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The Duchess of Duke Street
The Way Up: An Edwardian Cinderella story
A nostalgic tale of love and ambition! Perfect for fans of Barbara Taylor Bradford, Catherine Cookson, Margaret Powell and Kate Morton.
An ambitious young woman seeks her fortune in London …
London, 1900
When Louisa Leyton sets out to become a cook in a grand London household, she never imagines that one day she’ll be cooking dinner for a prince…
Denied an education, she’s been in service since the age of twelve. But when a longed-for opportunity finally presents itself, soon her culinary skills are the talk of London.
And although relationships are the last thing on her mind, suddenly Louisa is the object of attention from wealthy and powerful men. Men like the butler Augustus Trotter, the Honourable Charles Tyrrell, her employer’s nephew … and even Edward, Prince of Wales.
And when the prince makes it clear it’s more than just Louisa’s cooking he’s interested in, she’s faced with a moral dilemma.
For the sake of her career she enters into an unusual arrangement with the prince, at the same time embarking on a loveless marriage with Trotter for propriety’s sake. But the union is not a happy one — even when Louisa purchases the Bentinck Hotel, hoping the venture will give her husband a purpose in life.
And when the marriage goes from bad to worse, suddenly Louisa’s whole livelihood is at stake…
Can Louisa carry on alone? Can she swallow her pride and accept the help she so desperately needs?
Or is everything she’s worked for about to come crashing down around her?
THE WAY UP is the first book in The Duchess of Duke Street series, which was based on the hit BBC television series, and is a set of three compelling historical novels featuring a strong and fearless heroine.
THE DUCHESS OF DUKE STREET SAGA
BOOK 1: The Way Up
BOOK 2: The Golden Years
BOOK 3: The World Keeps Turning
An ambitious young woman seeks her fortune in London …
London, 1900
When Louisa Leyton sets out to become a cook in a grand London household, she never imagines that one day she’ll be cooking dinner for a prince…
Denied an education, she’s been in service since the age of twelve. But when a longed-for opportunity finally presents itself, soon her culinary skills are the talk of London.
And although relationships are the last thing on her mind, suddenly Louisa is the object of attention from wealthy and powerful men. Men like the butler Augustus Trotter, the Honourable Charles Tyrrell, her employer’s nephew … and even Edward, Prince of Wales.
And when the prince makes it clear it’s more than just Louisa’s cooking he’s interested in, she’s faced with a moral dilemma.
For the sake of her career she enters into an unusual arrangement with the prince, at the same time embarking on a loveless marriage with Trotter for propriety’s sake. But the union is not a happy one — even when Louisa purchases the Bentinck Hotel, hoping the venture will give her husband a purpose in life.
And when the marriage goes from bad to worse, suddenly Louisa’s whole livelihood is at stake…
Can Louisa carry on alone? Can she swallow her pride and accept the help she so desperately needs?
Or is everything she’s worked for about to come crashing down around her?
THE WAY UP is the first book in The Duchess of Duke Street series, which was based on the hit BBC television series, and is a set of three compelling historical novels featuring a strong and fearless heroine.
THE DUCHESS OF DUKE STREET SAGA
BOOK 1: The Way Up
BOOK 2: The Golden Years
BOOK 3: The World Keeps Turning
238 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 28, 1977
14 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
About the author
Mollie Hardwick
83 books7 followersMollie Greenhalgh Hardwick was an English author who was best known for writing books that accompanied the TV series Upstairs, Downstairs.
As well as writing many Upstairs, Downstairs, Thomas & Sarah and The Duchess of Duke Street novels, she was also the creator of the Doran Fairweather novels and wrote three Juliet Bravo books. Hardwick also wrote many books and plays based around the Sherlock Holmes novels. She married fellow author Michael Hardwick in 1961.
Series:
* Upstairs Downstairs
* The Duchess of Duke Street
* Thomas and Sarah
* Juliet Bravo
* Doran Fairweather
As well as writing many Upstairs, Downstairs, Thomas & Sarah and The Duchess of Duke Street novels, she was also the creator of the Doran Fairweather novels and wrote three Juliet Bravo books. Hardwick also wrote many books and plays based around the Sherlock Holmes novels. She married fellow author Michael Hardwick in 1961.
Series:
* Upstairs Downstairs
* The Duchess of Duke Street
* Thomas and Sarah
* Juliet Bravo
* Doran Fairweather
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 27, 2021
Pure happy nostalgia.
I found this and its sequel on the Freebies trolley outside our local community second hand book shop, deemed too old fashioned to be saleable, maybe?
Anyway, I watched all the 1970s TV series around which the books are written and loved them, so there was no chance I would resist. I could see the cast of characters as they emerged in the story, all first rate English character actors.
Read it straight through in about 3 hours, less time than it took to watch the five episodes this book covers.
I found this and its sequel on the Freebies trolley outside our local community second hand book shop, deemed too old fashioned to be saleable, maybe?
Anyway, I watched all the 1970s TV series around which the books are written and loved them, so there was no chance I would resist. I could see the cast of characters as they emerged in the story, all first rate English character actors.
Read it straight through in about 3 hours, less time than it took to watch the five episodes this book covers.
February 16, 2020
Well that was a right trip down memory lane! I remember watching the BBC production of this in the late 70s and absolute loving it. This is a novelisation for the series. It probably isn’t the best literature but it holds a special place in my heart.
January 10, 2025
Loved, loved, lived it. Taken very much from the tv series, which I remember with great fondness, it started me on my cooking journey. The background details are all so believable.
March 6, 2014
On to Misfit
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What is the most essential tool in the kitchen?
The chef's nose.
It's been 30 years since I first read this and I feel that it is nowhere near as deep, involved or spectacular as I remembered it as being 'back then'. Still, a nice late spring weekend read but there will always be a huge gap between a teenager's perception and that of a mature adult.
---
What is the most essential tool in the kitchen?
The chef's nose.
It's been 30 years since I first read this and I feel that it is nowhere near as deep, involved or spectacular as I remembered it as being 'back then'. Still, a nice late spring weekend read but there will always be a huge gap between a teenager's perception and that of a mature adult.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews