∎ [PDF] Free By the King s Design Christine Trent 9780758265906 Books

By the King s Design Christine Trent 9780758265906 Books

Download As PDF : By the King s Design Christine Trent 9780758265906 Books

By the King s Design Christine Trent 9780758265906 Books

This is a great novel of historic fiction. I always find that Christine Trent wraps a compelling story amidst the true history of the times. And she does it in a believable, educated way. Great novel.


Tags : By the King s Design [Christine Trent] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Strong-willed Annabelle Stirling is more than capable of running the family draper shop after the untimely death of her parents. Under her father's tutelage,Christine Trent,By the King s Design,Kensington,0758265905,Great Britain;History;1800-1837;Fiction.,Historical fiction.,Industrial revolution;Great Britain;Fiction.,1800-1837,AMERICAN HISTORICAL FICTION,England,FICTION Historical General,Fiction,Fiction - Historical,Fiction Historical,Fiction-Historical,GENERAL,General Adult,Great Britain,Historical - General,Historical fiction,History,Industrial revolution,Literary,United States

By the King s Design Christine Trent 9780758265906 Books Reviews

This third outing from Christine Trent again brings us into the life of a young craftswoman - this time a draper. Belle Stirling has to push back against the opinion that a woman should not be in charge of a business as well as the undercurrents that are swirling around in society. Belle has to become her own woman and manage her own shop while also becoming one of the drapers who is working on the Prince Regent's new pavilion.

This was my first Regency read and up until this point I wasn't even sure what that exactly meant. This was a great introduction for me as I felt that through Christine Trent's pen I was able to get to know the Prince Regent (and ultimately King George IV). I found out that I didn't really like him, although at the same time during the interactions he had with Belle he didn't seem quite so boorish. The issues that the Prince should have been facing were well detailed as were all of his mistresses and passions.

It is impossible to talk about By the King's Design without bringing comparisons to A Royal Likeness and The Queen's Dollmaker. I loved the nods to both of these books that the author included within this novel. Claudette Laurent has a small role in this book and a few of the events from A Royal Likeness are mentioned. It was a nice treat to the readers of these books. I didn't find Belle as compelling of a character as Claudette or Marguerite from her prior books. The two prior heroines were more street smart and their own women, while Belle seemed to rely on the men in her life too much for my liking. She seemed to be clueless to the things going on around her most of the time.

As for the other characters in this story - I really enjoyed Wesley, Belle's brother. He inherently finds trouble everywhere he goes and gets mixed up in some interesting situations. Put, the cabinet maker, was quite the gentleman who I think every girl would be happy with. There is also a famous author who makes her acquaintance with Belle and that was a great surprise. I will let you figure out who for yourself.

I love how Christine Trent includes some lesser known craft professions within her books - this time cabinetmaking and drapery. I found myself wishing for a few more details about the fabric shops and drapery while I felt comfortable with the amount of cabinetry information included.

Overall this was another enjoyable, quick, and compelling read from Christine Trent. I can't wait to see what she brings to us next.
I enjoyed Christine Trent's first two novels; in her latest book By the King's Design she surpasses herself once again. Not only are we treated to an in-depth description of how ordinary people lived in Regency England, as well as a remarkable portrait of the stormy politics of the time, but the author leads us in an exploration of addiction, and the various forms it can take. The new novel is a provocative blend of thorough research with good story-telling.

Our heroine, Annabelle Stirling, has inherited the draper's trade from her father; she runs her shop with great efficiency as well as profitable innovation, including a mechanical loom which weaves cloth on the premises. Her success rouses the anger of the local Luddites, who are against machinery in the cloth industry, fearing it will lead to the loss of many jobs. One night they raid her draper shop and begin to destroy the inventory. Belle discovers that the Luddite vandals are led by her fiancé and her own brother, Wesley. Disillusioned, Belle breaks off her engagement, closes her shop and moves her business from Yorkshire to London. Within months she finds success, due to the patronage of the Prince of Wales, who hires her to help decorate his Pavilion in Brighton. However, her financial independence comes at a heavy personal price.

Belle has a rather co-dependent relationship with her brother Wesley, in that in spite of his attempt to ruin her she gives him a job in her shop, although she has enough common sense to refrain from giving him any authority. Wesley resents working for his younger sister, and escapes from his dissatisfaction by falling into bad habits, including the smoking of opium. The gradual shattering of his personality through drug abuse is examined in heartrending detail.

A major character in the novel is the flamboyant Prince of Wales, who becomes George IV. While possessing humor and charm which make him a likable fellow, George has many vices which he assiduously cultivates in direct rebellion to his staid and devout father. With two wives, many debts and a string of mistresses, George gives little thought to the scandal he gives to his people. George would now be considered a sex addict, since no one woman is able to satisfy his needs. Annabelle must eventually decide whether working for such a man is truly worth it.

As Belle climbs the ladder of prosperity, she is befriended by a young cabinetmaker named Putnam Boyce. Put tries to court her but Belle is so attached to the satisfaction of running her own business she deliberately shuts her heart to any possibility of marriage or romance. Belle seeks emotional refuge in her career and so the work she loves becomes a sort of addiction in itself, since she puts it before the people in her life. She discovers that the more she tries to shield herself from pain, the more it finds her.

In the meantime, there are those who would try to bring Revolution to England in imitation of the French debacle. This aspect of the novel I found extremely educational, since I have been unfamiliar with the politics of the time. As in her other novels, Christine Trent lavishes great attention on the details of living and working which make it a fascinating read for anyone who loves the history of everyday life.
I like the historical aspects of this book and learning new things about past time periods. I feel the author's writing has improved with each outing.
I like historical novels where the heroine works for her living. I also like novels that do not have explicit sex scenes and
spend more time on characterizations.
Christine does not disappoint with this historically intriguing story. I always enjoy her writing and intricate story intertwined with historical fact.
Such fun to read a local author, a person you have met, and thoroughly enjoy the book! Her characters ring true, and the history is fascinating.
This is a great novel of historic fiction. I always find that Christine Trent wraps a compelling story amidst the true history of the times. And she does it in a believable, educated way. Great novel.