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The Landower Legacy
Green-eyed Caroline Tressidor has the whole world at her feet. But at Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, Caroline lets slip a secret. It is nearly fatal.
Caroline's promising future dissolves without her knowing why. Her search for answers violates the iron rules of Victorian society. It takes her to the wild moors of Cornwall and pits her against her shy, pretty sister.
It also brings her the man of her dreams, Paul Landower. . .dark, mysterious, trapped in his own past. . .a past that may include a legacy of murder.
374 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1984
53 people are currently reading
860 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Holt
372 books1,375 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Eleanor Alice Burford, Mrs. George Percival Hibbert was a British author of about 200 historical novels, most of them under the pen name Jean Plaidy which had sold 14 million copies by the time of her death. She chose to use various names because of the differences in subject matter between her books; the best-known, apart from Plaidy, are Victoria Holt (56 million) and Philippa Carr (3 million). Lesser known were the novels Hibbert published under her maiden name Eleanor Burford, or the pseudonyms of Elbur Ford, Kathleen Kellow and Ellalice Tate. Many of her readers under one penname never suspected her other identities.
-Wikipedia
Eleanor Alice Burford, Mrs. George Percival Hibbert was a British author of about 200 historical novels, most of them under the pen name Jean Plaidy which had sold 14 million copies by the time of her death. She chose to use various names because of the differences in subject matter between her books; the best-known, apart from Plaidy, are Victoria Holt (56 million) and Philippa Carr (3 million). Lesser known were the novels Hibbert published under her maiden name Eleanor Burford, or the pseudonyms of Elbur Ford, Kathleen Kellow and Ellalice Tate. Many of her readers under one penname never suspected her other identities.
-Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
August 10, 2017
This one is hard for me to review, because it was not a bad read, but it absolutely did not live up to the promise of the genre/cover synopsis. I can't really characterize this one as gothic, as there was almost no suspense at all. If I were pressed to put a genre on this book, cover and description nothwithstanding, it would probably be historical romance, or maybe family drama. I'm not really sure.
So, let's get to my complaints. When I read a gothic romance, I am expecting that the heroine will be put in significant danger by someone who wants to keep her from succeeding in attracting the hero. There might also be some perceived light supernatural elements, even if it turns out at the end that they were just plain old human avariciousness or jealousy. A bit of minor haunting perhaps, or some lights appearing and disappearing in the woods. That sort of thing.
There should also be a secret that is coming back to harm someone - usually the Hero. And then, last but certainly not least, there should be some sort of a large country home or chateau that is the center of all of the action.
So, with this book, all of the elements were here: a haunted mine shaft where black dogs appear when someone is in danger, an impoverished hero who is trying to save the estate that has been in family since the 15th century, and a number of secrets possessed by a number of characters.
The problem with the book is that none of these three things really had anything to do with each other. I am accustomed to seeing them used as plot devices, but their disconnection from one other made them just that much more obviously the gears to keep the plot moving forward, and it felt really unnatural. So, as a gothic, it didn't work for me. There wasn't one moment when my pulse quickened and I felt like the heroine was really in danger. The one point of danger ended up being so quickly over and easily resolved that it just fell flat.
Also, maybe it was the fact that I had just read a book using the same freaking plot device that I hate that meant that I figured out the "twist" the first time that an allusion to it was raised.
This sounds like I hated the book, but I didn't. It was disappointing, but I actually really liked both the heroine, who was pretty tough, and Aunt Mary, who was a hoot - an independent woman who was running an estate (really successfully) at a time when ladies weren't supposed to do anything more strenuous than fainting. And Catherine's perfectly planned and brilliantly executed revenge on the man who jilted her (for her wealthy but weak sister) was delightful!
The romance though, was pretty unconvincing for me, and since I can't abide cheaters, I was less than enamored of the married Paul Landower. I get it that he felt like he'd been trapped into marriage because his wife was a wealthy woman who bought herself a husband by leverage his family's poverty against him. But, you know what? Them's the breaks, dude. If you sell your soul for cash, you don't get to complain when the purchaser decides she wants the benefit of her bargain. And, he treated his young (like, two-year-old) son like shit, which pissed me off.
I would not say that Holt was at her best with this one!
So, let's get to my complaints. When I read a gothic romance, I am expecting that the heroine will be put in significant danger by someone who wants to keep her from succeeding in attracting the hero. There might also be some perceived light supernatural elements, even if it turns out at the end that they were just plain old human avariciousness or jealousy. A bit of minor haunting perhaps, or some lights appearing and disappearing in the woods. That sort of thing.
There should also be a secret that is coming back to harm someone - usually the Hero. And then, last but certainly not least, there should be some sort of a large country home or chateau that is the center of all of the action.
So, with this book, all of the elements were here: a haunted mine shaft where black dogs appear when someone is in danger, an impoverished hero who is trying to save the estate that has been in family since the 15th century, and a number of secrets possessed by a number of characters.
The problem with the book is that none of these three things really had anything to do with each other. I am accustomed to seeing them used as plot devices, but their disconnection from one other made them just that much more obviously the gears to keep the plot moving forward, and it felt really unnatural. So, as a gothic, it didn't work for me. There wasn't one moment when my pulse quickened and I felt like the heroine was really in danger. The one point of danger ended up being so quickly over and easily resolved that it just fell flat.
Also, maybe it was the fact that I had just read a book using the same freaking plot device that I hate that meant that I figured out the "twist" the first time that an allusion to it was raised.
This sounds like I hated the book, but I didn't. It was disappointing, but I actually really liked both the heroine, who was pretty tough, and Aunt Mary, who was a hoot - an independent woman who was running an estate (really successfully) at a time when ladies weren't supposed to do anything more strenuous than fainting. And Catherine's perfectly planned and brilliantly executed revenge on the man who jilted her (for her wealthy but weak sister) was delightful!
The romance though, was pretty unconvincing for me, and since I can't abide cheaters, I was less than enamored of the married Paul Landower. I get it that he felt like he'd been trapped into marriage because his wife was a wealthy woman who bought herself a husband by leverage his family's poverty against him. But, you know what? Them's the breaks, dude. If you sell your soul for cash, you don't get to complain when the purchaser decides she wants the benefit of her bargain. And, he treated his young (like, two-year-old) son like shit, which pissed me off.
