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Beggar on Horseback
Lovely Dorothea Stratton's life had always been sheltered and serene. Then her brother gambled away the entire family fortune, and she knew things would never be the same again.
She assumed that she would remain quietly at Gallows Farm, never being able to marry now that her dowry was in the hands of that detestable card shark, Kelvin Rainham.
Then one day a wounded stranger was brought to the farm. He called himself Anthony Forrest and Dorothea promptly began to fall in love with him. She had no way of knowing that he was actually Kelvin Rainham.
How long would it be before Dorothea found out that this handsome stranger was the scoundrel responsible for her family's shame and ruin...
She assumed that she would remain quietly at Gallows Farm, never being able to marry now that her dowry was in the hands of that detestable card shark, Kelvin Rainham.
Then one day a wounded stranger was brought to the farm. He called himself Anthony Forrest and Dorothea promptly began to fall in love with him. She had no way of knowing that he was actually Kelvin Rainham.
How long would it be before Dorothea found out that this handsome stranger was the scoundrel responsible for her family's shame and ruin...
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1953
About the author
Sylvia Thorpe
38 books22 followersJune Sylvia Thimblethorpe was born in 1926 in London, England. Educated in London at a school in Brondesbury, Kilburn High School for Girls, Slade School of Fine Arts, and University College. She worked as secretary from 1949 to 1952 and later she worked as school teacher.
As Sylvia Thorpe, she wrote over 25 historical romance novels from 1950 to 1983. Her novel "The Scapegrace" (1971) won the Elizabeth Goudge Historical Award. She was the third elected Chairman (1965-1967) of the Romantic Novelists' Association, and was named a Honor Life Member of the organization.
Sylvia is now a trustee for the Goodrich Village Hall Trust. Goodrich is a village, in south Herefordshire which is very close to Gloucestershire and the Forest of Dean situated near the River Wye and is famous for its old red sandstone Norman and medieval castle.
As Sylvia Thorpe, she wrote over 25 historical romance novels from 1950 to 1983. Her novel "The Scapegrace" (1971) won the Elizabeth Goudge Historical Award. She was the third elected Chairman (1965-1967) of the Romantic Novelists' Association, and was named a Honor Life Member of the organization.
Sylvia is now a trustee for the Goodrich Village Hall Trust. Goodrich is a village, in south Herefordshire which is very close to Gloucestershire and the Forest of Dean situated near the River Wye and is famous for its old red sandstone Norman and medieval castle.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 26, 2010
Another excellent historical romance by a very overlooked writer, Sylvia Thorpe.
I've enjoyed Thorpe's novels since I was a teenager, but didn't read all of them at that time. She was fairly prolific, writing over 30 books between the 1950's-1980's. Through Paperbackswap, I'm trying to find all of them to add to my collection. I've noticed that the quality of Thorpe's writing declined through the years. Her early novels (including this one), were written in the 1950's, and are very well written, with great characters, intriguing plots and sharpe writing. Her later works are less steller.
In this offering, the year is 1692, and Dorothea Stratton's brother, Sir David, gambles away his entire inheritance, Dorothea's dowry, and their stately manor home to a steely, world-weary, soldier-for-hire, Major Kelvin Rainham. Rainham has been away from England for 7 years, having left his home after putting his soldierly duty above family when he turned his brother and father in for treason after their association with the ill-fated Duke of Monmouth and his rebellion of King James. Rainham didn't realize his brother and father were involved until his troop was sent to search all the homes in the west country for traitors. Having turned them in, his grieving mother curses Rainham for his lack of familial love over his duty as an officer, and for the next 7 years he lives abroad, haunted by his actions. He is a solitary, embittered man, nursing his betrayals in private; showing the world a cold, indifferent persona.
How he learns to make amends for his past(and present) actions make for an interesting and fun read. A bit melodramatic at times, but still a very good, clean historical story.
I've enjoyed Thorpe's novels since I was a teenager, but didn't read all of them at that time. She was fairly prolific, writing over 30 books between the 1950's-1980's. Through Paperbackswap, I'm trying to find all of them to add to my collection. I've noticed that the quality of Thorpe's writing declined through the years. Her early novels (including this one), were written in the 1950's, and are very well written, with great characters, intriguing plots and sharpe writing. Her later works are less steller.
In this offering, the year is 1692, and Dorothea Stratton's brother, Sir David, gambles away his entire inheritance, Dorothea's dowry, and their stately manor home to a steely, world-weary, soldier-for-hire, Major Kelvin Rainham. Rainham has been away from England for 7 years, having left his home after putting his soldierly duty above family when he turned his brother and father in for treason after their association with the ill-fated Duke of Monmouth and his rebellion of King James. Rainham didn't realize his brother and father were involved until his troop was sent to search all the homes in the west country for traitors. Having turned them in, his grieving mother curses Rainham for his lack of familial love over his duty as an officer, and for the next 7 years he lives abroad, haunted by his actions. He is a solitary, embittered man, nursing his betrayals in private; showing the world a cold, indifferent persona.
How he learns to make amends for his past(and present) actions make for an interesting and fun read. A bit melodramatic at times, but still a very good, clean historical story.
October 31, 2011
I love this book. I loaned it to a friend who lost it. As soon as the internet was invented practically my first thought was "cool now I can find Beggar on Horseback again."
So an historical romance in the old style. No explicite love scenes. Very well written. Beautiful feel for the times with characters true to their period not just modern people dropped into a carriage and a long dress. The hero is an honorable man almost destroyed by his circumstances who wins an estate in a game of chance. He basically just wants to go there and rest. Once there, he falls in love with a potrait of Dorothea the previous owner's sister. He sets out to discover what has happened to her.
A beautiful romance full of emotion and self sacrifice with a slightly bittersweet but ultimately fulfilling happy ending.
So an historical romance in the old style. No explicite love scenes. Very well written. Beautiful feel for the times with characters true to their period not just modern people dropped into a carriage and a long dress. The hero is an honorable man almost destroyed by his circumstances who wins an estate in a game of chance. He basically just wants to go there and rest. Once there, he falls in love with a potrait of Dorothea the previous owner's sister. He sets out to discover what has happened to her.
A beautiful romance full of emotion and self sacrifice with a slightly bittersweet but ultimately fulfilling happy ending.
April 17, 2023
This is a romance from yesteryear (published in 1954) which means:
1. Has a dollop of actual history to the story (Monmouth rebellion);
2. Characters talk and act like they are in a historical novel instead of the vague wallpapery stuff that passes for “historical” romance these days;
3. If you want steamy, you’re out of luck; and
4. The pacing seems sooo slow. Like, glaciers move faster than this plot did.
SPOILERS BELOW:
Our hero, Kelvin, has returned from soldiering on the continent, where he went to escape his Tragic Past, and immediately wins a whole estate and family fortune from a young ne’er do well. So the young ne’er do well’s beautiful but innocent sister, Dorothea, is forced to leave her life on unearned privilege to live in the countryside where she is still privileged but much less rich. Meanwhile, Kelvin slumps off to the mansion he won, gloomily thinking about his Tragic Past while swearing he will not ever, under any circumstances, fall in love again.
Until he sees the portrait of Dorothea that was left behind in the ancestral manse and falls completely head over heels in love with her. On a scale of one to ten, with one being “she looks nice” and ten being “restraining order,” he falls at about an nine and a half because he decides to traipse all over the countryside until he finds her. That sounds vaguely stalkerish to me, but maybe people didn’t worry about that in the 1600s. I don’t know. The author just treats it as normal, which seems like a missed opportunity to me, because the story could have been bonkers in all the best ways.
Then there’s this middle section which felt much longer than it actually was, and I will just skip over it in the recap because I don’t want to bore myself twice.
Then we get HEAs all round with everybody begging everyone else to take the ancestral manse, because what use is a fortune when you have true love. “No, I insist, YOU take the estate, I really don’t want it.” “No, “But it’s YOUR ancestral estate, YOU take it.” “But YOU won it fair and square!” Not exact quotes, but close enough.
Could have been good, but way too sedate. Nary a bodice was ripped. Maybe 50s era romance is too vintage for my taste?
1. Has a dollop of actual history to the story (Monmouth rebellion);
2. Characters talk and act like they are in a historical novel instead of the vague wallpapery stuff that passes for “historical” romance these days;
3. If you want steamy, you’re out of luck; and
4. The pacing seems sooo slow. Like, glaciers move faster than this plot did.
SPOILERS BELOW:
Our hero, Kelvin, has returned from soldiering on the continent, where he went to escape his Tragic Past, and immediately wins a whole estate and family fortune from a young ne’er do well. So the young ne’er do well’s beautiful but innocent sister, Dorothea, is forced to leave her life on unearned privilege to live in the countryside where she is still privileged but much less rich. Meanwhile, Kelvin slumps off to the mansion he won, gloomily thinking about his Tragic Past while swearing he will not ever, under any circumstances, fall in love again.
Until he sees the portrait of Dorothea that was left behind in the ancestral manse and falls completely head over heels in love with her. On a scale of one to ten, with one being “she looks nice” and ten being “restraining order,” he falls at about an nine and a half because he decides to traipse all over the countryside until he finds her. That sounds vaguely stalkerish to me, but maybe people didn’t worry about that in the 1600s. I don’t know. The author just treats it as normal, which seems like a missed opportunity to me, because the story could have been bonkers in all the best ways.
Then there’s this middle section which felt much longer than it actually was, and I will just skip over it in the recap because I don’t want to bore myself twice.
Then we get HEAs all round with everybody begging everyone else to take the ancestral manse, because what use is a fortune when you have true love. “No, I insist, YOU take the estate, I really don’t want it.” “No, “But it’s YOUR ancestral estate, YOU take it.” “But YOU won it fair and square!” Not exact quotes, but close enough.
Could have been good, but way too sedate. Nary a bodice was ripped. Maybe 50s era romance is too vintage for my taste?
March 3, 2013
Just arrived from USA through BM.
The plot was not so appealing as it seems. This is not my cup of tea at the moment,
The plot was not so appealing as it seems. This is not my cup of tea at the moment,
June 26, 2022
Sylvia Thorpe reread #7. Another terrific read. Sylvia writes so compellingly about this period in history. This book about Dorothea Stratton and Major Kelvin Rainham has all the elements of an entertaining story - adventure, deception, revenge, gambling, duels and of course romance. I absolutely love these books I first read forty years ago.
The book I read was published by Corgi in 1981 but as this was not available on Goodreads I had to chose this edition.
The book I read was published by Corgi in 1981 but as this was not available on Goodreads I had to chose this edition.
June 27, 2013
I have only one complaint: though the book was about Kelvin and Dorothea I still would have liked more of the secondary story with David and Clarissa, most of it was in the background with Clarissa disappearing after only a few appearances.
I also thought there was a bit too much noble self-sacrifice but that was another time...and who's to say the modern day me first attitude is the better way?
I also thought there was a bit too much noble self-sacrifice but that was another time...and who's to say the modern day me first attitude is the better way?
March 22, 2023
Needed a good edit.
July 15, 2011
For me there was too much going wrong for the hero through most the book. I just kept thinking "ok when are things going to pick up for this guy" and I'm pretty sure it wasn't till like the last chapter that everything worked out(I can't say for sure because I didn't finish it) I just got tired of everything going to pieces.
August 20, 2013
Bad things happen to ridiculous people, who then make everything worse by being incredibly stupid. I found myself rolling my eyes so hard I'm surprised they're still in my head.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews