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Easterleigh Hall
The first book in a compelling series set in County Durham just before the First World War. Perfect for fans of Longbourn and Downton Abbey.When Evie Forbes starts as an assistant cook at Easterleigh Hall, she goes against her family’s wishes. For ruthless Lord Brampton also owns the mine where Evie’s father and brothers work and there is animosity between the two families. But Evie is determined to better herself. And her training at the hall offers her a way out of a life below stairs. Evie works hard and gains a valued place in the household. And her dream of running a small hotel grows ever closer. Then War is declared and all their lives are thrown into turmoil.
512 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 9, 2014
10 people are currently reading
105 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Graham
87 books23 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Margaret Graham is a bestselling author and has been writing for 30 years. Margaret's novels have been published in the UK, Europe and the USA. Margaret has written two plays, co-researched a television documentary - which grew out of Canopy of Silence, and has written numerous short stories and features.
Margaret Graham is a bestselling author and has been writing for 30 years. Margaret's novels have been published in the UK, Europe and the USA. Margaret has written two plays, co-researched a television documentary - which grew out of Canopy of Silence, and has written numerous short stories and features.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
December 27, 2015
I loved this book, and am looking forward to reading Easterliegh Hall at War. Anybody who likes Downton Abbey will not be disappointed.
May 5, 2018
Boring. It was like listening to lift music... on and on. And then abruptly it stopped.
June 21, 2016
Easterleigh Hall written by Margaret Graham for me was one of the best books i have ever read, and I am happy to recommend it to readers of historical fiction.
The book is based in the area around Durham, and it takes place mainly in Easterleigh Hall when Evie Forbes has accepted a job in the kitchens to enable her to train to be the best cook she can possibly be. What made Evie special is her dreams and hopes for the future as she wanted her family to be safe away from the perils of the coal mines, her dream was to own a hotel and she was determined to do so. Unfortunately for Evie, the First World War could hinder her plans for the future.
Throughout this brilliant book I could not help comparing it to Downton Abbey as it had a lot of the politics of Upstairs, Downstairs but for me the stars was not the family who owned the home but for me the main character is Evie as she learns to grow in so many ways while listening to what is going around her, as the family who owns the home also owns the coal mine her brothers and father are employed, facing danger every day. Evie's family is not the only family you will learn about within this wonderful read as you get to know Evie you will get to know her friends and the family who owns Easterleigh and the mines her family are connected with and that is the Brampton family, and they are ruled with the iron fist of their father who Evie describes so well. All is not what it seems with this family and already I am looking forward to the next two books in the series, which are
Easterleigh Hall at War and the third book in the series is titled A House Divided which is published in 19th May 2016.
This book has it all, every emotion you could possibly think of flowed through each of the wonderful pages of this top class book.
As you follow Evie, coping living away from home for the first time, with the help of the love of her life, Simon who she has known most of her life and as a gardener, he can keep an eye on the girl he knows he wants to marry.
I loved this book which makes it very easy for me to recommend, as though Evie had a will of iron her family had enemies and unfortunately for her there was one enemy who showed his presence in so many ways.
The one main reason I loved this book was mainly the wonderful writing, as with each page I was taken on a journey through the lives of those who worked on the mines, who helped develop Durham in so many ways.
I am happy to recommend Easterleigh Hall written by Margaret Graham as a wonderful read which had me gripped from the first page
The book is based in the area around Durham, and it takes place mainly in Easterleigh Hall when Evie Forbes has accepted a job in the kitchens to enable her to train to be the best cook she can possibly be. What made Evie special is her dreams and hopes for the future as she wanted her family to be safe away from the perils of the coal mines, her dream was to own a hotel and she was determined to do so. Unfortunately for Evie, the First World War could hinder her plans for the future.
Throughout this brilliant book I could not help comparing it to Downton Abbey as it had a lot of the politics of Upstairs, Downstairs but for me the stars was not the family who owned the home but for me the main character is Evie as she learns to grow in so many ways while listening to what is going around her, as the family who owns the home also owns the coal mine her brothers and father are employed, facing danger every day. Evie's family is not the only family you will learn about within this wonderful read as you get to know Evie you will get to know her friends and the family who owns Easterleigh and the mines her family are connected with and that is the Brampton family, and they are ruled with the iron fist of their father who Evie describes so well. All is not what it seems with this family and already I am looking forward to the next two books in the series, which are
Easterleigh Hall at War and the third book in the series is titled A House Divided which is published in 19th May 2016.
This book has it all, every emotion you could possibly think of flowed through each of the wonderful pages of this top class book.
As you follow Evie, coping living away from home for the first time, with the help of the love of her life, Simon who she has known most of her life and as a gardener, he can keep an eye on the girl he knows he wants to marry.
