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The Master and the Maiden
The world was changing. Industry had revolutionized the England of 1812, bringing with it enormous wealth for some, but unrest and turbulence among the workers who were little more than slaves, living in squalor and misery.
Into this class Mary Lister was born, a defiant child of the changing time. She believed passionately in a cause -- fair wages and decent conditions for the poor mill workers. Then fate confronted her with an impossible choice between her family and her beliefs, and her consuming love for the master of the mill -- the powerful man who held her future, and the future of her people in his arrogant hand.
Originally published in 1966 as The Master of Liversedge.
Into this class Mary Lister was born, a defiant child of the changing time. She believed passionately in a cause -- fair wages and decent conditions for the poor mill workers. Then fate confronted her with an impossible choice between her family and her beliefs, and her consuming love for the master of the mill -- the powerful man who held her future, and the future of her people in his arrogant hand.
Originally published in 1966 as The Master of Liversedge.
182 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1966
About the author
Alice Chetwynd Ley
23 books54 followersBorn Alice Mary Chetwynd Humphrey on 12 October 1913 in Halifax, Yorkshire, England, UK, she studied at King Edward VI Grammar School in Birmingham. On 3 February 1945, she married Kenneth James Ley. They had two sons; Richard James Humphrey Ley and Graham Kenneth Hugh Ley.
She was a teacher at Harrow College of Higher Education. In 1962, she obtained a diploma in Sociology at London University, and was awarded the Gilchrist Award of 1962. She was a lecturer in Sociology and Social History, from 1968 to 1971.
Under her married name, Alice Chetwynd Ley, she published romance novels from 1959 to 1986. She was also tutor in Creative Writing, from 1962 to 1984. She was elected the sixth Chairman (1971-1973) of the Romantic Novelists' Association and was named an honoured Life Member.
Alice Chetwynd passed away in 2004.
She was a teacher at Harrow College of Higher Education. In 1962, she obtained a diploma in Sociology at London University, and was awarded the Gilchrist Award of 1962. She was a lecturer in Sociology and Social History, from 1968 to 1971.
Under her married name, Alice Chetwynd Ley, she published romance novels from 1959 to 1986. She was also tutor in Creative Writing, from 1962 to 1984. She was elected the sixth Chairman (1971-1973) of the Romantic Novelists' Association and was named an honoured Life Member.
Alice Chetwynd passed away in 2004.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 8, 2018
(3.5 stars) This was a bit of a thrill for oldie me. I love reading books written when I was a teenager (and even earlier). And I love historical fiction with a touch of romance in it. Unlike many traditional Regency romances, this one is more serious, with less emphasis on the romance and more on some historical issues of the time.
Mostly it's about the struggle of lower-class workers, especially textile workers, to survive at a time when textile manufacturers were trying to implement new technologies, such as shearing and stocking frames, spinning frames and power looms. These technologies would reduce the number of workers needed, with one machine taking the place of several workers, and that sets in motion the Luddite revolution (1811-1816), with worker rebellion and destruction of the new frames that threaten their jobs. It was quite a problem that eventually was suppressed by the military. (That's not to say that this particular man v machine problem has been completely addressed.)
Chetwynd Ley wrote this story based on contemporary accounts of Luddite uprisings in West Riding of Yorkshire in 1812. She notes that many of the incidents and some of the characters are authentic. One of the main Luddite instigators of this story, for example, George Mellor, was an actual member of the Luddite movement and was executed in 1813, a bit after the time of this book.
The hero here is William Arkwright, ex-soldier now trying to make a go of his late father's textile mill. He supports his stepmother and his half sister Caroline. He is a solitary, sober man, honorable, but somewhat quick to anger and judgment, and his soft side is revealed only in his love for sister Caroline. Our heroine is Mary Lister, recently hired to be Caroline's governess. Mary is the vicar's niece and is cousin to John, a young man with somewhat revolutionary ideas about justice for the poor and working classes and who feels a certain sympathy for the Luddites.
Well, you can tell from this that things are not going to go smoothly in a romance between a mill owner and a young woman with some (loose) ties to the Luddite movement. As one of the reviewers before me mentioned, it's a bit of a NORTH AND SOUTH, that old Gaskill classic. Of course it's much shorter (185 pages) and simpler but it has that mill owner vs mill workers clash going on and that low-key romance of a proud and stubborn man and a young woman in sympathy with the struggling lower classes.
Mostly it's about the struggle of lower-class workers, especially textile workers, to survive at a time when textile manufacturers were trying to implement new technologies, such as shearing and stocking frames, spinning frames and power looms. These technologies would reduce the number of workers needed, with one machine taking the place of several workers, and that sets in motion the Luddite revolution (1811-1816), with worker rebellion and destruction of the new frames that threaten their jobs. It was quite a problem that eventually was suppressed by the military. (That's not to say that this particular man v machine problem has been completely addressed.)
Chetwynd Ley wrote this story based on contemporary accounts of Luddite uprisings in West Riding of Yorkshire in 1812. She notes that many of the incidents and some of the characters are authentic. One of the main Luddite instigators of this story, for example, George Mellor, was an actual member of the Luddite movement and was executed in 1813, a bit after the time of this book.
The hero here is William Arkwright, ex-soldier now trying to make a go of his late father's textile mill. He supports his stepmother and his half sister Caroline. He is a solitary, sober man, honorable, but somewhat quick to anger and judgment, and his soft side is revealed only in his love for sister Caroline. Our heroine is Mary Lister, recently hired to be Caroline's governess. Mary is the vicar's niece and is cousin to John, a young man with somewhat revolutionary ideas about justice for the poor and working classes and who feels a certain sympathy for the Luddites.
Well, you can tell from this that things are not going to go smoothly in a romance between a mill owner and a young woman with some (loose) ties to the Luddite movement. As one of the reviewers before me mentioned, it's a bit of a NORTH AND SOUTH, that old Gaskill classic. Of course it's much shorter (185 pages) and simpler but it has that mill owner vs mill workers clash going on and that low-key romance of a proud and stubborn man and a young woman in sympathy with the struggling lower classes.
May 15, 2022
It's okay, just not my cup of tea. The political situation is interesting enough.
July 15, 2018
Mary travels north to become governess to the young stepsister of the master of Liversedge Mill. But she is very early introduced to the depredations of the Luddites, and is put in the unenviable position of having a bit of a foot in both camps, with her employer on one side and her cousin and his friends on the other. As the violence escalates, she must choose who to support - but to turn from either seems impossible.
I really enjoyed this book, as having a mix of romance, history and thought-provoking issues, with good writing and a well-managed storyline to bring it all together. This is an author I'll be looking for more by. Highly recommended to fans of clean historical romance.
Characters: Well drawn, though William in particular is not your standard character, being far too temperamental. But the gradual development of the romance works well with the characters.
Storyline: Good, pace is good and various issues are brought out well as part of the dialogue.
Content and language: Clean (one kiss that is hardly even described), with some violence in the background of the story, but nothing graphic. Language is good overall, I don't recall any particular issues.
Message: No particular message, but some thought-provoking discussion of what I guess were the beginnings of the union movement - enough to show that there's no simple answer.
Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.
I really enjoyed this book, as having a mix of romance, history and thought-provoking issues, with good writing and a well-managed storyline to bring it all together. This is an author I'll be looking for more by. Highly recommended to fans of clean historical romance.
Characters: Well drawn, though William in particular is not your standard character, being far too temperamental. But the gradual development of the romance works well with the characters.
Storyline: Good, pace is good and various issues are brought out well as part of the dialogue.
Content and language: Clean (one kiss that is hardly even described), with some violence in the background of the story, but nothing graphic. Language is good overall, I don't recall any particular issues.
Message: No particular message, but some thought-provoking discussion of what I guess were the beginnings of the union movement - enough to show that there's no simple answer.
Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.
August 13, 2018
Based on contemporary accounts of the Luddite uprisings in Yorkshire in 1812, we follow Mary Lister, who is a new governess in a family defending their mill. William Arkwright has little patience with Miss Lister, and her cousin who has Luddite sympathies. Can these two overcome their differences in a time of turmoil?
What I loved about this was the level of historical detail and accuracy. I felt the desperation of the mill workers who were losing their livelihood. I understood the mill owner trying to keep his business relevant and productive. Mary;s viewpoint as the outsider observing it all was perfect to show all sides.
The one point I did not enjoy was the romance. Mary and Mr. Arkwright may have spent time together, but they did nothing but argue. I in no way saw what attracted Mary, though see why Mr. Arkwright would be attracted to the sweet and innocent governess.
Overall, it is a enjoyable look to a troubled time. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy fictional telling of events that really happened.
I received a copy from Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
What I loved about this was the level of historical detail and accuracy. I felt the desperation of the mill workers who were losing their livelihood. I understood the mill owner trying to keep his business relevant and productive. Mary;s viewpoint as the outsider observing it all was perfect to show all sides.
