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Secret Families Trilogy #1
The Secret Generations
May, 1910
The world is on the eve of a war set to ruin the lives of a whole generation.
The Railton family are intimately involved in the world of espionage, which will become so crucial to the conflict’s outcome.
With the death of General Sir William Railton, the family patriarch and hero of Balaclava, the family is thrown into a world of violence and intrigue.
Manipulated by the new head of the family, the ruthless arch-intriguer Giles Railton, each member of the dynasty comes to play their part in the ‘Great Game’ of Intelligence.
Through the story of one family, whose lives become caught up in some of the greatest struggles of the twentieth century, John Gardner traces the birth, the successes and the failures of the organizations now known as MI5, MI6 and GCHQ.
From the battlefields of the Western Front to Russia on the eve of revolution, this epic work of fiction tells the story of the dramatic history of Britain’s intelligence and security services.
‘The Secret Generations’ is a towering saga of adventure, romance and intrigue by an author of international stature writing at his very best
The world is on the eve of a war set to ruin the lives of a whole generation.
The Railton family are intimately involved in the world of espionage, which will become so crucial to the conflict’s outcome.
With the death of General Sir William Railton, the family patriarch and hero of Balaclava, the family is thrown into a world of violence and intrigue.
Manipulated by the new head of the family, the ruthless arch-intriguer Giles Railton, each member of the dynasty comes to play their part in the ‘Great Game’ of Intelligence.
Through the story of one family, whose lives become caught up in some of the greatest struggles of the twentieth century, John Gardner traces the birth, the successes and the failures of the organizations now known as MI5, MI6 and GCHQ.
From the battlefields of the Western Front to Russia on the eve of revolution, this epic work of fiction tells the story of the dramatic history of Britain’s intelligence and security services.
‘The Secret Generations’ is a towering saga of adventure, romance and intrigue by an author of international stature writing at his very best
484 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 1985
529 people are currently reading
433 people want to read
About the author
John Gardner
113 books178 followersBefore coming an author of fiction in the early 1960s, John Gardner was variously a stage magician, a Royal Marine officer and a journalist. In all, Gardner has fifty-four novels to his credit, including Maestro, which was the New York Times book of the year. He was also invited by Ian Fleming’s literary copyright holders to write a series of continuation James Bond novels, which proved to be so successful that instead of the contracted three books he went on to publish some fourteen titles, including Licence Renewed and Icebreaker.
Having lived in the Republic of Ireland, the United States and the UK, John Gardner sadly died in August of 2007 having just completed his third novel in the Moriarty trilogy, Conan Doyle’s eponymous villain of the Sherlock Holmes series.
Having lived in the Republic of Ireland, the United States and the UK, John Gardner sadly died in August of 2007 having just completed his third novel in the Moriarty trilogy, Conan Doyle’s eponymous villain of the Sherlock Holmes series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
June 17, 2014
This book was the first in a trilogy, and to my mind suffered in the same way that many initial parts of trilogies do. There is an awful lot of scene setting and stage dressing which has to go on, and I feel that this can impact on the plot line. The characters were very well thought out, but due to the convoluted plot sometimes I had to re-read passages to remind myself who was who, and how they related to everyone else. The plot would pick up pace and then slow down again as some more detail was fed in. The final part of the war years felt rushed. So the book as a whole was between being ok and me liking it. If I come across the 2nd and 3rd parts of the trilogy I will read them but I don't think that I will actively search them out
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February 28, 2022Fun, if sometimes predictable. I know Gardner only from his continuation of the 007 series, so it was interesting to see him off that familiar ground. There were some betrayal twists in the plot, one or two of which were utterly unexpected and disturbing. It's a romance, a historical novel, a war novel, and an espionage novel all at once.
September 28, 2015
A solid spy novel, although Gardner dips in to the sex pool a bit more often than the story needed. This is the fictional account of a family which ends up the origins of the British intelligence services, from before WWI up to right before WW2. I'm not sure how this ends up a trilogy up to the modern day, because by the end of this book the entire family is mangled and half of them destroyed or dead.
I was hoping for a bit more hard data on espionage during WWI and background information but the fiction was entertaining enough.
I was hoping for a bit more hard data on espionage during WWI and background information but the fiction was entertaining enough.
November 28, 2024
Very good book
This is a fast paced very long book and you must pay strict attention to the story there are tons of characters. If you are interested in first W W and all the schemes that were done in the back ground by many then this book is for you. Lots of research is evident in this book.
