By the King's Design

Now, I was a little apprehensive reading historical fiction about someone as well documented as George IV, but this cute novel about the intertwined worlds of Annabelle "Belle" Stirling, her brother, future husband, and nobels of various meanings to the future King, is a rather good read. It is a story of strong female design, but by no ways does it distract to the story. Well written, and glad to have added to my collection.

By the King's Design by Christine Trent is a charming and often exciting novel regarding life in Regency London. Its heroine, a young and capable draper (cloth merchant) brought up in the family trade, sets up her own shop in London while seeking reparations from Parliament for damages sustained at the family business back home in Yorkshire. She is introduced to Prince Regent, George IV, and soon enters his employ on one of his residential projects.

The author develops her characters with much thought and thoroughness. We find treachery, duplicity, intrigue, addiction, ambition, affection, love, dissention and treason within this book's pages. It's the start of the industrial revolution; England is at war and has already spent much in show more fighting its enemies through the Seven Years War, The War in America and now the War of 1812. Tensions are high, job losses through automation are increasing as are the taxes on the people. Is revolution the solution?

If you are a fan of historical fiction with a light romantic bent, then I commend this book to you. You won't want to put the book down! show less

‘By the King’s Design’ by Christine Trent was the second book of hers that I have read.

There are a few drawbacks to this book that I want to get out of the way first. The pace of the book was uneven. It got off to a great start but then slowed down in the middle. The best part was the last third of the book. By then, the pace rose to breakneck speed. I would have preferred to have the middle shortened.

Also, I didn’t like how the men seemed to be either so very good or so terribly bad. That didn't seem realistic.

The book opens in April 1812; there is a meeting of Luddites in Yorkshire, England. Not being familiar with that part of English history, I was confused. Who were the Luddites? I had never heard of King Ludd before. I show more stopped reading and went to get more information.

I was amazed at how very complicated it was to make cloth before the Industrial Revolution. There were so many steps and many different specialists at difference cloth making jobs. With the mechanization of the process, the material wasn’t of such good quality as before but the quantity of it increased great. Many specialists were shut out of their jobs.

I enjoyed being introduced to Annabelle aka Belle Stirling at the arrival of her new gig mill. She was very intelligent and inquisitive and fiercely loyal to her brother. She was too loyal for me to swallow. I didn’t know why she keeps excusing her brother’s bad behavior to herself. My patience would have run out much sooner. But I did love the rest of her character. She was so shrewd, honest, and hardworking and learned so fast. So once again I fell in love with the main character.

I did not like her brother, Wesley, at all. Even before he became a steady opium user, he just thought of himself and what he could get anyone for himself. The other male, Put, he was called, seemed just a little too forgiving and perfect.

Jane Austin paid a surprise visit in this book and now I understand more what her purpose was in writing her books. I really like her as a person. I would have liked more information about Beau Brummel to appear in this book as he was such a big influence on dress.

I recommend this historical fiction book to all those interested in the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the reign of the Regent King George and the importance of style to the well off and the royalty to this time period.

I received this book from the Member Giveaway of The Library Thing and that in no way influenced my review. show less

I have in recent years fallen in love with historical fiction. Having been a daydreamer through many a history class, I found myself in need of history education as an adult. In addition to reading many non-fiction history books, I've found historical fiction to be a helpful way to get a glimpse into the past. This book did a lovely job of both entertaining and educating me about the life of a cloth merchant at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution.

In this book, the main character, Belle, is a strong-willed woman who has to run her family's shop after her parents die and her brother develops an opium addiction. Through the story she becomes intertwined with the upperclass and royalty. She was often so naive that it irritated me, show more but I have to wonder if women in that era would have been considerably more naive than women today...

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and am looking forward to reading more from this author. show less

Annabelle Stirling, a young craftswoman, finds herself marching towards London in hopes of finding aid from the Prince Regent after her draper shop is destroyed by the Luddites who had help from her now ex-fiancé Clive and her weak-minded brother, Wesley. With no help offered she is befriended by the architect, John Nash and encouraged to open up shop in London. Her brother slinks back into her life and because he is family, she allows him to work in her shop again.

Liking her spunk, the Prince Regent (King George IV) engages her services in decorating his Pavilion. Along the way she meets Putman Boyce, a cabinetmaker who holds promise in thawing Belle’s frozen heart. But due her brother’s inability to think for himself (probably show more due to his opium addiction) he has now embroiled them in a treasonous plot against the future King that ends him up in jail and Belle an outcast.

Trent throws us right into the riots caused by machines taking over jobs that were done by hand. The Luddites laid siege across the countryside destroying mills and shops that had these machines in them. On top of this there are families starving because they are out of work. Trent does not shy away from describing this misery and in fact makes it hit home for Belle when she stumbles upon her childhood friend and ex-fiancé (now married to each other) in starved condition. We also read about some very interested historical characters that Trent throws in, including Jane Austen who becomes an acquaintance with Belle.

Another piece that is thrown in is the Prince Regent’s tumultuous marriage and his quest for a divorce. He has many mistresses that are all vying for attention. We see the greed and vanity that often comes with being a member of the royal family. My impression on the prince is that he was very spoiled and weak.

Love all the intrigue and I did find it an engaging read. Heavy on historical and light on romance leads this Regency story to contain a lot of information that at times could be overwhelming to follow. But as the story reaches its climax, the reader is fully vested and will not be able to stop reading.

(ARC was provided by publisher for an honest review) show less

Annabelle "Belle" Stirling has learned the business as a draper from her father. Her brother seems to have no interest in the business. When her shop is destroyed by militants, she moves to London and starts over. Her work is then noticed by George IV and events develop from there, including plots, romance, and treachery.

This book is completely out of the usual time period I tend to read. The time line of the book jumped ahead a bit too much at times for my taste, but I enjoyed in none the less. I absolutely love the strong main female character and her ingenious avoidance of a potential liaison with George IV. I know very little regarding this time period in history (Regency), and I appreciate the author's explanation of the minor show more changes she utilized.

I would recommend this book to others. show less

Reviewed by Ursula
Review copy provided by Kensington Publication
A sweeping, detailed and intricate story of debauchery, gluttony, murder, rebellion and the grandeur of the Regency time-period. Christine Trent does a wonderful job of detailing the time of the King's reign during such turmoil in the early 1800's; it doesn't help that the people don't care for the newly crowned King George IV. He is a gluttonous man that loves his mistresses almost as much as he loves his food and opulence.

Belle is a draper that moves from her hometown to demand justice from Parliament for not protecting the common people, herself included, from Luddites that destroy the new mills that are replacing human workers. Things don't work out as she hopes, but show more life does move on. Belle opens her own drapers shop, along with her brother for help. Even though her brother was involved with the Luddite attack on her mill, she loves him, so she forgives his involvement. The Luddite attack with lead by her fiance, so when she leaves behind her hometown, she leaves him behind as well.

Due to her fiance's betrayal, Belle closes herself off to the idea of dating or marriage...so when it comes to cabinetmaker Putnam Boyce, he has a hard road to go to break through her defenses.

Belle proves herself as the Prince Regent's draper, even though she was only granted the post due to the Prince's 'interest' in her. Things are going well for Belle, except for her brothers decline into the world of opium and the influence of Mr. Thistlewood, a leader in the conspiracy to overthrow the Parliament and dethrone the King.

With ensuing turmoil, her brothers involvement revealed and vengeance aimed at Belle by someone she has never even met, Belle's life is once again turned upside down. Now she must try to save her brother's life and her livelihood...and ultimately, her life.

Author Christine Trent weaves in fact, fiction, grandeur and the hardships for the people of that time into a wonderful story of love, trust, betrayal, forgiveness and vindication. For those that love greatly detailed historical...this is a perfect book to pick up! show less