Beatrice Harrod is one of several daughters of the Harrods family and is living a very comfortable life at the end of the Victorian era.However, she is not yet married and is getting to an age where this is a little worrying.She has been stuck in the Devon countryside for some years and is now in rural Sussex with her family.Her head is turned by a dashing young man in uniform and all her troubles follow this.This true story takes her from London to Paris and Vienna and later to Calcutta.She leaves chaos in her wake and causes sadness and intrigue for her family.It results in her three sons being on opposing sides during the Second World War.
The author is a 74-year-old retired general medical practitioner, originally from Hull; but he has lived in Cheltenham for the last 49 years, working at a local surgery for 34 of them.
He has been researching the Harrod family history for a long time. His interest was partially prompted by the fact that his father was an orphan who grew up in difficult circumstances, and he knew nothing of his family until he began his research after his parents’ death over 30 years ago.
Having collected an enormous amount of information about the family, and the family grocery, Harrods, he decided he wanted to write down the story to share with others.
His first published book was a story of the early years of the Harrods store, entitled The Jewel of Knightsbridge. This covered the time when the Harrod family was in charge.
He has always wanted to publish the story of his paternal grandmother and here it is.
In the meantime, he is researching for a book about Harrods after the Harrod family.
When he is not sitting in front of a computer, he plays a lot of tennis, he is a dedicated follower of Gloucester Rugby and spends time with his wife in their second home in the south of France – sometimes in front of a computer. The trips to France involve a detailed examination of the local food and wine.
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Reviews
13 reviews
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A fascinating book with lots of intrigue! There are lots of insights into the motivations of the main characters who lead very interesting lives. It is an inspiration to persevere when researching your own family tree. My husband said I have never read a book so quickly!
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I was hooked from the start. This book has everything. The author has left no stone unturned to find the facts about Beatrice and gives such interesting insight into so many different situations along the way. I have learnt so much.
There is history, mystery, intrigue, sadness, success, desperate life situation, family life across generations, across countries, throughout wars and throughout peacetime, all described with sensitivity and honesty.
As a woman reading this I have to reflect on how different life must have been to survive in generations gone by.
A really interesting read.
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Well I have read this remarkable book and I take my hat off to Robin.
It was a completely gripping read that took up any spare moment of last weekend. Yes you stuck to the facts – but how you told them! I was haunted by your father’s description of himself with his red velvet bow, so small, and vulnerable and alone. And the twist in the tale (one of many) that your half cousins weren’t your half cousins…
I can see it being a film in the vein of Atonement or something similar!
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The story of this fascinating family had to be told. What an adventure it must have been for the author to discover the amazing intricacies of his fathers family as he began his research. The authenticity of the detail has been thoroughly investigated which is reassuring as the story is almost unbelievable.
It is an insight into the Harrod family with Beatrice taking the staring role. Her life and loves are so interesting I can imagine a very successful TV series or film being made following her time and experiences in England, Paris, Vienna and India. This book was a fascinating read which I couldn’t put down.
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I very much enjoyed this book. For those who enjoy detective work or family history research it is a gift. Robin Harrod has left no stone unturned in his quest for answers about his grandmother, Beatrice Harrod. Fascinating.
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