Wideacre
| Company type | Historical novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Founder | Philippa Gregory |
| Products | Book |
Wideacre marks the 1987 debut of Philippa Gregory as a historical novelist and inaugurates the Wideacre trilogy, followed by The Favoured Child (1989) and Meridon (1990). The narrative unfolds in the late eighteenth century, chronicling Beatrice Lacey’s relentless and destructive pursuit to dominate the Wideacre estate.
Plot summary
From a young age, Beatrice Lacey, daughter of the Wideacre Squire residing on the South Downs, develops a deep attachment to the family estate. At eleven, she discovers that her absent brother Harry is designated to inherit Wideacre, while she is expected to marry elsewhere. Engaging in a secret relationship with Ralph, the gamekeeper’s son, she becomes involved in a scheme he proposes to claim the estate by eliminating her father. Ralph executes the murder of the Squire, disguising it as an accident. To safeguard herself, Beatrice traps Ralph in a mantrap; though injured, he manages to escape. This incident steeled Beatrice’s resolve.
Beatrice attempts to instruct Harry in managing the estate but contends with his growing interest in Lady Celia Havering. To maintain her influence, she seduces Harry and simultaneously befriends Celia, who eventually marries Harry with Beatrice’s consent. Beatrice conceives a child by Harry and presents Julia as Celia’s offspring but rejects the girl due to her preference for a male heir. Despite Celia asserting herself as Lady of Wideacre, Beatrice continues to exert control over Harry.
At the height of her authority, Beatrice attracts Dr John MacAndrew’s attention but declines his marriage proposal to remain at Wideacre. Pregnant again by Harry, she weds John to solidify her position and plans to pass their son Richard off as John’s child. Upon uncovering the truth, John descends into alcoholism. After Harry seduces Beatrice once more and their mother discovers them, Beatrice manipulates circumstances leading to their mother’s fatal laudanum overdose, blaming John and ruining his reputation. Subsequently, she has John confined in an asylum after he threatens to expose her.
With John incapacitated and his £200,000 fortune under her control, Beatrice compels Harry to consent to marrying their children Julia and Richard to secure Wideacre’s inheritance consolidation. They mortgage the estate and enclose common lands, sparking unrest among local villagers. Celia liberates John from the asylum; together they strive to support the community, standing in stark contrast to Beatrice’s increasing cruelty.
When "The Culler," an outlaw opposing land enclosure and aristocratic authority—revealed as Ralph—arrives near Wideacre, Beatrice confronts both fear and a desire for vengeance. Harry learns that Julia is Beatrice’s daughter but not his or Richard’s son. Celia confronts Beatrice’s destructive tendencies and departs with Harry and Julia; John leaves with Richard to shield them from Beatrice’s corruption. Harry dies during their journey.
Left alone, Beatrice awaits the villagers bent on setting fire to Wideacre Hall and ending her life. She accepts Ralph’s return—and his fatal stabbing—as retribution and redemption.
Characters
Beatrice Lacey: Daughter of Wideacre's Squire and sister to Harry Lacey; regarded as the true ruler of Wideacre following their father’s death. Unable to maintain control through legitimate means, she resorts to extreme actions including incest and murder to preserve ownership of the estate. Her affair with Harry produces two children, Julia and Richard; she also marries John MacAndrew. Her avarice ultimately leads Wideacre into financial ruin. She dies remorseful at Ralph’s hands, who terminates her legacy.
Harry Lacey: Elder brother of Beatrice and successor as Squire of Wideacre. Timid and lacking strength of character, he succumbs to Beatrice's seduction despite recognizing its impropriety. He weds Celia and raises Julia unaware that Julia and Richard are actually his inbred children with Beatrice. He dies due to a fragile heart condition.
Ralph Megson: Son of the gamekeeper who loves Beatrice and conspires with her to seize Wideacre. After being betrayed by Beatrice, he returns disguised as 'The Culler,' leading a rebellion against the aristocracy. He kills both Beatrice and later Richard while overseeing Julia and Richard's upbringing in The Favoured Child.
Dr. John MacAndrew: An astute physician from Edinburgh who marries Beatrice but becomes estranged upon discovering her secrets. Seeking vengeance while protecting the children, he orchestrates plans against them. He falls in love with Celia; they leave together and raise the children until Richard murders him.
Celia Lacey: Wife of Harry who serves as a moral counterbalance to Beatrice's manipulations. Though their marriage is arranged, she grows fond of Harry and embraces Julia as her own due to infertility. After separating from Harry, she falls for John; together they raise the children until their deaths in The Favoured Child.
Julia Lacey: Daughter born of Beatrice and Harry but raised by Celia and John as their own child. Sheltered and less assertive than her brother Harry, she suffers abuse from Richard despite viewing him as both childhood companion and fiancé. Following an attempted escape through marriage, Richard rapes her and fathers Sarah; Julia dies from complications related to childbirth.
Richard MacAndrew: Son of Beatrice and Harry raised under false pretenses by John and Celia. Reflecting his mother’s ruthless nature, he seeks control over Wideacre by marrying Julia. He commits murder against rivals and rapes Julia, fathering Sarah before being killed by Ralph on his daughter’s birth night.
Sarah Lacey (AKA Meridon): Offspring of Julia and Richard raised by gypsies under an assumed identity after her parents’ deaths. Presented with an inheritance offer contingent on renouncing her past, she ultimately rejects both worlds—leaving behind husband and estate unaware of her family's incestuous legacy.
Sequels
The Favoured Child (1989) picks up the narrative with John and Celia as they raise their children, Richard and Julia. Richard adopts his mother's intense and often harmful determination regarding Wideacre. In Meridon (1990), the story centers on Sarah Lacey—now known as Meridon—who was brought up by gypsies and gradually discovers her identity as the daughter of Richard and Julia.
External links
- Wideacre on PhilippaGregory.com
- Fiction Book Review: Wideacre by Philippa Gregory, Publishers Weekly, 1987