Mazo de la Roche Books In Order

Publication Order of Whiteoaks of Jalna Saga Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Plays

Publication Order of Collections

Publication Order of Mazo de la Roche Non Fiction Books

Mazo de la Roche was a Canadian bestselling author of literature and fiction novels famously known as the author of Whiteoaks of Jalna Saga which debuted in 1927 concluding Morning At Jalna in 1960. Mazo was the only child of Alberta Roche the great-great-niece of David Wilson and William Roche, a salesman.

Roche published her debut story in Munsey’s Magazine aged 23 years. Unfortunately, shortly after the story was published she suffered a psychological breakdown, and for the next few year years, she suffered from insomnia and depression which halted her writing career. In 1905, Mazo and her orphaned cousin relocated Ontario to run operate a hotel known as Action House hotel. Locally she was known as Maisie Roach. Mazo’s novel Delight is based on the time she spends in Acton, Ontario. Several years later in her early 30’s, the author moved with her cousin and her family to a house in Bronte, Ontario. By that time Roche had already embarked on her writing career and was publishing stories in several local magazines on a regular basis.

Jalna received positive reviews with the nation demanding for more prequels and sequels. Though the author continued writing other books, the series knows as Whiteoak Chronicles or Jalna series would have a great influence for the rest of Roche’s writing career. Jalna series narrates the story genealogy of Whiteoak family from 1854-1954. These stories were never written in order, and each book can be read as a standalone.

In 1935, Jalna was adapted into a movie by the same name. A CBC TV series was produced based Mazo Roche series in 1972. The National Film Board of Canada and Red Queen Productions co-produced a movie, The Mystery of …. Roche which aired on March 17th, 2012; the film was directed by Maya G. and produced by Anita Lee and Justine Pimlott featuring Severn Thompson playing the role of Mazo de la Roche.

The income that Roche made from her bestselling series Jalna allowed her to become the breadwinner after many when Clement was the breadwinner. The two (Mazo and Clement) would make a trip to Europe first living in Italy and later in the UK. In 1931, they adopted two orphaned kids. Overall Caroline and Roche lived a somewhat secluded life and their relationship not often a subject of discussion in the press. Even though there have been many speculations about the nature of Roche and Clement relationship, Roche’s autobiography does not mention them being intimate but only mentions them as being just close companions. After Mazo Roche death in 1961, by her wishes, Clement destroyed most of Mazo’s personal diaries.

The Building of Jalna

The Building of Jalna, first published in 1944 is the debut novel in Jalna series by de la Roche. Adeline lay thinking about the journey- leaving London, when will she ever see this beautiful city again? Perhaps, she will not ever see it again, with all the dangers of travel. What would happen to her and her beloved Philip in the New World?

The vast and the picturesque Canadian wilderness is the setting for this debut novel in Jalna series. Unfolded here is the captivating story of the beginning of Jalna. The main characters are Adeline and Philip Whiteoak who come across half the world to meet the promise of new land. For them, Jalna is not only a symbol of love but also a heritage for many generations to come.

Morning at Jalna

Morning at Jalna is the second book in Jalna series by de la Roche. The story introduces us to Captain Whiteoak and his bride who select Lake Ontario as their new home. The year is 1863 and way of life at Jalna is calm and peaceful. There is Philip who will one day become the head of Jalna has just arrived into the world while Augusta, Ernest, and Nicholas are children. However, when the Sinclair’s come to visit, the Whiteoaks suspect that the Sinclair’s have a very dark and dangerous secret.

Morning at Jalna continues the story of the first series installment, Building of Jalna. Plotwise, the second novel has more of a plot than the debut, but it is still a collection of anecdotes rather than one single story.

The first half of the story, Curtis and Lucy Sinclair pay a visit the Jalna’s. The Sinclair’s are plantation owners escaping from the American Civil War and have three slaves with them, and this does not mean the Whiteoak and their neighbors happy. In the second half of the book, the Sinclairs return home with their slaves, and most of the storytelling is about Philip Whiteoak’s three children, Nicholas, Augusta, and Earnest. The narration of the story focuses mostly on the events, and the characters and this balance helps give more understanding to the Whiteoaks and the Sinclairs circumstances.

Young Renny

Young Renny is set in 1906, and this makes it qualify as a flashback novel starring Renny Whiteoak during his young days. He is not yet 20 years old; he is handsome, arrogant and virile. He gets his first roll with a wandering woman, but after that, he has to confront major fallout from the family. Additionally, Renny is also feuding with his Irish cousin Malahide who competes with him in a local horse show.

Malahide is described as a treacherous, nasty, sycophant who attaches himself to his grandmother. Much of the crisis is caused by Renny’s dislike for his cousin whom he and his beloved sister play a number of pranks, but Malahide takes pleasure in the evening the score. As a bonus to this narrative, there is Meg’s broken engagement which was first discussed in Jalna. She cancels her wedding after she discovers that her man has fathered a child outside their engagement. This baby will, however, grow up as a peasant who plays a major role in other books in the series. Overall Young Renny is one of the best flashback novels in Jalna series. It is beautifully woven, fast-paced with plenty of twists and turns to keep the readers hooked to the last page.