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The Belchamber Scandal
Seeking escape from a family disaster in a position as governess in the north of England, Amelia Belchamber becomes a fugitive and then a prisoner as the victim of a miscarriage of justice
223 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 1985
About the author
Frances Murray
28 books5 followersRosemary Frances Sutherland was born on 10 February 1928 in Lanark, Lanarkshire, Scotland, UK, the daughter of Frances (Wotherspoon), an artist, and Donald Sutherland, a journalist and playwright. She studied at the University of Glasgow (1945–1947), later she decided took a year out and worked for and toured with the Unity Theatre of Glasgow (1948–1949). On August 28, 1950 she married Robert Edward Booth, a manager, and they had three daughters: Lesley, Judith, and Frances.
In 1965, she gained an MA at the University of St Andrews, followed by a Diploma in Education in 1966. She taught History at Perth Academy, Scotland (1966-1972) and was Head of History Department at Linlathan School, Dundee (1972-1976). She was principal teacher of History at the Ladies' College, St Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Isles (1976-1993). In 1993, she retired from teaching. Throughout her professional teaching career and her retirement, she has always written. She was published from 1966 to 1986. Since 2011, she auto-published e-books in amazon.
After her retiring, Rosemary and her husband then moved to Spain to live, then to France where she now lives in the Tarn River area, where she has her second residence during years.
In 1965, she gained an MA at the University of St Andrews, followed by a Diploma in Education in 1966. She taught History at Perth Academy, Scotland (1966-1972) and was Head of History Department at Linlathan School, Dundee (1972-1976). She was principal teacher of History at the Ladies' College, St Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Isles (1976-1993). In 1993, she retired from teaching. Throughout her professional teaching career and her retirement, she has always written. She was published from 1966 to 1986. Since 2011, she auto-published e-books in amazon.
After her retiring, Rosemary and her husband then moved to Spain to live, then to France where she now lives in the Tarn River area, where she has her second residence during years.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 19, 2015
One of my favourite historical romances ; with an interesting,brave and independent heroine, an eccentric hero, some real angst and a realistic imperfect HEA. P.S some wonderful quotes too!
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January 28, 2023I love Frances Murray. She tells a great story with historical accuracy and likable characters. Amelia Belchamber is in big trouble and about to get in worse. Fortunately, she has loyal friends. Desperate to support herself, Amelia accepts a job as a governess, but the family waiting for her would make Bram Stoker wince. Still, she is making some progress when a second ( and not the last) disaster changes the trajectory of her life.
October 3, 2021
Not consistent.
This is my first book by Frances Murray and will be my last. The writing in this book was excellent. The character development was believable except in one glaring plot point. And the story line was unique and mostly very well thought out.
SPOILERS:
But the inconsistency was very disappointing. In Victorian England a gently bred woman who had just been sexually assaulted after being sexually harassed for months is not going to take a position with a married man who asks her to pose for him nude in the first meeting. Totally and completely unrealistic. Not only that but in the time period, she is not going to then become his mistress when other options are available to her. Nor is she going to be willing to have children born into such a state that would have no future. She is morally up right in every circumstance except her chastity? Not consistent with the time if she had been raised a gentle gentle woman. At. All. Very disappointing end to a well written book.
This is my first book by Frances Murray and will be my last. The writing in this book was excellent. The character development was believable except in one glaring plot point. And the story line was unique and mostly very well thought out.
SPOILERS:
But the inconsistency was very disappointing. In Victorian England a gently bred woman who had just been sexually assaulted after being sexually harassed for months is not going to take a position with a married man who asks her to pose for him nude in the first meeting. Totally and completely unrealistic. Not only that but in the time period, she is not going to then become his mistress when other options are available to her. Nor is she going to be willing to have children born into such a state that would have no future. She is morally up right in every circumstance except her chastity? Not consistent with the time if she had been raised a gentle gentle woman. At. All. Very disappointing end to a well written book.
February 28, 2009
When her father's suicide forces Amelia Belchamber to become a governess in late 19th century England, she takes a position as a governess with the Hoggett family. However, when Mr. Hoggett travels to America on business she is at the mercy of his unpleasant wife and family, who plot against her and nearly destroy her life. An unexpected plot twist makes this novel superior to much of the genre.
April 27, 2013
A much more conventional than the last book I read by Murray, The Burning Lamp. At least until the very end.
Overall, I liked The Belchamber Scandal more than The Burning Lamp. The pacing is faster throughout the novel and the characters, especially the heroine, are better-developed and more accessible.
Overall, I liked The Belchamber Scandal more than The Burning Lamp. The pacing is faster throughout the novel and the characters, especially the heroine, are better-developed and more accessible.
December 21, 2017
A Tangled Tale HR – 4.5 stars
This is another author recommended by a friend (thanks A.) As the blurb says Miss Amelia Belchamber finds herself completely penniless and homeless after the death of her father. She has been very well-educated in a time when not many women were, and so finding a position as a governess seems to be her best option. She is very fortunate to be employed by Mr Staneley Hoggett who is a very nice man, and a very shrewd one. Unfortunately, he has to leave for the United States on business the day following Amelia’s arrival. Before he leaves, he gives Amelia his address and tells her that if there is anything at all she thinks he needs to know, she is to write to him, putting ‘Private and Personal’ on the envelope and it will reach him quickly. As I said, a shrewd man.
Mrs Hoggett is expecting the imminent arrival of the latest addition to the household and Amelia is summoned only occasionally, although there is a steady stream of missives from Mrs Hoggett to Amelia, all of them critical. The two older boys, Staneley and Frederick are sent away to boarding school, and after three months, Amelia has more or less won the battle in the schoolroom. Louisa, the eldest daughter, initially hostile, has become devoted. Alice, the next in age, got off to a very bad start with the governess, but has mellowed somewhat, while the two younger girls, Jane, and Amy, have liked Amelia from the outset. Dorcas is backward but she has a remarkable talent for drawing, and blossoms under Amelia’s care. The present Mrs Hoggett is the mother of Jane and Amy and implacably opposed to Amelia. Albert, the cripple, is a hater, but considering how he has grown up, perhaps it is not surprising. After three months, matters take a decided turn for the worse and Amelia’s life soon goes into a tailspin.
This book is very well-written, the pacing is good and the story flows effortlessly. I didn’t notice any glaring errors and it appears to be been thoroughly proof-read after digitisation, although one or two minor errors slipped through the net. I am unsure in what era this story is set, maybe Victorian, but it is hard to pinpoint. There is a vein of humour running through the story that had me smiling a lot, and I enjoyed this book so much, I will be trying another from this author, with the hope it will be of the same high quality as this one.
This is another author recommended by a friend (thanks A.) As the blurb says Miss Amelia Belchamber finds herself completely penniless and homeless after the death of her father. She has been very well-educated in a time when not many women were, and so finding a position as a governess seems to be her best option. She is very fortunate to be employed by Mr Staneley Hoggett who is a very nice man, and a very shrewd one. Unfortunately, he has to leave for the United States on business the day following Amelia’s arrival. Before he leaves, he gives Amelia his address and tells her that if there is anything at all she thinks he needs to know, she is to write to him, putting ‘Private and Personal’ on the envelope and it will reach him quickly. As I said, a shrewd man.
Mrs Hoggett is expecting the imminent arrival of the latest addition to the household and Amelia is summoned only occasionally, although there is a steady stream of missives from Mrs Hoggett to Amelia, all of them critical. The two older boys, Staneley and Frederick are sent away to boarding school, and after three months, Amelia has more or less won the battle in the schoolroom. Louisa, the eldest daughter, initially hostile, has become devoted. Alice, the next in age, got off to a very bad start with the governess, but has mellowed somewhat, while the two younger girls, Jane, and Amy, have liked Amelia from the outset. Dorcas is backward but she has a remarkable talent for drawing, and blossoms under Amelia’s care. The present Mrs Hoggett is the mother of Jane and Amy and implacably opposed to Amelia. Albert, the cripple, is a hater, but considering how he has grown up, perhaps it is not surprising. After three months, matters take a decided turn for the worse and Amelia’s life soon goes into a tailspin.
This book is very well-written, the pacing is good and the story flows effortlessly. I didn’t notice any glaring errors and it appears to be been thoroughly proof-read after digitisation, although one or two minor errors slipped through the net. I am unsure in what era this story is set, maybe Victorian, but it is hard to pinpoint. There is a vein of humour running through the story that had me smiling a lot, and I enjoyed this book so much, I will be trying another from this author, with the hope it will be of the same high quality as this one.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews