Julian Fellowes's Belgravia, Episode 1

Dancing into Battle

By: Julian Fellowes

Narrated by: Juliet Stevenson

On the eve of the Battle of Waterloo, two families meet at the Duchess of Richmond's Ball. From this moment on, their stories will be linked by a secret.

Julian Fellowes's Belgravia is a story in 11 episodes published week by week in the tradition of Charles Dickens.

Belgravia is the story of a secret. A secret that unravels behind the porticoed doors of London's grandest postcode. The story behind the secret will be revealed in weekly bite-sized instalments complete with twists and turns and cliff-hanger endings.

Set in the 1840s when the upper echelons of society began to rub shoulders with the emerging industrial nouveau riche, Belgravia is peopled by a rich cast of characters. But the story begins on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. At the Duchess of Richmond's now legendary ball, one family's life will change forever...

©2016 Julian Fellowes (P)2016 Hachette Audio

Next Episode Please

I'm enjoying this book. I look forward to each new episode delivered to my phone. Juliet Stevenson does wonderful narration. The focus is not on upstairs/downstairs, but on the upwardly mobile class in trade and the downwardly mobile aristocracy. Like other works by Fellowes, there are probably too many characters, but he knows how to keep readers/listeners turning the "page."

A Serial Which Delivers Plenty

The combination of Julian Fellowes and Juliet Stevenson proved too strong a temptation for me to resist. As a fan of historical fiction who has only recently completed War and Peace, I feel confident to say that this is a novel which has much to offer. I believe most fans of historical fiction (and the Victorian period) will find this serial to their liking.

In 1840s England, a family of nouveau riche merchants, who made their fortune from the war with Napoleon, find themselves in an uncomfortable situation; a shameful secret binds them to a noble family, and the connection must be kept a secret . Filled with a array of interesting characters, I've now listened to the first three instalments and will be on the edge of my seat waiting for new weekly additions to the story, in which successive layers are peeled back and always leave the reader wanting more. Really excited the publishers decided to release this as a serial, which adds to the enjoyment and anticipation of a truly entertaining read. Juliet Stevenson delivers a flawless performance, as always. Will look forward to the tv or movie adaptation which is sure to eventually follow...

Lovely start to a series!

So far, I love the characters, the setting and where the story is headed. It is feels like the perfect setup for future heartbreak on my part which, oddly enough, I'm looking forward to.

Juliet Stevenson is a great choice as narrator. She has a very soothing voice and offers a good variation to the characters.

On to the next episode!

Very short story for the price of a whole credit

Superficial plot- never pulled you in or seemed real. Oh well, not worth a credit

Heaven

I love this book. It is, so far, a period piece starring a family of merchants thrown into the upper class by the Napoleonic war. It brings to mind a cross between Jane Austin and Patrick O'Brian. We'll see where it goes but I am happily along for the ride. Plus, the narration is by Juliet Stephenson who is one of my all time favorites. She is an outstanding actress and she brings that knowledge to the books she reads to bring the characters to life. I love everyone of the books she has read.

Boring...Not Downton Abbey!

I did not even finish it ....it was so boring I expected more from Julian Felllows.