Missing “Downton Abbey”? Many readers are turning to writer Julian Fellowes’ new novel, Belgravia. Set in Victorian London, Belgravia begins on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. At the Duchess of Richmond’s legendary ball, the daughter of a social-climbing industrialist catches the eye of the son of stalwarts from the upper echelons of society. The secret between them has repercussions for each family that stretch twenty-five years.
For more character driven, richly detailed reading, try one of these novels from the Lititz Public Library.
The Forgotten Seamstress by Liz Trenow
The story of an early 20th century seamstress of the royal household is interweaved with that of a modern-day young woman who discovers a beautiful quilt with a message embroidered into its lining.
Death of a Dishonorable Gentleman by Tessa Arlen
A family’s dishonorable nephew is found murdered at an aristocrat’s annual summer costume ball.
Ravenscliffe by Jane Sanderson
The success of King Edward’s visit to a great house depends upon the activity going on below stairs and in spite of the actions of the indolent heir to the estate and his American bride.
Gillespie and I by Jane Harris
An elderly woman recounts her friendship with a talented artist whose life came to a tragic end before he achieved the recognition he deserved.
The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly
After her family is shattered following the union-related murder of her father, a feisty Londoner flees to America vowing to destroy the man she holds responsible for her father’s death.
Angels in the Gloom by Anne Perry
A chaplain, wounded in the WWI trenches, returns to the English countryside and joins his brother in pursuit of a mysterious murderer who is sabotaging Britain’s war effort.
Vanessa and Her Sister by Priya Parmar
In 1905, two sisters and their brothers move to unfashionable, bohemian Bloomsbury and begin holding unconventional gatherings in their drawing room.
Only Time Will Tell by Jeffrey Archer
A saga beginning in 1920 follows the orphaned son of a dock worker who wins a scholarship to an exclusive school and enters the worlds of industry and high society.
The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson
In 1914, a young woman becomes the first female Latin teacher at the local school just as the small town begins to plan for going to war in the Balkans.
Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin
Why did author Lewis Carroll become estranged from the family of Alice Liddell, his muse and inspiration for Alice in Wonderland?
House of Thieves by Charles Belfoure
In 1888 New York, when his son racks up an impossible gambling debt to a notorious gang, an architect uses his inside knowledge of high-society mansions and museums to craft the perfect heist.
Secrets of a Charmed Life by Susan Meissner
Evacuated at the start of WWII, a teenager and her sister return to London on the day the Blitz begins, leading to a series of choices that completely transform their lives.
The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert
The lonely, middle-aged daughter of a poor-born Englishman who made a great fortune and became the richest man in Philadelphia, falls for an artist and dreamer who leads her on a round-the-world odyssey.
The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters
In 1922, an impoverished widow and her spinster daughter are obliged to take in lodgers, including disillusioned ex-servicemen demanding change.
No Angel by Penny Vincenzi
In London and New York during the First World War, the beautiful and strong-willed daughter of wealthy aristocrats makes dangerous decisions.
September 2, 2016