The Sutburys

This well-wrought generational saga carries its doom-laden aristocratic English family through most of the 19th century and up to 1920. When Felix Sutbury, Viscount Harmhill, becomes third Earl of Fenn on the death of his father, only the entailed estate comes to him. Everything else is left to his jealous, greedy, half-brother Guy, who offers to pay Felix's debts and give him enough to maintain the property and his position in exchange for a small portion of land and Felix's oath never to marry so Guy can succeed him to the title. Felix agrees but later becomes lover to Guy's mistreated heiress wife. When she dies in childbirth, the child, obviously Felix's, is sent to him. Later, Felix feels released from his oath and marries his cousin Valentine, occasioning a curse from Guy on himself and all his descendants. As other dramatic events ensue and enmity deepens between the brothers, Guy plots further revenge. Rich period details and nicely fleshed-out character portraits distinguish this absorbing narrative by the author of Tsar's Woman and The Bride of Ae . ( Jan. )