I am thrilled to be reviewing The Belles of Waterloo today as part of the Random Things blog tour.
The Belles of Waterloo begins in 1814 when we are introduced to the Capel family who are forced to flee from London to Brussels due to gambling debt.
The three daughters, Maria, Harriet and Georgy, are very worried about this and about leaving London society. However, they are pleasantly surprised on arriving in Brussels especially about the beautiful house they will inhabit and the vast array of goods, including lace ribbons, that they can now afford to purchase.
Soon they begin a life not unlike the one they left in London and the subject of marriage is soon on the horizon. However, their whirlwind life soon grinds to a halt when Napoleon escapes from Elba and rallies his forces. Soon the only talk is of war and a battle that takes place not far away in a village called Waterloo.
This book is so beautifully written and the vivid descriptions of the balls really brings them to life. I really liked that this was based on real people and also included extracts from their letters. It is a fascinating look back in time and I love that it is written from a female perspective.
I loved everything about this book – the characters, context and the beautiful cover.
It’s a five star read for me that I would highly recommend for anyone who enjoys historical fiction.
I received a copy of this book as part of the blog tour.
