The World from Rough Stones

Stevenson Saga #1

by Malcolm MacDonald

The unforgettable first novel in the classic Stevenson Family Saga from epic master Malcolm Macdonald John Stevenson is a just a foreman when a near-fatal accident bring young Nora Telling into his life. Her nimbleness of mind and his power of command enable them to take over the working mill and rescue it from catastrophe. Together with their friends the Thorntons-who are troubled by a marriage mismatched in passion-they are willing to risk any dare, commit themselves to any act of cunning on their climb from rags to riches. The first novel in the classic Stevenson Family Saga, The World from Rough Stones is the epic story of two ambitious but poor young people who, at the very start of the Victorian Era, combine their considerable talents to found a dynasty and go on to fame and fortune. "A monumental saga...rich and tremendous." -Boston Globe "A saga of immense power...the most exciting since the Swanns of Delderfield and the Forsytes of Galsworthy!" -Cincinatti Times "Zestful research and Macdonald's mastery of the dialects and speech of all classes bring his novel noisily to life from the first to the last page." -The [London] Times "A powerful new novel...a successful attempt to blend fiction with authenticity. The story is rich with colourful characters, brawling, boozing, and bedding...leaves the reader waiting impatiently for the next novel in what must be a memorable series." -Yorkshire Evening Post

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Romance, Ebooks, 19th Century, Historical Romance

586 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1974

About the author

Also under the names:
Malcolm Ross-MacDonald
Malcolm Ross
M.R. O'Donnell

Reviews

[Misfit]

I can't, I just can't. I love big fat sagas and this should have had my name all over it, but the regional dialect (Cornwall, I think?) is so heavily done I can't understand anyone. Examples:

"There's nigh on two 'undred 'n fifty bricks reaches from't invert up to't soffit an down to't invert on't other side."

Well, I at least know what a soffit is :)

"Shape thissen, lass. No jokin' toneet. It's make or break, see tha. If theer's five courses—nay, figure't cost per course. Allow nine inches to a brick—'ow many bricks in undred yards? An' what's't cost at four bricks a penny? An' if a brickie can lay six 'undred an' forty to a day in't quadrant an' takes three bob a day…" "Three bob!" "Aye. Theer's't real aristocracy for thee! If they get three bob a day, 'ow long's it take 'em to lay 'undred yards—and the cost? Got all that?"

Life't too short, moving along.

[Sarah Mac · Rating 1 out of 5]

When this book arrived via Paperback Swap, my initial page-through hinted at a sickly aura of Tedious Historical Fiction. (Hey, it happens.) But for all that I thought I'd girded myself for a slow-moving, bloated, tough to 'warm up' novel, nothing could have prepared me for the torment of actually sitting down & attempting to read it.

I made it through pg 75 before admitting defeat. I'd rather go to the dentist than read this book. (No lie.) It's just that boring.

So what did I manage to slog through? Pages upon pages of phonetic dialect-laden dialogue wherein the content was difficult to discern (see my updates for a tiny sample), followed by pages upon pages of non-phonetic dialogue and/or infodumps on the process of railroading in 1839 -- materials, cost, timetable, schedule, workload, investment, contracts.

...No. Not happening.

I don't have the will to rant about it. I don't even want to see this book again, let alone write a better review.

Goodbye & good riddance.

[Jana · Rating 1 out of 5]

Some men should never write about women. Malcom MacDonald is one of these men. He either writes them as crafty tarts with a penchant for killing small animals OR he writes them as insipid overly pure arm decorations for the men that lead them about and none of these women, even the one side character that runs the boarding house, are likable. In fairness, I read up to 100 pages so I did not finish this book. But I really couldn't continue - it was just hopeless. These are not characters. They are caricatures. The description of Arabella coming down the stairs made me think of an overly decorated birthday cake - I only have a vague sense of her covered in petticoats and lots of lace as all the women simper around her - no real actual description of what she is wearing mind you. We're told she is beautiful, breathtaking, etc - we're not left to discover that for ourselves as readers.

It's the kind of writing that makes me angry lol.

Oh, and the lovely description of Nora's unwashed scent that is constantly coming up - great! I really want that description. Thanks. Is that supposed to be interesting? Seriously, I don't think I've ever read a more disastrous sex scene in my life.

And the incessant talk about old steam engine railroads - if this is your thing, great. But even I have to wonder if he's descriptive enough about what he's talking about in these scenes. Usually when I read other books about subjects I have no idea about, you can still get a sense of what the writer is describing. I had no clue. And of course, this translated to very little interest in those scenes.

And the exciting Nora-does-math scene! Yippee!! Thrill as she carries the one! Marvel as she calculates in her head! Come on. Really?

I have never read a novel where I cared so little about the characters and therefore I didn't want to waste another moment reading this book. I usually love reading about this time period but this is not one of those times.

[Sharon Dodge · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have no idea why I haven't heard of Malcolm MacDonald before. I don't know why he isn't the favorite author of many friends, and I don't know why discussions of Patrick O'Brian (Master and Commander) don't automatically lead to equally reverential discussions of MacDonald. His attention to historical detail, mastery of accents, gorgeous prose, and the ability to tell a real yarn sets him a mile above nearly every other historical author I've read. I'm dying to buy the next two books in the series (and crushed the library doesn't have them); I'm besotted with his characters and his storytelling both. A beautiful, moving read.

[Charlie · Rating 3 out of 5]

World from Rough Stone is the first of the four-volume Stevenson Saga, written by Malcolm MacDonald. It tells the story of two ambitious but poor young people who, at the very start of the Victorian Era (1839) combine their considerable talents to found a dynasty and go on to fame and fortune.

This story is set in very early Victorian England from 1839 to 1841 against a backdrop of railroad building and and the economic upheavals this revolutionary form of transportation caused in it's youngest phase.

When they first meet, John Stevenson is a navvy foreman working on the Summit Tunnel of the Manchester & Leeds Railway. A near-fatal accident brings young Nora Telling into his life. Her nimbleness of mind and his power of command enable them to take over the working, with John now as main contractor, and rescue it from catastrophe...

Without seeming anachronistic MacDonald has written a book that delves into Historical fiction with abandon and does it well. Everything - even the different dialects spoken in the different regions of England are there, lending even more realism to this story of John and Nora Stevenson. However, it was just that - the dialects - that almost made me put the book down.

On more than one occasion I voiced my displeasure of having to "slog thru" portions of dialogue that needed to be deciphered before I could continue on. I did not give up though and was rewarded with a delightful story with more depth than I had anticipated.

Over all the book was really enjoyable to read, but I think if you don't have the stomach to work through what you are reading then this book is not for you.

[JoAnn J. A. Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is about the fortunes of some very interesting characters. It tells of love, success, and personal agony. It is well written and brings one into the time of its setting with realism.

I enjoyed reading this book and give it a good recommendation.

[Allison · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm repulsed by every character so far, and I get the feeling that relationships that took so long to set up are only going to descend into further misunderstanding and strife. Since I already hate the characters, I don't care to read any further about their pains and sexual bumblings. As if these things weren't enough, the dialect makes for tedious reading.

Maybe MacDonald was trying to show the seedier side of Victorian life, but honestly I'd rather read the Dickens or Gaskell versions of it. They are far more interesting.

Another promotional purchase to cross off my list, and good riddance. At least this one was free.

[Thisdaydreamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of how John Stevenson and Nora Feller meet, fall in love, and build both a business and a life together, running parallel with the tale of newlyweds Walter and Arabella Thornton and their more troubled marriage. A fascinating look at the lives of both the rich and the poor in Victorian England.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first time I read this book was just after it's first publishing, almost thirty five years later it hasn't lost any of it's appeal to me. Malcolm MacDonald's characters are interesting and multi-faceted. I also liked the historic details of the burgeoning railroad industry in England.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was probably one of the most superbly researched and true-to-life novels that I've ever read. Which is probably why it got 4 stars instead of 5 - it was entirely too realistic and I was reading for escapism.

[Elli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really a good book. Not really action packed, but more of a thought-provoking book about social mobility and situational morality. I liked it. I really loved the character of Nora and how much of a badass woman she was compared to wimpy Arabella.

[Midge · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting historical novel that I could hardly put down -- all 574 pages of it! Read the summary above to learn the gist of the book...I couldn't do better. I look forward to reading the second book in this saga.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled with whether to give The World from Rough Stones two or three stars. I went with a three star rating since, contrary to what I've read in some other reviews, I actually found the characters interesting. Also, the story line has some strong scenes, including the near-fatal accident that is mentioned on the back. On the negative side, it takes a bit of "sticktoitiveness" to make it all the way through this novel. MacDonald has a habit of describing details of things like railroad equipment, so for a page or two at a time the book becomes a dull read. He is also committed to writing in the period's dialect, which makes it it difficult to follow some passages. Without giving away too much, I will mention that this challenging dialogue becomes much more rare during the later half of the novel.

One thing that I wish I'd known before I started reading is that the book is really a year-in-the life of the Stevensons and the Thorntons. The final scenes felt anticlimactic when compared to things that happened early in the novel, but when I put it into the context of a single year and the fact that this is book 1 in a series, the plot somehow seems more acceptable. If you read the novel with the expectation that it will explain to you how each couple started their marriage and how the Stevenson dynasty began, you'll be a much more satisfied reader.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read. I read it because I found a book at the dollar store (new books for a dollar? I'm in!) and when I got it home discovered it was the second book. So, fortunately, our library system had the first book, The World From Rough Stones. I felt really fortunate because this book was written in the '70's and could easily have fallen by the wayside. Anyway, it is an historical piece, 1840's, set in England about laying track for trains. The characters were very well developed, and the stories, as there were definitely more than one story, all intertwined appropriately. Sometimes it seemed the thoughts and descriptions went on for no reason but then there ended up being a reason. The language of the characters was quite detailed, and everyday life was very historically correct. This was a long read, and just a story, nothing over dramatic, nothing, over horrendous (well, maybe a little) but it was life in the 1840's. I would recommend this book.

[Andrea Sachs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This historical novel is a quick read in spite of the number of pages. Lots of detail about railroad building in the 1800's in England.Rather raunchy, and almost a bodice-ripper, but I enjoyed it. I've read several of MacDonald's novels, and have several more to read, but I'll take a break from them now.

[Karen Hogan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book, but I found the author's use of authentic dialect made the reading experience unpleasant. I couldnt get past the first 50 pages.

[Clare · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got the feeling the author did not quite know what to concentrate on in the story line. Was it the construction of part of the railway system in England in the mid 1800s or was it the relationships between the married couple and their acquaintances? I must admit some of the descriptions of the ins and outs of the railway engineering were a bit too foreign to me so I lost some interest when those were being focused on.
The relationship which grew between John and Nora happened lightning fast and it seemed so convenient that she excelled at mathematics so she was a great help to his business dealings. I wasn't sure if I liked John all that much since he used some sly and, frankly, illegal means to gain the contract that started him on his road to success. And Nora was just as conniving.
Then we get the story of his engineer Walter and his wife Arabella. Walter, to put it mildly, is a womanizer and frequents houses of ill repute. These exploits are expanded upon much too often and too descriptively for my taste and just clashed jarringly with the rest of the story. Arabella was brought up in a rather strict and prudish household and is rather mismatched in her marriage.
I kept reading hoping that somehow things might get resolved: Would John and Nora stop scheming up ways to make more profit for themselves? (Granted, John supposedly treated his workers better than other employers of the time but the way they wrangled to get some of the wages back for themselves made me mad. Would Walter ever change his ways? (We could only hope). What toll would all this industrialization have on the inhabitants and workers of the region?
I was hoping for more from this tale but was left with a feeling of the story being unfinished not to mention that the moral of the story seemed to be the ends justify the means.

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

although a good read, this book seem to end very abruptly....reason why it got 3 stars instead of 4

[Marie Phillip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my cup of tea. Had too much about building railroad tunnels and unions in England.

[Susan]

August 1839-August 1840 about building the railroad in Manchester England

[Gwen Boucher · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a lovely romantic book and I have referred to others numerous times. I did not know there were four volumes, so I hope to find the others soon.

[ROCKY · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read in 1975 updating!!

[Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting insights into the lifestyles and morals of the early Victorian era and the early age of railroads.

[Carrie Billig]

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[Barbara · Rating 1 out of 5]

The World from Rough Stones is Book One in a trilogy following the Stevenson Family written by Malcolm Macdonald.

Another book that I found wandering around Chapters. It caught my eye and reading the back of the book saying, “Rich and exciting” from the Washington Star. “You can’t put it down” Chattanooga Times. Well, what does Barbara McKenzie say????

I couldn’t finish this book. There are only a handful of books I’ve never been able to finish and The World from Rough Stones will now be added to this small group.

I never felt any pull to any of the characters and the story seemed very dry and I actually skimmed through certain sections because it was just so boring. I read about 400 pages before I gave up. Very disappointing.

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

I started this novel with good intentions but barely made it through the first several chapters before realizing I was completely uninterested in finishing. This is a rare occurance indeed for me as I can read most books completely before reviewing them but this one just was a difficult read with no real offering of attempted plot. The dialect is heavy and the characters not well defined. I felt often as if I wasn't sure why I really wanted to know more about them. There just wasn't anything fantastic about the story line or the plot that would propell you forward through the stamerin dialect sequences. To each their own...I hope others will find it better than I did.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected more from this book. I'm not sure why, considering the last few reviews have had the same feelings I had. I normally really like books with such lively characters but not this book. It was quiet hard to finish - and I think I ended up powering through just so I could start a new book.

Probably won't be reading any others by Malcolm MacDonald.

[Kimberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too much work to get through this book. I stopped twice to read other books and then came back to it. I liked the character Nora but agree with other reviewers that in general, Malcolm does not write women well. I will not be reading the other 3 books in this series.

[Eleyne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I chose not to finish reading this book. I couldn't get into it, primarily I think because of the heavy dialect. Ordinarily, dialect isn't a problem for me, but this is so heavy I found myself having to reread lines to discern content.

[Karen C · Rating 1 out of 5]

I probably shouldn't say "I didn't like it" as I did not finish it. Just could not get into this book. I was very excited about finding a new series, but I did not like the way it was written and was struggling to get through the first few chapters. I gave up.