Master of His Fate: The gripping new Victorian epic from the author of A Woman of Substance

Master of His Fate: The gripping new Victorian epic from the author of A Woman of Substance
Barbara Taylor Bradford

The gripping, epic new historical family saga from the author of A Woman of Substance.From Victorian London to the vibrant port cities of England and France, from gracious stately homes in Gloucestershire to the decadence of Paris, Master of his Fate launches an unforgettable new historical series.London 1884: Queen Victoria is Empress of India and Britain is at its peak of worldwide power.James Falconer works as a barrow boy in a flourishing London market owned by Henry Malvern. But James hungers for more. Turning away from family tradition, he dreams of building an empire of stores like Fortnum and Mason’s and believes that Henry, along with his daughter and heir Alexis, could offer him a way to climb beyond his beginnings.But tragedy and betrayal threaten the dreams of both James and Alexis – and jeopardise everything they hold dear…

Copyright (#u4a2557b4-49ee-597d-953b-380be9a6d9ad)

Published by HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd

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London SE1 9GF

www.harpercollins.co.uk (http://www.harpercollins.co.uk)

First published in Great Britain by HarperCollinsPublishers 2018

Copyright © Barbara Taylor Bradford 2018

Cover design by Claire Ward © HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2018

Jacket photograph © Lee Avison/Trevillion Images

Barbara Taylor Bradford asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

A catalogue copy of this book is available from the British Library.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

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Source ISBN: 9780008242404

Ebook Edition © November 2018 ISBN: 9780008242428

Version: 2018-10-30

Dedication (#u4a2557b4-49ee-597d-953b-380be9a6d9ad)

This book is for my husband Bob,

my hero, who has always given me the freedom and space to write

despite whatever else has been happening.

With my love and gratitude always.

Contents

COVER (#u177fb246-e4dc-5948-a59e-9e1e8b525b01)

TITLE PAGE (#u59b04463-e269-5bdc-bf49-518d242a9d23)

COPYRIGHT

DEDICATION

CHARACTERS

PART ONE:

THE BARROW BOY (#u186d615c-a8d5-5025-bb29-cc126972b205)London 1884 (#u186d615c-a8d5-5025-bb29-cc126972b205)

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

PART TWO: NEW HORIZONS (#ub364d744-61d0-5c75-ba3f-c457ffd43118)London/Kent 1887 (#ub364d744-61d0-5c75-ba3f-c457ffd43118)

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN