Nethergate

by Norah Lofts

The old Suffolk country house of Nethergate provided a welcome refuge for young Isabella de Savigny, fleeing from the terror of revolutionary France. But she was treated with subtle cruelty by Lady Rosaleen Franklin and despised by Martha Pratt, the lady's maid, when she allowed herself to be seduced and abandoned by the son of the house. Utterly at Lady Rosaleen's mercy, Isabella was forced into a loveless marriage with Martha's brother George, a heartless one-armed soldier just back from the wars.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Romance, British Literature, Regency, Historical Romance

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

Norah Ethel Robinson Lofts Jorisch (27 August 1904–10 September 1983) was a 20th century best-selling British author. She wrote over fifty books specialising in historical fiction, but she also wrote non-fiction and short stories. Many of her novels, including her Suffolk Trilogy, follow the history of a specific house and the residents that lived in it.

Lofts was born in Shipdham, Norfolk in England. She also published using the pseudonyms Juliet Astley and Peter Curtis. Norah Lofts chose to release her murder-mystery novels under the pen name Peter Curtis because she did not want the readers of her historic fiction to pick up a murder-mystery novel and expect classic Norah Lofts historical fiction. However, the murders still show characteristic Norah Lofts elements. Most of her historical novels fall into two general categories: biographical novels about queens, among them Anne Boleyn, Isabella of Castile, and Catherine of Aragon; and novels set in East Anglia centered around the fictitious town of Baildon (patterned largely on Bury St. Edmunds). Her creation of this fictitious area of England is reminiscent of Thomas Hardy's creation of "Wessex"; and her use of recurring characters such that the protagonist of one novel appears as a secondary character in others is even more reminiscent of William Faulkner's work set in "Yoknapatawpha County," Mississippi. Norah Lofts' work set in East Anglia in the 1930s and 1940s shows great concern with the very poor in society and their inability to change their conditions. Her approach suggests an interest in the social reformism that became a feature of British post-war society.

Several of her novels were turned into films. Jassy was filmed as Jassy (1947) starring Margaret Lockwood and Dennis Price. You're Best Alone was filmed as Guilt is My Shadow (1950). The Devil's Own (also known as The Little Wax Doll and Catch As Catch Can) was filmed as The Witches (1966). The film 7 Women was directed by John Ford and based on the story Chinese Finale by Norah Lofts.

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

To Isabella de Sevigny, an aristocratic refugee fleeing the French Reign of Terror, her cousin Rosaleen's magnificent English country estate promised sanctuary. But Nethergate soon became a prison to the high-spirited young woman. For its mistress, the cold-blooded and beautiful Lady Rosaleen, treated Isabella like a servant. When Isabella was seduced by Lady Rosaleen's son and discovered she was to have a child, Rosaleen devised a cunning and vicious plot to get rid of her. In her own way, and in her own time, Isabella eventually took her revenge.

I had actually read this book before many, many years ago - maybe about a decade ago. I had absolutely forgotten the plot of this book, even though I vaguely remembered reading it so long ago. So, it was, in a sense, it was like reading an entirely new book for me. This was perhaps not one of Norah Lofts best books in my opinion, but I still give Nethergate by Norah Lofts an A+! and found it to be very good!

[Sherrill Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in 1740-1816-ish, in a small town or hamlet in England, this is fanciful historical fiction. Nethergate is a large (to Americans) property, and Ms. Lofts moves us through several people associated with the property, not letting us become too attached to any of them, cleverly showing us their foibles through several overlapping viewpoints and timelines. I didn't become too attached to any of them, except to Annabelle, (and perhaps the younger Franklin) which was it should be.
I do so like well-written Old English novels!

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

“This would happen to me!” Oh man, Norah Lofts is rough on her characters! This was an easy read, but you know something terrible is always just about to happen. Don’t get attached to anyone in her books!

[Duane Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give it 3.5 stars. It wasn't her best but I still found it entertaining. Her books on royal history are very good and her best subject matter.

[Justin Neville · Rating 3 out of 5]

Norah Lofts was one of the most popular and prolific of British historical novelists of the mid 20th century. I read two or three of hers back in the 1980s, I guess, and always meant to read more. This may have been one of them as I've had it on my shelves for many years but I don't recall it.

The contemporary cover art would suggest something fluffy, full of minor nobility and fluttering hearts and so on. It's actually much earthier, harsher and, yes, sadder.

There is an ostensible lead character - a minor female member of the French aristocracy who has escaped Revolutionary France and has made her way to the household of a remote English cousin - and, if the story has a focus, it is her life - and that of her child - from that point on. But the book is somewhat lacking in focus given Lofts' unusual choice of narrative structure, constantly moving from one narrator to another. No one narrator appears twice and some of them are arguably not that core to the story.

Whilst this approach does allow for some nifty back and cross-references (you can see Lofts winking at the reader from time to time), it is a little frustrating.

Ultimately, as with so many historical novels, it's essentially about class and money and - in particular - about the limited choices available to women regardless of class.

[Jeanette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is Lofts when she rather crossed genre. It is NOT one of her house books, but much more a character and period study. It reminds me far more of modern melodramas than of her majority historical fiction. But at the same time the flow is much better written and with more class and manners nuance than the modern best seller. Yet once again, it constructs around that late 18th century "eyes" only. Isabella does not have the cognition or sensibilities that exist outside of her own time.

The story is Isabella's and the tale of her refuge at Nethergate in England. It's more than average for French refugee or Regency era saga although it is well into the dysfunctional and soap opera scenarios. Although they ARE handled within realistic strictures. It's a good read, but far more chick. lit. territory than the underpinnings of economics of husbandry, English law, individual apprenticeships and work paths than the "usual" Lofts encompass.

Not my favorite Lofts or even middling- but interesting if you like that particular period. Which is also not one I often choose in France or English associations- I'm far more partial to the earlier centuries.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable enough read by Norah Lofts, but certainly not her best. The characters are flawed, but realistic. In that vein, I didn't enjoy the book as much as others because I found the main character, Isabella to be rather unlikable and unsympathetic. The ending as well felt rather hurried, as though Lofts was anxious to finish it. Not one of the best by Lofts but an entertaining read nonetheless.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author is a gifted storyteller and adept at the historical realities of the time period. I loved her method of telling a sweeping story through the eyes of various people. Such a sad, sad tale (series of tales really), but with redemption of a sort in the end. It was a good read.

[Spitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A typical Norah Lofts book. Told from the perspective of different narrators, all interesting characters. Late 18th century setting.

[Darlene McBain · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was well written and I think portrays life as it was for women back then. There were some interesting plot twists and turns.

[Pamela Bronson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was disappointed in this book, though it is beautifully written and hard to put down. It was unsettling. Too gothic, I think, at least for me at this point.

Although I love How Far to Bethlehem by this author and enjoyed her book The Scent of Cloves, I don't think I'll seek out any more of hers, at least not for a while. And I definitely will not be reading her novel Jassy! When I read here on Goodreads that Nethergate is almost a sequel to Jassy, I was concerned that I was spoiling Jassy for myself, but the more I learned about the character Jassy in this book the more I realized that I would never want to read the book named for her. So good news - it's not spoiled!

The technique of multiple narrators has much to commend it and I think it's done well here - each one has a distinct voice and point of view. I'm not sure you're supposed to like Martha Pratt, but I have a lot of empathy for her. Her account has shown me as nothing else has how miserable many rural English poor were in the late 18th century. How terrible is life when a child is seen as a misfortune and the single and childless the most blessed? "Miss Doctor" was fun to read about - I would like to know if she was based on anyone real. I wish there had been more about her.

I like the ending of this book, very much, even the quite quirky thing about it. It was predictable, but in a good way, like many of Dickens' endings.

The cover of this edition is perfect.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. This book is told in the from the perspective of different characters in the book and they all centered around the mc Isabella and her daughter Annabel. Though I liked this book, It took me a minute to get into the book. I thought this was going to be a romance, but it turned more out to be more like a mother/daughter story plot. I liked how the story centered around Isabella at first , then towards the end it focused on Annabel. There is some romance, but it really just comes to fruition at the beginning of the story and towards the very end that's it. There is not really much to write home in regards to the romance. Plus, It seems like neither Isabella or daughter can catch a break, they have the worse of luck, so to speak. But I really liked how she wrote the characters. Plus, there was some plots twist that I really enjoyed in this story. Overall, I really liked this book and plan on reading more from this author.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nethergate is a large country estate not far from London. The time period is the mid 1700's through the early 1800's. The story is told through the eyes of several of the main characters: Martha Pratt is a lady's maid on the estate, Joanna Drury is a country doctor, Jack Franklin is the owner of Nethergate, Isabelle de Savigny/Pratt/d'Aubigny is the French cousin who comes to Nethergate seeking sanctuary after the French Revolution, Annabelle d'Aubigny is the daughter is Isabelle, and Sir Stephen Fennel is a kind friend. Members of the Franklin family tend to be manipulative and selfish. It is interesting how everything woks out in the end.

[Leigh Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this in my grandmothers' collection without a dust jacket, but picked it up because it was the length of book I was looking for. And wow was I surprised by the richness of her character writing! I felt half way through and until the end that this would be an amazing movie. At first I was hesitant to keep reading as there were no chapters just long accounts from different narratives. I thought Id hate that but it was such a pleasure to read this way. Recently I watched the movie Capture the Castle and the actress in that movie made her way into my mind as I read Annabells' account.

[Marie Phillip · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story, mainly because it focused on people who struggled, rather than the rich. I sometime weary of the "most beautiful girl in the world"stories. I did have a problem with keeping characters straight in my mind. The narrative changed with each section, as did the characters. The last section brought back characters from the first section. By then I forgot most of what I had learned about them!

[Sharon Zink · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story involving several old houses and the people who inhabit them. Set in England just after the French Revolution. Many of the people and places appear in other books Norah Lofts has written.

[Toni Wyatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book follows several different women's lives in early England, all of whom are surrounded by an estate called Nethergate. I really enjoyed this one.

[Lyn Stapleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent story by Norah Lofts. I do like her books, always entertaining.

[Ann McLellan · Rating 3 out of 5]

the ending disappointed me.

[Phil Syphe · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Nethergate’ is set over several decades, starting in the eighteenth century and closing in the early nineteenth, though much of the earliest years are skipped over.

The reason for such an extensive time range is because of the numerous first-person narrators, starting with farmer’s daughter Martha Pratt. Her narration covers the widest span of years.

Her main desire in life is to keep her brother Tom happy and spend time with him whenever possible, which isn’t often, as their poor status means she must work as a servant in the grand house Nethergate to earn more money for the Pratt family. The family is large, with several siblings, and later children and their children in turn.

Martha’s narrative is a little bland, so much so that I didn’t think this book would be a particularly good read. Thankfully, it improves with a change in narrators, and every subsequent narrative is more engaging than the first one. Despite her point of view not being the most enthralling, Martha’s character is vivid and believable.

The central character in the story is Isabella, a French refugee during the Revolution. She seeks help from her uppity cousin Rosaleen, who lives in Nethergate. Isabella is not treated as an equal – she’s set to work alongside Martha as a servant.

If Isabella is the central character, then Nethergate is the central building or fixture in the novel. At times, the reader is transported away from this stately old house for many pages at a time, but it always comes back into focus after a while.

I was drawn to this novel after reading in the synopsis that it’s set in Jassy country. Norah Lofts’s ‘Jassy’, which I read a few months before ‘Nethergate’, is probably the best novel I’ve ever read, and the character Jassy is among my favourite in fiction. It therefore came as a pleasing surprise when Jassy is name-checked several times during the story. She doesn’t feature in any scenes, but she is referred to.

What’s more, some of the characters in ‘Jassy’ also feature in some of this book’s later chapters, with two particularly being important to the story. In fact, one narrates the last chapter.

Going into this novel, I hoped it would be close to ‘Jassy’ in terms of quality, and while it doesn’t come close to equalling that brilliant novel, it’s still a compelling read with strong storylines and believable characters.

‘Nethergate’ lacks that unknown magic ingredient that the best novels ever written have. As already touched on, the first chapter is a bit bland, as are sections of other chapters, whereas ‘Jassy’ kept me hooked from start to finish.

Another notable difference between ‘Nethergate’ and ‘Jassy’ is that while the title character never narrates a chapter in the latter book, Isabella does get to express her viewpoint in ‘Nethergate’.

Isabella’s character evolves greatly throughout the story. Seeing her change is one of novel’s most interesting aspects. By the time she begins her narration, Isabella’s main desire is ensuring her daughter Annabelle gets the best out of life.

Annabelle is my favourite character in the novel. We see her for some time as a two-year-old, then aged ten, and gradually we see her pass through her teenage years up to around twenty. She also narrates a chapter, revealing a modest, caring, and charming girl/young woman.

Plot wise, this is essentially an episodic novel, with ‘Nethergate’ and Isabella at its core.

Every character is lifelike, complete with flaws and graces.

The author is masterful in bringing not only characters to life, but buildings and the outdoors too. She doesn’t do this by over describing anything or boring the reader with static descriptions. She paints pictures so vivid that you can see inside the houses and see the people within. These images linger in my mind like memories, almost as if I'd been there.

I wanted to rate this book five stars but, as mentioned, it’s missing some vital ingredient to make it perfect. I wanted more from the ending. Without giving anything away, I felt it finished too soon. The ending itself is strong, and we can assume what’s going to happen to most of the main characters, yet I would still liked to have seen a bit more of Annabelle and Isabella to round things off. Can’t add more without risking a spoiler, but anyone who’s read ‘Nethergate’ will (hopefully) get what I mean.

Still, I enjoyed this historical novel greatly.

[Derbhile Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining, well structured read, wit well-drawn, suitably skulduggerous characters. She was skilled at moving from one character to the other in the narrative, and the period is vividly rendered. Slightly far fetched towards the end, but with a nice satisfying ending, wrapped in a bow. WrodNerd that I am, I have to say the book was let down by poor typesetting and editing. with typing, misuse of commas and minuscule, faint text. Still, most people won't notice this, so I'd recommend it for a bit of weekend entertainment.

[Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story centers on an English country estate. Several different characters provide first person narratives. A couple families have intertwined histories: The Pratts (servant class) and Franklins (landowners). Primary character is a French emigre who is reduced to servant at Nethergate, marries an abusive Pratt after getting pregnant by a Franklin, sacrifices all in raising her daughter, and winds up insane but back at Nethergate after her daughter marries a Franklin.

[Letitia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was not very sympathetic to the protagonist and thereby did not much enjoy the book. It was useful to me for research purposes, since I write in the same time period and like to see what other authors have done with it, but the story was simply lacking in heart. I have heard, however that this is not Norah Lofts best, so I may give another of her works a try.

[Jennifer Conner]

Nethergate by Norah Lofts (1973)

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The residents of a great house in England.

[Jim · Rating 1 out of 5]

Almost every other paragraph seems to meander away on some seemingly irrelevant topic. At fewer than three hundred pages there doesn't seem to be much space for this.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific read.

[Wynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most recent read was 2013. I find myself reading these at the beach again and again.

[Pamd96x]

Hard to follow. Interesting read.