I would not say that Holt was at her best with this one!
January 21, 2023
Although I certainly have not enjoyed Victoria Holt’s 1984 historical romance and mystery novel The Landower Legacy quite as much as I did in 1985 (when it was definitely a personal reading favourite) unlike the other Victoria Holt novels of my youth (which sadly, I have for the most part pretty much despised upon rereading), I have still managed to find The Landower Legacy generally enjoyable and readable this time around and most of the presented characters surprisingly nuanced and richly developed for a Victoria Holt novel. And yes, this generally does pertain equally to both positive and negative characters, to both heroes and villains, with me finding in particular both first person narrator and chief protagonist Caroline Tressidor and Cousin Mary absolutely delightfully rendered, but that yes indeed, even the multiple nasties of The Landower Legacy such as for example Caroline’s hypocritical father and her erstwhile and fortune hunting love interest Jeremy Brandon, they are also depicted by Victoria Holt as not just ultra and one-sidedly villainous but as problematic individuals who still also do show and feature both light and dark, both positive and more negative character traits (and thankfully, the more positively depicted characters who inhabit the pages of The Landower Legacy are equally not just shiningly heroic, but indeed they also, and yes this does include main heroine Caroline Tressidor, present their share of peccadilloes and less than stellar habits and behaviours).
However, as much as I have enjoyed rereading The Landower Legacy and have actually also found Victoria Holt’s romance formula not nearly as extreme and as one-sided as in many of the other books from her pen that I have recently reread (in order to finally leave a review), and while I do find the 19th century England and France settings of The Landower Legacy pretty much spot on with regard to time and place, I guess I personally just do not really find Paul Landower (the mysterious squire of The Landower Legacy and for whom Caroline Tressidor must wait almost the entire length of the novel) all that likeable a character in and of himself (and that yes indeed, Paul also does in my opinion use his wife Gwennie rather badly even if she is depicted as a decidedly nasty individual) and so much so that I actually would prefer it if The Landower Legacy could have ended with Caroline Tressidor remaining single (but of course, Caroline remaining single would also be destroying Victoria Holt’s general writing formula).
However, as much as I have enjoyed rereading The Landower Legacy and have actually also found Victoria Holt’s romance formula not nearly as extreme and as one-sided as in many of the other books from her pen that I have recently reread (in order to finally leave a review), and while I do find the 19th century England and France settings of The Landower Legacy pretty much spot on with regard to time and place, I guess I personally just do not really find Paul Landower (the mysterious squire of The Landower Legacy and for whom Caroline Tressidor must wait almost the entire length of the novel) all that likeable a character in and of himself (and that yes indeed, Paul also does in my opinion use his wife Gwennie rather badly even if she is depicted as a decidedly nasty individual) and so much so that I actually would prefer it if The Landower Legacy could have ended with Caroline Tressidor remaining single (but of course, Caroline remaining single would also be destroying Victoria Holt’s general writing formula).
May 8, 2020
4.5 stars. This gothic mystery-romance has everything I want in a story: moors, manors... and murder! I'm not sure why this author's books haven't stood the test of time, they're extremely readable, full of brooding paramours and windswept moors, and I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the writing. I read Holt's "Mistress of Mellyn" over and over as a lovelorn teenager, but had never read anything else by her until now. Whereas that book reads like a pulpier "Rebecca" I was surprised to find this book felt more akin to David Copperfield-- a coming of age story in Victorian England where a young woman learns the world is a harder place than she realized. But she's feisty, and independent, and strong-willed, a character you want pull for much more than that whiny Copperfield. My only complaint was that the ending was a bit rushed, and while these books won't win any literary awards, I've learned this is definitely an author I enjoy reading.
February 24, 2015
Holt's novels generally move at a lingering, but pleasant, pace. She spends a lot of time in exposition and rising action and minimal time on the resolution phase. In this particular book, the falling action and resolution consumed a whole dozen pages or so (I'm totally estimating here, but that's how it felt). It left me feeling bereft and I don't appreciate that after reading hundreds of pages hoping to spend some happy-time in the rose-colored glasses of the story's end.
The development of the main character was well done, spanning the course of many years. This is the second Bildungsroman I have read by her, the first being The Devil on Horseback which I really enjoyed, so I wonder if this is a common theme for Holt. I found that I didn't have any sympathy for the hero, though. He was very disappointing. Maybe she wanted him to be very real with all the human frailties that come with it, but I couldn't appreciate his handling of his personal crises- too unprincipled. She knows how to turn a phrase and paint a picture, though, so I'll keep coming back for that.
The development of the main character was well done, spanning the course of many years. This is the second Bildungsroman I have read by her, the first being The Devil on Horseback which I really enjoyed, so I wonder if this is a common theme for Holt. I found that I didn't have any sympathy for the hero, though. He was very disappointing. Maybe she wanted him to be very real with all the human frailties that come with it, but I couldn't appreciate his handling of his personal crises- too unprincipled. She knows how to turn a phrase and paint a picture, though, so I'll keep coming back for that.
November 6, 2012
OK, I'm still in a review funk and can't scrape up much else to say after Karla's excellent wrap up here. You definitely could see where many of the plot twists were heading, but it was still fun getting there. I haven't read every Holt title yet, but this is one of my favorites so far.
August 2, 2021
No es que sea una obra maestra de la literatura ni falta que le hace. El estudio psicológico de los personajes y el estupendo manejo del suspense hacen de este libro uno de esos que no puedes dejar hasta terminarlo. Como en otros de la autora, lo de menos es el romance, el suspense tiene muchísimo más peso en la historia. Me ha gustado mucho.
April 25, 2025
Це, мабуть, самий насичений сюжетними лініями роман Вікторії Голт. Принаймні з тих, що видані українською (я прочитала всі). І найбільш "бріджертонівський", тільки кохання тут не на першому плані, але проходить крізь увесь сюжет. Головна героїня, як і завжди у Голт, дуже імпонує - розумна, схильна до аналізу, емансипована, не втрачає голову (наскільки це можливо у ситуаціях та зважаючи на її вік). Цікаво було спостерігати за змінами у її житті протягом 10 років та наскільки вона зросла як особистість під впливом цих змін.
