Revisiting the Wideacre Trilogy

SCW · Post by **SCW** » Sun May 12th, 2013, 11:56 am

The Wideacre series were the first books that I ever read by Philippa Gregory.
If you can get past the incest, 'sight', characters you want to shoot. (especially the antagonist in book two - I really wanted to slap him) these three novels are very well written. I loved the attention to detail that she used throughout these stories.
Her latest novels seem to be lacking in this respect.

Divia · Post by **Divia** » Sun May 12th, 2013, 3:45 pm

I'm not fond of her newest novels. I think after TOBG she started to churn them out quickly and BI was the only one I really really liked. The rest were eh.

I wasn't thrilled with this series. I stumbled through the first book. I think the incest through me a bit.

annis · Post by **annis** » Sun May 12th, 2013, 5:42 pm

Phllippa Gregory channels Virginia Andrews

Gregory has always had a tendency towards sensationalism.

princess garnet · Post by **princess garnet** » Mon May 13th, 2013, 12:01 am

There was a time Philippa Gregory had historical background explanations and how she did the research for her novels on her site but no more.

SCW · Post by **SCW** » Mon May 13th, 2013, 8:01 am

Come to think of it - I remember reading the Wideacre Trilogy around the same time as the Virginia Andrews novels.
The incest is only in the first book- (well the graphic accounts anyway) The second and third books aren't that bad.

Vanessa · Post by **Vanessa** » Mon May 13th, 2013, 9:27 am

I really enjoyed the Wideacre trilogy, although it's along time since I read them.

annis · Post by **annis** » Mon May 13th, 2013, 8:24 pm

I enjoyed the series too when I read it back in the '80s/'90s. I wouldn't revisit though as I know I'd not see it in the same light now - not as impressed by gothic/mystic stuff these days, and as with Virginia Andrews' work, there was a rather tawdry element to it.

SCW · Post by **SCW** » Tue May 14th, 2013, 12:56 am

There are some amusing recaps of Virginia Andrews novels online.

I was compelled to defend Wideacre after finishing The Kingmaker's Daughter. From an author who knows how to put together some very intriguing stores, the 'Cousins War' series are somewhat lacking.