The Cause

Morland Dynasty #23

by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles

1874 - Women's Rights

Venetia is on the brink of marrying Lord Hazelmere when she discovers he does not mean to allow her to continue training as a doctor. She calls the wedding off, and from being the talk of the Season becomes the scandal of the year. Estranged from family and friends, she needs all her determination to continue the fight. At Morland place George and Alfreda continue to spend on grandiose building schemes despite the threat of bankruptcy; while Henrietta's cold marriage to the ascetic Rector of Bishopthorpe brings her close to questioning her religion.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Romance

544 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Cynthia Harrod-Eagles (aka Emma Woodhouse, Elizabeth Bennett)

Cynthia Harrod-Eagles was born on 13 August 1948 in Shepherd's Bush, London, England, where was educated at Burlington School, a girls' charity school founded in 1699, and at the University of Edinburgh and University College London, where she studied English, history and philosophy.

She had a variety of jobs in the commercial world, starting as a junior cashier at Woolworth's and working her way down to Pensions Officer at the BBC.

She wrote her first novel while at university and in 1972 won the Young Writers' Award with The Waiting Game. The birth of the MORLAND DYNASTY series enabled Cynthia Harrod-Eagles to become a full-time writer in 1979. The series was originally intended to comprise twelve volumes, but it has proved so popular that it has now been extended to thirty-four.

In 1993 she won the Romantic Novelists' Association Romantic Novel of the Year Award with Emily, the third volume of her Kirov Saga, a trilogy set in nineteenth century Russia.

Reviews

[Sam Still Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another interesting chapter in the Morland Dynasty. Enjoyed Venetia's struggle to become a doctor and the disruption to Morland Place. Already started the next book!

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book covers about ten years, from the mid 1870s to the mid 1880s, when Women's Rights were an enormous issue. The story focuses on members of the extended Morland family, placing them against the backdrop of history. But, if you haven't been reading the series from the beginning you may not quite understand who all the characters are and how exactly they are related.


In London, Venetia is still determined to become a doctor, despite all the opposition. Her younger brother, Marcus, is happily employed in the Army; while their sister Olivia is a lady-in-waiting to the Queen. But both Harry and Augusta soon join the rackety friends of the Prince of Wales.

Meanwhile, in Yorkshore, at Morland Place, George and Alfreda continue their rebuilding plans, along with courting friends in high places, as Alfreda strives to regain what she believes is her rightful place. George's sister Elizabeth finds her marriage to an older clergyman stifling, but at least she has her daughter for love and comfort.



Naturally there are births, deaths, and marriages — as well as love affairs — which all have their effects on the family. Despite its length, this book is hard to put down. Recommended.

[Carolyn Agosta · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Cause is #23 in the Morland Dynasty series, set in the Edwardian period when women were expected to stay home and keep their mouths shut. Venetia is not about to do that, but what I love about Ms Harrod-Eagles' books is that even the more enlightened characters are accurate as to their thinking processes. They're not modern characters in period costumes. And in a book like this, it would be easy to make all the men either extremely conservative or adorably liberated but she doesn't - the men are conflicted in many ways too. Some may be quite sure that THEIR wife is not going to become a doctor, but some of them can also see how much their wife wants it. None of her characters are one-dimensional and they are true to their time, with all the variations that allows. The only reason I didn't give this book five stars is that, in order to understand it, you really need to read the series. (Not that I MIND reading the series - this is my second time through the whole thing!) I'm a huge fan of Ms Harrod-Eagles (her Bill Slider mysteries are good too and the War at Home series). Read this book, but read the earlier books first!

[Gwenyth Lynes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was utterly confused when I first commenced to read this book because so many characters were introduced and I found it difficult working out all the relationships. I did like the way the author set the story in the context of history and also gave insight into the ways of the aristocracy of that time and contrasted them with the struggles of the middle classes and the destitution of the poorest classes. She portrayed clearly the fight women had to be accepted in the professions ie as doctors and surgeons and the demeaning manner with which women by men were treated in all strata of society.

[Helen Geng · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read May 2020

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't get enough of the Morland dynasty. In this one Venetia finally becomes a doctor and Morland Place falls on bitter days.

[TONI HARRIS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Continuing the saga of the Moreland Family - I love that the Women are the lead and the strongest characters in these books.

[Winifred · Rating 4 out of 5]

Venetia Fleetwood would like to become a surgeon and she is going to get married to hazelmere.
On the eve of their wedding hazelmere realised that venetia was still going to try to be a surgeon when she was married. The wedding was called off. in later years venetia was shunned slightly because she was seeing someone without being chaperoned. George morland was married to Alfreda and she starts to change moorland place and they then run into debt. George does not listen when his accountant tells him he needs to stop all the changes or he will become bankrupt but he doesn't listen. They loose their son. good ending.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Morland Dynasty series reaches the High Victorian era of the 1870s in this book, which deals, among other things, with some of the first stirrings of women's rights in Britain.

[Ellie Keaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this was my favorite out of all 33 morland books - the other books are great and Harrod Eagles is a wonderful author but this one had to be the best.

[Frances · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is one of the most depressing books I have ever read. It was wrapped up at the ending with contrived happiness, but overall a cloud of doom.