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Let Love Come Last
"Let love come last" was William Prescott's credo. But for the woman who married him love came first, last, and always.
Even when William made it clear he had married her only for offspring...
Even when, brutally overriding her refined sensibility, he imprisoned her in a mansion of overwhelming opulence, an accursed house that brought all who lived there grief...
Even when, before her eyes, she saw him destroying their children with his misguided indulgence...
For here was a man more powerful, more truly gigantic than any she had ever known, a man she knew she would love until death...
Even when William made it clear he had married her only for offspring...
Even when, brutally overriding her refined sensibility, he imprisoned her in a mansion of overwhelming opulence, an accursed house that brought all who lived there grief...
Even when, before her eyes, she saw him destroying their children with his misguided indulgence...
For here was a man more powerful, more truly gigantic than any she had ever known, a man she knew she would love until death...
446 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 1, 1949
About the author
Taylor Caldwell
118 books575 followers Also known by the pen names Marcus Holland and Max Reiner.
Taylor Caldwell was born in Manchester, England. In 1907 she emigrated to the United States with her parents and younger brother. Her father died shortly after the move, and the family struggled. At the age of eight she started to write stories, and in fact wrote her first novel, The Romance of Atlantis, at the age of twelve (although it remained unpublished until 1975). Her father did not approve such activity for women, and sent her to work in a bindery. She continued to write prolifically, however, despite ill health. (In 1947, according to TIME magazine, she discarded and burned the manuscripts of 140 unpublished novels.)
In 1918-1919, she served in the United States Navy Reserve. In 1919 she married William F. Combs. In 1920, they had a daughter, Mary (known as "Peggy"). From 1923 to 1924 she was a court reporter in New York State Department of Labor in Buffalo, New York. In 1924, she went to work for the United States Department of Justice, as a member of the Board of Special Inquiry (an immigration tribunal) in Buffalo. In 1931 she graduated from SUNY Buffalo, and also was divorced from William Combs.
Caldwell then married her second husband, Marcus Reback, a fellow Justice employee. She had a second child with Reback, a daughter Judith, in 1932. They were married for 40 years, until his death in 1971.
In 1934, she began to work on the novel Dynasty of Death, which she and Reback completed in collaboration. It was published in 1938 and became a best-seller. "Taylor Caldwell" was presumed to be a man, and there was some public stir when the author was revealed to be a woman. Over the next 43 years, she published 42 more novels, many of them best-sellers. For instance, This Side of Innocence was the biggest fiction seller of 1946. Her works sold an estimated 30 million copies. She became wealthy, traveling to Europe and elsewhere, though she still lived near Buffalo.
Her books were big sellers right up to the end of her career. During her career as a writer, she received several awards.
She was an outspoken conservative and for a time wrote for the John Birch Society's monthly journal American Opinion and even associated with the anti-Semitic Liberty Lobby. Her memoir, On Growing Up Tough, appeared in 1971, consisting of many edited-down articles from American Opinion.
Around 1970, she became interested in reincarnation. She had become friends with well-known occultist author Jess Stearn, who suggested that the vivid detail in her many historical novels was actually subconscious recollection of previous lives. Supposedly, she agreed to be hypnotized and undergo "past-life regression" to disprove reincarnation. According to Stearn's book, The Search of a Soul - Taylor Caldwell's Psychic Lives, Caldwell instead began to recall her own past lives - eleven in all, including one on the "lost continent" of Lemuria.
In 1972, she married William Everett Stancell, a retired real estate developer, but divorced him in 1973. In 1978, she married William Robert Prestie, an eccentric Canadian 17 years her junior. This led to difficulties with her children. She had a long dispute with her daughter Judith over the estate of Judith's father Marcus; in 1979 Judith committed suicide.
Also in 1979, Caldwell suffered a stroke, which left her unable to speak, though she could still write. (She had been deaf since about 1965.) Her daughter Peggy accused Prestie of abusing and exploiting Caldwell, and there was a legal battle over her substantial assets.
She died of heart failure in Greenwich, Conn
Taylor Caldwell was born in Manchester, England. In 1907 she emigrated to the United States with her parents and younger brother. Her father died shortly after the move, and the family struggled. At the age of eight she started to write stories, and in fact wrote her first novel, The Romance of Atlantis, at the age of twelve (although it remained unpublished until 1975). Her father did not approve such activity for women, and sent her to work in a bindery. She continued to write prolifically, however, despite ill health. (In 1947, according to TIME magazine, she discarded and burned the manuscripts of 140 unpublished novels.)
In 1918-1919, she served in the United States Navy Reserve. In 1919 she married William F. Combs. In 1920, they had a daughter, Mary (known as "Peggy"). From 1923 to 1924 she was a court reporter in New York State Department of Labor in Buffalo, New York. In 1924, she went to work for the United States Department of Justice, as a member of the Board of Special Inquiry (an immigration tribunal) in Buffalo. In 1931 she graduated from SUNY Buffalo, and also was divorced from William Combs.
Caldwell then married her second husband, Marcus Reback, a fellow Justice employee. She had a second child with Reback, a daughter Judith, in 1932. They were married for 40 years, until his death in 1971.
In 1934, she began to work on the novel Dynasty of Death, which she and Reback completed in collaboration. It was published in 1938 and became a best-seller. "Taylor Caldwell" was presumed to be a man, and there was some public stir when the author was revealed to be a woman. Over the next 43 years, she published 42 more novels, many of them best-sellers. For instance, This Side of Innocence was the biggest fiction seller of 1946. Her works sold an estimated 30 million copies. She became wealthy, traveling to Europe and elsewhere, though she still lived near Buffalo.
Her books were big sellers right up to the end of her career. During her career as a writer, she received several awards.
She was an outspoken conservative and for a time wrote for the John Birch Society's monthly journal American Opinion and even associated with the anti-Semitic Liberty Lobby. Her memoir, On Growing Up Tough, appeared in 1971, consisting of many edited-down articles from American Opinion.
Around 1970, she became interested in reincarnation. She had become friends with well-known occultist author Jess Stearn, who suggested that the vivid detail in her many historical novels was actually subconscious recollection of previous lives. Supposedly, she agreed to be hypnotized and undergo "past-life regression" to disprove reincarnation. According to Stearn's book, The Search of a Soul - Taylor Caldwell's Psychic Lives, Caldwell instead began to recall her own past lives - eleven in all, including one on the "lost continent" of Lemuria.
In 1972, she married William Everett Stancell, a retired real estate developer, but divorced him in 1973. In 1978, she married William Robert Prestie, an eccentric Canadian 17 years her junior. This led to difficulties with her children. She had a long dispute with her daughter Judith over the estate of Judith's father Marcus; in 1979 Judith committed suicide.
Also in 1979, Caldwell suffered a stroke, which left her unable to speak, though she could still write. (She had been deaf since about 1965.) Her daughter Peggy accused Prestie of abusing and exploiting Caldwell, and there was a legal battle over her substantial assets.
She died of heart failure in Greenwich, Conn
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
September 4, 2019
Taylor Caldwell is one of Daughter #2’s favorite authors. She highly recommended her Let Love Come Last, so I decided to give it a try.
The book opens with Ursula, who is a young woman living with her father. Quickly, up-and-coming suitor William Prescott takes a shine to her and soon they are married. Mr. Prescott has a young adopted son, Oliver, and he wants Ursula to be a mother to Oliver — as well as the children of his own that he hopes to have.
Mr. Prescott proves to be very successful in business, but less successful in raising Oliver and the subsequent four children he has with Ursula. He is permissive and allows the children everything they want. Although Ursula feels this is a mistake, she defers to William.
This is a sprawling epic, and we follow the family as the children grow to adulthood. I won’t give any spoilers, but there are definitely some plot twists and surprises. You can imagine, given their permissive upbringing, that the children as adults turn out … interesting, to say the least.
Let Love Come Last was published in 1949, and does call back that era. It has a similar feel to Rebecca (written in 1938) and Gone With the Wind (1936) — very gothic and dramatic. As the book opens, Ursula opines: “My life is closing in upon me … it does not matter. I am an old maid. Even that does not matter. I have a peaceful fire waiting for me, and books, and I have eight thousand dollars in the bank, and no one can disturb me.” Can’t you just hear Scarlett O’Hara saying something similar?
Parts of the book even gave me a Jane Eyre vibe. When Ursula asks William why he wants to marry her — “‘Because Oliver needs a mother. Because I think you will be a proper mother for my children. Because the house I am building needs a mistress.’ He threw the words at her insultingly, but she realized he was defending himself against what he instinctively knew, and yet would not admit, because he had never wished to love her, and hated her for it. He continued furiously. ‘I intended to marry some time. I intended to marry a woman like you, a lady, of good family. I had hoped to marry a woman with money. It is unfortunate that you are poor. Yet I still wish you would marry me.'” Can’t you just hear Mr. Rochester on a tirade like that?
