Belgravia by Julian Fellowes
Genre: Historical fiction
Read: 11th July 2020
(publication date: 26th March 2020)
★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)
I don't know why readers were expecting another "Downton Abbey" from BELGRAVIA just because it was written by the same hand - because then there would complaints that this book was just another "Downton Abbey". Ironic really, when that's what readers seem to be expecting anyway.
However, I guess there is a touch of Downton within the pages, but only a hint, since BELGRAVIA is set in the early to mid 19th century from the Georgia to the Victorian era. But, unlike Downton, there is not much love lost between the upstairs and downstairs. However there is the same feel and subject matter with plenty of twists and an even bigger mystery at the heart of the story...which is, of course, no mystery to the reader but rather to the players within. There is, though, a surprising twist at the end that will come as a surprise to the reader.
The story opens in Brussels on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 with the Trenchards gaining a coveted invitation to a ball hosted by the Duchess of Richmond, despite their being of a decidedly lower class. However, the invitation came by way of Lord Bellasis, the Duchess' nephew, as eighteen year old Sophia Trenchard and Edmund, Lord Bellasis, are secretly betrothed aware that the difference in their social classes would not allow such a marriage to take place. The ball is one that will go down in history as "that famous ball" as the menfolk were called into battle that night as the bloodshed at Waterloo had begun.
As Sophia bid Edmund farewell on that fateful evening, she caught sight of something that was to shock and dismay her. The man that had stood as parson to overseer the betrothal of herself and Edmund sat astride his horse, laughing alongside his fellow officers as they rode off to battle. How could she be so stupid? To be tricked in a way to believe they were wed just so Edmund could take her to his bed...for he knew that she would not do so otherwise. And then...the news. The bloodshed at Waterloo has taken her Edmund. She would never see him again.
1841: Twenty five years have passed and James Trenchard has moved up in the world. Once the Duke of Wellington's supplier, upon his return to England he felt at somewhat of a loss and sought a new venture, becoming a developer in partnership with the Cubitt brothers as together they built Belgravia. But, despite his class, James has social ambitions. He sees himself mingling within the echelons of society. His wife, Anne, is the voice of reason. She maintains a level head throughout despite the surprises that come her way and she isn't impressed by the trappings of wealth and high society. Although they now live in Belgravia, Anne knows they will never be in the same league as the high society to which James aspires. Their son Oliver and his wife Susan live in the shadow of Sophia as a bitter man and a resourceful woman. But will that be their undoing?
While the story does centre primarily on the Trenchard family, the Brockenhursts are also at the forefront with Lady Caroline Brockenhurst and Lord Peregrine Brockenhurst, the parents of Sophia's secretly betrothed Edmund, Lord Bellasis. Since Edmund died at Waterloo and was an only child, Peregrine's younger brother the Reverend Stephen Bellasis and his son John, Lord Bellasis, were the heirs to the Brockenhurst Earldom. It seemed Edmund's untimely death worked in their favour, particularly as Stephen was a gambler and Lord Bellasis lived his life on the promise of his inheritance.
But when a young clever entrepreneur and businessman Charles Pope begins to draw the attention of those in society who would never normally notice him, questions begin to arise. Who is Charles Pope? From where did he come? And what is his link to the echelons of high society? For all intents and purposes, Charles was raised in Surrey by a humble vicar and his wife, the Popes, having been orphaned at birth. Intending to follow his father into the clergy, he then showed an aptitude for mathematics and decided to take up business instead. James Trenchard, a long time friend of his father the Reverend Pope, took him under his wing and mentored him upon his arrival in London.
But is that the whole story? Whatever the case, certain people begin to get nervous about his sudden arrival on the scene and therefore question his motives. Especially Oliver Trenchard and Lord Bellasis, both of whom feel their rightful places are being threatened. But why? What reason would he have? Or are these men just bitter and jealous at the place Charles Pope has taken in their families' lives over them?
This, and more, is but a small part of the bigger story that gradually unfolds. There are lovers, there are villains, there are secrets, there are lies, there are airs and graces, there is subterfuge, there is intrigue, there is drama, there is scandal, there is romance and, of course, there are shenanigans. A clandestine affair, a secret marriage, a murder attempt, a hidden heir...all this and more! It is delightfully delicious and I loved every minute of it, staying up till 3am just to finish!
I have to say that my favourite characters are Anne Trenchard, Lady Brockenhurst, Lady Mary Grey and of course, the man at the centre of all the attention, Charles Pope himself. Interestingly, I didn't like Lady Brockenhurst at first. She was snobbish and looked down her nose, particularly at Anne Trenchard, and intended on unravelling the whole sorry tale without a care for the woman who had sought her confidence. In the end, the two women gained a new respect for one another despite the difference in their classes. The Trenchards are what is known as "nouveau riche" or "the new rich" whereas the Brockenhursts are born into society. Ironic, I think, as I would have thought those who work to earn their status of wealth would be far more respected than those who just languish through life inheriting their millions.
My one complaint with BELGRAVIA is not so much in its story-telling, but in the way the story was presented. I don't know if it was just the copy I had, but the story would jump from one scene to a completely different one without a break to separate them. I was, at first, confused when reading about the Trenchards to suddenly find the perspective had moved from them to below the stairs to their servants or across the square to the Brockenhursts or another. It was confusing at first and I felt that there needed to be a flourished placed between these scenes in the editing process to separate them. That, and the chapters were incredibly lengthy at over an hour long in places.
I had recorded BELGRAVIA to watch at a later date as I much preferred to read the book first. After doing so, I am looking forward to watching the story play out on screen. It was highly entertaining and thoroughly compelling from beginning to end.
I have not read Julian Fellowes' work before so I wasn't sure what to expect. I did not open this book and expect another "Downton Abbey", as many other readers seem to have done, but rather another tale in maybe a similar vein. Which BELGRAVIA most certainly is. Despite its period setting, it is not written with an Austen-esque approach (thank goodness because I find her style difficult to read), but rather an easy-to-read lighthearted manner. It is pure escapism at its best.
A delightful read, BELGRAVIA would suit fans of "Downton Abbey" as long as readers are not expecting it to be entirely the same. There is a wonderful combination of history as well as fiction, making up a wonderfully engaging tale that is BELGRAVIA.
I would like to thank #JulianFellowes, #NetGalley and #OrionPublishing for an ARC of #Belgravia in exchange for an honest review.