This is a fast paced very long book and you must pay strict attention to the story there are tons of characters. If you are interested in first W W and all the schemes that were done in the back ground by many then this book is for you. Lots of research is evident in this book.
August 20, 2012
I really enjoyed this trilogy (Secret Generations, Secret Houses, Secret Families) when I was in high school. Very compelling stories about a family of spies through WWI, WWII and the Cold War.
June 4, 2021
Too many characters and to many plot lines. Could have been great if he’d focused in on just a couple.
September 13, 2016
The book is well written and - especially if you like family sagas - quite enjoyable; but it proceeds rather slowly all along the story. I would suggest one embarks into such a read as an "investment" into the trilogy; that is, take this first book as a necessary downpayment into the whole opera, if not it would not be worth the effort as a stand-alone book.
The reason for this is that a lot of foundational work is laid out in this book which will be probably pretty important in the second and thirst book but makes the first one a bit slow.
With that said, I thought the book was not only a good thriller but also an extremely interesting story of the birth and initial developments of the story of espionage; one is generally inclined to believe that espionage is something that came up with WWII and the beginning of the Cold War, while its beginnings go back to the early 1900's and the book does a very good job in taking us through this part through the story of a big family extremely committed to this line of business.In fact, if anything, an aspect that I found slightly stretched is the way virtually every member of this family, across more than one generation, gets involved - in a way or in another - into espionage jobs.
The reason for this is that a lot of foundational work is laid out in this book which will be probably pretty important in the second and thirst book but makes the first one a bit slow.
With that said, I thought the book was not only a good thriller but also an extremely interesting story of the birth and initial developments of the story of espionage; one is generally inclined to believe that espionage is something that came up with WWII and the beginning of the Cold War, while its beginnings go back to the early 1900's and the book does a very good job in taking us through this part through the story of a big family extremely committed to this line of business.In fact, if anything, an aspect that I found slightly stretched is the way virtually every member of this family, across more than one generation, gets involved - in a way or in another - into espionage jobs.
August 4, 2020
Well written and researched with a very large list of well drawn characters. This is a very clever descriptive and entertaining book, engaging from first to last page, with a surprising twist at least to me at the end. There is a real atmospheric feel for time and place. The only slight downside is the previously mentioned large cast of characters, many with similar family names which is quite a test for my ageing memory.
Totally recommended.
Totally recommended.
March 21, 2021
A generational spy story during WWI
The General dies, leaving his younger brother, Giles, to lead the family. Yet Giles is a spy master extraordinaire and doesn't hesitate to use his family for his own devious ends.
This book has it all: known events such as the death of the Kaiser, the sinking of the Lusitana, the Sinn Fein and home rule, all this and more in a powder keg beginning of a multi-generational saga. Historical Fiction fans, don't miss this book!
The General dies, leaving his younger brother, Giles, to lead the family. Yet Giles is a spy master extraordinaire and doesn't hesitate to use his family for his own devious ends.
This book has it all: known events such as the death of the Kaiser, the sinking of the Lusitana, the Sinn Fein and home rule, all this and more in a powder keg beginning of a multi-generational saga. Historical Fiction fans, don't miss this book!
February 11, 2019
Another on my SOUB, from who knows where, this is an over-the-top story of the secret (and sometimes cold-blooded) geopolitical and personal shenanigans of multiple generations in one family. Liked the intricate plotting but found the sheer evil of some of the characters too melodramatic. Overall, not something I'd recommend or will seek out more of.
September 9, 2024
Generations is right. The Railton family is led by ruthless Giles Railton, although not everyone is aware of that. Starting in 1910, Giles is already heavily involved in espionage and over the next eight years he manages to pull most every child, grandchild, niece, nephew and in-law over the age of puberty into his web. This is a straightforward written narrative told without much humor or any literary flourishes. The characters are, at best, two dimensionable, and I never had much of a grasp on most of the characters motivations. There was a fair amount of foreshadowing. The pacing was uneven. Half of the book seemed to be set in 1914 and the rest in the other seven years. Not one man in the book could "keep it in his pants." The military never seems to act upon the intelligence gathered (although this might just be historical accuracy). The troubles in Ireland play a roll and the turmoil in Russia, not to mention spying on (for?) Germany. A little Freud is thrown in for good measure. There is a big turnaround in the end I didn't see coming. I'd say because the book didn't give any reason for it, but maybe I missed something. Would I read number 2 and 3 in the trilogy? You betcha, because despite all the negatives above I did want to find out "what happened next." And maybe some of the above will be revealed. Hope springs eternal.
April 3, 2021
This is the best espionage tale I have read since the days of Le Carre, Smiley and friends.
Gardner is the very best at presenting the trials and tribulations of defending one's country. His understanding of the strength of character required, the ability to lie to family, fellow workers and friends a must. In this first of 3 books Gardner presents the twists and turns of those in the life of espionage in Europe. He will keep you turning pages not wanting to put the book down. One piece of advice, take careful note of who is who, even if you have to make notes. He may have taken too much time with details of family making it a little slow at the beginning but it is worth the read. The family followed is relatively large and they are all involved one way or another, meeting with terrible injuries & even death. All the while only one family member new who was involved & what they were doing right to the very end of this first act of the series.
Gardner is the very best at presenting the trials and tribulations of defending one's country. His understanding of the strength of character required, the ability to lie to family, fellow workers and friends a must. In this first of 3 books Gardner presents the twists and turns of those in the life of espionage in Europe. He will keep you turning pages not wanting to put the book down. One piece of advice, take careful note of who is who, even if you have to make notes. He may have taken too much time with details of family making it a little slow at the beginning but it is worth the read. The family followed is relatively large and they are all involved one way or another, meeting with terrible injuries & even death. All the while only one family member new who was involved & what they were doing right to the very end of this first act of the series.
October 21, 2021
An enthralling, well-written, compelling tale.
At first the many characters appearing early on made me wonder if I'd remember who they all are. But the author did a great job of weaving them together so that they became distinct, interconnected and engaged with each other.
The story begins at the end of the 1800s and goes through to the end of World War I, an era that I know only little about. Quite how much of the content is approaching true I've no idea. Some of the events actually happened and give a solid historical framework for the story, and the way it all unfolds is beautifully crafted. And I did not see the final big twist coming.
It is, however, a long time since I've read a book containing so many commas per sentence!
At first the many characters appearing early on made me wonder if I'd remember who they all are. But the author did a great job of weaving them together so that they became distinct, interconnected and engaged with each other.
The story begins at the end of the 1800s and goes through to the end of World War I, an era that I know only little about. Quite how much of the content is approaching true I've no idea. Some of the events actually happened and give a solid historical framework for the story, and the way it all unfolds is beautifully crafted. And I did not see the final big twist coming.
It is, however, a long time since I've read a book containing so many commas per sentence!
February 24, 2021
Twisted tales
The world of espionage and counter-espionage in what we laughingly call intelligence was well in hand in one family before the outbreak of WW I. Three generations would be drawn into a world of secrets and treachery. Divided into three parts, the book almost lost me in Part 1. The sheer number of characters and relationships was hard to follow. Additionally, the number of commas tossed everywhere became annoying. Someone should have edited better. The problem wasn’t nearly so bad in Part 2. By the last part, I either didn’t notice anymore or was so intent on what would happen that I just didn’t care. No matter. I’m glad I stuck with it.
The world of espionage and counter-espionage in what we laughingly call intelligence was well in hand in one family before the outbreak of WW I. Three generations would be drawn into a world of secrets and treachery. Divided into three parts, the book almost lost me in Part 1. The sheer number of characters and relationships was hard to follow. Additionally, the number of commas tossed everywhere became annoying. Someone should have edited better. The problem wasn’t nearly so bad in Part 2. By the last part, I either didn’t notice anymore or was so intent on what would happen that I just didn’t care. No matter. I’m glad I stuck with it.
March 19, 2020
A family saga with all aspects of espionage interwoven. I have rarely enjoyed a book as much.
Why do people spy? How does an old established English family come to terms with the immense changes brought about by a world war? It is all here, played out by an intricate cast of the Railton family, around and through the first world war. The characters are well crafted, with a plot which is plausible and moves at a good pace. I think I enjoyed it more than Le Carre, though I still feel that author carries a greater sense of intimacy with the trade.
Why do people spy? How does an old established English family come to terms with the immense changes brought about by a world war? It is all here, played out by an intricate cast of the Railton family, around and through the first world war. The characters are well crafted, with a plot which is plausible and moves at a good pace. I think I enjoyed it more than Le Carre, though I still feel that author carries a greater sense of intimacy with the trade.
August 3, 2021
A spy thriller, this is the story of the Railton family. Beginning in 1910, the patriarch Giles works in British Intelligence secretly recruiting almost all of the members of his extended family, putting many of them in harm's way, as the nation enters into war with Germany.
The story is told well but involves so many different characters that I found myself, having to really focus on whose story was being told as the point of view changes often.
The story is told well but involves so many different characters that I found myself, having to really focus on whose story was being told as the point of view changes often.