Or listen to Ursula here — this is so Jane Eyre: “‘Does not a servant have flesh and bones that would protest if laid on a cot fit for a child? Is not a servant a human being?'”
This is a book of its time, and I had to laugh when I read lines like “You were brought up by a very womanish man, I have heard.”
And the drama: “If you don’t tell me, I’ll leave this city forever. It’s that bad.”
This saga kept my attention, and I really did enjoy it. I’m surprised it’s not better-known than it is. I would recommend “Let Love Come Last.”
The book opens with Ursula, who is a young woman living with her father. Quickly, up-and-coming suitor William Prescott takes a shine to her and soon they are married. Mr. Prescott has a young adopted son, Oliver, and he wants Ursula to be a mother to Oliver — as well as the children of his own that he hopes to have.
Mr. Prescott proves to be very successful in business, but less successful in raising Oliver and the subsequent four children he has with Ursula. He is permissive and allows the children everything they want. Although Ursula feels this is a mistake, she defers to William.
This is a sprawling epic, and we follow the family as the children grow to adulthood. I won’t give any spoilers, but there are definitely some plot twists and surprises. You can imagine, given their permissive upbringing, that the children as adults turn out … interesting, to say the least.
Let Love Come Last was published in 1949, and does call back that era. It has a similar feel to Rebecca (written in 1938) and Gone With the Wind (1936) — very gothic and dramatic. As the book opens, Ursula opines: “My life is closing in upon me … it does not matter. I am an old maid. Even that does not matter. I have a peaceful fire waiting for me, and books, and I have eight thousand dollars in the bank, and no one can disturb me.” Can’t you just hear Scarlett O’Hara saying something similar?
Parts of the book even gave me a Jane Eyre vibe. When Ursula asks William why he wants to marry her — “‘Because Oliver needs a mother. Because I think you will be a proper mother for my children. Because the house I am building needs a mistress.’ He threw the words at her insultingly, but she realized he was defending himself against what he instinctively knew, and yet would not admit, because he had never wished to love her, and hated her for it. He continued furiously. ‘I intended to marry some time. I intended to marry a woman like you, a lady, of good family. I had hoped to marry a woman with money. It is unfortunate that you are poor. Yet I still wish you would marry me.'” Can’t you just hear Mr. Rochester on a tirade like that?
Or listen to Ursula here — this is so Jane Eyre: “‘Does not a servant have flesh and bones that would protest if laid on a cot fit for a child? Is not a servant a human being?'”
This is a book of its time, and I had to laugh when I read lines like “You were brought up by a very womanish man, I have heard.”
And the drama: “If you don’t tell me, I’ll leave this city forever. It’s that bad.”
This saga kept my attention, and I really did enjoy it. I’m surprised it’s not better-known than it is. I would recommend “Let Love Come Last.”
July 11, 2020
A re-read. Multiple times. I think this is Caldwell's greatest masterpiece!!
May 21, 2024
I enjoyed this book in a sense that it brings the reader on a journey and gives you hints along the way to make you say, what’s next? As well, draws your emotion to joy, anger, disappointed and yet hopeful.
It truly is a sad book where a dad gives his life away to his children, though he thinks out of love but yet out of deprivation to satisfy what he did not have in his life and to prove to the town, though he grew up as nothing he became something and that something revolved around money, wealth and power. This type of “love” only showed his children that they didn’t need to work hard in life and that everything revolved around them.
For the mother, I can feel bad for her, but she made me upset because she knew how he was before she married him. Though she was hopeful for his love but only till he passed away, did he show his love. She wanted to teach her kids the right way, with manners and care, but she loved her husband and decided to keep the peace though she saw her kids go to ruin.
There is a lot to learn from this book and you can’t help but think, how this story can be true to so many.
This quote from the mother, shows her heart for what she wanted to raise her children by, “Loving them doesn't mean giving them everything. It means not giving them everything and ensuring they become loveable, loving people.”.
Dad didn’t not like that but in the end did, yet to let.
I’d read this book again, any time!
It truly is a sad book where a dad gives his life away to his children, though he thinks out of love but yet out of deprivation to satisfy what he did not have in his life and to prove to the town, though he grew up as nothing he became something and that something revolved around money, wealth and power. This type of “love” only showed his children that they didn’t need to work hard in life and that everything revolved around them.
For the mother, I can feel bad for her, but she made me upset because she knew how he was before she married him. Though she was hopeful for his love but only till he passed away, did he show his love. She wanted to teach her kids the right way, with manners and care, but she loved her husband and decided to keep the peace though she saw her kids go to ruin.
There is a lot to learn from this book and you can’t help but think, how this story can be true to so many.
This quote from the mother, shows her heart for what she wanted to raise her children by, “Loving them doesn't mean giving them everything. It means not giving them everything and ensuring they become loveable, loving people.”.
Dad didn’t not like that but in the end did, yet to let.
I’d read this book again, any time!
January 27, 2021
I haven’t read Taylor Caldwell for many years, but I remember other of her books very fondly. This one, not so much. It reads like a rather ordinary epic dynasty/romance story with nothing very special about it. Published in 1949, the writing is not as tight as today’s taste, and that took some getting used to. The story deals with a woman, Ursula, who marries a very ambitious man, Prescott, who is resented by his competitors, mostly selfish egotists. Oddly, Prescott firmly believes that children should be entirely undisciplined, contrary to popular child-rearing guidelines of the time, both when the story takes place and when it was written. This creates monster children for the most part. For some reason Ursula, who strongly disapproves, nevertheless defends her husband’s position. In my opinion, only one of the characters, an adopted son, were at all likeable. One positive is that just when you were feeling disappointed that a particular character was stereotypical, the character did something unexpected. That fact kept the story from becoming boring and gave the reader more appreciation of the writer.
January 22, 2024
There is so much truth, as always, in this Caldwell novel of a faulty relationship. There was also a bit too much redundancy about "evil money" which is a huge theme of hers. I never did understand why Ursula would have fallen for William much less stay with him or pander to him, and most certainly I can't understand putting an arrogant bossy man's interests above your children, especially when he makes you miserable, but it does happen. It is a strong warning about how not to raise kids. Loving them doesn't mean giving them everything. It means not giving them everything and ensuring they become loveable, loving people. The story annoyed me plenty often, and yet it is a strong story with a strong message, well-plotted with "living" characters, so a worthy read.
January 20, 2019
Ursula lives on her own after her father's death. She was approached by William Prescott who wanted to buy a piece of land from her, where he would build a great mansion. She fell head over heels for him and he soon asked her to marry him. He had an adopted child, Oliver, whom she loved early. He built the largest lumber company and had four children, who were his life. He spoilt them and marked no boundaries to Ursula's dismay. For her, the only thing that mattered was William, who barely paid attention to her. The story of a dysfunctional family as a result of excessive love. As usual, the character development of the author is great, whether we like them or no.
January 7, 2026
Disturbing
I remember reading this novel years ago as a young woman. I admired Ursula for her strength to survive no matter how disappointing her marriage and family were. Now at least forty or more years later, I saw Ursula and her family quite differently. She was an emotionally insecure woman who continued to make terrible choices that not only affected her but also her children. The result was a dysfunctional and destructive family. Interesting how the years have changed my perspective completely. Not sure I'm glad l read it again. For Ursula, love never did come.
I remember reading this novel years ago as a young woman. I admired Ursula for her strength to survive no matter how disappointing her marriage and family were. Now at least forty or more years later, I saw Ursula and her family quite differently. She was an emotionally insecure woman who continued to make terrible choices that not only affected her but also her children. The result was a dysfunctional and destructive family. Interesting how the years have changed my perspective completely. Not sure I'm glad l read it again. For Ursula, love never did come.
December 20, 2022
Al principio me estaba gustando mucho la historia porque parecía como que la protagonista era dura e independiente (hacía su voluntad, no se dejaba mandar por la sociedad ) pero conforme avanza la hostia esta característica de ella se va perdiendo, los hijos de pequeños me caían súper mal y no me pareció como trataba William a Ursula, el que me cayó mejor fue sin duda Oliver, siempre fue bueno, sabio y valiente.
January 15, 2019
It did enjoy it, though it was painful/heavy to read at times because of all the baggage these characters have. That, coupled with the word count and my own schedule, kept it from being a "quick read", though I did go through the final seventy-five pages in one day. I cried twice--which is good. Great historical Gothic family saga read.
October 19, 2020
I really loved this book 💕💕. It’s my vintage favorite book and it’s a 5 star book for me ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. It’s a beautiful story of what happens when we don't set boundaries with children, why we must use our voice and express our thoughts. What I loved the most is that I could connect with the characters that I could love some of them and hate some others.
January 28, 2020
Speak roughly to your little boy, and beat him when he sneezes. He only does it to annoy, because he knows it teases.
June 6, 2023
First time reading her. These are the great stories told from years ago to read. Nothing is repeated or sort of same story. Great fun fresh story and amazing writing. Cant wait to read more.
July 29, 2023
Taylor Caldwell books are wonderful.
February 17, 2025
"Let Love Come Last" by Taylor Caldwell
Another well written tale by Taylor Caldwell. This one a short one: only 408 pages.
Loved this book. She is still my all time favorite author.
Another well written tale by Taylor Caldwell. This one a short one: only 408 pages.
Loved this book. She is still my all time favorite author.
July 28, 2025
Great read
As always Taylor Caldwell keeps your interest soaring. Always about greed and corruption. Love and hate between each character and hopefully redemption in the end.
As always Taylor Caldwell keeps your interest soaring. Always about greed and corruption. Love and hate between each character and hopefully redemption in the end.
June 18, 2026
Well written, but oh so dark, heavy, depressing. It was a struggle to finish. I had to see how that mess ended up.
August 11, 2012
Yet another of those 1940s Caldwell novels I've had on-hand for ages and not gotten to. As seems typical of her other novels of this period, things get off to a slow start but become more engrossing. This one's about Parenthood, and is "dedicated with compassion to all who are parents and to all who hope to be." As things turned out, Caldwell's own record as a parent was rather troubled.
I think I’ve mentioned in comments about another Taylor Caldwell novel that a family is not necessarily a happy thing to be part of in one of her novels, especially when at least one of the parents is blindly over-indulgent, and the children are clever and manipulative. Nor is it unusual for parents to dislike their children (and vice-versa), or children to dislike their siblings. All of this certainly applies to the Prescott family in Let Love Come Last .
In a nutshell: Ursula loves her husband, William; William is obsessed with his children and with making a financially secure future for them. The children are selfish and over-indulged and don't much care for either of their parents, or for each other, for that matter.
I think I’ve mentioned in comments about another Taylor Caldwell novel that a family is not necessarily a happy thing to be part of in one of her novels, especially when at least one of the parents is blindly over-indulgent, and the children are clever and manipulative. Nor is it unusual for parents to dislike their children (and vice-versa), or children to dislike their siblings. All of this certainly applies to the Prescott family in Let Love Come Last .
In a nutshell: Ursula loves her husband, William; William is obsessed with his children and with making a financially secure future for them. The children are selfish and over-indulged and don't much care for either of their parents, or for each other, for that matter.
December 15, 2008
This was one of Caldwell's shorter books, and I enjoyed reading it, but felt more saddened than uplifted - and remembered that her books were not necessarily light little family stories. They are usually intense and this one had just a little different skew on family relationships that was just odd and obviously didn't work.
February 11, 2013
Although I read this novel many moons ago, it was the title that I'd always remembered. However, after just reading someone's review on the grim storyline, this book would definitely not interest me today.
Nonetheless, on a funny note, the owner/publisher of our local newspaper always greets me as Taylor Caldwell each time I walk though his door!
Nonetheless, on a funny note, the owner/publisher of our local newspaper always greets me as Taylor Caldwell each time I walk though his door!
May 19, 2019
Going through my deceased parents things I came across the 1949 copy of this book with my deceased aunt’s bookplate (my Dad’s older sister). Intrigued to read something she had read in 1949, I read the book and loved it being mystified by the relationships and the intertwined outcomes. I enjoyed mindfully “listening to my aunt reading it’.
July 28, 2011
This book was rather slow but it was worth hanging on for the ending...which I admit did make me cry. Although the book was hardly a rollercoaster ride, it showed how love developed and things changes within the lives of the couple. Beautifully written
Want to Read
December 9, 2008I need to read a book published in the year of my birth. What better author to choose than Taylor Caldwell.
November 26, 2012
A bit of an old timey bore, really. Not worth the read...
Read
August 20, 2014Interesting
April 10, 2016
This book is a must read - it explores the reason why we should never just give, give, give to our children.
A very powerful book!
A very powerful book!
August 27, 2012
This was a very depressing book.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews