The roaring twenties are now in full swing. But the clock is ticking!
High up in an eyrie overlooking the Zambezi escarpment, a biplane appears out of the blue, dropping an invitation to visit Elephant Walk, the home of Harry Brigandshaw. With such an irresistible summons, two young English prospectors abandon camp and make their way.
On arrival, they are welcomed and introduced to the new Brigandshaw heir. Whilst appearing to be a contented family, nothing could be further from the truth. Harry is blissfully happy on his African farm, yet Tina desperately wishes to return to England and civilisation.
Pressurised to return, Harry finds himself back in the game of business financing a new musical with his old flame in the leading role. Jealousies flare and Tina retaliates with far-reaching consequences. But meanwhile in America, the stock market is rising steadily with things beginning to spiral out of control.
And then, disaster strikes! Tina is left with distressing circumstances not only affecting her but the future of Colonial Shipping. Will she be able to make crucial decisions with time beginning to run out?
To the Manor Born is the fourth book in Peter Rimmer's spellbinding historical fiction series, taking you from the beauty of the African plains to the rich supper rooms and theatres of London, and the scheming businessmen of America.
Peter Rimmer was born in London, England, and grew up in the south of the city where he went to Cranleigh School. After the Second World War and at aged 18, Peter joined the Royal Air Force, reaching the rank of Pilot Officer before he was 19. Then at the end of his National Service and with the optimism of youth, he sailed for Africa with his older brother to grow tobacco in what was then Rhodesia, and the odyssey of his life began.
The years went by and Peter found himself in Johannesburg founding an insurance brokering company. Over 2% of the companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange were clients of Rimmer Associates. He opened companies in the United States of America, Australia and Hong Kong and travelled extensively between the branches.
His passion had always been writing books, which he started at a very early age, though running a business was a driving force too and a common thread throughout his books. By the 1990’s, he had written several novels about Africa and England, and his breakthrough came with Cry of the Fish Eagle published by HarperCollins, Zimbabwe. It was a bestseller, which was followed up with the release of Vultures in the Wind. However, during this time, Zimbabwe was going through its struggles and the books did not get their just international recognition.
Having lived a reclusive life on his beloved smallholding in Knysna, South Africa, for over 25 years, Peter passed away in July 2018. He has left an enormous legacy of unpublished work for his family to release over the coming years, and not only them but also his readers from around the world will sorely miss him. Peter Rimmer was 81 years old.
The family saga dragged on one volume too many. The ending was anticlimactic and inconclusive, it just fizzled. The characters about whom the reader most cared were fazed out in an indefinite, inconclusive manner. I was appalled at the number of grammatical/syntax errors and wondered why proofreaders and editors did not catch them. Characters were either too corrupt, decadent and unrealistic to be believable or were too good to be true. Rimmer was beating a dead horse with this sequel.
I thoroughly enjoyed this episode of the Brigandshaw Chronicles even though it was mainly set in the UK and its the African descriptions that I really love reading having spent many years there myself. I just feel that I need to read the next book "right now" because in my opinion the story is left unfinished.
I need to know what happens! Please publish the next one quickly!
I have enjoyed this series and look forward to the final volume. The interweaving of the cast of characters is the focus of the sstoryline, and I look forward to the resolution of their stories.
Historical fiction, how one is raised becomes who you will be. No holds barred on how life turns out. Love stories can be made and endure over decades if desire and belief are present!
Another story in the time line of the Harry Brigandshaw saga. The story tells of his friends and how they cross over Harry's life. moving them all towards another World War and the crash of the worlds economy.
I've just realised there are plenty more books in this series. Oh happy day! I simply can't put them down. This one takes place more in England and America, less so in Africa, but I've come to think of the characters almost as my family.
Excellent/ entertaining and intriguing fiction that brings to life a world less known. How little we've learned of historical perspectives set in a new context.
This one is more of a soap opera; and some of the dialog is awful because it is used to provide the backstory of the prior books. Still…I will continue to the 5th book in the series.