The Foreign Field

Morland Dynasty #31

by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles

1917 - World War I: Battle of Passchendaele

Jessie goes to France to nurse at a time when, with the Americans still a year from entering the war, mutiny in the French army leaves the British to shoulder the whole burden. To keep the Germans from advancing requires the desperate sacrifice of Passchendaele...

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Romance

516 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Cynthia 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.

Reviews

[KOMET · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story begins in 1917. Like the rest of Britain, the Morland Family has borne the full burden of the First World War. Pre-war norms on the home front under the pressures of wartime scarcities and sacrifices have largely faded away as people try to live life to the full, not knowing if they will live to see another day. Jessie’s husband Ned is “missing – presumed dead” after seeing action at Loos. Jessie continues to pine for Bertie, an army officer at the Front, who has managed to survive many of the heaviest battles from the earliest days of the war in France. Bertie, married to a woman who is largely indifferent to him, dotes on his son whenever he manages to get home on leave. He also loves Jessie. But they have managed, despite their desires, to maintain their propriety.

In the meantime, Jessie continues in her work as a VAD nurse in a London hospital. If you are/have been a reader of the Morland Family Dynasty novels from the beginning, then you will know that each novel in the series is populated by a number of characters situated in a variety of places. For instance, besides the number of family members and relatives serving in the military, there are a few acting as diplomats and quasi-government aides, both in Britain and abroad.

There is so much more I would like to say in praise of this novel. But to do that would be to reveal too much about the events and personalities who are impacted by them. Suffice it to say, “THE FOREIGN FIELD” takes the reader from Britain to France to a Russia now convulsed in revolution. I hope that this review entices you to treat yourself to one of the finest series of historical novels you’ll ever read. Cynthia Harrod-Eagles is a wonderful storyteller.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite historical fictions based on English history. This is an incredible series with 31 Volumes tracing the Morland family dynasty, beginning in the 1200's and proceeds, thus far, into WWI. Though the main characters are fictional the historical accuracy and detail is quite remarkable. A very personal side of history that one does not often read about. Also, her writing style is beautifully done and raises "historical fictions" to a new level. I highly recommend it; a good read to escape from reality!

[Bettynz (Larraine) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unbelievable timing. As we get closer to the present day, Ms Harrod-Eagles covers less and less historical time per volume, but they are no less gripping for that. She has an incredible way of bringing history to life, and reading about WWI events from the perspective of the characters, as I was simultaneously reading about the same events in the Listener and watching documentary coverage about them on tv, was quite special. I hadn't planned it, but it was very real. Oliver, off to work with "that New Zealander, Gillies" to pioneer plastic surgery (my own Dr, when I was growing up, was his grandson, I believe), building up to the 3rd battle over Ypres, and the involvement of the Commonwealth troops, and so on. It certainly filled the sleepless hours early this morning.
Hanging out for volume 32, which according to Amazon, is due in November. 32 volumes, dating the Morland Dynasty from 1434, but 4 of of those covering the duration of WWI.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

1917. The Great War continues, and members of the Morland family are involved in a variety of ways: as soldiers serving in the trenches; doctors, both in the field and at home; nurses, ditto; and more. But the longer the war rages, the more casualties results, some of which affect the family. And the Germans have developed planes that bring the battle to England, attacking and killing innocent civilians. The non-stop action of the story, covering action both in France, Russia, and home in England, makes this book hard to put down. Recommended.

[Karoline · Rating 4 out of 5]

The chunck of books taking place during WWI are, by far, the saddest of all in the entire series. In each one, there has been a moment of profound sadness, unlike in any of the other books in this series. The author is doing a phenomenal job of portraying just how different this war was from every other war in history and the tremendous and wide- spread impact it had on people.

[Jane Menard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love The Morland Dynasty series. Her two or three books on World War I, from a perspective of soldiers in the trenches and their families at home, gave me such an insight into the horrors and devastation of that war.

[E S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking forward to #32 in this series....