I loved this book which makes it very easy for me to recommend, as though Evie had a will of iron her family had enemies and unfortunately for her there was one enemy who showed his presence in so many ways.
The one main reason I loved this book was mainly the wonderful writing, as with each page I was taken on a journey through the lives of those who worked on the mines, who helped develop Durham in so many ways.
I am happy to recommend Easterleigh Hall written by Margaret Graham as a wonderful read which had me gripped from the first page
March 5, 2018
if you like Downton Abbey - then this is for you - Loved It!
June 23, 2020
a brilliant read full of twists and turns how one girl managed to climb above what she was set but with obstacles on the way well worth reading
February 5, 2018
A wonderful book about a young girl and how her life takes turns and twists in a span of few years.
Evie-Girl child from the family of miners working in the nearby coal pit. Her struggle to take them out of the pit and start a hotel where they can survive better than dying in the dark cold coal mine as slaves.
She learns basic cooking from Grace her previous employer who helps Evie to find a role of assistant cook in Easterleigh Hall, a well-reputed house of Brampton who lives with his Son Auberon, daughter Veronica and his second wife. Evie joins the kitchen team to help Mr.Moore who helped Grace to get Evie land in this job and also who needs to secure her job from the rheumatics which is taking over her health with the help of Evie.
Evie plans to learn cooking and stock keeping from her work to help her establish the hotel. And also letting Jack her elder brother to know about the plans of Brampton from the Easterleigh Hall.
And when everything seems to fall into place, the WW1 occurs and how her life is turned from starting the hotel to run the hospital for the wounded from the war.
Amazing read to know about the pains of families whose son, father and brother are in the war place and the feeling of the simple pitmen and the farmers getting into the place of soldiers and experiencing the war without even know what is it all about.
Evie-Girl child from the family of miners working in the nearby coal pit. Her struggle to take them out of the pit and start a hotel where they can survive better than dying in the dark cold coal mine as slaves.
She learns basic cooking from Grace her previous employer who helps Evie to find a role of assistant cook in Easterleigh Hall, a well-reputed house of Brampton who lives with his Son Auberon, daughter Veronica and his second wife. Evie joins the kitchen team to help Mr.Moore who helped Grace to get Evie land in this job and also who needs to secure her job from the rheumatics which is taking over her health with the help of Evie.
Evie plans to learn cooking and stock keeping from her work to help her establish the hotel. And also letting Jack her elder brother to know about the plans of Brampton from the Easterleigh Hall.
And when everything seems to fall into place, the WW1 occurs and how her life is turned from starting the hotel to run the hospital for the wounded from the war.
Amazing read to know about the pains of families whose son, father and brother are in the war place and the feeling of the simple pitmen and the farmers getting into the place of soldiers and experiencing the war without even know what is it all about.
December 3, 2022
On rencontre au début du 20e siècle, Evie Forbes en Angleterre. Sa famille travaille dans les mines et fait un travail éreintant. Elle a un rêve : avoir son propre hôtel et mettre sa famille à l'abri. Pour ce faire, elle va se faire embaucher comme cuisinière dans le domaine d'Easterleigh Hall qui appartient au Lord Brampton, propriétaire de la mine.
Elle va découvrir un nouveau monde, entre les employés de maison et la bourgeoisie.
J'ai beaucoup aimé cette lecture, un roman historique qui fait penser à Downton Abbey. J'ai trouvé le style agréable, j'ai de suite été immergée dans cet univers. J'ai imaginé les lieux, les décors, les personnages.
Evie est entourée de gens bienveillants qui l'intègre rapidement au sein du domaine. L'histoire se passe juste avant la Première Guerre mondiale et on sent que l'ambiance se tend.
J'ai aussi beaucoup aimé le volet sur l'émancipation des femmes, le droit de vote, on est à une période où les lignes bougent beaucoup et le conflit social est assez important dans le pays.
Si vous aimez Downton Abbey, vous pouvez foncer les yeux fermés ! La suite de ce roman est déjà sorti il s'agit d'Easterleigh Hall dans la tempête.
Elle va découvrir un nouveau monde, entre les employés de maison et la bourgeoisie.
J'ai beaucoup aimé cette lecture, un roman historique qui fait penser à Downton Abbey. J'ai trouvé le style agréable, j'ai de suite été immergée dans cet univers. J'ai imaginé les lieux, les décors, les personnages.
Evie est entourée de gens bienveillants qui l'intègre rapidement au sein du domaine. L'histoire se passe juste avant la Première Guerre mondiale et on sent que l'ambiance se tend.
J'ai aussi beaucoup aimé le volet sur l'émancipation des femmes, le droit de vote, on est à une période où les lignes bougent beaucoup et le conflit social est assez important dans le pays.
Si vous aimez Downton Abbey, vous pouvez foncer les yeux fermés ! La suite de ce roman est déjà sorti il s'agit d'Easterleigh Hall dans la tempête.
December 30, 2021
A great book if you like stories about the first world war and servants in big houses. It starts with a mining family and the daughter Evie goes to work in the kitchen of the big house and becomes an invaluable member of staff. No one likes the master of the house who is also the mine owner who treats his own son badly. Evie also gets involved with the suffragettes for a while before the war starts.
Highly recommended but just be aware that the word b******d crops up frequently.
Highly recommended but just be aware that the word b******d crops up frequently.
July 6, 2022
I also enjoyed this book, as did many readers. I did find the ending a bit rushed and a bit disappointing but now see that there is a sequel so I intend to get that and see how the story continues. Obviously from other reviews it isn't everyone's cup of tea but I didn't think there was anything to hate and it kept my interest right to the end. It taught me quite a lot about that period in history from the mining community's point of view.
May 15, 2019
An upside down Downtown Abbey. A solid novel telling the story from the servants point of view in a grand house at the turn of the war. Although having reached the end I then realised there was a second book!which I wish I'd known when I started as I was looking forward to some closure
November 7, 2016
This whole Easterleigh Hall series is brilliant - taking us through 1st and 2nd world wars, the strikes and Moseley's Blackshirts. What it was like to live through these times is shared with the reader in fantastic detail - the food, the work, everything, and all weaved around brilliant and gripping stories. What an enjoyable way to learn history
March 11, 2021
Tried this a few times still couldn't get through it.
Read
July 30, 2021Great read,good characters but a wee disappointed with the ending.Overall a goodread
January 21, 2022
Sometimes naïve, sometimes too straightforward. However,generally I spent a bunch of pleasant evenings with these books,being often surprised by unexpected twists and turns in plot.
March 24, 2022
Disappointing book 22chapters
August 29, 2023
2.5
I just found it very drawn out and I was a bit bored at times. It's on okay read but not sure if I'll continue with the series.
I just found it very drawn out and I was a bit bored at times. It's on okay read but not sure if I'll continue with the series.
January 6, 2017
A lovely northern period drama type story. Definitely soul food. It's well written, interesting and intriguing with good characterisation. I would definitely recommend.
February 7, 2016
I was rather disappointed with this story since the author seems to be well established. The research was very good especially with mining and the way of life in Durham and also a lot of work had gone into the recipes of the Edwardian/Great War period. Unfortunately I found little substance to the story and when reading the blurb, I realised that it just about told the entire story. Nothing else actually happened and it didn't ignite much interest in me. I flicked through the book to see why Evie's employer, Lord Brampton, was a lord. He would have had to be a duke, marquess or earl if his daughter is referred to as Lady Veronica and not Miss Veronica, but I could find no evidence. Perhaps I missed that section, in which case I must apologise. However, I did wince when Evie started to address her as Veronica and dropped the title completely. I can't imagine a servant doing that even in the days of the Great War.
I would like to end on a positive note and say that this book was given to me by someone I met on holiday and she said she enjoyed it very much.
I would like to end on a positive note and say that this book was given to me by someone I met on holiday and she said she enjoyed it very much.
February 3, 2015
A refreshing historical novel about servant life and the changing world at the turn of the 20th century.
January 20, 2016
Too much padding, the story seemed to take for ages to get going. After 300 pages I gave up.
January 27, 2016
Loved this book! Couldn't put it down.
February 6, 2016
I really enjoyed this book . Going to get the following book to carry on the story.
April 22, 2017
This is an easy comfortable read and found it nice to escape into the world of Easterleigh.
This book is set in Durham in the years before and the first year of the Great War. This book has a bit of ‘Downton’ about it but it is more captivating in my opinion.
The characters are well drawn and interesting and I was invested in their stories. Evie Forbes is a bit too good to be true but has plenty of ‘front’ decency, ambition in equal measure. She has high intellect learning to speak fluent French from her manager.
The villains of the piece are Lord Brampton of Easterleigh and a valet called Roger.
I will pick up book 2 and would recommend.
This book is set in Durham in the years before and the first year of the Great War. This book has a bit of ‘Downton’ about it but it is more captivating in my opinion.
The characters are well drawn and interesting and I was invested in their stories. Evie Forbes is a bit too good to be true but has plenty of ‘front’ decency, ambition in equal measure. She has high intellect learning to speak fluent French from her manager.
The villains of the piece are Lord Brampton of Easterleigh and a valet called Roger.
I will pick up book 2 and would recommend.
May 1, 2017
3.5 to 4 stars. If you like Downton Abbey you'll like this. In fact sometimes it was too much like Downton Abbey. I particularly liked the miners storyline and for me the real story I want to follow is Jack and Grace.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews