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jessicaariel's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
karenchase's review against another edition
4.0
I began reading this right after I finished book one, Habits of the house. This story begins about a year after that first one ends, so things have shifted somewhat in the world of the Dilbernes. This book traces the continuing story of Lord Dilberne and his family -- wife Isobel, hovering around the royals as they prepare for the coronation; son Arthur and his wife Minnie, preparing for the arrival of their first baby; and daughter Rosina, continuing to exercise her unfashionable intellect, delving into theosophy. It also introduces Adela, daughter of his Lordship's estranged brother, whose tiny, sheltered life is turned upside-down by tragedy, and finds herself swept up into the powers of the persuasive, and wholly without the natural reserves of understanding and world-wisdom to resist. The two stories inch toward each other (enticingly) throughout this novel with sometimes-frustrating speed (or lack thereof), with a sense of inevitability, but also a thread of doubt. Fay Weldon continues to weave a portrait of English high society at the end of the Victorian era, the edge of modernity, the polite conflicts between the aristocracy and the working class, and every character embodies some aspect of that social construct. Fascinating and entertaining! I want to dive back in and finish the trilogy immediately, but my library holds are piling up. I look forward to seeing how the story ends.
mrsmdavidson's review against another edition
3.0
Not a fan of the plot on this one. All the hullabaloo about the coronation and doesn't even happen.
goannelies's review against another edition
2.0
*Dit is een boek uit de bibbox historische romans*
Koningin Victoria is dood en haar zoon Bertie zal haar opvolgen. De Dilbernes kijken uit naar de kroning, wat een moment van glorie moet worden voor deze adellijke familie. Al maakt lady Isobel zich zorgen over de genegenheid van haar man voor een jonge hertogin. Hun nichtje Adela, dat vervreemt is van de rest van de familie, maakt ondertussen een persoonlijk drama mee.
Dit boek is een tweede deel uit een serie. Het kan best los gelezen worden denk ik, maar soms had ik toch het gevoel dat beginnen bij het eerste deel beter was geweest. Of dit in geval: gewoon niet aan dit boek beginnen.
Het is in de traditie van Downtown Abbey en Jane Austen. Een relaas van een adellijke familie die hele dagen niks om handen heeft behalve drama maken. Op zich kan ik dat soort verhalen wel aan. Zo dat typische kostuumdramasfeertje. Maar dit is gewoon slecht geschreven of vertaald. Saai zelfs. Er gebeurt echt niks en dat met vlakke personages.
Ik gaf niet veel om Isobel, Minnie of zelfs Rosina, met wie de schrijfster een origineler personage wil neerzetten. Adela was nog een klein hoogtepuntje, maar zij is dan weer zo naïef.
Nope, dit is een boek dat ik heel snel zal vergeten. Ik las de laatste 80 pagina's diagonaal gewoon om er vanaf te zijn.
Koningin Victoria is dood en haar zoon Bertie zal haar opvolgen. De Dilbernes kijken uit naar de kroning, wat een moment van glorie moet worden voor deze adellijke familie. Al maakt lady Isobel zich zorgen over de genegenheid van haar man voor een jonge hertogin. Hun nichtje Adela, dat vervreemt is van de rest van de familie, maakt ondertussen een persoonlijk drama mee.
Dit boek is een tweede deel uit een serie. Het kan best los gelezen worden denk ik, maar soms had ik toch het gevoel dat beginnen bij het eerste deel beter was geweest. Of dit in geval: gewoon niet aan dit boek beginnen.
Het is in de traditie van Downtown Abbey en Jane Austen. Een relaas van een adellijke familie die hele dagen niks om handen heeft behalve drama maken. Op zich kan ik dat soort verhalen wel aan. Zo dat typische kostuumdramasfeertje. Maar dit is gewoon slecht geschreven of vertaald. Saai zelfs. Er gebeurt echt niks en dat met vlakke personages.
Ik gaf niet veel om Isobel, Minnie of zelfs Rosina, met wie de schrijfster een origineler personage wil neerzetten. Adela was nog een klein hoogtepuntje, maar zij is dan weer zo naïef.
Nope, dit is een boek dat ik heel snel zal vergeten. Ik las de laatste 80 pagina's diagonaal gewoon om er vanaf te zijn.
ladyonequestion's review against another edition
3.0
Less irritating than the first book due to less use of reported speech, so an extra star for that. Rosnia got short shrift as a character, I think maybe Fay dislikes writing about her? Her romance is completely sketched over. The portrayal of parties with the Royal family (Isobel advising the Queen about what crown to have) and a subplot about clairvoyancy were a bit well...ridiculous, but entertaining. I found Mrs. Baum the Zionist scientist far more interesting. Don't read if you want realistic anachronism free historical fiction.
colleenlovestoread's review against another edition
3.0
I reviewed this for www.luxuryreading.com.
For anyone like me who eats up shows like Downton Abbey, an endorsement on the front of a book saying “Please read the great Fay Weldon. Downton Abbey for smart, literate readers!” would have you grabbing it as quickly as possible. Add to that the fact that she wrote the first episode of the original television series Upstairs/Downstairs, another show I really enjoy, and I was itching to start reading. Long Live the King, Ms. Weldon’s second book in her Edwardian trilogy, is pure immersion in the upper crust world of the rich and/or titled at the turn of the 20th century. The book itself is rich in period detail, political drama and characters that are almost too eccentric to believe.
While the story shows the reader the thoughts and actions of many characters, the central few are those of the Earl and Countess of Dilberne and their brood. The reader is plopped down in the middle of this rich and aristocratic family and their involvement in the preparations for Edward VII’s coronation, with all the drama, stress and jealousies that would occur around such a momentous and over the top event. Diamonds, expensive clothes and palaces abound and it was very entertaining being immersed in this glittering high society that I would never be privy to otherwise.
This fly-on-the-wall perspective, while informative and entertaining, also serves to put some distance between the reader and the always active goings-on of the characters. While this may be fitting for this proper, elitist environment, I always prefer feeling a part of the story’s action instead of being told what is going on. I would have also enjoyed more from the perspectives of honest and good natured “downstairs” characters. The few we get to see all seem grasping and gossipy and tended to be shown in passing instead of given time to tell their stories.
The most interesting aspect of the novel for me had to do with Adela, the recently orphaned niece of Earl Dilberne. I couldn’t help but feel for her as she dealt with the deaths of her rather cruel parents and then her utter abandonment by her family when neither side stepped up to claim her. Having her carry along the storyline dealing with the fascination the English had during this time for all things spirits and afterlife was clever. Watching her become a part of a charlatan’s plans to trick people into believing they could pay to make contact with their loved ones on the other side and then getting hints that maybe Adela actually has some special healing abilities, something that may be discussed further in the final book in the trilogy (I would hope), kept me intrigued when the rest of the plot began to get tedious.
Long Live the King is for fans of Downton Abbey but I would warn those who love that show as much as I do not to expect to really feel for these characters as I do for those on the show. The characters are entertaining but not overly memorable or sympathetic. I might pick up the final book in the series to see how the Dilberne’s story ends but I’m not biting at the bit to get it as with other much-loved series I enjoy.
For anyone like me who eats up shows like Downton Abbey, an endorsement on the front of a book saying “Please read the great Fay Weldon. Downton Abbey for smart, literate readers!” would have you grabbing it as quickly as possible. Add to that the fact that she wrote the first episode of the original television series Upstairs/Downstairs, another show I really enjoy, and I was itching to start reading. Long Live the King, Ms. Weldon’s second book in her Edwardian trilogy, is pure immersion in the upper crust world of the rich and/or titled at the turn of the 20th century. The book itself is rich in period detail, political drama and characters that are almost too eccentric to believe.
While the story shows the reader the thoughts and actions of many characters, the central few are those of the Earl and Countess of Dilberne and their brood. The reader is plopped down in the middle of this rich and aristocratic family and their involvement in the preparations for Edward VII’s coronation, with all the drama, stress and jealousies that would occur around such a momentous and over the top event. Diamonds, expensive clothes and palaces abound and it was very entertaining being immersed in this glittering high society that I would never be privy to otherwise.
This fly-on-the-wall perspective, while informative and entertaining, also serves to put some distance between the reader and the always active goings-on of the characters. While this may be fitting for this proper, elitist environment, I always prefer feeling a part of the story’s action instead of being told what is going on. I would have also enjoyed more from the perspectives of honest and good natured “downstairs” characters. The few we get to see all seem grasping and gossipy and tended to be shown in passing instead of given time to tell their stories.
The most interesting aspect of the novel for me had to do with Adela, the recently orphaned niece of Earl Dilberne. I couldn’t help but feel for her as she dealt with the deaths of her rather cruel parents and then her utter abandonment by her family when neither side stepped up to claim her. Having her carry along the storyline dealing with the fascination the English had during this time for all things spirits and afterlife was clever. Watching her become a part of a charlatan’s plans to trick people into believing they could pay to make contact with their loved ones on the other side and then getting hints that maybe Adela actually has some special healing abilities, something that may be discussed further in the final book in the trilogy (I would hope), kept me intrigued when the rest of the plot began to get tedious.
Long Live the King is for fans of Downton Abbey but I would warn those who love that show as much as I do not to expect to really feel for these characters as I do for those on the show. The characters are entertaining but not overly memorable or sympathetic. I might pick up the final book in the series to see how the Dilberne’s story ends but I’m not biting at the bit to get it as with other much-loved series I enjoy.
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