trying to be really cautious in not over representing loyalists, even though these guys live in York and were probably inclined to be loyal to the crown. One of the sons marries a Puritan woman, and others join Prince Rupert and his loyalist troops. As an American, I only really know the basics of the English Civil War, and this book actually broadened my interest in it.
February 12, 2011
This series is really starting to grow on me. I am learning a lot about the different historical time periods plus these books are just very readable. This one covered most of the English Civil War. My only complaint is that it is hard to know which book comes in what order through Amazon.
January 24, 2016
The Civil War comes to Morlands and the family is divided between King and Parliament as Edmund Morland tries to steer a middle course that will keep his property safe. Vivid historical detail combined with a fast paced story and appealing characters. Vol.4 in the Moreland series.
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August 7, 2007Just started this.
April 11, 2013
probably shouldnt have stayed up till 2 am to finish this...
March 16, 2025
What a great series, 31 to go.
July 22, 2014
I have really enjoyed all of these books so far. However this book focused on so many details of the war and it made for tedious reading for me. I am still going to read #5 though.
October 15, 2014
and the saga continues
February 10, 2014
I have to say that this series is growing on me.
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