The Chevalier

Morland Dynasty #7

by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles

1689 - William and Mary; Queen Anne; George I; The Old Pretender (1715 Rebellion)

Annunciata, fiercely loyal to the Stuart cause, follows King James II into exile, leaving her gentle grandson Matt to care for Morland Place. In her absence he contracts an unwise marriage with India Neville, a woman as heartless as she is beautiful, who drives him between the extremes of passionate love and deep despair. When James III - the Chevalier - returns to claim the Stuart throne, the Morlands are reunited in one country. The rebellion fails, and Annuniciata's sons are on trial for their lives, but defeat and even death itself cannot conquer the Morland sprit.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, 17th Century, British Literature, Historical Romance, Romance

414 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

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

[Lolly's Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the last book, I began this one hoping to see very little of Annunciata, a woman who I'd grown to loathe. Amazingly enough, two things happened as I continued to read: Annunciata rather grew on me and I found myself coming to actually admire her, especially towards the end of the book; this was most likely as a result of Annunciata being in her fifties when the book began, so therefore her character had mellowed (plus, with the great love of her life no longer around and her having so mellowed out of the high emotions which created such grand passions, we didn't have to endure the tedium of every man in the vicinity immediately falling at her feet in instant love/lust/desire, not to mention the disgust when, invariably, Annunciata's needs and desires overrode those of any other, usually resulting in the destruction of their happiness and health); secondly, an even worse female came along, displacing and, quite honestly, making Annunciata look good by comparison. India Neville is picked to marry Matt Morland, Annunciata's grandson and heir to the Morland Dynasty, initiating the naive young boy into manhood; as a result, she leads the besotted idiot a merry dance, keeping a firm schedule on their sex life and her pregnancies so that she might do the rumpy-pumpy with anything in breeches who comes her way. As she whispers into Matt's satiated ear on their wedding night, "Like a duck to water." Calling India a bitch gives all us bitches a bad name.

The back part of the book rather drags a bit, concerning the movements and battles of the Jacobites. Harrod-Eagles doesn't quite have the knack of creating stirring battle scenes, so I rather skimmed/flipped through those sections. However, I'd say, all-in-all, this book is an improvement over the previous one.

[Danielle]

Listened to audio book. This is not my favorite period in British history and it took several tries (and failures to read the book). It halted my reading the the series, which I had been enjoying. However, quite enjoyed listening to the story on audio book. Hopefully this puts me back on track to pick up the threads of the story and to continue on reading further into the series.

[Emma Griffiths · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell out with Annunciata in the last book but it seems that she has mellowed in her old age and has turned into a Great Matriarch and India her granddaughter-in-law is the new villain. India's comeuppance is very satisfying though! It is 1689 and Annunciata fiercely loyal to the Stuart cause, follows King James II into exile leaving her gentle grandson Matt to care for Morland Place.

[Betty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful historical fiction following the Morland family through another generation. A great read for lovers of English history.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The seventh volume of The Morland Dynasty series covers the era from the beginning of the reign of William & Mary through that of Queen Anne, concluding shortly after the 1715 Rising, which occurred after the ascension of the Elector George to the throne of England. This is a much neglected period, and this book tells it from the point of view of supporters of James II and his son, James, the Chevalier of the title (known to history as "the Old Pretender"). Readers will probably get the most out of this book if they read the earlier books first, therefore the rest of this review will be hidden.


The first attempt to retake the crown for James II occurs in 1789, and naturally the Morland family is involved. Following the defeat, Annunciata and her sons Maurice and Karellie, and her daughter Aliena, join the court in exile in France. These four are among the main characters whose lives are chronicled here. Maurice, the musician; Karellie, the soldier; and Aliena, the companion of young James and his sister Marie-Louise. But back at Morland Court, the heir is Annunciata's grandson, James Matthias, known as Matt. His life is entwined with those of his various cousins, as they strive to balance the various demands of love and loyalty, to king, country, and family.


Recommended.

[Pattie · Rating 3 out of 5]

So many characters, so many stories going on at once, a tangled web of surprises, shocks, eye rolls laughs and tears. Thank Goodness for the family tree at the beginning which I had to refer to constantly!

[KCSAINTS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. The Morland Dynasty so far is great. Cannot wait to read the next one

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent read. Good pacing.

[Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

This 6th book in the Morland Dynasty series is the reason I abandoned the series back in the 80's after enjoying the first 200 years or so of the Morland family. I honestly wanted to slap Annunciata because she became so shallow and stupid in the book, and her children weren't much better. Over 20 years later, I found books 7-20 as a lot in an estate sale and bought them to give the series another try. I hated The Chevalier too; the story did not improve until book 8 The Maiden, but then it really got better and the ensuing French Revolution/Napoleonic War era books are excellent. I'm glad I hung in there, but The Long Shadow and The Chevalier are pretty awful. Unfortunately, you have to read them to understand what comes later, but brace yourself.

[gardienne_du_feu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annunciata Morland, die als junge Frau am Hof von Charles II. für Aufsehen sorgte, hält auch in vorgerücktem Alter dem in Ausland geflohenen James II. und seinen Nachkommen leidenschaftlich die Treue, während auf dem englischen Thron William of Orange und seine Gattin Mary sitzen. Für Annunciata eine unerträgliche Situation und auch keine ganz ungefährliche, so dass ihr Weg schließlich ins französische Exil führt.

