Book Review: A Man of Honor by Barbara Taylor Bradford

Title: A Man of Honor

Series: The Harte Family Saga-Prequel

Author: Barbara Taylor Bradford

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Release Date: December 28, 2021

Genre: Historical British Fiction

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.

PURCHASE LINKS: Amazon | B&N | Goodreads | Bookbub | Google Books

My Review

This is the first book that I’ve read by Barbara Taylor Bradford and I can see why the Harte Family Saga series is so popular! I am grateful that this is the first novel that I am reading as A Man of Honor is set five years before A Woman of Substance begins, so when I am able to start this novel I will have a good foundation to the series.

A Man of Honor is the story of Blackie O’Neill, starting when he’s thirteen, after burying his sister. He’s now an orphan, but he’s willing to fight for a better life in England with his uncle, and shows his ambition and wonderful personality. Blackie’s character shines through the pages, and it is truly a joy to read, watching Blackie develop.

We also get to meet Emma, who is searching for Blackie in Leeds, and we see the relationship between Blackie and Emma grow into fruition, which is quite enjoyable. I admired the ambition and drive of both leading characters, and how they overcame the obstacles put before them. My curiosity is piqued as far as the rest of the series, as I feel connected to these characters, and would love to find out where the author takes them in the future.

My Rating: ★★★★

Books in The Harte Family Saga

About the Author

Barbara Taylor Bradford is the author of 30 bestselling novels, including The Cavendon Women, Cavendon Hall, and The Ravenscar Dynasty. She was born in Leeds, England, and from an early age, she was a voracious reader: at age 12, she had already read all of Dickens and the Brontë sisters. By the age of twenty, she was an editor and columnist on Fleet Street. She published her first novel, A Woman of Substance, in 1979, and it has become an enduring bestseller.

Barbara Taylor Bradford’s books are published in over 90 countries in 40 languages, with sales figures in excess of 88 million. Ten of her novels have been adapted into television mini-series starring actors including Sir Anthony Hopkins, Liam Neeson, Deborah Kerr and Elizabeth Hurley. She has been inducted into the Writers Hall of Fame of America, and in June of 2007, Barbara was awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire) by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to Literature.

She lives in New York City with her husband, television producer Robert Bradford, to whom all her novels are dedicated.

Connect with BARBARA: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube

*I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I received from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest, and my own.