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31st out of 96 books
—
131 voters
A Respectable Trade
by
Philippa Gregory (Goodreads Author)
Bristol in 1787 is booming, a city where power beckons those who dare to take risks. Josiah Cole, a small dockside trader, is prepared to gamble everything to join the big players of the city. But he needs capital and a well-connected wife.
Marriage to Frances Scott is a mutually convenient solution. Trading her social contacts for Josiah's protection, Frances finds her lif...more
Marriage to Frances Scott is a mutually convenient solution. Trading her social contacts for Josiah's protection, Frances finds her lif...more
Paperback, 512 pages
Published
January 9th 2007
by Touchstone
(first published December 23rd 1994)
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I went into this book with some expectation that it would be better than "Fallen Skies," which left me greatly disappointed with the sketchy characterizations. This book, however, continued that disappointment. Most of the characters in this book suffer from two dimensions (at most). Some, like Sarah Cole, remained one-note throughout. What struck me most was that both Mehuru and Frances were not pitiable in the deserving sense (as the premise surely demanded), but pitiful in the contemptuous se...more
I wouldn't exactly call this a romance. More of a historical account of the horrors of slavery. Francis Scott marries a man that does not suit her at all. Considered old and impoverished, her new station in life is to teach the people her husband and his sister kidnap from Africa to sell as slaves - a fact Francis learns after she has married. Francis is quite caring and compassionate & soon falls for one of the slaves, Mehuru. Mehuru proves to be everything her own husband isn't - warm, car...more
- This review first appeared in the March 2007 issue of The Historical Novels Review-
Fans of Ms Gregory's phenomenally successful Tudor novels will encounter a more somber, pensive writer in A Respectable Trade. Re-issued by Touchstone, this novel set in 18th century Bristol offers a painful glimpse into the flourishing slave trade of the era, which enabled the majority of England's enterprising merchants and the nation at large to amass fortunes at the cost of unimaginable human suffering.
Rat...more
Fans of Ms Gregory's phenomenally successful Tudor novels will encounter a more somber, pensive writer in A Respectable Trade. Re-issued by Touchstone, this novel set in 18th century Bristol offers a painful glimpse into the flourishing slave trade of the era, which enabled the majority of England's enterprising merchants and the nation at large to amass fortunes at the cost of unimaginable human suffering.
Rat...more
The year is 1787 and the place is Bristol, England. Josiah Cole is a very ambitious growing slave trader. He has 3 ships which he sails to Africa for slaves which are then sold in the West Indies to the plantation owners for sugar and rum. Josiah wants more. More money and acceptance into the top elite merchant association. To do this he arranges a marraige to a penniless aristocrat, Frances
Frances is at first, resident in a small house adjoining the warehouse. She is required to teach some slav...more
Frances is at first, resident in a small house adjoining the warehouse. She is required to teach some slav...more
I picked up this book because I like the general time period. I wanted to dip my toe into adult historical fiction. I read and still read Ann Rinaldi and other YA HF authors. I was extremely disappointed.
I felt like I was reading a treatise on why slavery is bad. Yes, I know that's why it isn't around anymore. And no I'm not into romanticizing and sugarcoating what we know consider horrible atrocities done in the past. But, please give me a story. I felt like there wasn't a real one there.
As a...more
I felt like I was reading a treatise on why slavery is bad. Yes, I know that's why it isn't around anymore. And no I'm not into romanticizing and sugarcoating what we know consider horrible atrocities done in the past. But, please give me a story. I felt like there wasn't a real one there.
As a...more
Overall, I enjoyed it. Historical romance is my absolute favorite subject to read, and Philipa Gregory is the bomb when it comes to weaving the historical backdrop with a sweet romance. I learned a lot about the slave trade in England, which we don't hear too much about - since the Trans Atlantic slave trade of America is more heavily focused on than England's slave trade.
I liked the fact that (like Roots) this story chronicled the journey of Mehru from Africa to his orderal on the ship and to h...more
I liked the fact that (like Roots) this story chronicled the journey of Mehru from Africa to his orderal on the ship and to h...more
I have always enjoyed Gregory's historical novels, my favorites being Earthly Joys and Virgin Earth, both of which focused on England's place in the world as a nation of gardeners. I picked up A Respectable Trade at the library last week, having seen it in a BBC production years ago and not realizing it was based on a book by Gregory. The BBC production was pretty faithful to the book, as it turns out. The TV program had introduced me to a piece of history with which I had little or no knowledge...more
Spoilers (some pretty serious ones):
So maybe you're an entitled, upper class lady living in the 1780s. You have an inkling that slavery isn't as morally sound as your church suggests. But what if the slave trade is keeping you in fancy hats? Can you overlook the severe, continuous, dehumanizing oppression? Even when you meet a slave who becomes an odd combination of servant, friend, and lover? Does the cognitive dissonance start tearing you apart?
Here's what you do: you die. You die on the last...more
So maybe you're an entitled, upper class lady living in the 1780s. You have an inkling that slavery isn't as morally sound as your church suggests. But what if the slave trade is keeping you in fancy hats? Can you overlook the severe, continuous, dehumanizing oppression? Even when you meet a slave who becomes an odd combination of servant, friend, and lover? Does the cognitive dissonance start tearing you apart?
Here's what you do: you die. You die on the last...more
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I was extremely disappointed in the pace of this novel and the slipshod character development. Gregory had ample opportunity to really get into the meat of the era, yet fell short in so many ways. The ending left me feeling that the main character, Frances, escaped making a life changing decision or even facing her own demons. The reasons for Mehuru's devotion were sketchy at best. Sarah's one-dimensional character was tiresome and Josiah came across as nothing more than a careless merchant who...more
My first Philippa Gregory book. I enjoy well-written historical fiction, getting as much pleasure from being informed as being entertained. This novel was really marred for me by certain unbelievable elements.
A group of slaves arrive in the home of Frances, wife of a Bristol merchant. She falls in love with one of the men, Mehuru, who reciprocates. Within a few months, Mehuru, who knew not a word of English before, is conversing fluently. He is discoursing with all the sophistication of a practi...more
A group of slaves arrive in the home of Frances, wife of a Bristol merchant. She falls in love with one of the men, Mehuru, who reciprocates. Within a few months, Mehuru, who knew not a word of English before, is conversing fluently. He is discoursing with all the sophistication of a practi...more
It is a fascinating love story of a blue collared white women who fell in love with a very important african man. One who was once in great power captured and forced to work as a slave to white men. The journey this man took from africa to the america's alone was enough to make me cry at the torment, and sacrifices some mothers had to make in order to save their children from living a life of slavery. This story starts when slavery was just taking root, and becoming a popular trade in the americ...more
I am not generally a big fan of Philippa Gregory's writing but I keep thinking I should be. In her favour, the historical details are very well-researched. Unfortunately, however, her narrative style and characterisation often put me in mind of Mills & Boon, and A Respectable Trade is no exception. The story actually starts very promisingly and wasn't too annoying to read...that is, until the introduction of the thwarted romance between Francis and Mehuru, which I felt completely diminished...more
This is probably my second favorite Philippa Gregory novel. I had a lot of trouble reading it in the beginning; it was a little slow to start. However, once I got through the first hundred pages it was difficult to put it down. There were plenty of parts that were difficult to read because of the brutality that occurs, but I guess it illustrates what difficult times these were. Mehuru is a strong character that evokes sympathy throughout the entire book. Frances, on the other hand, is a frustrat...more
This book is brutal in parts, and very graphic and distressing. On more than one occasion I had to put it down and leave it alone for a few days, because it just really upset me in a number of parts. Saying that, I quite like that, for once, Philippa Gregory hasn't stuck to the stories of romance that, although often violent, don't really make you think too much.