Динаміка не така яскрава, як у більш ранніх романах авторки, через це здавалося, що перша половина книги дещо затягнута, але під кінець все понеслося галопом - неочікувані повороти, розв'язки та розгадки.
Сумно, що це останній роман з виданих, я була б рада прочитати ще, дуже люблю готичну прозу
Динаміка не така яскрава, як у більш ранніх романах авторки, через це здавалося, що перша половина книги дещо затягнута, але під кінець все понеслося галопом - неочікувані повороти, розв'язки та розгадки.
Сумно, що це останній роман з виданих, я була б рада прочитати ще, дуже люблю готичну прозу
November 27, 2022
"La herencia de Landower"
Victoria Holt
Caroline Tressidor una adolescente de tan solo 14 años quien es muy suspicaz y observadora, es enviada de Londres a Cornualles a raíz de una serie de eventos de los cuales ella es de alguna forma castigada y exiliada. Cuando llega a la finca de su tía Mary conoce a los hermanos Landower con quien hace amistad teniendo más contacto con Jago, el hermano menor de Paul.
La estadía de Caroline que al principio era un castigo, con el tiempo resultó ser reconfortante y llegó a ser una buena amistad incluso con su tía de quien se decían muchas cosas no gratas.
Caroline y su hermana Olivia vivirán una serie de sucesos que les cambiaran la vida, para bien o para mal. Todo converge hacia la herencia de Landower.
64/2022
4⭐️
Victoria Holt
Caroline Tressidor una adolescente de tan solo 14 años quien es muy suspicaz y observadora, es enviada de Londres a Cornualles a raíz de una serie de eventos de los cuales ella es de alguna forma castigada y exiliada. Cuando llega a la finca de su tía Mary conoce a los hermanos Landower con quien hace amistad teniendo más contacto con Jago, el hermano menor de Paul.
La estadía de Caroline que al principio era un castigo, con el tiempo resultó ser reconfortante y llegó a ser una buena amistad incluso con su tía de quien se decían muchas cosas no gratas.
Caroline y su hermana Olivia vivirán una serie de sucesos que les cambiaran la vida, para bien o para mal. Todo converge hacia la herencia de Landower.
64/2022
4⭐️
November 22, 2020
La novela esta totalmente centralizada en la protagonista, sus aventuras que vive durante la niñez sus tristezas de las adolescencia y sus amores en la edad adulta, un crecimiento de ella en muchos aspecto, me gusta que haya tantas historias pequeñas en un libro, y este libro lo tiene, pero creo que algunos personajes les falto mucho mas fuerza.
January 23, 2019
The second of two Victoria Holt novels I found recently at a thrift shop. I liked this one much better. This is ten years in the life of Caroline Tressidor who begins as a fourteen-year old girl who accidentally lets out a secret. For this she is punished and sent away from her family and her beloved sister, Olivia. A lot happens to her in ten years and she learns about how people can not be trusted. But she also learns how to love deeply and sincerely and make sacrifices when necessary. I found the ending of the story to be a complete surprise and well done. Victoria Holt surpassed herself and I put the book down happily at the end.
June 12, 2018
When I was a teenager I read all the Victoria Holt books I could get my hands on. I recently took my kids to the library and while there stumbled across the shelf with Victoria Holt and decided I would re-read this one. I was a little worried it wouldn't stand the test of time, but I was happily reassured. The writing is solid, if dialog- and plot-heavy, and the story full of thrilling and angst-ridden twists and turns. The book is in first-person, so the primary character development we see is within the narrator/main character, with a lot of very canny self-observation. I completely remember why I loved these books so much in my teen years. Also, I'd forgotten how essentially feminist the tone of the Victoria Holt books are, as the main character takes a sardonic and restless view of the strictures on women of the day (this book is set in Victorian England and Cornwall). Such fun! I could barely put it down.
April 7, 2011
I have loved Victoria Holt since I was a young twenty something, and must have missed a few of her books. I loved the sotry of a young girl who finds out her father is not her father, and that someone wants her dead. recommended.
April 3, 2016
Books written by Victoria Holt are so cheesy, but sometimes that's exactly what you need. I've read a loooot of her books when I was 14/15 years old..that was the last time I've read them. I absolutely loved them at the time. I'm thinking of reading one of her books just for the old times sake! =)
August 1, 2019
I love it when genre “fun” reads also manage to be literary and so well written. This is one of the best written gothic romances I’ve read recently. It certainly had me turning pages and feeling for the MC. Excellent escapism read with elements of deeper, discussion-worthy meaning.
March 2, 2021
So I tracked down this book as a COVID read, having read it a long time ago, when I was in Jr. High or Highschool.
However, the copy I was given back then had been edited by its owner to remove any overt raciness (mostly done by Sharpie, but I also recall a several page section being torn out as well).
Without spoiling any plot points, let's just say the racier bits do actually matter and have consequences for our heroine.
Anyway, of all the Victoria Holt's I read all those years ago, this one stuck with me. Whether because of the guesswork I had to put into it or the actual story, I'm not sure. But having more me time, I thought to revisit this one.
The characters are more developed and nuanced than is often seen in these types of romances. This story also has several very independent women who defied their Victorian environment without feeling anachronistic. I didn't like or agree with all the characters at times, including the heroine, but I believed that people could behave that way.
The framing of the story with Queen Victoria's Golden and Diamond Jubilees was interesting. The mystery of the novel is a slow burn and resolves rather abruptly (and conveniently for some), but also isn't what one might expect.
Overall, I think there is some quality writing here even if the plot or characters might not be to everyone's taste.
Lastly, the aforementioned raciness is pretty mild. Illegitimacy and adultery come up. One character moonlights at brothel to earn extra money. There is one scene at that brothel where nothing more than talking happens. So I get why someone might find this to be too much, but it is all told pretty dryly and circumspectly. The most titillating this gets are some stolen kisses. I didn't notice any swearing.
However, the copy I was given back then had been edited by its owner to remove any overt raciness (mostly done by Sharpie, but I also recall a several page section being torn out as well).
