The Founding (Morland Dynasty) [Paperback]

Cynthia Harrod-Eagles (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2010 | Series: Morland Dynasty (Book 1)

"The yardstick by which all historical novels are measured."*

Seeking power and prestige, grim, ambitious Yorkshireman Edward Morland arranges a marriage between his meek son Robert and spirited Eleanor, young ward of the influential Beaufort family. Eleanor is appalled at being forced to marry a mere "sheep farmer"; she is, after all, secretly in love with Richard, Duke of York.

Yet from this apparently ill-matched union, Robert and Eleanor form a surprising connection that soon will be tested by a bloody civil war that divides families, sets neighbor against neighbor, and brings tragedy close to home.

What Readers Are Saying:*
"As a big fan of historical fiction, I found this to be one of the best in the genre."
"Brilliant, a definite page turner. They combine real historical events with fascinating fictional characters."
"The founding is a masterpiece of research into life in Middle-Age England. It is also a great start to a wonderful Dynasty-every time I buy a new book in this series, I read the whole lot again from the start."
"Well researched and well written, this book simply does not allow you to stop until you reach the last page-and then rush to find the next in the series."

(20100412)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Originally published in 1980, the powerful first entry in the Morland Dynasty series introduces 15th-century matriarch Eleanor Morland. As a young woman and ward of the powerful Beaufort family, Eleanor was married off to wealthy Yorkshire commoner Robert Morland, despite her carrying a torch for the charismatic duke of York, Richard. As Eleanor grows comfortable in her marriage and her family expands, she resolves to keep her allegiance to Richard, something that threatens to destroy her family as civil war rips England apart. Readers familiar with the struggles of the War of the Roses will find this a refreshing take on the period and will be drawn to Eleanor, sometimes in spite of themselves. While keeping track of the whole Morland clan can be difficult, fans of historicals will be enthralled, eager to see how the staunchly Yorkist Morlands will survive the Tudor years. (Apr.)
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Review

This epic, brilliantly intricate series is like a family tree come to life. (Alaine Bucknall Queen of Happy Endings 20100412)

The detail was amazing. You really feel as if you are a part of the time period. (Grace Loiacono Books Like Breathing 20100412)

A great historical read with love, death disease and everything that can befall a family of this time period. (Kathleen Kelly Celtic Lady's Reviews 20100412)

An entertaining and engrossing read that contains two intriguing elements...family drama and history. (Amy Bruno Passages to the Past 20100412)

A rather delightful read as well as an intriguing historical look into life during the middle years of the 1400s. (Jennifer Higgins Rundpinne 20100412)

For readers who enjoy an ongoing family saga, you'll want to pick up this book. It's a very satisfying read and will be a great addition to your Historical shelf. (Lynda Coker Between the Pages 20100412)

Rich in historical details, populated by compelling and very real characters and a true page-turner... one of the true cornerstones of historical fiction of the late 20th century. (Lady Tess Thoughts From Lady Tess 20100412)

The Founding is a masterpiece of research into life in Medieval England. (Anita Davison The Historical Novel Review Blog 20100415)

I can see myself becoming very enthralled with this series. (Christy Babinski Readin' and Dreamin' 20100421)

This is truly an epic story, that I'm sure will entertain as I read through the years. (Jen Ritter Jenny Loves to Read 20100421)

With the deft stroke of her pen, [Cynthia Harrod-Eagles] captures the beauty and ugliness of the period. (Teddy Rose So Many Precious Books, So Little Time 20100421)

A good read for any lover of good historical fiction. (Patty The Broken Teepee 20100421)

A must read for all fans of British History. (Renee Renee's Reads 20100421)

The breadth of the devotion this author has shown history should be applauded. (Monica The Bibliophilic Book Blog 20100421)

A writer of depth and style. The characterization and plotting are stunning. (Nancy Bookfoolery & Babble 20100421)

Cynthia Harrod-Eagles makes the time period almost a character in the story. It was very prominent and very well researched. (Debbie Debbie's Book Bag 20100427)

I was sucked in immediately... beautifully written. (Kaye Pudgy Penguin Perusals 20100429)

A great new way to experience English history. (Jen Devourer of Books 20100429)

A fresh perspective with interesting characters. (Nicole A Blog of Books )

Harrod-Eagles weaves historical figures and events into the dramas, failures, and successes of the Morlands... Fascinating. (Gaby Lupus Starting Fresh )

Excellent... all history lovers will enjoy. (Virginie Barbeau She Read a Book )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 560 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark; Reissue edition (April 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402238150
• ISBN-13: 978-1402238154
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #346,631 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent beginning..., February 8, 2002

By 

"aschneid1" (Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Founding (Morland Dynasty) (Paperback)

"The Founding," set during the War of the Roses, is the first book of the prolific Moreland family saga. The story opens with the marriage of the ambitious young Eleanor Courteney to Robert Moreland, son of a wealthy York wool merchant. Eleanor, having lived among nobility for most of her life, believes the match is beneath her station and desperately opposes it. The first half of the book revolves around Eleanor's struggle to come to terms with her marriage. As the novel progresses, the family is swept up, for better or for worse, by the tumultuous political tides of the war.
"The Founding" was an enjoyable read, full of colorful descriptions of everyday life during mid-to late fifteenth century England. The author effectively blends her fictional creations with historical events by giving her characters minor roles in the royal households and in significant battles of the war. In doing so, these characters' adventures seem plausible in light of known historical events. The author has also included a family chart, which this reader found extremely helpful for keeping track of the prodigious Moreland family.
I have only a few minor criticisms (the reason for the four star rating). The large gaps in time that occur between chapters can be disorienting for the reader. I also thought the book would have been more satisfying had the author given her characters more depth, rather than emphasizing the same character traits repeatedly.
Despite these criticisms, I felt the book was highly entertaining and am eagerly looking forward to continuing with this saga.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars could be worse, August 31, 2005

By 

A. LEJEUNE "scarlettdoll" (Prairieville, LA USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Founding (Morland Dynasty) (Paperback)

This book lays the foundation for Harrod-Eagles 20+ series of the Morland dynasty. I won't go into the plot details as it's already been said by many other reviewers; I'll just list what I found to be the good and the bad of this book.

What I disliked was how the author only mentions one facet of each character's personality. Eleanor, the main character, is repeatedly characterized as being a strong, imposing, dutiful woman. She is described as such over and over again. And the other characters are treated the same. By about the tenth time it's mentioned how strong-willed Eleanor is, you want to scream. The only real exception to this is the daughter, Isabella. She goes through circumstances which force a dramatic personality change in her and so she gets to be a slightly rounder character. But everyone else is more or less flat and one-dimensional.

The other negative comment I have is the history involved in these stories. Having accurate history is less important than having good character development but some of Harrod-Eagles claims leave you wondering just where she got her information. She has the princes in the tower being killed after Richard III in this first book, and then states in the second book that the Princes were shipped out of England and probably died in obscurity in a cottage in France! And, in her foreword to the second book, she says that Henry VIII had only two mistresses in his lifetime! Such inaccuracies tend to irritate me as a history buff but if you can overlook that, then this book isn't so bad (aside from the lack of good characterization).

The good thing about this series is that they are light, easy reads for when you're in the mood to go back in time but don't want to be bogged down in something deep and dark. The story is entertaining enough, even with those flaws, that you can quickly go through it.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Morland Must, October 13, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Founding (Paperback)

This is the first book in the Morland Dynasty series. It begins in 1434 with the marriage of Robert Morland, son of a Yorkshire woolmerchant, and Eleanor Courtney, a young Dorset maiden. It heralds the beginning of a great family. Under the craftful eye of Eleanor, the woolmerchant she maried soon becomes a very successful clothier. This series follows the Morland family from the War of the Roses to the present day. A MUST!