Wideacre (Wideacre Trilogy)
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Maeve Binchy Author of "Quentins" A story of violent love and unsettling passions. It will never let you rest for a page as you wait for the climax that must come for the people and the land.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Description
Beatrice Lacey, as strong-minded as she is beautiful, refuses to conform to the social customs of her time. Destined to lose her family name and beloved Wideacre estate once she is wed, Beatrice will use any means necessary to protect her ancestral heritage. Seduction, betrayal, even murder -- Beatrice's passion is without apology or conscience. "She is a Lacey of Wideacre," her father warns, "and whatever she does, however she behaves, will always be fitting." Yet even as Beatrice's scheming seems about to yield her dream, she is haunted by the one living person who knows the extent of her plans...and her capacity for evil.
Sumptuously set in Georgian England, Wideacre is intensely gripping, rich in texture, and full of color and authenticity. It is a saga as irresistible in its singular magic as its heroine. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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First Sentence
Wideacre Hall faces due south and the sun shines all day on the yellow stone till it is warm and powdery to the touch. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt
Wideacre Hall faces due south and the sun shines all day on the yellow stone till it is warm and powdery to the touch. Read the first page
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
46 of 47 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
"Wideacre" is the first book in the Wideacre trilogy, which follows the fortunes of the Lacey family throughout the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century. The titles of the books foretell the obssessions of the protagonists: in this case, the obssession is the estate of Wideacre in the title.
Beatrice Lacey is desperately in love with the Wideacre estate which belongs to her family, but as a female in the eighteenth century, she cannot inherit. Despite the fact she knows the land better than anyone, she must watch the estate go to her brother Harry, who has no idea how to run it. The realisation of this prompts Beatrice to start a desperate quest to secure her place on the land, no matter what. At first, everything goes according to plan: she becomes almost a goddess on Wideacre (Beatrice means 'she who blesses'), gets married to a man who understands her and seems to have everything. But secrets from her past start to surface, and Beatrice becomes more and more desperate, taking and taking until the estate is on the verge of ruin. Her joy in life (food and sex), in Wideacre and in horses disappears, and there is nothing left.
It's interesting to watch the other characters change and grow with Beatrice. Her brother goes from a gifted young boy to a portly, boorish squire; Celia, his wife, matures from a wallflower into a pious, determined, brave young woman, the angel to Beatrice's devil; and John, Beatrice's husband, goes through hell and back. Beatrice, however, is different.
"If that was the way of the world, then the world would have to change. I would never change."
She makes this vow at five years old, but she sticks to it. However, one of the themes of the novel is adaptation. If you do not adapt, then eventually you must die in some way or another: this happens to her father, her first love, her mother, and eventually to Beatrice and Harry. At the ending, the air is cleansed, but you can see that it's not over yet.
The language in this novel is sometimes lyrical and sometimes crude. Beatrice is a compelling character, but difficult to like. There are many themes in this book: what women must do in a man's world to survive; paganism and Christianity; body and mind. It's a powerful read, very sensuous and full of life, but not for the faint-hearted.
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have really enjoyed lots of Phillipa Gregory novels but was not really sure what to make of wideacre. I really love Gregory's style of writing, her descriptions are great and her characters vivid but the problem with wideacre is that the main character Beatrice is absolutely hateful. Her story is so sordid and the lengths that she goes to for her land are quite unbelievable. I can't say that I enjoyed the book and in fact found it quite uncomfortable reading because all of the main characters are flawed and not easy to like but I appreciated the strength and style of the writing and the social comment being made for the time. If this is the first Philippa Gregory book you read don't be put off if you find it a bit much because you'll miss some really good reads.
30 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a simply brilliant book. I will not describe any of the events as that would completely spoil the experience but the twists and turns of the plot as the story progressed were beautifully crafted and I definitely recommend this as a 'must read'. The characters are carefully thought out and as the novel continues you begin to notice the small idiosyncrises (sp?) that make them unique and upon finishing the book you are reminded of so many events that were giving you clues that you ignored along the way! The novel holds your attention, maybe once there is a paragraph that does not capture the reader and I must say that I actually gasped in shock at one point, something i don't believe i have done before when reading a book! With Gregory's book 'The Other Boleyn Girl' being made into a film as we speak, I truely believe that this novel will also follow. Do not be put off by the fact that this novel is set in the past, it may have some historical references but it leaves behind that 'textbook' feel as Gregory reveals more and more about life in Wideacre and the main character, a young girl named Beatrice.
I am writing this less than five minutes after reading the sequel to this book, 'The Favoured Child' and cannot stress enough how fantasic these two novels are, easily the best I have ever read, and as a self-confessed book worm this means they are the best among many.
I am writing this less than five minutes after reading the sequel to this book, 'The Favoured Child' and cannot stress enough how fantasic these two novels are, easily the best I have ever read, and as a self-confessed book worm this means they are the best among many.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Excellent
A frightingly convincing tale of a young women's decent into obsession and madness, against a painstakingly researched 18th century backdrop. Read more
Published 13 days ago by Boris Blood
Not a great read
I have read lots from Philippa Gregory and have really enjoyed them but this book is not up to her normal standard. Read more
Published 18 days ago by LizE
Well Written, A Good Read
I started to read the books of Philippa Gregory, probably like many others after watching "The Other Boleyn Girl" in 2008, I liked the book and so "The Boleyn Inheritance" quickly... Read more
Published 19 days ago by John H Glen
Wideacre Trilogy
Really not usually my kind of read but it was recommended to me so bought the first book Wideacre on my kindle and after the first 17% of the book or so I had bought the other two... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Christine
Beware what you wish for because you just might get it...
The Wideacre Trilogy deals with the Lacy family and their relationship with their estate of Wideacre. Read more
Published 2 months ago by C. M. Carragher
Melodramatic claptrap
This book should come with a health warning about the incest, murder and deceit, as the cover makes it sound like an historical saga to be enjoyed. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Vivienne43
Strangely compelling!
This book reminds me of Flowers In The Attic- compelling and disturbing at the same time. Although dark in places, it is an easy read because the characters come to life quickly,... Read more
Published 4 months ago by amazonian shopper
Gregory fan
I enjoyed it but found it not as great as some of her other books. I think I prefer the historical books she writes.
Published 4 months ago by old gal
One Of Literature's Classic Female Villains
Wideacre is a long book (over 600 pages), but it held my interest from the first sentence to the last. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Kimbo
Gripping and compelling
I really liked this book and it's brilliant for a first novel. Yes, it has some taboo themes - but it was really interesting to follow Beatrice's descent into evil and depravity,... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Alicie
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