The Duchess: A Novel Hardcover – June 27, 2017

The Duchess is a story within a time in history that I enjoy watching and reading about. The reality of those times is well done. The laws in Great Britten which did not recognize daughters as heirs, the estates and fortunes were passed from father to eldest son. This unfair truism is well written in "The Duchess". Ms. Steel draws you in and creates a story that tells many truths of that period in time. Sure, some parts may seem unrealistic, but that is what makes her books so much fun to read! The novel stays true to what was going on during the early 1900's in Great Britten, regardless of what twists and turns our heroine goes through, some might say a bit "out of touch" with reality, I believe that none of us knows what one would do if you reached what seemed like the end of the road!This is a great and enjoyable read! She brings all the characters alive as if you can "see" them! I enjoy her LARGE print books and I am glad this was one of them. Get the book and enjoy the ride!

I used to love Danielle Steel. It was always a great escape. I understand it's fiction, but did anyone even do any cursory research for this book? First of all, an entail doesn't mean daughters can't be left anything, ever. It was very common to will annuities and/or dowries to ensure their continued support. Even if for some reason that couldn't happen in this situation, the 25,000 pounds she received on the sly would have more than modestly supported her for the rest of her life. It also would have made her very marriageable, knowing she had that sum of money. The Dashwoods in Sense and Sensibility were in a similar situation and had to support four women on the interest of much less capital! So the initial premise is just very bad. Additionally, the father could have stipulated in the will a life estate for one of the estate's houses for the daughter, just as he did for the younger son.In England there aren't that many dukes. A beautiful daughter of one just disappearing after his death would be noticed. The whole idea of her having to go work as a nanny is just insane. So she can "save" her money? Ridiculous. As is the whole setup in Paris. I'm not even going to touch that one.Finally, it's hard to mortgage an entailed estate, it's like having a trust. And she couldn't have truly purchased it, if it was really entailed so tightly as implied in the beginning. She could have only purchased the right to live there while her brother lived. Which would work out, since her son would eventually inherit. And that's the only part that is semi-accurate. An entail that would pass to the male children of a daughter was far more common than the type of entail that the Bennett family had, where it would pass to a distant cousin instead.

I can't remember when I've enjoyed a book as much. This is one of Danielle Steele's best ones yet.It gives us a glimpse of the plight of women in England back in the 1800's. The heroine is resourceful and clever without being conniving or mean spirited. She shows us what a true lady really is. The other characters are colorful and well drawn even if you learn to hate many of them.The unexpected twists and turns make it almost impossible to put this book down and the Scarlett O'Hara ending makes you cheer and yellYou Go Girl !!!!This is the one you can't miss reading. Put all the others aside and grab this one as fast as you can.

By the time I was finished with this I felt emotionally drained from reading about this one woman's life. So many ups and downs especially downs but when she triumphed boy did she ever. But going through her losses with her just wrung me out. I have read Steel all my life but I have to say that for some reason I related to this woman I felt her pain and suffering and I felt her joy and love and happiness. Steel just did a magnificent job with her character and she came alive for me and jumped right off the page into my heart. I was hooked from the beginning and heartbroken when it ended. Thanks again Danielle Steel for sharing your talent and heart and soul~Your loyal reader

I enjoyed the reverse story. How the heroine came from the highest of the elite families and was forced into the life of the slavishly low life of the servant class. She was helped of course by her fathers foresight to see even women of royal lines could be reduced to poverty in a blink of an eye. OF course her journey back was made easier than that of a poor servant who would be entering a world of the unknown and the chains of poverty are much heavier.

This story is a different one for Danielle Steel. We are in nineteenth century England where women have no rights. We meet Angelique who is eighteen and whose father's just dies. Her older brother kicks her out of their home and sends her away to become a nanny for 6 children. Not only does she lose her home, but everything she has ever known. She starts her new job and her new life. One thing she takes with her is the gift her father leaves her on his deathbed. She will now embark on a way of life she knows nothing about. Fo!low along on her journey

I'm not usually a lover of historical novels, but Danielle did an awesome job with this one! She took the character of Angelique, and developed her into a very believable person. You could very easily put yourself in her place! Without telling you the whole story, I can tell you that she goes from an extremely innocent girl to...no, I can't tell you, that would ruin it for you! I will tell you that this book is a real page turner. It makes your heart pound in fear, and tears well up in your eyes when Things don't go well for Angelique! This is one book that I didn't want to end!

I really enjoyed reading the Dutchess. Once I started reading it was hard to put down. Kept me interested the whole time.

I'm a great admirer of Danielle Steel, so many of her books have given me both knowledge and pleasure. However, "The Duchess" is far from one of her best.Full of platitudes and repeats, it's as if the book was written for children, or at least teenagers. That the story is somewhat unrealistic is ok. In my opinion DS is the Queen of fairytales for grownups and a peek into the world of British aristocrats is both fun and interesting.As for the people in the book, there are no grey areas. It's all black and white, the good and the bad.I suppose most of Steel's fans will enjoy "The Duchess"; so many of her books take place in the world of the upper classes. However, if one has never before read any of her books, do not start with this one. Danielle Steel can do so much better. I can for instance recommend "Big Girl" and "Southern Lights", both I have reviewed and given five stars.

many years ago I enjoyed reading Danielle Steele books so thought I would try again. What a load of rubbish this one was. Historically incorrect with many Americanisms that no one could be bothered changing to English. Pages and pages about being a nanny and what happens in the nursery, just padding and repetition. I’m sorry I paid for this book and didn’t just get a sample on my Kindle. I can,t even be bothered reading to the end, I,m not in the least interested in what happens to Angelique. Time to retire Ms Steele.

This book was excellent and sad and you wanted to cheer when things all worked out in the end. There is sadness and happiness in all her books and I never want to put my book down until I have finished it, which isn't always practical or possible. I hope Danielle Steel never stops writing, although I am having to buy another bookcase to put the books on.

I haven't read a Danielle Steel for a few years and after reading this book - I regret it! She combines strong characters with intriguing storylines. Angelique's life is in ruins after her father dies. She raises herself up like a phoenix from the ashes. I groaned every time she had a setback until the end of the book and the ending was sublime!

This book has a fantastic plot and could have been great. But as usual, the characters lack depth.For a book that features a brothel element it is all rather tame and bland.Danielle Steel does write good books but I feel that she is a bit too superficial and repetitive.