July 2012 Feature of the Month: Family Sagas

SGM · Post by **SGM** » Mon July 2nd, 2012, 4:31 am

There's Claire Rayner too.

I read the first one back in the day. I think I possibly read the second one as well but I seem not to be able to go for the saga-type so didn't bother to get any further which is probably why I did the same thing with the Morland books.

However, there was a trilogy by Constance Fecher which followed Walter Ralegh, his son and grandsons (one being fictional). I did read those in my teens and enjoy them.

Amanda · Post by **Amanda** » Mon July 2nd, 2012, 4:51 am

I thought of the John Jakes books first off myself. I read the North and South novels, and the Kent Chronicles many years ago. edward rutherford books are also good family sagas.

J.D. Oswald · Post by **J.D. Oswald** » Mon July 2nd, 2012, 8:11 am

Could Brideshead Revisited be seen as a family saga?

Vanessa · Post by **Vanessa** » Mon July 2nd, 2012, 10:42 am

The Loving Spirit by Daphne du Maurier is a family saga about boat builders.

R F Delderfield has written a couple of family sagas - A Horseman Riding By and the Swann Family saga.

How about the Jalna series by Mazo de la Roche?

The Spoils of Time series by Penny Vincenzi is wonderful and is set in the world of publishing during WWI. It begins with No Angel.

The Camomile Lawn by Mary Wesley is set during WWII.

The Rose series by Jennifer Donnelly. The third in the series hasn't been published in the UK yet so have bought a US copy!

Madeleine has already mentioned my favourite family saga - the Morland Dynasty. There are 34 so far and Cynthia Harrod Eagles has been commissioned to write a 35th, so I'm really pleased about that. Hopefully she will be asked to write more.

I might actually join you, Madeleine, in reading Demelza. I love the Poldarks!

Madeleine · Post by **Madeleine** » Mon July 2nd, 2012, 11:56 am

[quote=""Vanessa""] I might actually join you, Madeleine, in reading Demelza. I love the Poldarks!

[/quote]

We could do a buddy read!

I suppose Brideshead could be a family saga, although it's more about Charles's relationship with the family but, yes, some of what happens in the family's lives does have repercussions for him.

Thanks for all your suggestions.

Vanessa · Post by **Vanessa** » Mon July 2nd, 2012, 1:40 pm

Could do! I was wondering whether there maybe a thread for the Poldark series somewhere.

MLE (Emily Cotton) · Post by **MLE (Emily Cotton)** » Mon July 2nd, 2012, 1:46 pm

[quote=""Vanessa""]Could do! I was wondering whether there maybe a thread for the Poldark series somewhere.[/quote]
We did Poldark as a BOM a while back. I have read the first four or so, and then the library couldn't get the next one.

It's been a long time, but Louis L'Amour wrote at least three books following the Sackett family on the American frontier.

Madeleine · Post by **Madeleine** » Mon July 2nd, 2012, 1:50 pm

[quote=""MLE""]We did Poldark as a BOM a while back. I have read the first four or so, and then the library couldn't get the next one.

It's been a long time, but Louis L'Amour wrote at least three books following the Sackett family on the American frontier.[/quote]

Yes I think it was Jan 2010. I don't think there's a specific thread for the Poldark series though.

fljustice · Post by **fljustice** » Mon July 2nd, 2012, 2:58 pm

Don't know how I forgot Steven Saylor's Roma and Empire which follows a family through 1200 years. Links are to reviews I did here on HFO. Also Valerie Anand wrote Bridges Over Time series:

The Proud Villeins
The Ruthless Yeomen
Women of Ashdon
The Faithful Lovers
The Cherished Wives
The Dowerless Sisters

Misfit reviewed them here.

Ludmilla · Post by **Ludmilla** » Tue July 3rd, 2012, 12:41 pm

Most I can think of have already been mentioned except for Wilbur Smith's Courtney and Ballantyne family sagas.

I read the first three Poldark books last year when I found them available as ebooks. I am waiting for the rest of that series to be published as ebooks. If not, I will have to track down used copies of those books. I really enjoyed the first three.

Amending to add Sigrid Undset's books: Kristin Lavransdatter and Master of Hestviken sagas. I'm sure there are more in that vein that I'm forgetting.