Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Published: December 28, 2021
Source: ARC Paperback via Publisher
Summary:
The prequel to Barbara Taylor Bradford’s New York Times bestselling and dazzling saga A Woman of Substance.
Opening five years before the start of A Woman of Substance, A Man of Honor begins with 13-year-old Blackie O’Neill facing an uncertain future in rural County Kerry. Orphaned and alone, he has just buried his sister, Bronagh, and must leave his home to set sail for England, in search of a better life with his mother’s brother in Leeds. There, he learns his trade as a navvy, amid the grand buildings and engineering triumphs of one of England’s most prosperous cities, and starts to dream of greater things… And then, high on the Yorkshire moors, in the mists of a winter morning he meets a kitchen maid called Emma Harte.
In A Man of Honor, the true Blackie O’Neill is revealed. For the first time, readers discover his story: his tumultuous life, the obstacles facing him, the desire he has to throw off the impotence of poverty and move up in the world. Like his friend Emma, he is ambitious, driven, disciplined, and determined to make it to the top. And like Emma Harte, he is an unforgettable character for the millions who loved the book.
My thoughts:
I had heard Barbara Taylor Bradford was writing this book a few years ago and I could not wait to get my hands on it. It’s the prequel to A Woman of Substance, which is one of my all-time favorite books, and the subsequent Emma Harte series is a beloved favorite series. A Woman of Substance came out in 1979 and while I obviously didn’t read it then – I was only 4 years old after-all! – it was one of the first historical fiction/family saga/adult fiction books I remember reading and it was most definitely my first BTB book that solidified my love of this author.
As far as this latest book goes, I devoured it, reading it in a 24 hour period. Part of that is due in part to the author because I just love her writing and the other part is because I was immediately brought back to this world that BTB has created with these characters. I could not wait to learn more about Blackie before he meets up with Emma and about their first meeting…which I have to say I was so anxious to get to in the book.
I loved getting such a detailed, in-depth look into Blackie’s character and seeing how he came to be in Leeds prior to meeting Emma Harte. The book takes place five years prior to when A Woman of Substance happens and so we first meet Blackie when he is only 13 years old, and so much has already happened to him. He is one determined, driven young man and we learn why.
I also loved that we get such in intimate look at life during this time period. There was such a dichotomy between the haves and the have nots and there were quite a few instances that this is made clear. There were one or two side plots that I quite enjoyed, though I can see where some might feel are a bit excessive, though they do eventually tie in to the overall arc of the story.
I loved every minute of my time with these characters and I could not have been happier when Emma Harte appears. There were so many little hints as to what eventually happens in the upcoming books that fan-favorites like myself picked up on. And that totally has me longing to revisit this series, or at the very least, A Woman of Substance. It has been ages since I read that one, but knowing myself, I don’t think I can stop after reading just the one book. Whether you’ve read the older books or not, I definitely recommend picking this one up – who knows, it might inspire you to start a new series!!!