[John Hardy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Morland Dynasty #31 set in 1917, 513 pages. Because these later books cover a shorter space of time, the reader becomes familiar with the main characters and to some extent with their associates. We see Venetia, Lady Overton as a respected doctor, highly unusual for those times, and it was a hard-won position. Violet is a troubled woman who has made a very bad marriage, although she doesn't know yet how bad it could be. Beautiful young woman from a wealthy family marries into the aristocracy - what could go wrong? They're all good eggs, aren't they? Or, what is it some people say - the upper crust is just a lot of crumbs sticking together?
This story has a character who was closely involved with the Russian Romanovs. This whole episode seems to be a bit of an add-on, certainly I found it of little interest. The period covered the death of Rasputin, a bit sensational.
The Zimmerman Note which brought the USA into the war get's a mention, and there is a fair amount of war detail - Verdun, for example - with its horrible impacts on people and beloved characters. There are still love affairs, there are women working as nurses, assistants, even doctors, and on the many committees to organise life at home.
The big difference between this and the author's War at Home series is that the servants are pretty much all background with little life of their own.
On the whole, I found this one a bit boring, so downgrading it to rating 3.4.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three and a half stars. Other than the details about battles, I enjoyed reading my first book by this author.

[Helen Geng · Rating 2 out of 5]

Actually 1 & 1/2 stars.

Too much on WW1.

Too thin on the Morland people.

Good descriptions of home front food & details.

Read August 2024

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book kept me turning the pages, like the previous book in the series, measure of days, but my heart wasn't in my throat as much. Many of the same Morland House characters readers have come to love populate this third installment of World War One in the overall 30+ volume series of harrod-eagles English historical fiction series. The abdication of Nicholas II and the imprisonment of his family is part of the storyline here. As the noose tightens around the royal family, the sympathy that harrod-eagles usually builds for her characters is lacking, these characters are not as well developed as the reader usually enjoys, they are more like two dimensional figures on history's stage. But, the concurrent storyline of the battles at Ypres is compelling and the soldiers' plight in the trenches and the mud can not be ignored. To give credit where credit is due, harrod-eagles does not allow the awful years in the trenches to pass in a page or two . . . the three books she spends on the war bring home, even these many years later, the huge sacrifice in human life that the War required of so many for so long.

[The Library Lady · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have the bad habit of starting somewhere in the middle--or near the end of a series. But if I like this one,there are lots to go back and read....

Which is what I am going to do. There is definitely a "mindless fluff" edge to these books--I mean, does there have to be character there for every major event occurring? Here there is one who is improbably "up close and personal" with the doomed Romanov family and there were referrals to another having been involved in the Titanic disaster!

None the less, there is a large cast of characters and just enough characterization to make them come to life, impeccably researched history, and 30 proceeding books to keep me going for some weeks.Though I fear that I will have to hunt through various regional libraries to get most of them!

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished this last night. In some ways I think she is running out of steam on the characters' story, but the history is better than ever. OTOH, I am now dying to find out what happens to Bertie and Jessie, so I am looking out for #32....

[Cate · Rating 3 out of 5]

WWI grinds on, & on & on. This book covers 1917. The Morlands lose Robbie to illness when he's deployed to Malta. Father Palgrave arrives at Morland Place to take charge of the school age Morlands. Oliver, Jessie, Bertie & Jack are all in France involved in the war effort.

[Sam Still Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Barely a year covered in this latest book- not that I'm complaining- 1917 was a pretty big year for the history books. More drama for the Morlands- and a big surprise at the end. Need the next book!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series ! can't wait for the next one
The winding road :)

[Diane McCarrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best of the series - this is #31.

[Ellie Keaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very sad book really depicts the effect war has on families not just those fighting at the front - very compelling reading

[Blaire]

I am in a huge WWI kick right now (thanks Downton Abbey s.2) and love any book on WWI.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first experience with the Morland Dynasty series and oh boy, am I hooked!