The Bird in the Tree Book One of The Eliot Chronicles

Elizabeth Goudge — 2017

Essential reading for fans of E.M. Forster, Mary Stewart and Elizabeth Jane Howard. The first in the classic family saga about the Eliots of Damerosehay. Lucilla Eliot has spent a lifetime making the Hampshire estate of Damerosehay a tranquil haven for her family. When her beloved grandson, David, falls in love with an unsuitable woman, Lucilla sees her most cherished ambitions put at risk. But can she persuade David and Nadine to put duty and family honour before love? What readers are saying about THE ELIOT CHRONICLES 'Goudge has produced a truly enchanting world with Damerosehay at its heart. Perfect' - 5 STARS 'A delightful 'feel-good' family saga' - 5 STARS 'A beautifully-written trilogy' - 5 STARS 'Joyful, affirming and uplifting' - 5 STARS 'A complete antidote to murder and mayhem!' - 5 STARS

Reviews

Karin@karin7

Feb 5, 2025

This was a disappointment after reading another book by Goudge, but I can still say I liked it. That said, I won't be reading the other two books in the trilogy. Goudge writes well, but I'm not fond of this style and a number of things about it. It's too bad because the average rating for this book is 4.23 stars which is impressive for a classic.

There are a number of points of view in this novel, primarily of members of the Eliot family. A number of times this is that of the matriarch, Lucilla Eliot who is central to much of this story. Her grandson, David, is in love with a woman she is sure isn't a good match; you have to read the book to know why.