Flambards

I first read this trilogy 18 years ago, shortly after I had seen bits and pieces of the series of the same name on PBS, and I was unable to put it down. Although the books are geared towards young adults, do NOT let that hinder you--adults of any age will find these novels appealing because they are well-written, the characters are fully developed and engaging, and the storyline, with its triumphs and tragedies, is timeless. They are the stories of Christina, a young orphan who is sent to live with her uncle because she is an heiress and he needs her money to continue the lifestyle he is accustomed to living. The story progresses as Christina grows up, learning to both love Flambards, the ancestral home, and yet despise the backward-thinking ways of her uncle and his eldest son, Mark. It tells of the rivalry between Mark (the favorite) and William (the second son) not only for their father's love but for Christina's as well. It illustrates how life was changing in England at the time (just before WWI), and the hope that those changes brought to many who felt restricted by hide-bound Victorian ( & Edwardian) rules. I think that readers will be able to relate to Christina, William, Mark, Dick, Sandy, and Dorothy regardless of their age, or where you grew up. I do suggest reading them in their proper sequence, beginning with "Flambards", continuing with "Edge of the Cloud", and finishing with "Flambards in Summer". I have read these novels again and again, and have loaned out my copy of the trilogy so many times. The author has a rare ability to truly take you back to an Edwardian county estate and to draw you into that world through Christina and her cousins. The books are very emotional, and have touched me in ways that other books depicting this era do not. I think that the best word for them is "haunting". It is too bad that they cannot be rated as 10 stars.

Flambards has got to be one of the best books ever written. And I wouldn't limit its appeal to young adults, though that is the audience it was written for. It tells the tale of Christina Parsons, a girl of twelve who comes to live with her uncle and two cousins, Mark and William. Christina, an orphan, has been shunted around from house to house since the day she was six, and is sick unto her heart of wandering. Yet it is not a comfortable home that awaits her at Flambards. Her uncle is cruel and twisted, both in body and in spirit. Her cousin Mark, while being dark, sensual, and charming is also selfish and difficult. Her cousin Will, while being clever, insightful, and friendly, is also withdrawn and sometimes cold. Discovering this new and strange world alongside Christina is nothing less than a delight.

This triology is in intriguing look into the life of a girl named Christina, who grows up as an orphan in the home of her crippled Uncle. It gives a wonderful peak into life duing in the early part of the 20th centry and even into the time surrounding WWI. They are wonderful books about life, living and love. I would recommend them to anyone, in fact, EVERYONE!

I found this book and the ones that followed both charming and delightful. I strongly recommend them to anyone who wants a good story about people like themselves, rather than fantastic ones. Though set early in this century, you're sure to find a character to identify with: weather it's uprooted orphan Christina, trying to make her way in a male-dominated society; sensitive, intelligent William, who's love of the budding airplane industry no one seems to understand; bold brassy Mark, who's every bit his fathers son; strong trusty Dick, struggling against his poor birth and servant status. The "Flambards" series will delight anyone who loves horses, airplanes, or just looking for a good read.

Christina Parsons comes to Flambards in the midst of a dramatic hunting mishap that sets the scene for this fast paced story of horses, flying, and love. At twelve, Christina is 'a slightly plump girl, with the beginnings of a bust (which she rather resented), a fine creamy skin and an upright carriage forced on her by the naggings of her female relatives... Her dark blue eyes were honest, her mouth composed and she had a head of thick brown hair which her Aunt Grace and once said was a gift straight from heaven.' Christina is brought to Flambards, a decaying mansion in the heart of rural Essex on the orders of her uncle Russell, a bitter man, himself crippled by a hunting accident. Christina is expected to marry her cousin Mark when she comes of age, and into the fortune that can be used to restore Flambards to it's former glory. The world of Flambards is one of riding, foxhunting, and horse racing. The company is almost excusively male, completely alien to a girl with no great love of horses who has spent the last six years of her life living with one female relative after another. After the death of her parents six years ago. Gradually Christina falls in love horses, with Flambards, and with the excitement of riding and hunting. Her feelings for the men of Flambards are less clear cut. There is the kind, patient and loyal groom, Dick. With his 'hair the color of wheat straw', his 'staight, well-built' body, and his 'unhurried way of moving, as if the world were full of fractious horses,' Christina comes to feel a closeness for Dick which they both know is wrong. Then there is quick, intelligent cousin William, who's passion in life is flying machines, but who seems to understand her only too well. Lastly there is impetuous and daring cousin Mark, who's tall, black haired body exudes a palpable air of vitality. His strong face, direct, intimidating black eyed gaze... The time will come when Christina must chose where her heart and her loyalties lie. There will be winners and losers, and everyone, not least Christina herself, will find there is a price to be paid. Behind it all lies Christina's growing love of Flambards, a tranquil haven in a world hurtling towards a future that no-one can even begin to imagine. Flambards is the first of a trillogy, Flambards, The Edge of the Cloud, and Flambards in Summer, published in the lats sixties. In 1981 K M Peyton added a sequal, Flambards Divided. The novels are set from 1908 to around the end of the first world war. They paint a passionate, charming and quintessentially english picture of life and love in a times of great change. Recommended for anyone who loves flying, horses, a sweet romance, or a good, evocative work of historical fiction. Che