A review by froydis
Black Diamonds: The Rise and Fall of an English Dynasty by Catherine Bailey

4.0

This is an excellent non-fiction work telling about one of the great families of the UK, the Fitzwilliams, who built their wealth on coal mining in Yorkshire. It goes into fabulous detail of how this great family fell, and eventually lost their historical Earldom due to the lack of male heirs. This is a story of family intrigue, coupled with a time period of great political unrest. Throw in the Kennedys - America's own 'nobility' - and you've got a book that is pretty un-put-downable. Its not a quick read, as the author has filled the book with so much detail and meticulous research. Also, for Americans, there are certain British facts of life and society that go unexplained; there were a number of things I had to look up as I went along. However, I learned a lot more about British society by this, and it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book. A great read for Downton Abbey fans, or anyone interested in European history.