Ihr Enkel Matt muss indessen die Herrschaft über Morland Place übernehmen. Das Problem: er ist noch sehr jung, sehr sensibel, leicht zu beeindrucken und leicht zu beeinflussen. Die arrangierte Ehe mit der reichen Erbin India macht das Ganze nicht besser, denn die ist zwar genauso jung wie Matt, aber alles andere als unbedarft und nutzt Matts Arglosigkeit in vielerlei Hinsicht gnadenlos aus.

In diesem Band gelingt der Autorin ganz ausgezeichnet die Darstellung eines immer noch angesichts der Thronfolgefrage bitter gespaltenen Englands. Wie immer hervorragend in den historischen Rahmen eingebettet ist die wechselvolle und mitreißende Geschichte des weit verzweigten Morland-Clans. Den Überblick über den umfangreichen Stammbaum habe ich zwar mittlerweile ein wenig im Laufe der Generationen verloren, doch letztendlich tut das auch nicht allzu viel zur Sache, denn die Familienverhältnisse unter den aktuellen Protagonisten sind wie immer im Buch abgedruckt (was allerdings, auch wie immer, eine gewisse Spoilergefahr beinhaltet).

Bis hin zu den Nebenfiguren zeichnet Cynthia Harrod-Eagles wieder in ihrer Verschiedenartigkeit gelungene Charaktere, die genau so dem wahren Leben entstammen könnten. Lediglich India gerät ihr zu einseitig und klischeehaft in ihrer Boshaftigkeit und Berechnung, ein bisschen weniger wäre hier womöglich mehr gewesen. Der Rest ist aber gewohnt gut, so dass dieser Ausrutscher verzeihlich ist (und man kann India so richtig schön verabscheuen ;) )

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

Every book in this series has so far had typos hence 3 stars

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back in February last year, I gave up somewhere in the first fifty pages of The Chevalier due to The Chevalier again when I was about to go away for a weekend, and ploughed through to the point where Annunciata is now mostly offstage.

I am definitely suffering from Annunciata-fatigue. It is clear that Harrod-Eagles is fascinated by her creation in Annunciata Morland, and to an extent I can understand why: her royal blood, her beauty and her string of husbands make for good fiction, but she's taken over the series in a way I find tiring. I am so very over her, and it was only with a bit of perseverance that I picked up

Once she was offstage, I sped through the book in about three days. Maurice was a fabulous character to introduce: his connections with Scarlatti and Handel, and as a Vivaldi analogy through his second marriage were a lovely thing to bring in, especially Handel, and Maurice's ability to navigate Stuart and Hanoverian politics. Karellie had his own sweetness, and Diane was lovely in her steadfastness. I am starting to worry about all the men who marry women they've known since the woman was a small child, though.

As to the other characters - I find the hints of Electress Sofie fascinating, given where the succession will go: India Neville (a one-liner indicates that she is probably one of "those Nevilles" although I haven't attempted to look at whether that's possible or not) was horrible, and I feel so sorry for poor Matt - but also for Davey and what he felt driven to.

I've already started the next book in the saga, The Maiden, and have the one after that on reserve from the library. I am apparently back in the groove, Annunciata-fatigue or not.

[Sara G · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book covers another generation of the Morland family, during the initial exile of James II and the Old Pretender's attempts to invade England. Annunciata is a lot less obnoxious in this one, probably because Martin's son Matt marries the worst woman in this series yet, India Neville. As always, the historical detail is great, the family connections are a lot of fun, and I just enjoy this author's writing style. She makes a note at the beginning to mention how contentious the succession was after William and Mary, and then Anne. It's easy to simplify the Hanoverian dynasty taking over in history books, but I can only imagine how jarring that was to people of the time.

[Edith Clayton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of the most absorbing of the series so far, until the last third or so which read like a history book (general so-and-so besieged the town of such-and-such and army x conquered blah blah, etc., etc.) Annunciata keeps on kickin!

[Luci · Rating 3 out of 5]

These books are entertaining. I love the continuity of characters - following sons and daughters and seeing the ebb and flow of life. I am getting used to the somewhat clumsy way the author interjects history - someone tells somewhat else what is going on, but I do enjoy the characters.

[Mimi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thankfully, the pool of potential mates in the family expanded for this entry, which lessens the ick factor. Having said that, these are always an interesting read - this one was the story of the Jacobite Rebellion. Not too deep, not too brain taxing, a perfect vacation read.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorites so far!

[Marg · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

[Frances · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic book full of death and tragedy, always tempered with hope.

[Diana Bustamante · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is number 7 in a long series. Some are better than others. I enjoy learning English history but there are so many characters that I have a difficult time remembering who is who.

[Sherrell Cochrane · Rating 5 out of 5]

have now read all 35 of this seriesf th

[Lindsey Sparks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was tired of Annunciata by the point so I didn't like this one quite as much as some of the others. I did really like the historical parts of this one, with the Old Pretender, William and Mary and the uncertainty about the crown. Most of the time history of this period just emphasizes Catholics vs. Protestants, but these books break that down to Papists, Anglicans and Protestants, which makes it more interesting and nuanced.