Publishers Weekly
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Fellowes, the creator of the hit TV series Downton Abbey, develops another rich cast of (mostly rich) characters, this time set in 19th-century London. Introducing the cast at a fancy ball on the day of the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, the story quickly moves to the 1840s, when fate brings them together again in all sorts of class-conscious episodes as varied, complex, and addictive as Fellowes's other period drama. Actor Stevenson is superb as narrator and as each and every one of the characters is given special treatment. Her British accent is entirely appropriate and perfectly clear to American listeners. She artfully distinguishes upper-, middle-, and lower-class men and women, providing each with telling vocal characteristics and tone. Together Fellowes and Stevenson hook readers from the start. A Grand Central hardcover. (July) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Library Journal
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Brussels on the eve of Waterloo was a place where conventions splintered and improbabilities seemed attainable. For example, young Sophia Trenchard, a child of the middle class, could marry the son of an earl. However, the young couple's love turns tragic, and many years later when the economically successful Trenchards meet the aristocratic Belasis family, their carefully constructed lives simultaneously collapse and awaken. The next generation of businessmen and aristocrats must struggle through society's expectations to find happiness-or, at least, survive. Juliet Stevenson's pacing and tone contribute to Downton Abbey creator Fellowes's tale of 19th-century culture clash. She offers a warm, likable reading of Mrs. Trenchard, which helps center her as a sympathetic heroine. The energetic, socially uncertain Mr. Trenchard, the haughty countess, the arrogant heir, the spirited ingénue, and the wily lady's maid are all amusing if stereotypical, and Stevenson punctuates their maneuvers and machinations with a clever reading. VERDICT If there is fault to be found with this book, it is that it is over too quickly. Recommended.-Juleigh Muirhead Clark, -Colonial Williamsburg Fdn. Lib., VA © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.