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The synopsis above and Misfit's review basically cover the general plot and my feelings about it so I don't have much to add there. Really good historical fiction in the epic family saga vein. The great amount of research that went in to this as described in the prologue is evident in all its 687 pages. Much of the story is based on real events, people and even specific horse races.


Clovelly, Devon - donkeys needed to traverse the steep streets.


West country smugglers (Falconers)

What resonates most with me about this exhaustive work of historical fiction is the focus on strong and heartfelt relationships. Grandaughter/grandmother, man/woman, mother/child, surrogate parent/child, friends, employer/employee, siblings, man/horse all well developed and explored each in its own right. And I am a horse person so I loved the focus on horse racing and breeding!


Belair Mansion, Maryland, Alexandria's Racehorse Stud Farm

The main character is a strong and beautiful young woman who is easy to root for and love. We see her coming of age and though the raising of her family and enduring many challenges and tragedies. The author goes into great historical detail as far as current events and political atmosphere of the era. She does a good job providing a sense of time and place and atmosphere.


Horse racing way back when.

Some peeves I have are that the author relies heavily on narrative where she tells us the characters' feelings and thoughts (that can get tedious) and some events happen all too quickly and time jumps esp towards the end of the book. Some of the historical detail doesn't flow as smoothly as it could. It's as if the author just suddenly decides she will tell us about the current presidential elections and there it is. There are some enormous coincidences that occur that are unbelievable. The intimacy descriptions could be more subtle. Sometimes the main character is just a little too wise for me. She seems to always do and say the right thing in any difficult situation. But one can still not help but like her because she achieves much that a woman of her time would not be allowed to or would not have dared to do.


Wild Swans - Alex and Rane's talisman

Quite a shame that this author is gone to us and that these books are out of print. I think this story would make a spectacular movie.