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Ralestone Luck
Ralestone Luck
Rupert Ralestone is officially the Marquess of Lorne - but with no family money or prestige, the title is worthless. He and his younger brother and sister return to the old family homestead - Pirate’s Haven. Their only hope is to find the sword that was the family’s talisman for generations, the Ralestone Luck, and restore it to its proper place. If they succeed, the family fortunes will follow;
Book Excerpt
pite of Mosile Oil and those coal-mines. D'you know, we might use some of that nice gilt-edged stock for wall-paper. There's enough to cover a closet at least. Here we are, Rupert from beating about the globe trying to be a newspaper man, you straight from N'York's finest finishing-school, and me--well, out of the plainest hospital bed I ever saw. We've got this house and what Rupert managed to clear from the wreck. Something will turn up. In the meantime--"
"Yes?" she prompted.
"In the meantime," he went on, leaning against the banister for a moment's rest, "we can be looking for the Luck. As Rupert says, we need it badly enough. Here's the upper hall. Which way now?"
"Over to the left wing. These in front are what Rupert refers to as 'state bedrooms.'"
"Yes?" He opened the nearest door and whistled softly. "Not so bad. About the size of a small union station and provided with all the comforts of a tomb. Decidedly not what we want."
"Wait, here's a plaque set in the wall. L
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The beginning of this book is so full of geopolitical flaws. I haven't finished the second chapter, but, can I point out a few bloopers?
1) Lorne is in the west of the Scottish Northern Highlands, in fjiordic country, so NOT in England, therefor English laws and titles do not apply.
2) A man can me a 'marquis', not a 'marquess', the female equivalent being 'lady'.
3) The title 'marquis' has never been used in Scotland, and 'viscount' only once, by an heir-murdering usurper!
4) Lorne being a highland location, it is unlikely that it would be the lairdship of a lowland family - the name 'Ralston', (not Ralestone'), comes from Renfrewshire, where the town of that name is now part of Paisley, on the road to Glasgow.
It would appear that the author has done no research into the ethnicity of British nobility or aristocracy. A sketchy knowledge of English, or other European social structures is not enough. The book has lost any credibility for me. Although I will try to finish it I can give no guarantees, ( I have NEVER left a book unfinished until now!).
1) Lorne is in the west of the Scottish Northern Highlands, in fjiordic country, so NOT in England, therefor English laws and titles do not apply.
2) A man can me a 'marquis', not a 'marquess', the female equivalent being 'lady'.
3) The title 'marquis' has never been used in Scotland, and 'viscount' only once, by an heir-murdering usurper!
4) Lorne being a highland location, it is unlikely that it would be the lairdship of a lowland family - the name 'Ralston', (not Ralestone'), comes from Renfrewshire, where the town of that name is now part of Paisley, on the road to Glasgow.
It would appear that the author has done no research into the ethnicity of British nobility or aristocracy. A sketchy knowledge of English, or other European social structures is not enough. The book has lost any credibility for me. Although I will try to finish it I can give no guarantees, ( I have NEVER left a book unfinished until now!).
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I think the author was inspired
to create the fictional Ralestone
family by the historic William
Ralston,confederate, who emigrated
to Brazil after the American Civil war....
to create the fictional Ralestone
family by the historic William
Ralston,confederate, who emigrated
to Brazil after the American Civil war....
09/05/2012
Anyone who has read Andre Norton's fantasy and science fiction novels is in for a surprise. This story is in neither genre - it is a historical fiction novel that takes place in the southern USA.
An interesting read with a few surprising twists but fairly predictable. Definitely out of her usual line of writing.
An interesting read with a few surprising twists but fairly predictable. Definitely out of her usual line of writing.
06/21/2010