The Heir
A Novel
-
- $17.99
Publisher Description
A captivating tale of power, passion, and family secrets set against the tumultuous backdrop of post-World War I England.
At thirty-three, Edward Deravenel has survived betrayal, ruthless enemies, countless lovers, and a war that ravaged his country. Now, in 1918, he is finally king of his company, but an influenza pandemic sweeps the nation, threatening his family and business. Edward must navigate between his loyal brother Richard and treacherous middle brother George, an alcoholic bent on self-destruction and ruining Edward's good name. Meanwhile, suspicions about Edward's relationships with other women push his ever-jealous wife Elizabeth to a boiling point.
Inheritance politics are fierce as different family factions vie for honor over the years. An heir is needed to carry on the Deravenel name, but tragedy and death remain constant obstacles. The potential successors include a loyal caretaker, a jealous rumormonger, a charming young woman, a sickly boy, and the scion of the family Edward once ousted from power. In this gripping historical saga, Barbara Taylor Bradford triumphs with a novel of passion, treachery, marriage, and the compromises we make for power and love.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Bestseller Bradford (The Ravenscar Dynasty; Voice of the Heart) presents the serviceable second chapter in her Ravenscar trilogy, a dynastic epic spanning the 20th century. In 1918, 14 years after assuming control of the family company, 33-year-old Edward Deravenel has "built it into the greatest trading company in the world," with business interests ranging from French wine to Persian oil. Edward is also blessed with the sprawling Ravenscar estate and a son he hopes will eventually take the company helm. However, Edward has enemies on all sides, most notably his "treacherous" younger brother, George, and jealous wife Elizabeth. Even Edward's trusted youngest brother, Richard, may not be all he seems. A series of scandals threatens to ruin Edward's heirs' claim to the company, though much of the action feels muted. The plot gains much needed direction and momentum after Edward is felled by a heart attack, his two young sons disappear and the company's fate falls on the shoulders of his oldest daughter, Bess. The last third carries the book and makes up for the plodding earlier sections. This isn't one of Bradford's better books, but it should tide over her fans.