July 20, 2022
This book combines two of my particular reading interests- family sagas and the intelligence services. As far as the family sagas go it isn’t one of the best I’ve read - the characters are quite sketchy and there are too many of them. It would have been better to focus more on just one or two and weave the other stories around them. My reading about the intelligence services has been mostly focused on WWII so it was interesting to read about how the service evolved during the First World War.
February 23, 2021
An excellent secret
This is an excellent book. It goes through the generations and brings us a tale of intrigue amid a backdrop of privilege and honor as well as dishonesty and duplicitous actions. The characterizations were on target. I could see and feel these people. The times they were living in was a character in itself.
This is an excellent book. It goes through the generations and brings us a tale of intrigue amid a backdrop of privilege and honor as well as dishonesty and duplicitous actions. The characterizations were on target. I could see and feel these people. The times they were living in was a character in itself.
February 28, 2021
Great read about a great family during WW 1
In the background of the beginnings of the first World War and their involvement in military and political intrigue. Many persons in the family played various roles some active some passive. A long but Great read of a continuous narrative.
In the background of the beginnings of the first World War and their involvement in military and political intrigue. Many persons in the family played various roles some active some passive. A long but Great read of a continuous narrative.
March 10, 2021
Amazing!
This work of historical fiction is mesmerizing. The origins of the British secret service are intertwined with the individual members of a noble family to a surprising conclusion. Each individual has his/her dramatic story to live out and their lives come together to tell the tale of WWI.
This work of historical fiction is mesmerizing. The origins of the British secret service are intertwined with the individual members of a noble family to a surprising conclusion. Each individual has his/her dramatic story to live out and their lives come together to tell the tale of WWI.
November 25, 2021
I loved this book for a long time. Truly interesting family saga from a very interesting and unfortunately a period becoming more and more similar to recent times....the advent of WWI. The first two thirds were really good. The ending not so much. Overall though definitely worth the effort. First of 3, Not sure if I'll keep on but glad that I got started.
February 11, 2021
No Secret
This is junk masquerading as an attempt at literature. Turning that which is sacred to many into profanity is crass, regardless what religion it is. Flipping f-words around even puts this further into the realm of garbage.
This is junk masquerading as an attempt at literature. Turning that which is sacred to many into profanity is crass, regardless what religion it is. Flipping f-words around even puts this further into the realm of garbage.
February 17, 2021
After the first 50 pages I was ready to quit; I was having problems keeping track of all the characters and I was afraid it was going to be too violent. I am so glad I chose to continue. It was an intriuging war time espionage tale.
March 5, 2021
Extraordinarily crafted to ensure it is not put down
A book totally reflective of both an English family full of self appointed hierarchy and the troubled times of world history that shaped and former the next two centuries.
A book totally reflective of both an English family full of self appointed hierarchy and the troubled times of world history that shaped and former the next two centuries.
April 3, 2021
Absolutely brilliant story
This is the first book I have read by John gardner this one was free but I was so captivated by the story I have purchased the other two books in the trilogy a really great read very enjoyable will start reading more of his work
This is the first book I have read by John gardner this one was free but I was so captivated by the story I have purchased the other two books in the trilogy a really great read very enjoyable will start reading more of his work
March 20, 2022
History
This book reads like a history book with a little dialog tossed in. The plot is interesting, entertaining, and possible; the characters are well formed and deeply portrayed. The world of spies unfolds as you read the pages.
This book reads like a history book with a little dialog tossed in. The plot is interesting, entertaining, and possible; the characters are well formed and deeply portrayed. The world of spies unfolds as you read the pages.
October 11, 2024
Fortunately, the author seemed to get tired of writing the story shortly after I got tired of reading it. For quite a while the plot was enthralling and it was hard to put down, especially when it intertwined with true events.
February 10, 2025
Hit and miss tale of the early days of MI5 and MI6.
It promises far more than it ever delivers and some of the misses, I'm looking at you unnecessary and cringeworthy sex scenes, are frankly shocking.
It promises far more than it ever delivers and some of the misses, I'm looking at you unnecessary and cringeworthy sex scenes, are frankly shocking.
March 11, 2021
Hmm. It tries to be a big epic saga, but it feels shallow and unengaging. Gardner is no le Carre or Deighton.
March 20, 2021
So very intricate
The characters are developed gradually, there are a lot of them, some with more sympathy than others.
The mix of history, gossip and fiction is right up my street.
The characters are developed gradually, there are a lot of them, some with more sympathy than others.
The mix of history, gossip and fiction is right up my street.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews