Belgravia by Julian Fellowes

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Blurb

On the evening of 15 June 1815, the great and the good of British Society have gathered in Brussels at what is to become one of the most tragic parties in history – the Duchess of Richmond’s ball. For this is the eve of the Battle of Waterloo, and many of the handsome young men attending the ball will find themselves, the very next day, on the battlefield.

For Sophia Trenchard, the young and beautiful daughter of Wellington’s chief supplier, this night will change everything. But it is only twenty-five years later, when the upwardly mobile Trenchards move into the fashionable new area of Belgravia, that the true repercussions of that moment will be felt. For in this new world, where the aristocracy rub shoulders with the emerging nouveau riche, there are those who would prefer the secrets of the past to remain buried . . .

Review

I bought this book after watching the fantastic TV series and I was really excited to read it, which of course means that it sat on my TBR pile for a few years. I will be honest I struggled at the beginning to get into this book. I found Fellowes writing style to be more like he is writing a screenplay rather than a novel and I found it hard to get into the flow of the book. However, once I got used to the style I did start to enjoy the book. 

The book begins with a ball, a ball being held in the middle of a war. This ball is in Brussels and is hosted by the Duchess of Richmond on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo. Sophia Trenchard and her family are attending this ball and this is where she learns some devastating news. It is this news that sets in motion events that will not resolve for many years. 

The story then moves ahead 25 years where we meet the Trenchard family again. This family is now very wealthy and rubbing shoulders with the aristocracy even if the aristocracy are not keen on rubbing shoulders with new money they grin and bear it. James Trenchard has been hugely successful and dreams of making it in high society. However, in his social climbing he can behave in quite a cringe worthy manner which makes his poor wife Anne dread going out in society with him and I can see why. I really liked Anne because she was quiet, she was thoughtful and she knew what she was doing.  She was a little bit too trustworthy of her maid at times but otherwise she was a sensible woman who dreamed of a quiet life. She knew she wasn’t welcome in the homes of the aristocracy but she went to please her husband and she sat quietly, said the right things and smiled at the right people then she quietly went home again. James on the other hand had to be talking to people, to be made known to everyone in the room and was quite embarrassing at times. I felt myself cringing with poor Anne. 

I enjoyed how the book showed how society functioned in the Victorian period and I loved the glimpses of the servants behaviour. I also really liked how true events were woven into this story. It really gave me Downton vibes at times. I also really liked the characters in the book with Anne being my favourite. This was my first book by Julian Fellowes but it will definitely not be my last. I give this book 4 out of 5 Dragons. 

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About the author

Julian Alexander Kitchener-Fellowes (Baron Fellowes of West Stafford), DL. English actor, novelist, screenwriter, and director.

Fellowes is the youngest son of Peregrine Fellowes (a diplomat and Arabist who campaigned to have Haile Selassie restored to his throne during World War II). Julian inherited the title of Lord of the Manor of Tattershall from his father, making him the fourth Fellowes to hold it. He was educated at Ampleforth College, Magdalene College, Cambridge, and at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art.

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