Get ready for a really long read

I once described the Morland Dynasty books as like sitting down with a good friend, who you've not seen for ages, for a good gossip. Throw in a cup of tea and sticky cake and you're all set. I've read all the Morland books to date (over 33 I think) and have now started to listen to them on Audible. I love historical fiction and throw in a family saga and I'm hooked particularly when it's written as well as Cynthia Harrod-Eagles writes.

This is the start of the dynasty, bit of a give-away the title, and it sets the pace well although the time gaps slow up as the years go by, I think it took four books to cover the First World War whereas this book, The Founding, covered one generation starting with the arranged marriage of Eleanor Courtney and Robert Morland and their subsequent offspring and moving into Tudor times when the second book "The Dark Rose" is set.

I wasn't sure I'd like the audible version, but I do. Hearing the story the second time round has left my mind free to picture the characters in much greater depth. I have two minor criticisms. Firstly, I find Christopher Scott's voice a little tiring and lacking in enthusiasm, I keep wanting to go to sleep. I also cant really tell the men from the women characters. and secondly, with so many diverse characters I miss not having a family tree before me to refer to. Perhaps I will just have to draw my own!

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3 people found this helpful

BEGINNINGS OF A GOOD STORY

Performance not great but story compelling. Beginning of fantastic series of 35 books which tells of trials and tribulation of a Yorkshire family from 15th century to modern day. Well research social history commentary alongside excellent story lines. Audible please get hold of number 20 and after!!!

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Wonderful book

I’ve read the paper version many times & now with little spare time to read I’ve turned to audio. This is a beautiful story & will continue to listen to.

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Addictive - and 19 books in the series... so far..

It is so hard to find good books with a good reader. A good book for me has to be unabridged, reasonably intelligent, well written, engrossing, not have explicit and badly written sex scenes - and have a certain something that makes it stand out. It also has to be long enough to be good value. For more complex and more demanding reads I prefer a real book so I can flick back and reread bits, or skip bits that are boring. The reader has to be able to pronounce the words without error, give a lively reading without overacting, and not sound as if they are spitting and dribbling as they read - which a couple of the readers do. I was even considering letting my membership lapse when I stumbled across this series. The narrators of the first three books in the series are ok'ish, but by book 4, they've found a really good reader, Terry Wale. The biggest compliment I can give him is that you don't really notice him. The books are half saga and half historical - a good balance of action (battles etc) and human interest. I'm enjoying them tremendously but my husband is as well so we're getting twice the value from them. I'm now a total addict and will have to work through the 19 available and hope that by the time I have finished, the rest of the series will have appeared. (35 at the time of writing). I have a feeling that they will stand up to a second listening as well. Currently on book 5.

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9 people found this helpful

A good start.

I was a little uncertain about this audio book as I had already read it in print. But I was pleasantly surprised, it was just as good ( maybe even better ) . I'm now looking forward to listening to the next book in the series. Using key points in history it keeps faithful to being a work of fiction and doesn't become a nonfiction historical text book. Good read have a go yourselves.

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A wonderful story

I have read this series on a couple of occasions over the years, so when I saw this audio edition I had to listen.
It's a wonderful story of a family's ups and downs through the years, headed by wilful Eleanor, a headstrong, determined woman. A story that strides alongside that of the house of York during the Wars of the Roses.
A lovely listen, the reader was very good, no complaints there.

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Wonderful Historical Soap Opera

Would you listen to Dynasty 1: The Founding again? Why?

I found this little gem of a series 30yrs ago and have been hooked ever since!!

I have re-read this series in book format that many times the hard covers are falling apart

and now having converted to audio its so easy just to sit in a big comfy chair with a cuppa and few biscuits, close your eyes and let the play unfold before yours eyes

Cynthia Harrod-Eagles wonderful writing it makes you feel like you are right there watching from the side lines

Who was your favorite character and why?

Eleanor what a woman

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

Sorry to say the Narrator did not really do the story justice
-the females sound to manly

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Interesting…

I enjoyed the story - but have to confess that I won’t continue the series - as the story line has not pulled me in enough to continue with the next books …
Sorry …

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Not as good as reviews led me to beleive

I still don't really now why it is called the Founding?
I persevered with this hoping for a bit more intrigue and involvement, and expected more from the reviews led me to
beleive. I love getting involved in a series of books over periods of history but don't think I will go for the further episodes.
It is historically interesting but I have read more adventurous novels to be honest.
Liked the narrator don't see where others have criticised Christopher Scott with this.

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