Jalna: Books 1-4: The Building of Jalna / Morning at Jalna / Mary Wakefield / Young Renny

The Building of Jalna
Captain Wakefield of the British Indian army inherits a property in Canada in the 1850s, so he and his Irish wife decide to emigrate.

A good, soapy, read. The Atlantic crossing was very well done -- although I knew they had to stay safe for the book to continue, it was still very atmospheric, showing that a safe voyage was by no means guaranteed. There were several parts later in the book that felt we were building up to some disaster which didn't happen.

Morning at Jalna
Bizarre episode in which a married couple from South Carolina and three of their slaves come to stay at Jalna purportedly as refugees from the American Civil War but in fact to take part in raids across the border into the Northern States to hamper show more their war effort.

This was the last of the Jalna books to be written and left a slightly sour taste, but no doubt accurately reflects the opinions of some people for the time it was set.

Mary Wakefield
30-odd years later Mary Wakefield comes to Jalna as a governess to baby Philip's children and the young widower finds consolation.

Predictable cozy read, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Young Renny
12 years later, Meggie, Philip's daughter by his first wife is on the verge of matrimony to the boy next door.

The pranks against Malahide Court were very funny. show less