Das Erbe der Draytons

The Potters #1

by Rona Randall

An historical novel set in 18th century Staffordshire with the rapidly industrialising potteries, where Joseph Drayton, Master Potter, runs the family business, untrammelled in his private ambitions, ambitions which include Meg, a gipsy girl who slaves in his turning sheds, but not his gifted younger brother Martin. Martin is bound by indentures to work for five years in Joseph's pot bank but longs for the day when he comes into the Drayton legacy and can express his artistry in a more personal way and in this he is helped by his friend Simon Kendall, the canal digger, a humble genius who can neither read nor write but whose vision as an architect and engineer transforms the potteries trade.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Historical

315 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1986

About the author

Rona Green Shambrook
aka Rona Randall, Rona Shambrook, Virginia Standage

Rona Green was born on 16 June 1911 in Birkenhead, Cheshire, England, UK. Her education includes: Pitmans College in London, a Diploma in English Literature at Royal Society of Art, Birkenhead School of Art Literary. She married Frederick Walter Shambrook, and had a son.

A former actress, before writing, she worked also as journalist and sub-director of publishing company Amalgamated Press, and as assistant editor of George Newnes Ltd. Published since 1942, she started publishing mainly contemporary doctor nurse romances, before writing also gothic romances, and when the market for gothic novels softened, she wrote historical mystery romances. In 1970, Broken Tapestry, her contemporary novel about a broken family, won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the Romantic Novelists' Association. In 1989, she wrote her The Model Wife: Nineteenth Century Style, a book about social constumbres, including clothing. In 1992, she wrote Writing Popular Fiction, a complete guide for writers.

Reviews

[LadyoftheForest · Rating 5 out of 5]

A grand story in every respect! The characters are well rounded and the interplay and dialogue between them flows freely. Historically accurate with out being wasteful of words. An original plot and storyline that makes you want to read into the late hours of the night. Mild violence and sexual content, in this book the author made the story count. Eagerly looking forward to reading and searching out other books by Ms. Randall! I was given this book free by the author and publisher Endeavor Press via NetGalley in n exchange for an honest review.

[Vesta Tobin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well done

Loved every word..the story. developed steadily with facts and innuendo, suspense building slowly until I could barely put it down. The ending hoped for but not expected.
Great read

[Mary Payne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Drayton Legacy

A thoroughly good read. Extremely descriptive of the early potteries. The characters were fascinating and on coming to the end of the book I wanted to know more of what happens in their lives.

[Seema · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a well written book with lots of research and interesting characters. I really liked the setting and the villain was very believable as well.

[Elena Santamariña · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un libro de ambición, poder sobre el más débil, astucia por sobrevivir..me encanta como muestra la época las intrigas en unos personajes muy bien construidos. Me recordó a la serie Dallas.