I have just finished reading the latest in the above series by the excellent Cynthia Harrod-Eagles and, as always, when I finish one of these I am staggered at the amount of historical research that must have gone into the writing of each one. I would love to have a look at Cynthia's library, I think it must be simply awesome.
The Foreign Field is No 31 in the series and I tell you if you wish to read these, you need to start with No 1, The Founding, set way back in the 11/12th century and read your way through the lot. It will be worth it I can assure you but if you read one a month, it is still going to take you a couple of years, so you need to get going. Of course, when I first discovered these about ten years ago, I did my usual binge read. My local library had them all in stock and I used to go in and get out six at a time and sit down and read them through one after the other. This may sound all too much to bear but it worked very well as I was able to continue with the story of the Morland family generation after generation and as the family tree can get a bit complicated, I can recommend this method of tackling these wonderful books.
The current book is set in 1917 and tells the story of the various Morlands who are involved in the fighting, on the front, nursing at home and abroad, one is in the diplomatic service and is assigned to the Tsar of Russia becoming intimate with the Imperial Family. The Russian Revolution has taken place and, at the end of the book, Lenin had deposed Karensky who had some sympathy for Nicholas and Alexandra and the children, but of course we all know what happened to them. But will it happen to the Morland son attached to them as well?
By the end of the story there are several narrative strands cleverly left to keep us on the edge of our seats and eager for No 32. I have found when I start each new one that I have to study the family tree and reacquaint myself with all the ins and outs and, as there is a year between each episode, the reader needs to glance back at the previous book to see what has happened and to get yourself back into the mood for the next one. There is a strand back in No 30 which I think is going to rebound back in a later book, perhaps after the end of World War I but I could be wrong. We shall see.
The Morland Dynasty is a huge undertaking and I am full of admiration for Cynthia Harrod-Eagles to write so well, give us so many engaging and fascinating characters, some good some bad, all set against the background of the Civil War, the French Revolution, the American Civil War (yes there are American Morlands as well), through the Tudors, the Stuarts, The Peninsular Wars, the War of the Roses, yes sorry these are not in order but the breadth and depth of this enterprise is amazing.
If you have not yet read any of these then I really recommend that you get hold of No 1, take a deep breath and dive in. I have every intention of re-reading them all in order soon (well, hopefully...)
And if this is not enough, Cynthia HE also writes darn good crime novels as well. The Bill Slider mysteries. I simply don't know where she finds the time.
