The Inheritance: 200th Anniversary Edition

Nineteenth Century Scottish Women's Fiction

by Susan Edmonstone Ferrier

Newly annotated and illustrated 200th anniversary edition.

THE YOUNG LADY, GERTRUDE ST. CLAIR, ARRIVES AT THE SCOTTISH ESTATE OF LORD ROSSVILLE TO TAKE UP HER POSITION AS HIS HEIRESS.

She is enraptured with all she sees and delighted to make the acquaintance of her family. The denizens of Rossville Castle form a gallery of humorous and eccentric figures.

However, Gertrude soon discovers that her uncle, in the interest of preserving the family line and estate, has already made a match for her while her mother, desperate to sustain her own position, embroils them with a shadowy figure from the past.

Can Gertrude prevail? Will she claim her inheritance? Will it be at the expense of her heart?

Known nowadays as Scotland’s Jane Austen, Susan Ferrier was far better known and admired in the 19th century. With the inheritance she proves herself to be as much the Scottish Charles Dickens, with all the intrigue and scandal of Bridgerton and a hero to rival Mr. Knightly or Mr. Darcy. This is a Regency romance to savour.

Genres: Classics

710 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1824

About the author

Susan Edmonstone Ferrier was a Scottish novelist. Her novels, giving vivid accounts of Scottish life and presenting sharp views on women's education, remained popular throughout the 19th century.

Reviews

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved both the books I have read from Susan Ferrier but why the incredibly sudden endings? That's why I take a star off, it's like she spends ages building the story and then all of a sudden hits you with "And they all lived happily ever after, The End". Aside from that if you like nineteenth century women’s fiction you'll love these, complete with dastardly lovers, family secrets, a Good Guy whose merits aren't found out until the end (then reader, she marries him) and so on and so forth. A lot of fun.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose this version because it's the closest match to the book I actually have--an original, leather-bound in 3 volumes dated 1825--which my wife purchased for me for Christmas a few years ago. She knew nothing about the author (in fact, in my 3-volume set, her name is not listed--it's Susan Edmonstone Ferrier, a contemporary and acquaintance of Sir Walter Scott) but just thought the set looked old and cool. And, indeed, it is. But I had no idea whether or not I'd actually enjoy the novel.

Well, I finally got around to reading it and am pleased to report that I really enjoyed it! It's sort of a cross between Jane Austen (especially the first line of the novel!) and Charles Dickens, with a very strong moral sense that will likely strike modern readers as overly didactic, but which I found to be charming. There were a few instances in the novel when I laughed out loud due to the author's facility with drawing believable and humorous characters, and the predictably happy ending, though melodramatic, wasn't too maudlin. I'm really glad I read this and the old 3-volume set looks really cool on my bookshelf!

[Gem K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miss Pratt is my hero