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The Second Inheritance
Melvyn Bragg's portrayal of the tensions within two farming families in the north of England.
298 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1966
About the author
Melvyn Bragg
133 books148 followersMelvyn Bragg, Baron Bragg, FRSL, FRTS (born 6 October 1939) is an English author, broadcaster and media personality who, aside from his many literary endeavours, is perhaps most recognised for his work on The South Bank Show.
Bragg is a prolific novelist and writer of non-fiction, and has written a number of television and film screenplays. Some of his early television work was in collaboration with Ken Russell, for whom he wrote the biographical dramas The Debussy Film (1965) and Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World (1967), as well as Russell's film about Tchaikovsky, The Music Lovers (1970). He is president of the National Academy of Writing. His 2008 novel, Remember Me is a largely autobiographical story.
He is also a Vice President of the Friends of the British Library, a charity set up to provide funding support to the British Library.
Bragg is a prolific novelist and writer of non-fiction, and has written a number of television and film screenplays. Some of his early television work was in collaboration with Ken Russell, for whom he wrote the biographical dramas The Debussy Film (1965) and Isadora Duncan, the Biggest Dancer in the World (1967), as well as Russell's film about Tchaikovsky, The Music Lovers (1970). He is president of the National Academy of Writing. His 2008 novel, Remember Me is a largely autobiographical story.
He is also a Vice President of the Friends of the British Library, a charity set up to provide funding support to the British Library.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 26, 2023
I am not sure what made me pick this up to be honest - I seem to have been passed on a little collection of Melvyn Bragg's books and so, as it looked quite a small, quick read I decided to give it a go. It turned out to be quite a time consuming one as I just really struggled to get into it. This was Bragg's second novel and it just seems to have really depressing undertones to it and I am not sure why. I never could really figure out where the novel was going or what Bragg intended its purpose to be. I felt like there were quite a few things that didn't get finished off at the end and this was also quite frustrating after I'd put the effort in to avoid a "did not finish". I couldn't tell if there was an incest element to one of the relationships and at one point i though there was a homosexual relationship between the two male protagonists implied but then that seemed to just phase out as well. All in all I just could not figure this one out and could not really recommend it.
November 27, 2025
Two and a half stars upgrades to three because of the moodiness.
A difficult book.
I really liked it at the start but the story dragged on without much happening until a surprising twist.
To me this book is drifting. Important things are implied and not worked out.
The open end left me unsatisfied and I don’t understand the title.
A difficult book.
I really liked it at the start but the story dragged on without much happening until a surprising twist.
To me this book is drifting. Important things are implied and not worked out.
The open end left me unsatisfied and I don’t understand the title.
November 4, 2023
In the end the book simply didn't ring true. That maybe down to myself but I just found the book irritating.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews