Fay Weldon has credibility in this genre as the author of
the pilot for the original Upstairs Downstairs and it shows. She is very much at home with seasons in London,
mistresses and mayhem, family secrets and marital emergencies.
The book is set in 1899 at the end of London’s season and
the Earl of Dilberne and his wife Isobel are searching for a suitable betrothed
for their eldedst child Arthur who is more interested in the new steam engine
automobiles than the conquest of a wife. That is made more evident because of the courtesan he supports, a young
lady that unbeknownst to him also served as his father’s mistress in the early
days of Lord Robert’s marriage. Grace,
Isobel’s lady’s maid, knows all about this transgression of course.
The young lady selected for Robert is Minnie, a quite lovely
heiress to a Chicago meat baron and his tasteless, loud, and outspoken
wife. Minnie has been living with an
artist in the stateside and has left to save her reputation when the
relationship ended. She is also on the
prowl for a husband. The Earl of
Dilberne is in financial ruin, so a wealthy heiress may just be the ticket he
and his wife decide, to rescue the family and their estate.
The book travels from tony Belgrave Square to places and
parties to see and be seen. Robert, the
Earl is a gaming partner of the Prince of Wales so the protocol for dinner
parties is complex. Along the way we
meet Rosina, the other child of Robert and Isobel, and sister of Arthur. Rosina is a bit eccentric, is overly tall, and
has failed to gain the needed maternal love and encouragement to prop up a
young lady’s self esteem. She is active
in women’s rights and suffrage, keeps a pet parrot in her bedroom, and wears
trousers more often than the clothes of a high born young lady.
Good character development and a fast moving plot line keep
the book interesting and good for many a laugh.
The chapters are all dated including the time which adds a different
perspective to the setting. A romp of a
good read with something for everyone. A
good deal racier than Downtown Abbey but similar to Julian Fellows take on the Upstairs Downstairs plot line.
To request this title please click on the title or cover above.
To request this title please click on the title or cover above.
Review by Kathleen Richardson
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