The Vivian Inheritance

The Howarth Saga #3

by Jean Stubbs

Another absorbing instalment of the Howarth family saga! For fans of Nadine Dorries, Maeve Binchy, Freda Lightfoot and Dilly Court.How far will William go to realise his ambitions?Wealthy and successful, the ironmaster William Howarth wishes to continue expanding his industrial empire across Wyndendale Valley.To aid his vision, he hires Cornishman Hal Vivian — a young engineer with ambition and talent to rival the ironmaster’s.Their stormy partnership seems set to transform the lives of William’s family and the inhabitants of the valley.And there is more than fame and fortune in store for Hal. When the ironmaster’s daughter sets out to win his heart, he must decide where his happiness lies…The Vivian Inheritance is the third book in The Brief Chronicles, a gripping family saga set in rural Lancashire during the Industrial Revolution.THE BRIEF CHRONICLESBook Kit’s HillBook The IronmasterBook The Vivian InheritanceBook The Northern Correspondent

Genres: Historical Romance, Fiction

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Aka Emma Darby

Jean was born in Lancashire and educated in Manchester. She has written many novels and short stories for magazines and collections, several of which have been adapted for radio and television. She has lived for more than twenty years in a cottage in Cornwall, England, with her husband.

Reviews

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in the early 19th century, when steam trains were just beginning, this book is something of a family saga. The people shine through as individuals, and a potentially dull setting becomes interesting with clever writing and enough surprises to keep the book moving.

[Ajanta Rezwana · Rating 5 out of 5]

The series just keeps getting better and better. The book is too long, and extremely detailed, and the language is completely different from what we are used to. But the characters keep surprising you, and this book felt like a circle coming to a close somehow.

[Dixie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 3 in a must read series

I have thoroughly enjoyed this series. Great historical research and strong characters. Generational family saga that you do not want to end.

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Getting bored..:(

[Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read…couldn’t put this book down.I can’t wait to read the last book in this series..

[Rita · Rating 3 out of 5]

1982. Said to be the 3rd of the series "The Howarths of Garth". Kit's Hill [1769-1790] the first one, The Ironmaster the 2nd one. [Actually, I see "Brief Chronicles" is the title of the series acc. to Goodreads.]
Historical novel set in Lancashire 1815-1830. Stubbs herself was raised in Lancashire.

EPOS [is the word that comes to mind] of a wealthy iron-mining family at the time of the invention and early days of train locomotives and railroads.
Graphic description of the misery of workers who sweat blood and tears, and were very close to being slaves. Death and destruction. Capitalism and inhumanity.

Well written, in authentic-sounding 19c wording [how does she manage that???] and local dialect. Rather romantic, but with plenty of gripping problems among family members.

Hard to believe this is the same Jean Stubbs who wrote the interesting novels set in modern times, though the family relationships are equally well shown.

Found this book at an "op shop" early on in Australia. Seemed strange to read a novel about 19c England in Australia, but strangely enough there were a couple of links. For one, a Howarth in the novel is sent to Botany Bay [AUS] for a prison term [though not much is said about it]. For another, how amazing that locomotives and railroads came to AUS so very early, so soon after being invented/ introduced in England.

A pity Goodreads has almost no reviews of Stubbs's books.
And why is there no Wikipedia page on Jean Stubbs?