The Rich Are with You Always

this is a great sequel. don't miss it.

Part Two of the Stevenson family saga is set in the years 1845 to 1850 as more entertaining characters are introduced and the turns and twists of plot continue to grip us. John Stevenson has become rich building his business on integrity and trust with those he employs and those who conduct business with him. Nora has emerged as a woman truly ahead of her time, adroitly managing the finances of the family firm. All is not well, however, for as united as John and Nora grow when besieged by adversity, they drift apart when life runs smooth. John, in pursuit of more, bigger and better contracts, fails to see his pride bringing Stevenson's to the brink of ruin--more than once. Nora must independently and furtively excercise her own financial genius and creativity and steel herself to defy the man she loves in order to halt crushing disaster from overtaking them. All this is done as she adds three children to the three with which they begin the story, gains social acceptance from many while remaining indifferent to snubs from some, and dazzles capitalists of her own and other countries. Meanwhile, Walter Thornton is deeply involved in his secret life--'nuff said--and by the end of the book, Arabella has traveled from tiresome zeal to frightening fanaticism in her crusade to redeem the fallen. She is a lady with no zest for fun. This installment is heavy on banking, investment, and money manipulation, which lost me, for all it was well written. That's not hard since I have trouble adding up the change in my wallet. It also takes us into French country life and religion, fox hunting, The Irish potato famine, the underside of Victorian morality, and extra tidbits about John's past and Nora's family.