The Question

Morland Dynasty #25

by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles

In the last years of the nineteenth century the Morlands' fortunes are changing for the better, as Henrietta and Jerome find a true home at Morland Place, and Teddy ploughs his profits into restoring it to its former glory. But the reverses and cruelties of the Boer War and the death of Queen Victoria shake the foundations of a confident nation. The accession of King Edward seems to mark the end of the old, familiar England. Old certainties are being questioned, everything is changing, and the young generation of Morlands faces a new world, full of wonders but full of dangers.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Romance, Fiction, War, South Africa, British Literature

523 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2002

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

[Teresa “Teri” · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous

I loved the ending and can’t wait to read Book 26!
Cynthia Harrod-Eagles is the Best! The Moreland Dynasty books are like seeing dear friends again

[Cate · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was ok. A bit slow &, dare I say it, a bit boring in places. CHE gets bogged down on the Boer War in the middle of the book, but it definitely picked up towards the end with the Suffrage Movement, the Suffragettes & "the question" of votes for women. I will say though, it is hard, neigh on impossible, to read about the fight for the vote thru the eyes of the political cynicism of the early 21st century. I always come back to that throwaway sentence: "if the vote actually meant anything, they'd never have given it". NOT that I'm anti-vote or anything, in case you're wondering. I love the vote. I exercise it whenever I can. But the reading of the worthiness & idealism is inevitably coloured (tainted) by my 21st century perspective. Alas.

[Blaire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this book. It gave so much detail about the lives of upper class Edwardian lives and I loved all the details of dresses, dinners, and lives in the country. and other details of Edwardian life. The plot is full of lavish characters and most of them are women who have lots to say to effect change in the world around them. Highly recommend if you want to learn about English Society. This book is in a series that goes through WWI and I am looking forward to reading them all.

[Redfox5 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had misgivings about starting the series at book 25. But when someone gives me a book, I feel like I have to give it a try as I don't want to miss anything good. Turns out jumping in at #25 wasn't to much of a trouble.

The Morland Dynasty series, from what I can gather spans a very long time. This one is set during the Boer war and the end of Victorian England. It seemed like quite an exciting time to live. Motor cars were becoming popular, electricity was in it's infancy, homes were being modernised and one of the young Morland boys is even starting to talk about flight. Maybe not the best time to throw all your money into horses though......

It doesn't take long to get to know the characters and pick up bits about their family history. They are a likable bunch which lots of interesting storylines.

When Lizzie joins the suffragettes, I found myself getting emotional about their cause. We have so much to thank these women for. I know we are not as equal as we could be but we are getting there and these ladies led the way. The men wouldn't even let them speak! It was making me so angry. And throwing them into prison for expressing themselves in the same way men do! Pft!

The story ends right in the middle of Jesse's coming out ball and I want to read more! I was reading this in the bath for so long last night, I had to get out because the water had gone cold. I don't know if to add the rest to my wishlist and start from the beginning or carry on at book 26. If you like family sagas and historical fiction, then this is the book for you.

[Frances · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fantastic book in the series can hardly wait to start number 26. My library doesn't have them so I am ordering them as I finish them, then I shall donate them to my library.

[John Hardy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Morland Dynasty #25, late Victorian era, 2nd Boer War, suffragettes, motor cars, 515 pages.
An interesting read, with the usual detail about historical events, moral standards and patterns of everyday life. Due to reading the series out of order, I'm sometimes jumping back in time to the earlier lives of some of the main characters - Teddy, Violet and Jessie, and Venetia, among many others. We can have a greater understanding of the later development of their lives. Although I found some parts about the Boer War interesting, there was a bit too much detail from the front lines activities of various Morlands and their friends. This is typical of the author in this series. I myself have never been very interested in the Boer War, although it has been referred to in various books I have read.
To be honest, there is more than a little boredom to be suffered in reading this book, but I have given a rating of 3.7, so just scraping in at 4 stars.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The saga of the Morland family continues against the backdrop of British history. The Victorian era is nearing its end when war breaks out in South Africa. Bertie, unhappy at home since his father won't let him do anything, enlists. His young cousin, Jessie, develops a crush on him, and lives for his letters home, while also helping her father with his horse training. In London Lizzie Compton, now married to her cousin Ashley Morland, becomes involved in the suffrage movement with another cousin, Anne Farraline. The late 1800s and early 1900s are a period of English history not often covered in fiction, and this book presents a very interesting and fascinating overview of the time, from the viewpoints of the differing members of the extended Morland family. Recommended.

[Justin Neville · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent and readable volume in this long-running series.
Plenty to like but not one of my particular favourites.

The (Second) Boer War was a very important development at the time and I can understand why the author wanted to cover it. But I don't think it was done well. Too much detail on the ground and not enough build-up and background to understand what was really going on. You can't just dump a couple of maps at the beginning of the book and expect the reader to follow to that degree or care so much. Especially when the only family character involved there is a bit of peripheral one (up to that point, at least). Felt a bit shoehorned in.

I didn't like the ending but I see others did.

[TONI HARRIS · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I need a dose of fictional history - pick up a Morland Dynasty Book always a great read.

[Helen Geng · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually 2.5

Read January 2022

NYPL book

[Sam Still Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Morland family move into the 1900's in this book. Again, they are involved in the major historical events of the time, including the Boer War, death of Queen Victoria and the women's vote. Another pleasant instalment.

[Jannie Ensing · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a very good read like the whole series so far. I have loved the way the author touches all areas of life, and depicts all detail including scenery, clothes, shopping and the culture in that period. And I do love history, so this gives a lot of detail of it all.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deals with the death of Queen Victoria, the Boer War, and women's suffrage, as experienced by the Morland family.

[Winifred]

the continuing saga of the moorland family. this starts in 1898 the suffragette movement is starting and also the boerwar. good book