Without spoiling any plot points, let's just say the racier bits do actually matter and have consequences for our heroine.
Anyway, of all the Victoria Holt's I read all those years ago, this one stuck with me. Whether because of the guesswork I had to put into it or the actual story, I'm not sure. But having more me time, I thought to revisit this one.
The characters are more developed and nuanced than is often seen in these types of romances. This story also has several very independent women who defied their Victorian environment without feeling anachronistic. I didn't like or agree with all the characters at times, including the heroine, but I believed that people could behave that way.
The framing of the story with Queen Victoria's Golden and Diamond Jubilees was interesting. The mystery of the novel is a slow burn and resolves rather abruptly (and conveniently for some), but also isn't what one might expect.
Overall, I think there is some quality writing here even if the plot or characters might not be to everyone's taste.
Lastly, the aforementioned raciness is pretty mild. Illegitimacy and adultery come up. One character moonlights at brothel to earn extra money. There is one scene at that brothel where nothing more than talking happens. So I get why someone might find this to be too much, but it is all told pretty dryly and circumspectly. The most titillating this gets are some stolen kisses. I didn't notice any swearing.
July 8, 2021
Boy, was this book a roller coaster!
I want to start off by saying that I'm not a fan of these old english romantic story book types...
...however...
...This book was different!
If you want to try out reading one of these kind of novels but you don't want one where everyone is a dunce and acting like they're in a telenovela, try out The Landower Legacy.
The Landower Legacy is the story of Caroline Tressidor's life during a span of ten years. A coming of age story.
It shows how Caroline was as a teenager and how she grew to be the person at the end of the book, how she overcomes the obstacles in her life, and, most importantly (to me at least), Caroline feels real, she is no idiot that makes decisions that no girl or woman in real life would make, There's a love story, determination, drama, revenge... At first by title and synopses I thought it would just be one entire long story revolving around her love for Paul Landower but was pleasantly surprised that the scenery changes many times throughout the book, the world doesn't revolve around anyone and many characters are given good backstories and feel like they could be real people. I felt as though I knew Caroline and her closest ones and I could feel her learn with her life's happenings and "mould" her character to it, just like any person in life learns from their mistakes.
I want to start off by saying that I'm not a fan of these old english romantic story book types...
...however...
...This book was different!
If you want to try out reading one of these kind of novels but you don't want one where everyone is a dunce and acting like they're in a telenovela, try out The Landower Legacy.
The Landower Legacy is the story of Caroline Tressidor's life during a span of ten years. A coming of age story.
It shows how Caroline was as a teenager and how she grew to be the person at the end of the book, how she overcomes the obstacles in her life, and, most importantly (to me at least), Caroline feels real, she is no idiot that makes decisions that no girl or woman in real life would make, There's a love story, determination, drama, revenge... At first by title and synopses I thought it would just be one entire long story revolving around her love for Paul Landower but was pleasantly surprised that the scenery changes many times throughout the book, the world doesn't revolve around anyone and many characters are given good backstories and feel like they could be real people. I felt as though I knew Caroline and her closest ones and I could feel her learn with her life's happenings and "mould" her character to it, just like any person in life learns from their mistakes.
December 29, 2022
La historia se centra en la familia Tressidor, enfocándose en la menor de las hijas, Caroline, quien junto a su hermana Olive siempre han estado alejados de sus padres, con un padre estricto y que la imagen lo es todo para él, una madre hermosa pero muy vanidosa dejan de lado a sus hijos, un día un capitán muy amigo de la familia va a visitarlos, lo que de cierta manera hace que el corazón de Caroline se agite, pensando que este esta interesado en ella se deja llevar por los planes de su madre en que quiere que pasen mas tiempo juntos, un día en la salida de la reina deciden ir a la casa de este para ver el desfile pero un accidente pasa cerca de ahí lo que impacta a Caroline y sin querer le cuenta esto a su padre, quien no sabia de esta visita y que destapa varias verdades que hacen que Caroline sea enviada lejos con una tia lejana, quien heredara todo, donde conocerá a dos chicos, Jago quien se convertirá en un gran amigo y Paul, quien le robara el corazón.
Jago y Paul son dueños de una gran propiedad que por despilfarre de sus antepasados se encuentra en ruinas y se verán en la necesidad de vender aquel bello patrimonio, Caroline pasa grandes momentos con ellos hasta que es enviada de vuelta con su hermana y luego pasa a estar con su madre.
Así pasara el tiempo y el reencuentro con sus viejos amigos le cambiara la vida.
Esta historia estará llena de intrigas y de misterios que te harán dudar de los culpables y de los inocentes, aunque había un personaje del que ya podía esperarme algo aun asi me hizo dudar la autora por un momento.
Jago y Paul son dueños de una gran propiedad que por despilfarre de sus antepasados se encuentra en ruinas y se verán en la necesidad de vender aquel bello patrimonio, Caroline pasa grandes momentos con ellos hasta que es enviada de vuelta con su hermana y luego pasa a estar con su madre.
Así pasara el tiempo y el reencuentro con sus viejos amigos le cambiara la vida.
Esta historia estará llena de intrigas y de misterios que te harán dudar de los culpables y de los inocentes, aunque había un personaje del que ya podía esperarme algo aun asi me hizo dudar la autora por un momento.
August 3, 2022
El final de Jamie ..
es adictivo y ya en las ultiamas docientas paginas no paras hasta ver como se resuelve todo
la historia esta muy bien escrita y puedes entender como las mujeres en esas epocas eran sacadas de sus riquesas solo por que el hombre se hace cargo de las finanzas. como un marido debe exigirle a su compañera serle fiel o habra escandalo , y los hombres se acuestan con mujeres que venden sus cuerpos. ah pero la mujer es la mujer.
por eso nos encontramos con Caroline , una jove que fue expulsada de su hogar al descubrir que ella no eraq de la familia por una indiscrecion de su madre que no es una buena mujer. Caroline se refugia en su prometido Jeremy , que este al descubrir que ella no tendria fortuna ni nada ah pero su hermana fea si , decidio dejarla y casarse con la hermana que si heredaria todo y seria una mujer rica. Olivia acepta casarse por que lo ama , y sabe que ella alado de su hermana no es una mujer bella. no le quedaba otra. Caroline decide irse y su prima que n oes prima pero que tambien es una paria ya que ella heredo una fortuna enorme, y toda la familia la repudia ya que ella al ser mujer no debe heredad aunque sea la primogenita. Caroline se reencuentra con Paul un chico 6 años mayor que ella, al que siempre amo en secreto, creyo que el estaba soltero mmm nop , esta bien casado aunque sea un matrimonio por conveniencia...
que ara la pobre Caroline?
es adictivo y ya en las ultiamas docientas paginas no paras hasta ver como se resuelve todo
la historia esta muy bien escrita y puedes entender como las mujeres en esas epocas eran sacadas de sus riquesas solo por que el hombre se hace cargo de las finanzas. como un marido debe exigirle a su compañera serle fiel o habra escandalo , y los hombres se acuestan con mujeres que venden sus cuerpos. ah pero la mujer es la mujer.
por eso nos encontramos con Caroline , una jove que fue expulsada de su hogar al descubrir que ella no eraq de la familia por una indiscrecion de su madre que no es una buena mujer. Caroline se refugia en su prometido Jeremy , que este al descubrir que ella no tendria fortuna ni nada ah pero su hermana fea si , decidio dejarla y casarse con la hermana que si heredaria todo y seria una mujer rica. Olivia acepta casarse por que lo ama , y sabe que ella alado de su hermana no es una mujer bella. no le quedaba otra. Caroline decide irse y su prima que n oes prima pero que tambien es una paria ya que ella heredo una fortuna enorme, y toda la familia la repudia ya que ella al ser mujer no debe heredad aunque sea la primogenita. Caroline se reencuentra con Paul un chico 6 años mayor que ella, al que siempre amo en secreto, creyo que el estaba soltero mmm nop , esta bien casado aunque sea un matrimonio por conveniencia...
que ara la pobre Caroline?
November 30, 2020
Esta historia me dejó un gusto raro. Primero que nada empieza dando muchas vueltas para mi gusto con respecto a los orígenes de la protagonista.
E incluso para introducir personajes que van a ser importantes mucho más adelante se me hizo demasiado lento. En muchos momentos pensé dejar el libro, pero realmente quería saber a donde iba a parar.
Creo que la protagonista tiene la mala suerte de sufrir desgracias cada dos páginas, además de que en partes se me hacía insufrible por el constante hago o no hago.
Me sorprendió el giro de la trama al final, donde la autora decide sacarse de encima a la molesta esposa del interés amoroso, haciéndola matar por un personaje secundario.
Personalmente sentí que en la historia esa parte quedo muy fuera de lugar, venía por otro camino y acabo ahí como una forma de que los protagonistas terminen juntos. Y debo decir que protagonista masculino más soso por dios, la protagonista (que obviamente a este punto se nota que me olvidé los nombres de todos) tenía mucha más química con Jago (si, me gustó mucho su personaje, de hecho el único que sentí una conexión por así decirlo).
Sinceramente no me terminó de gustar para nada, hubiera sido muy buen final si desde un principio se tocaba ese tema y no a los dos últimos capítulos que solo le generan una molestia innecesaria al lector.
Me frustró el solor escribir esta reseña personal, por lo tanto le doy 2⭐
E incluso para introducir personajes que van a ser importantes mucho más adelante se me hizo demasiado lento. En muchos momentos pensé dejar el libro, pero realmente quería saber a donde iba a parar.
Creo que la protagonista tiene la mala suerte de sufrir desgracias cada dos páginas, además de que en partes se me hacía insufrible por el constante hago o no hago.
Me sorprendió el giro de la trama al final, donde la autora decide sacarse de encima a la molesta esposa del interés amoroso, haciéndola matar por un personaje secundario.
Personalmente sentí que en la historia esa parte quedo muy fuera de lugar, venía por otro camino y acabo ahí como una forma de que los protagonistas terminen juntos. Y debo decir que protagonista masculino más soso por dios, la protagonista (que obviamente a este punto se nota que me olvidé los nombres de todos) tenía mucha más química con Jago (si, me gustó mucho su personaje, de hecho el único que sentí una conexión por así decirlo).
Sinceramente no me terminó de gustar para nada, hubiera sido muy buen final si desde un principio se tocaba ese tema y no a los dos últimos capítulos que solo le generan una molestia innecesaria al lector.
Me frustró el solor escribir esta reseña personal, por lo tanto le doy 2⭐
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 8, 2021
I enjoyed The Landowner Legacy quite a bit, but it doesn't have the gothic romance elements I love in other Victoria Holt novels, nor did I care much for the romantic lead, Paul Landower. I loved Caroline Tressidor as a heroine though - she may be my favorite yet.
This book was more like The Spring of the Tiger (my all time favorite Victoria Holt as a kid, but I haven't been able to get my hands on a copy as an adult so who knows if it would stand the test of time), where we follow the heroine's tragic childhood and adolescence, where she meets a man who makes a great impression on her, but certain events separate them for many years before they reconnect and are finally able to live happily ever after. Caroline is a fantastic and well drawn heroine, which is what really makes this book so enjoyable. I have to admire a character who gets revenge on the man who jilted her then marries her half-sister; I only wish she hadn't been so in love with super boring Paul, who married a woman for her money to save his family's estate then is super resentful and a jerk and pays her back by chasing after Caroline right under her nose.
This book was more like The Spring of the Tiger (my all time favorite Victoria Holt as a kid, but I haven't been able to get my hands on a copy as an adult so who knows if it would stand the test of time), where we follow the heroine's tragic childhood and adolescence, where she meets a man who makes a great impression on her, but certain events separate them for many years before they reconnect and are finally able to live happily ever after. Caroline is a fantastic and well drawn heroine, which is what really makes this book so enjoyable. I have to admire a character who gets revenge on the man who jilted her then marries her half-sister; I only wish she hadn't been so in love with super boring Paul, who married a woman for her money to save his family's estate then is super resentful and a jerk and pays her back by chasing after Caroline right under her nose.
August 4, 2022
4.0 Banished the country to stay with a distant cousin of her family Caroline has an entirely new life. Caroline has inadvertently blurted out some information concerning her mother and someone whoi was romancing her mother. When Caroline's father found this out the family split apart and Caroline's older sister Olivia was left at home with the parents and Caroline sent away. The distant cousin owned a beautiful estate in the country and was a hard working woman who inherited it and Caroline's father resented a woman being given the chance to prove herself. Caroline is welcomed by this cousin Mary and grows very fond of her but then she is called back to London. A few years pass and once again she gets a chance to go back and meet with people two brothers she met before one now married to someone who rescued the crumbling house they in and restored it. Caroline was disinherited when her father dies as he actually was not her father but she is happy with Mary and her future will be good even though she may or may not marry as her romances do not seem to turn the way they should..
September 3, 2019
Fue un estupendo libro. Con un poco de cada cosa. La escritora tiene un modo hermoso de describir y de tomarse la calma de meternos en su mundo. Caroline es una niña al principio del libro, que piensa que todo en su vida es perfecto, hasta que ciertos acontecimientos que no llega a comprender su visión inocente la alejan de todo cuanto conoce. Es la primera visita que realiza a Landower, dónde es aceptada por la prima Mary.
Luego de retomar su vida en Londres, dónde es profundamente infeliz bajo la distinción que hace su padre entre ella y su hermana, comienza a resentirse y a extrañar más que nunca aquellos tiempos que pasaron. A la muerte de su padre y encontrarse en la calle sin un penique, nuevamente tiene que pensar, qué hará con su vida.
Es una historia de amor, sí. Pero sobre todo de fortaleza, de superación, de reflexión. ¿Vale la pena dar todo por el dinero? ¿Sobrevive el amor a la pobreza? ¿No nos hacen las experiencias más fríos, más sabios?
A mi personalmente, me encantó.
Luego de retomar su vida en Londres, dónde es profundamente infeliz bajo la distinción que hace su padre entre ella y su hermana, comienza a resentirse y a extrañar más que nunca aquellos tiempos que pasaron. A la muerte de su padre y encontrarse en la calle sin un penique, nuevamente tiene que pensar, qué hará con su vida.
Es una historia de amor, sí. Pero sobre todo de fortaleza, de superación, de reflexión. ¿Vale la pena dar todo por el dinero? ¿Sobrevive el amor a la pobreza? ¿No nos hacen las experiencias más fríos, más sabios?
A mi personalmente, me encantó.
September 22, 2020
I love Caroline the leading lady. Seeing her from 14 to 24 in this book is a treat because she matured and became a better person. I love her optimistic and jovial spirit, able to rise after each setback. Her love interest is a flawed man. He sure learned his lesson. To me he's not as memorable. It is essentially Caroline's story. The 10 year story line allows characters to reveal themselves and to see what happened to them. It is so satisfying to read. I read and re-read this book many many many times over the decades, both in Chinese version and in English version. For some strange reason this story always gives me the escape from reality I needed, along with Caroline from a girl who stole glimpse of house guests above the staircase, a boarder at her aunt's place in Cornwall, a student in south of France, dream of being a loved wife in London, to retreating back to Cornwall......everything she's going thru.
May 22, 2025
Вікторія Голт, як завжди, в міру романтична, в міру таємнича, в міру поміркована.
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У цьому товстунчику вона змальовує життя Керолайн — дівчини, яка виросла у заможній родині, але втратила спадок, тому що виявилася "дитям гріху" своєї матері. Втім, у неї є друзі і жага бути самостійною і ні від кого не залежати. А це — неабищо.
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Мені імпонували атмосферні і загадкові описи Корнуоллу з його легендами та повір'ями. Письменниця намагалася інтригувати до кінця, але досвідчений читач легко розв'яже усі задачі ще на початку. Та попри це, книга цікава і невимушена, залишає приємні враження.
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Голт у своїх романах доволі часто обирає традиційні принципи ХІХ століття, мовляв, для жінки головне вдало вийти заміж. Тут вона частково їх порушує, зображуючи чоловіків, які шукають грошовитих дружин та жінок, які прагнуть бути незалежними. Так, зрештою, хтось розплачується життям за свою необачність, а інші знаходять своє щастя.
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У цьому товстунчику вона змальовує життя Керолайн — дівчини, яка виросла у заможній родині, але втратила спадок, тому що виявилася "дитям гріху" своєї матері. Втім, у неї є друзі і жага бути самостійною і ні від кого не залежати. А це — неабищо.
⠀
Мені імпонували атмосферні і загадкові описи Корнуоллу з його легендами та повір'ями. Письменниця намагалася інтригувати до кінця, але досвідчений читач легко розв'яже усі задачі ще на початку. Та попри це, книга цікава і невимушена, залишає приємні враження.
⠀
Голт у своїх романах доволі часто обирає традиційні принципи ХІХ століття, мовляв, для жінки головне вдало вийти заміж. Тут вона частково їх порушує, зображуючи чоловіків, які шукають грошовитих дружин та жінок, які прагнуть бути незалежними. Так, зрештою, хтось розплачується життям за свою необачність, а інші знаходять своє щастя.
April 22, 2021
I liked the female protag and narrator. She was quite interesting and especially her view as a young girl on events and relationships and behaviours was excellent.
The strenths of the story lies with the female characters and their interactions and relations, from Caroline and her sister and mother, the formidable Cousin, Rosie and even Gwennie.
The big weekness in this book are the men. Beginning with the father, the fiance and finally and unfortunately the love interest.
There was no reason whatsoever for Caroline to fall for Paul. He had literally no qualities whatsoever. He was immoral, a liar, a bad father, an awful husband and all around horrible human being.
But still a good read - very good writing and a good plot. I would have loved it without the romance (or a different male love interest).
The strenths of the story lies with the female characters and their interactions and relations, from Caroline and her sister and mother, the formidable Cousin, Rosie and even Gwennie.
The big weekness in this book are the men. Beginning with the father, the fiance and finally and unfortunately the love interest.
There was no reason whatsoever for Caroline to fall for Paul. He had literally no qualities whatsoever. He was immoral, a liar, a bad father, an awful husband and all around horrible human being.
But still a good read - very good writing and a good plot. I would have loved it without the romance (or a different male love interest).
April 22, 2020
Caroline Tressidor is the youngest daughter of a nobleman. Her beauty and charisma sets her apart from her older more serious sister. When she is sent away to stay with her aunt in the country, Caroline's world changes forever. Her aunt is the spinster of the family and manages the family's country estate (that she had inherited). While visiting, Caroline meets the neighbors, befriends the youngest son, Jago, and falls for the elder son, Paul. Her life is in upheaveal though and she is forced home to London just as quickly as she was sent away. Will she find love and peace in her life?
A fun easy "summer" read. Ms Holt writes romantic historical novels with women as her main character; and typically they are strong and independent. A fun easy read.
A fun easy "summer" read. Ms Holt writes romantic historical novels with women as her main character; and typically they are strong and independent. A fun easy read.
April 7, 2021
Caroline and her sister Olivia Tressidor, Cousin Mary of Tressidor Manor, the brooding Paul Landower and his carefree younger brother Jago, Rosie the parlourmaid. The Landowers' papa had gambled away the estate, so Paul marries Gwennie, whose father has plenty of money to pay off debts and renovate, yet he is miserable. Gwennie never lets him forget that she owns Landower, constantly saying how much she spent to restore such and such.
Tressidor Manor and esp. Landower own the people, not vice versa. And there's gentle Jamie, the Scottish beekeeper, afraid of the return of his twin, Donald.
It came near to ending in tragedy several times, and I was convinced it would, but the ending surprised me. A quite satisfying novel.
Tressidor Manor and esp. Landower own the people, not vice versa. And there's gentle Jamie, the Scottish beekeeper, afraid of the return of his twin, Donald.
It came near to ending in tragedy several times, and I was convinced it would, but the ending surprised me. A quite satisfying novel.
April 17, 2012
From http://rominasbkreviews.blogspot.com/
This is the first book by Victoria Holt that I ever read, so I really didn’t know what to expect. I had come across some interesting reviews and recommendations from readers who enjoyed gothic novels and historically accurate events in them, which I also consider a must, so I decided to give it a chance.
First of all, I researched a bit on the author and I found out that ‘Victoria Holt’ was a pseudonym used by Eleanor Alice Burford Hibbert to write novels which took place in the Victorian Era (which is probably why she chose the name Victoria). She had other pseudonyms for other historical eras she wrote about, which I found to be also appealing and have since put in my ‘one-day-to-read’ list. Anyway, down to the story.
The Landower Legacy is a story about a girl, Caroline Tressidor, who is dissatisfied with her parents, particularly her father. Following the customs of the times, they ignored their children and let the servants and governess raise them, leaving the little ones with an emotional ache. The only one she had any type of emotional connection with was with her older sister, Olivia. At the start of the story Caroline is 13 and Olivia is 15, about to enter into her ‘season’, when according to the conventions, 16 year old girls ‘came out’ in society in order to catch a husband. Yup, that was the objective: getting a desirably rich and handsome husband.
The drama of the novel begins at the time of Queen Victoria’s Jubilee (celebration of being 50 years in power) and Caroline and her sister are taken by her mother to watch the ceremony with a friend of her mother’s Captain Carmichael, without the consent nor the knowledge of their father. It turns out that her mother and the Captain were carrying on an affair and Caroline unknowingly told her father, so her mother was sent away to the continent and Caroline was sent to her father Cousin Mary’s house, a fact she can’t understand because her father utterly dislikes his cousin for not permitting him to inherit the home that actually belonged to the said female cousin. On the way to Cornwall (where the dreaded cousin lived), she met two young men, Paul and Jago Landower, neighbors of Cousin Mary. These two men will affect Caroline’s life in very different ways as is expected since both are tall, dark, and mysterious, especially the older brother, Paul.
Up to this point, the story finally began to pick up because it was somewhat tedious. There is too much ‘unexplained events’, which are actually quite obvious to everyone, except to the main character, of course. I thought that Caroline would fall in love with one of these two Landower males from the start, however that was not to be. She had to return to her home in London where she was destined to fall in love and later on be rejected due to pecuniary reasons, making our heroine be somewhat bitter. Holt did depict well though the heartbreak Caroline went through, although perhaps a bit exaggerated because the reader felt the whole time that she had to get over it already since there were Landowers awaiting in the south of England.
I must say that Caroline Tressidor’s character evolution was well depicted. She went from being a very innocent girl to a gullible teenager, to an almost bitter young woman, to finally being a resolute young woman who held on to her moral convictions, no matter what… even when she was tempted to do otherwise by the person she loved.
Paul Tressidor was a conniving fortune hunter who would do anything to not lose the ancestral home, and he did. He was a liar and took advantage of and used Caroline to forget his horrible life, which he created. It was very difficult to like him because he wasn’t shown in a positive light; he seemed to be more obsessed with Caroline because she wouldn’t give herself to him, and didn’t really appear to be in love with her. I rooted for them to be together because that was what was expected of me as a reader, but he wasn’t what I really wanted for her.
Olivia Tressidor was the typical ‘too good to be true’ individual who had a tragic ending. She never quite grew as a person and one could hardly believe that she was as weak as she seemed. Although she supposedly really loved her sister, she participated in hurting her in a major way, which was the only time she actually showed some gumption.
I enjoyed reading my first Victoria Holt, however I wasn’t ‘blown away’ with her writing style or her story. There were too many dragging moments, particularly when the Heroine wasn’t with the Hero, which was more than half the book. She describes the settings really well, Cornwall really came alive for me and if I ever go to England I’d like to go there, but a strong description cannot replace the general storyline. I wanted the Heroine to suffer more; she just seemed to take it all in stride (except her heartbreak moment). Nonetheless, the ending was the most anticlimactic moment and I REALLY expected more emotional conveyance. The author simply resorted to telling us what happened in the end and how it was all ‘resolved’ and they lived ‘happily ever after.’ The reader wasn’t given the moment in which the lovers FINALLY come together after all their struggle and share their love and devotion and whatnot. That necessary joyful moment. I’m aware she was trying to emulate the typical 19th century writing technique a la Bronte and Austen, but since it was 20th century, it simply didn’t work. I was utterly disappointed and expected much more, seriously. I hope that my next Holt book, ‘The Mistress of Mellyn’ doesn’t have the same weakness at the end. 3 stars.