For a fairly long book, some parts are badly explained. The relationship between Mehuru and Frances jumps from one of curiosity and ten...more
For a fairly long book, some parts are badly explained. The relationship between Mehuru and Frances jumps from one of curiosity and ten...more
I really enjoyed this novel which did not take me long to read at all. Philippa Gregory is at her best when she writes historical novels. The novel gives some interesting insights into the slave trade, describing who it happened to rather than what happened.The story is of slaves captured and brought into England and the slave trader's wife not realising what her marriage would bring. It also develops nicely into the consequences of marrying into the family Frances did. I loved the relationships...more
This book was a bit more serious but one which jolts you back into what despicable times it was during the slave trade. Reminds one of the horrors endured by one of mankind's races and the rape and pillage of an entire nation - Africa. The images are so vivid and one can picture the journey that was the middle passage and the atrocities. The slaves were treated inhumanely and this book is a sure indictment on the slavers and masters. This author always can be relied on to tell a story in a histo...more
One thing about Ms. Gregory is that she is adequately researched before publishing. Historical fiction is one of the dicier genres and usually Gregory does well. I would say that this time she falls a bit into the common problem of a writer (ususally not white) of making someone noble because of skin color. As if an African would really appear noble, beautiful and calm after months chained in a rancid hold. As if in a manner of months they would possibly somewhat forgive and respect their jailer...more
I enjoyed this book a lot. It was definitely different from P.G.'s other books, which are mostly set in Tudor/Elizabethan times. I choose it for that reason, and also because I knew little about the slave trade in Britain (being an American.) It was horrible and graphic in places, but I wouldn't change any of it. While not my favorite book from P.G., I would recommend it to people who aren't afraid of the truth (in regards to the bits about the horrors of slavery), those who like to learn some h...more
Philippa Gregory does a good job of writing interesting, page-turning historical fiction. Most of the time (for me) it is like junk food of historical fiction - I must keep reading because it is so read-able but I don't feel like it's that high of quality. Plus it is all about the Tudors which for me gets old.
This, however, is what I consider her masterpiece to date. Astonishing, beautifully written, very intense and with perfect characters. I would recommend this to anyone, especially anyone w...more
This, however, is what I consider her masterpiece to date. Astonishing, beautifully written, very intense and with perfect characters. I would recommend this to anyone, especially anyone w...more
NO SPOILERS.
This book really did not pick up until exactly halfway through. Much of the first half was quite dull and I did have trouble getting through it. However, once it picked up I enjoyed it. I like the premise of the novel--it was a new, historical take on "forbidden love." I think Philippa Gregory is an incredible historical fiction author; she really does capture everything perfectly.
It definitely was not my favorite Gregory novel. I have read many by her and loved them--this one just...more
This book really did not pick up until exactly halfway through. Much of the first half was quite dull and I did have trouble getting through it. However, once it picked up I enjoyed it. I like the premise of the novel--it was a new, historical take on "forbidden love." I think Philippa Gregory is an incredible historical fiction author; she really does capture everything perfectly.
It definitely was not my favorite Gregory novel. I have read many by her and loved them--this one just...more
The concept of "owning" another human being can seem so incomprehensible it COULD lose some relevance today. To think those things only happened “way back when” to people we didn’t/don’t know is a mistake. “A Respectable Trade” is not only a story of WHAT happened – it’s an intimate relationship with WHO it happened to. An excellent portrait of character, courage, struggle, hope and ultimately love. To think chains are only made of iron – or only existed back then – is to miss the point.
I can see this being a "controversial" book. It is a historical novel about a "touchy" subject: slavery. I am impressed that Philippa Gregory tackled this. I don't believe that the bad parts of history should be forgotten and swept under the rug so thumbs up to her for writing this. It is a pleasant change from her usual novels about frivolous and sometimes stupid queens of England.
In this novel, Frances Scott is a well to do, but lonely woman who marries Josiah, a slave trader. It is a marriag...more
In this novel, Frances Scott is a well to do, but lonely woman who marries Josiah, a slave trader. It is a marriag...more
It's nice to see Gregory's work beyond her Tudors works; this was no less addicting than the others.
Frances is a poor little rich girl; orphaned and left with her Uncle, but with no inheritance or a dowry. Instead of becoming a charity case, she works as a governess; and in order to escape the violence of working as a governess to mean spirited kids and their mother, she applies for a position as a governess with a Trader, Josiah.
Frances doesn't get the job, but she instead enters into a marit...more
Frances is a poor little rich girl; orphaned and left with her Uncle, but with no inheritance or a dowry. Instead of becoming a charity case, she works as a governess; and in order to escape the violence of working as a governess to mean spirited kids and their mother, she applies for a position as a governess with a Trader, Josiah.
Frances doesn't get the job, but she instead enters into a marit...more
Sep 23, 2008
Rebecca Grace
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone studying the history of the slave trade
This book was interesting in the way it explored both sides' experiences of slavery in 18th century England -- both the brutality and unspeakable hardships endured by the captured Africans, and the ignorance and difficult circumstances in Bristol that brought about and perpetuated the slave trade. Big issues are seldom black and white, and slavery was no exception -- Gregory shows all the shades of gray: Many Africans colluded with white slave traders, capturing and selling neighbor tribal membe...more
Words can't describe how annoying this book was (although I'm willing to try). I like Philippa Gregory a lot - she reminds me of a historical Jackie Collins. In general, her books are smutty and fun. (Although I'm glad she got the incest out of her system early in her career, 'cause that was a tad creepy.)
If this book was JUST historical fiction, it would've been trashy, a bit melodramatic and pretty dang fun to read. However, Ms. Gregory had to make it a romance too, which ruined it.
I wasn't s...more
If this book was JUST historical fiction, it would've been trashy, a bit melodramatic and pretty dang fun to read. However, Ms. Gregory had to make it a romance too, which ruined it.
I wasn't s...more
From the author of the novel The Other Boleyn Girl, this is a very gripping historical novel set in 1787-1789. It is about the British Transatlantic Slave Trade from the point of view of three main characters: a priest and royal emissary who is captured and turned into a slave and sent to England, a small merchant who's livelihood and family business comes sending his ships to catch slaves, and the merchant's new aristocratic wife who has lived a sheltered life until the start of the novel.
Sever...more
Sever...more
This was a departure from her other books in that it was a different time period, and a more difficult subject matter. Additionally, these characters are not royalty, nor are they on the fringe of royalty, as with many of her other novels. It takes place during the late 18th century, just as the movement to abolish the slave trade is gaining momentum in Britain. While some of the characters are caught up in circumstances beyond their control, the others who have control over their own deeds seem...more
This was an enjoyable read for me. Fast moving story and characters that are quickly developed, but well written. With the main theme revolving around slavery and its common thread in the 1700's, I was constantly reminded how cavalier the whites were of slaving and the practices. Referring to them as cargo or stock and their property. Anytime I read a book on slavery where it really details the thoughts and actions of the whites I am shaking my head that it really did happen- that people really...more
I found this a book an enjoyable one to read. It had a slow start but was worth the time investment. The insights into the time period and into how slavery was such a part of society. I did not realize how prevalent slavery was in England as well as in the America's. I found that in reading this book it made me think of how much all aspects of slavery have played a part in the shaping of many countries. The relationship between Frances and her slave is something that I am sure happened to many....more
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Philippa Gregory was an established historian and writer when she discovered her interest in the Tudor period and wrote the novel The Other Boleyn Girl, which was made into a TV drama and a major film. Published in 2009, the bestselling The White Queen, the story of Elizabeth Woodville, ushered in a new series involving The Cousins’ War (now known as The War of the Roses) and a new era for the acc...more
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Jun 12, 2012 04:54pm
updated Jun 13, 2012 03:55am