The Ravenscar Dynasty, Barbara Taylor Bradford
The Ravenscar Dynasty, Barbara Taylor Bradford
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The Ravenscar Dynasty
A Novel

Author: Barbara Taylor Bradford

Narrator: Ric Jerrom

Unabridged: 17 hr 34 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 12/26/2006


Synopsis

Barbara Taylor Bradford introduced the illustrious Harte family in her blockbuster A Woman of Substance. Now she has created an unforgettable new dynasty: the Deravenels.

On a bitterly cold day in 1904, the Deravenel family's future changes forever. When Cecily Deravenel tells her eighteen-year-old son Edward of the death of his father, brother, uncle, and cousin in a fire, a part of him dies as well. Edward and his cousin Neville Watkins are suspicious of the deaths. They vow to seek the truth, avenge the deaths, and retake control of their family's business empire.

As he grows into a handsome, charismatic man, Edward is torn between duty and desire. There are women in his life for whom he'll risk everything—and one woman who might destroy him. But madness and secrecy lie at the heart of the family, and Edward's enemies are far more ruthless than he knows. He will need his strength more than ever when the house of Deravenel is fatally rocked by betrayal from within. Who will become the ultimate ruler of the Deravenels?

Power and money, passion and adultery, ambition and treachery all illuminate a dramatic epic saga that brings to life the glittering Edwardian Era. The Ravenscar Dynasty is based on the familial factions of England's Wars of the Roses, brought to life by the magical, memorable storytelling power that is Barbara Taylor Bradford.

About Barbara Taylor Bradford

Barbara Taylor Bradford, OBE, is one of the world's best loved storytellers. Her 1979 debut novel, A Woman of Substance, ranks as one of the top-ten bestselling books of all-time, with more than 30 million copies in print. All her novels to date have been major worldwide bestsellers.Barbara was born in Leeds, West Yorkshire, the only child of Freda and Winston Taylor. She grew up in the Leeds suburb of Armley and left school at 15 for the typing pool at the Yorkshire Evening Post. At 16 she was a reporter, and at 18 she became the paper’s first woman’s page editor. By the time she was 20, she had moved to London where she became a fashion editor and columnist on Fleet Street. Barbara started writing fiction when she was just seven, and sold her first short story to a magazine for seven shillings and sixpence when she was ten years old.Barbara’s books have sold more than 91 million copies worldwide in more than 90 countries and 40 languages. Ten of her books were made into Emmy-nominated miniseries and television movies by her late husband, the film producer Robert Bradford.In 2007, Barbara was awarded an OBE by Queen Elizabeth II in the Queen's Birthday Honours list for her contributions to literature. A passionate supporter of literacy, she is an ambassador for the National Literacy Trust; in 2019 she was made an ambassador for Women in Journalism and in the same year she was presented with The Leeds Award, which recognised her loyalty to, and depiction of, her Yorkshire roots. Her original manuscripts are archived at the Brotherton Library at Leeds University, alongside the works of the Brontë sisters. She lives in New York City.Her official website is: www.barbarataylorbradford.com

About Ric Jerrom

Ric Jerrom is an actor, writer, and artist.  He has written plays for radio and the theater, film scripts, short stories, poetry, and journalism.  He’s performed in many radio plays and on the stage.  He is one of the leading performers and directors with the UK’s greatest interactive comedy theatre ensemble, Natural Theatre Company.  Ric's read a host of audiobooks, including Barbara Taylor Bradford's The Ravenscar Dynasty, James Herbert's Others, and several titles by Ruth Rendell. 


Reviews

AudiobooksNow review by Mrs. Julie on 2007-11-21 03:24:23

I returned this book early because it was hard to listen to. The sound went up and down. Story it's self is good but just hard to hear at times.

Goodreads review by Rebecca on December 26, 2014

Some books I come across look great from the outside and the blurb is interesting, but when I finally settle down and read them, I discover that it is a heap of steaming manure. Such was the case with this one, loosely based on the Wars of the Roses, moved to the early Edwardian period and a family......more

Goodreads review by Heather on March 03, 2020

Overall a very good read, slow in some parts but I shall look forward to the next installment in the trilogy......more

Goodreads review by Terri on December 15, 2008

Overall, I enjoyed this book. But I have to say I felt the ending was very rushed. Seemed to be way too much "internal" thought, just to finish it off and take us to the next book in the trilogy. I love following a family sage over a period of years and like A Woman of Substance, the author did acco......more

Goodreads review by Brianna on April 22, 2023

A sweeping saga that had a lot of potential. I think too much was stuffed in and the jumps in time made it very hard to get into things. Not bad but less enjoyable than I'd hoped.......more

Goodreads review by Cormac on September 25, 2016

A real turd of a book. Essentially the plot of the Wars of the Roses is transposed to Edwardian Britain, resulting in a disjointed, over-long, poorly written piece of crap. I have literally nothing positive to say about it. The characters were all completely one-dimensional, either ridiculously perf......more


Quotes

“Bradford will delight readers with this simply captivating series debut novel. It's filled with romance, suspense and intrigue, and the richly detailed characters come vibrantly alive as expert pacing captures your attention from the very first page.” —RT Book Reviews

“A plot rich with period detail.” —Publishers Weekly

“Bradford ...draws on her early life in Yorkshire to be able to write about this
lovely part of England so convincingly. If this installment is any indication, we can look forward to more page-turning developments in the two books to follow in this trilogy.” —Bookreporter.com