This is the first book by Victoria Holt that I ever read, so I really didn’t know what to expect. I had come across some interesting reviews and recommendations from readers who enjoyed gothic novels and historically accurate events in them, which I also consider a must, so I decided to give it a chance.
First of all, I researched a bit on the author and I found out that ‘Victoria Holt’ was a pseudonym used by Eleanor Alice Burford Hibbert to write novels which took place in the Victorian Era (which is probably why she chose the name Victoria). She had other pseudonyms for other historical eras she wrote about, which I found to be also appealing and have since put in my ‘one-day-to-read’ list. Anyway, down to the story.
The Landower Legacy is a story about a girl, Caroline Tressidor, who is dissatisfied with her parents, particularly her father. Following the customs of the times, they ignored their children and let the servants and governess raise them, leaving the little ones with an emotional ache. The only one she had any type of emotional connection with was with her older sister, Olivia. At the start of the story Caroline is 13 and Olivia is 15, about to enter into her ‘season’, when according to the conventions, 16 year old girls ‘came out’ in society in order to catch a husband. Yup, that was the objective: getting a desirably rich and handsome husband.
The drama of the novel begins at the time of Queen Victoria’s Jubilee (celebration of being 50 years in power) and Caroline and her sister are taken by her mother to watch the ceremony with a friend of her mother’s Captain Carmichael, without the consent nor the knowledge of their father. It turns out that her mother and the Captain were carrying on an affair and Caroline unknowingly told her father, so her mother was sent away to the continent and Caroline was sent to her father Cousin Mary’s house, a fact she can’t understand because her father utterly dislikes his cousin for not permitting him to inherit the home that actually belonged to the said female cousin. On the way to Cornwall (where the dreaded cousin lived), she met two young men, Paul and Jago Landower, neighbors of Cousin Mary. These two men will affect Caroline’s life in very different ways as is expected since both are tall, dark, and mysterious, especially the older brother, Paul.
Up to this point, the story finally began to pick up because it was somewhat tedious. There is too much ‘unexplained events’, which are actually quite obvious to everyone, except to the main character, of course. I thought that Caroline would fall in love with one of these two Landower males from the start, however that was not to be. She had to return to her home in London where she was destined to fall in love and later on be rejected due to pecuniary reasons, making our heroine be somewhat bitter. Holt did depict well though the heartbreak Caroline went through, although perhaps a bit exaggerated because the reader felt the whole time that she had to get over it already since there were Landowers awaiting in the south of England.
I must say that Caroline Tressidor’s character evolution was well depicted. She went from being a very innocent girl to a gullible teenager, to an almost bitter young woman, to finally being a resolute young woman who held on to her moral convictions, no matter what… even when she was tempted to do otherwise by the person she loved.
Paul Tressidor was a conniving fortune hunter who would do anything to not lose the ancestral home, and he did. He was a liar and took advantage of and used Caroline to forget his horrible life, which he created. It was very difficult to like him because he wasn’t shown in a positive light; he seemed to be more obsessed with Caroline because she wouldn’t give herself to him, and didn’t really appear to be in love with her. I rooted for them to be together because that was what was expected of me as a reader, but he wasn’t what I really wanted for her.
Olivia Tressidor was the typical ‘too good to be true’ individual who had a tragic ending. She never quite grew as a person and one could hardly believe that she was as weak as she seemed. Although she supposedly really loved her sister, she participated in hurting her in a major way, which was the only time she actually showed some gumption.
I enjoyed reading my first Victoria Holt, however I wasn’t ‘blown away’ with her writing style or her story. There were too many dragging moments, particularly when the Heroine wasn’t with the Hero, which was more than half the book. She describes the settings really well, Cornwall really came alive for me and if I ever go to England I’d like to go there, but a strong description cannot replace the general storyline. I wanted the Heroine to suffer more; she just seemed to take it all in stride (except her heartbreak moment). Nonetheless, the ending was the most anticlimactic moment and I REALLY expected more emotional conveyance. The author simply resorted to telling us what happened in the end and how it was all ‘resolved’ and they lived ‘happily ever after.’ The reader wasn’t given the moment in which the lovers FINALLY come together after all their struggle and share their love and devotion and whatnot. That necessary joyful moment. I’m aware she was trying to emulate the typical 19th century writing technique a la Bronte and Austen, but since it was 20th century, it simply didn’t work. I was utterly disappointed and expected much more, seriously. I hope that my next Holt book, ‘The Mistress of Mellyn’ doesn’t have the same weakness at the end. 3 stars.
November 15, 2018
Wow... it’s been so long since I’ve read Victoria Holt and this was such a fun time!
Victoria Holt was the first author that kept me up until three in the morning when I was much younger. Her books have always been held in special regard in my mind, and this certainly lived up to the self pronounced hype.
I’m only giving it four stars instead of five for some menial complaints that have to do with a few overused phrases, story structure, and personal dislike of some characters.
I was wondering how things were going to wrap up and I have to say that it took a turn I was NOT expecting!
I will certainly be picking up more of this author in the near future.
Victoria Holt was the first author that kept me up until three in the morning when I was much younger. Her books have always been held in special regard in my mind, and this certainly lived up to the self pronounced hype.
I’m only giving it four stars instead of five for some menial complaints that have to do with a few overused phrases, story structure, and personal dislike of some characters.
I was wondering how things were going to wrap up and I have to say that it took a turn I was NOT expecting!
I will certainly be picking up more of this author in the near future.
April 8, 2022
The story takes place in Victorian England with its wealthy landowners and historic mansions and estates. The protagonist is a young woman who is repeatedly betrayed by men and finds it difficult to establish a life. The characters are interesting, the story somewhat predictable but yet engaging. I liked some of the minor characters better than the main characters. I wanted to read to the end, and I did, but I found the writing to be repetitive, overwritten, and melodramatic. I guess many readers liked this sort of thing in the 1970s due to the huge popularity of Victoria Holt. I liked the book but found myself saying “get on with it” too frequently.
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