The one point I did not enjoy was the romance. Mary and Mr. Arkwright may have spent time together, but they did nothing but argue. I in no way saw what attracted Mary, though see why Mr. Arkwright would be attracted to the sweet and innocent governess.
Overall, it is a enjoyable look to a troubled time. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy fictional telling of events that really happened.
I received a copy from Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
November 19, 2024
I did enjoy this book but the relationship between Mary and William isn’t developed fully enough throughout the story to be fully believable by the end of the book. William is a grumpy and inflexible employer whose employees do what he says , or else. Mary is trapped in the middle of the problems faced because she works for William but can sympathise with the working families. It is an interesting plot and the story is tragic in places. A good read.
December 4, 2018
I can imagine this book as an old black and white movie with Laurence Olivier and Vivian Leigh as the leads. The writing style is unique. The story is set during the Luddite rebellion and centers on Mary, who is caught between the two warring factions. It was a quick read and is set in an interesting time but I disn’t really feel
Invested in the characters’ stories.
Invested in the characters’ stories.
March 19, 2022
A refreshing change from the regular format of the historical romance. Almost everyone works for a living in this novel. The hero is ex military who works in the textile trade. The heroine is a governess. Throw in some unrest with the laborers due to the introduction of machinery and you have a first rate story.
August 10, 2019
Luddites on the rampage
November 23, 2020
The male lead was a jerk on many levels. Couldn't stand him.
March 7, 2021
I enjoyed the background to this story in that people are breaking up the new machinery at mills 'the Luddites' in response to the threat that there will be less work for them.
What brought it down ultimately, was Will Arkwright's temper. It was over dramatic and explosive for no particular reason and caused a lot of problems and in my opinion deaths.
I loved the heroine however.
What brought it down ultimately, was Will Arkwright's temper. It was over dramatic and explosive for no particular reason and caused a lot of problems and in my opinion deaths.
I loved the heroine however.
April 15, 2022
Least romantic of ley's books.
March 31, 2025
La vicenda è ambientata nell'Inghilterra della rivoluzione industriale, funestata dalla presenza dei movimenti 'ludditi', e l'autrice non si risparmia nel disegnare a tinte forti la violenza e l'insipienza dei rivoltosi e l'ottusità e l'autoritarismo degli industriali e delle classi al potere. Ma, un po' come in 'Nord e Sud' della Gaskell, le tensioni sociali trovano un'iconica composizione in una storia d'amore...
Riletto. Decisamente il migliore di ACL. Merita tutte le quattro stelle, e avrei la tentazione di aggiungerne un'altra: supera sicuramente il livello della cosiddetta 'letteratura d'evasione'.
Riletto. Decisamente il migliore di ACL. Merita tutte le quattro stelle, e avrei la tentazione di aggiungerne un'altra: supera sicuramente il livello della cosiddetta 'letteratura d'evasione'.
November 22, 2015
Regency Capitalism
Very different romance without the usual noble lords. The hero is a former military man who is now in charge of the family's weaving mill. He has hired a governess for his younger sister and she arrives in the middle of the Luddite uprisings. Gives a very authentic taste of the problems of this period which the author has based on historic research. If you are looking for something a bit different, or from a different perspective, this story is for you. A very clean romance.
Very different romance without the usual noble lords. The hero is a former military man who is now in charge of the family's weaving mill. He has hired a governess for his younger sister and she arrives in the middle of the Luddite uprisings. Gives a very authentic taste of the problems of this period which the author has based on historic research. If you are looking for something a bit different, or from a different perspective, this story is for you. A very clean romance.
October 8, 2015
An old-fashioned but quirky read with more social realism than you often get. Our hero and heroine are a governess and Yorkshire mill owner and the plot centres on trouble at t'Mill as machines replace men and Luddites respond with violence. It's melodramatic and there's a lot to like but for me spoilt because the hero repeatedly jumps to the worst conclusion. Good spirited (not feisty) heroine though.
March 10, 2016
This was much better than the other book I read by this author, The Clandestine Betrothal. The characters were interesting and unique, especially in the usual realm of regency stories. This story is very reminiscent of Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South, and like that story I enjoyed it immensely.
September 25, 2015
This book is published by Endeavour Press
February 28, 2021
3 stars the second time through.
September 6, 2016
I really didn't like the hero. He was violent and demanding and he didn't care about other people's feelings. The Luddite story was interesting though.
February 27, 2023
So far my LEAST favorite ACL.
Horrific male.
Nope - with one or two chapters to go I am bailing. Miserable characters.
Horrific male.
Nope - with one or two chapters to go I am bailing. Miserable characters.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews