Morland Dynasty 10: The Tangled Thread

#10: Covers 1789 to 1795: the French Revolution; wars with France; beginning of the industrial revolution When we left the Morland Family in The Flood Tide, the French revolution was just starting. In The Tangled Thread, the Revolution is in full swing, with Henri taking sides with the revolutionaries and his daughter Heloise marrying a well-known revolutionary. In England, at Morland Place, Jemima's children have grown, but none has married. Later, war with the French looms, as Henry looses his head during the bloodbath in Paris, and Heloise comes to England. There are two distinct story lines going on here, and that which takes place in Paris during the Revolution is infinitely more interesting than the domestic affairs of the Morlands in York. Heloise is a charming young heroine, brave; and despite the adversity she faces, never let anything get her down. Jemima is a less-vibrant then many of the other characters, but maybe because the other characters' stories are in the forefront here. Cynthia Harrod-Eagles has an annoying habit of having her characters declaim about major events of English history (it usually starts with another character saying, "tell us the news..."), but the story of the Morland family is, as always, entertaining to read. The wars with France are just about to really get going, and I'm looking forward to reading what's next for the Morlands.

In Paris in the year 1788, Henri-Marie Fitzjames Stuart, Comte de Strathord, last of the male Stuart line, albeit on the wrong side of the blanket, has allowed his daughter Heloise to leave her convent to live with him in the home of friends, members of the French nobility. Times of great trouble are approaching with the beginning of the French revolution, so the Comte marries Heloise to an up and coming member of the new order, at the tender age of 14, as he fears for their safety and needs to see her cared for by a caring husband, Unfortunately, the husband proves to be a beast so Heloise and her maid flee to England on a ship which is wrecked on the English coast. They are taken to Morland Place where Jemima and her family love their newly found cousin, especially James who falls for her completely. News arrives of the executions of the royal family and the nobility, including Heloise's father and husband. It's a very action packed story which I consider to be the best yet in the Morland family series.