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Morland Dynasty #30
The Measure of Days
1916. England is at war, and the Morland family is in the thick of it, with two men already in France and three more soon to go.
Tragedy strikes Morland Place when Jessie's husband Ned is reported missing on the Western Front. His father launches a desperate bid to find him, but the family fear the worst. Jessie, in mourning and frustrated by her job as an auxiliary nurse, goes to London to work in a military hospital. There she is reunited with her old friend Oliver, posted to the capital under the RAMC. Also in London is Violet, whose affair with the brilliant artist Octavian Laidislaw is about to erupt in scandal . . .
The Measure of Days paints a portrait of a family, and a nation, at war, at a pivotal point in history. With the onset of conscription, no one is left unaffected. Every man must hold himself in readiness; and every woman knows that when she says goodbye, it might be for the last time.
Tragedy strikes Morland Place when Jessie's husband Ned is reported missing on the Western Front. His father launches a desperate bid to find him, but the family fear the worst. Jessie, in mourning and frustrated by her job as an auxiliary nurse, goes to London to work in a military hospital. There she is reunited with her old friend Oliver, posted to the capital under the RAMC. Also in London is Violet, whose affair with the brilliant artist Octavian Laidislaw is about to erupt in scandal . . .
The Measure of Days paints a portrait of a family, and a nation, at war, at a pivotal point in history. With the onset of conscription, no one is left unaffected. Every man must hold himself in readiness; and every woman knows that when she says goodbye, it might be for the last time.
560 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
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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 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 28, 2009
I empathize with the characters from this series more than any other fiction I've read and yesterday while sitting in traffic I realized that while re-reading this book in the series that each day I was SO looking forward to the time I would get to read . . . for the simple reason that I would get to "find out what happens to" ___________ fill in the blank with your favorite characters' names here.
As I sat there behind the wheel of my car I wondered what the author must do to elicit such strong empathy? I think the answer is partially that harrod-eagles invests her characters with the time and the psychological complexity to think about one another and that, in and of itself, makes them feel like intimates.
The reader knows how they treat one another and sometimes what their motivations were. Whether we are discovering the world of an independent and generous character who's life it is a pleasure to walk alongside or the selfishness or close-mindedness of one of the stories' antagonists, all are concerned with their impact on one another, not merely pushing and shoving to promote themselves. Maybe this alone makes them feel more like friends? Do we come to care about them simply because they care about one another?
As I sat there behind the wheel of my car I wondered what the author must do to elicit such strong empathy? I think the answer is partially that harrod-eagles invests her characters with the time and the psychological complexity to think about one another and that, in and of itself, makes them feel like intimates.
The reader knows how they treat one another and sometimes what their motivations were. Whether we are discovering the world of an independent and generous character who's life it is a pleasure to walk alongside or the selfishness or close-mindedness of one of the stories' antagonists, all are concerned with their impact on one another, not merely pushing and shoving to promote themselves. Maybe this alone makes them feel more like friends? Do we come to care about them simply because they care about one another?
March 1, 2020
I love this series and this book was ok, but seemed a bit of a chore to read. I realise it was an integral part of the story, but I find literature about the war difficult to absorb or take an interest in
March 29, 2009
The Morlands face another year of World War I with many changes. Characters go from living to dead in a paragraph- I was left audibly gasping several times. This book really brings to light the futility of war. Very powerful.
January 2, 2019
Excellent
I realize that I have learned so much about WWI through the “Morland’s” and their acquaintances! Being an American, I had never understood the catastrophic loss of lives the brave British endured.
I realize that I have learned so much about WWI through the “Morland’s” and their acquaintances! Being an American, I had never understood the catastrophic loss of lives the brave British endured.
November 4, 2009
poor Violet...
December 9, 2013
This was one of the sadder Morland stories. I love them all!
June 25, 2014
Before I started this series on World War One, I thought I knew something about the war. I knew nothing. 1916, next comes 1917.
July 2, 2024
Morland Dynasty #30, covers 1916, 545 pages. I've found the ones set during World War 1 to be less enjoyable. Maybe it's the extra detail from the front which is depressing. Violet's life is a train wreck, but it's largely her own fault, due to poor choices of men. She's not the sharpest tool in the box. Laidislaw, her lover, would never have been anything long term anyway - guys like that always find someone new.
The usual cast of characters pursue their lives and goals as best they can. The author provides insights into how people feel about the war and other social issues. It is interesting, but this is still not close to being my favourite in the series.
Rating 3.8.
The usual cast of characters pursue their lives and goals as best they can. The author provides insights into how people feel about the war and other social issues. It is interesting, but this is still not close to being my favourite in the series.
Rating 3.8.
September 14, 2020
1916. The volume focuses more on the Home Front in England, and the members of the Morland family there, and the challenges they face during wartime — dealing men men away at war, the losses caused by the war, etc. This is especially hard for the women. Another exceptional book in this excellent series. Extremely hard to put down. And as soon as I finished it, I wanted to read the next! Highly recommended.
February 25, 2021
AWESOME SERIES READ it!!!! Imagine if you could watch the family story of those in Downtown Abbey from like the 15th cent thru WWII. THAT is what this is like! LOOVED it and plan now to reread the whole series!
August 12, 2022
continuation of the saga very good.
December 31, 2024
Enough incidents w the characters for me, though a lot of the WW1 stuff a slog.
Read December 2024
Read December 2024
December 4, 2011
World War I & 1916 is the focus. The War grinds on. Violet's scandal breaks with her falling pregnant to Octavian Laidislaw. But you know, I just never warmed to him at all. He's killed in France which is kind of the easy way out for everyone (this is a constant criticism in this series, particularly the more recent ones). There's the clear implication that Violet's husband, Lord Holkam, safe in HQ has pulled strings to ensure his wife's lover is sent to the frontline as a lowly private & let what may happen, happen. Which of course it does. Frank Morland is also killed. Ned is missing, presumed dead. I'm rather hoping Oliver might be the first gay character from the male side - we did have the hint of lesbianism back in the books that dealt with the Suffrage Movement with Anne Faraline. Sadly, Lord Overton is killed when the boat with Lord Kitchener is sunk en route to meet the Tsar to prop up continued Russian support in light of impending Revolution and domestic strife. Tom is in love with one of the Russian princesses so no doubt he'll be caught up in the Revolution when it comes. Not a bad book but I still maintain my view that CHE could SPEED THINGS UP A LITTLE - A LOT. But CHE has form for over-working the Wars - I point to the books covering the Napoleanic, Boer & Crimean conflicts. I wonder if she'll take us thru to WWII?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 8, 2016
Ah WWI was beyond awful. After reading this, I feel as though I lived it. I love how CHE covered every aspect of the war (the women at home, the politics, a pilot, soldiers in the trenches, officers ...) with her characters. Yes, the series is getting slightly predictable, but you've got to expect that to an extent with more than 30 books! I'm still in love with the entire series. If I had to say something negative about this particular book, I'd say "what's with this falling in love with cousins all the time?" I would think that at this point in history that would have become taboo. Maybe not though?
June 6, 2008
Wow! can't believe we're up to #30!!! She's covering less time per book as she gets closer to the present. The most annoying thing about finishing one of the Morland Dynasty books is the long wait for the next one. So, 3 books now and we're still not finished world war one, which is fine, as the storyline is still keeping my interest. I have to admit to skipping over some of the more detailed descriptions about military manoeuvres though. They'd prob fascinate Nick - off to play with toy soldiers for 2 days this weekend!
July 16, 2009
1916, World War I, nursing, the art world, and the troubles of Tsarist Russia are the themes of this volume in the lengthy series of Morland Dynasty books, begun to tell the story of Britain from Richard III's time to ...??? It's not clear when Harrod-Eagles will end the series. I learn something new from each book, and enjoy the "soap opera" parts too. So I'll keep reading as long as she keeps writing.
June 15, 2009
I love this series. I think it will be ending soon (after 30 volumes) - they are up to WWI now.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews