Una casa quasi perfetta

Warning! : contains elements of casual and matter-of-fact Victorian antisemitism that was a product of its time but offends the modern reader. "The only thing more gratifying to find than a good book is a good book which has been neglected." Phyllis Rose, literary biographer 3,75 stars rounded up fo Leggi tutto

SWEET AND FLUFFY - BUT IT'S NO AUSTEN I keep hearing this book - this author - compared to Jane Austen and yes, I did see certain similarities in wit, social disdain and happy endings. But the execution was far from Austen-esque. Perhaps that what disappointed me most of all... Still, I was a short, Leggi tutto

A short, light and very enjoyable Victorian read, with some wonderfully drawn characters.

This novel formed the second of two novels published in the same book. This was written after ‘The Semi-Attached Couple’ (written circa 1830 and published in 1860) but was published first in 1859. It was quite successful and that is why she pulled out her first book from a drawer (I made that up...I Leggi tutto

Over April and May I revisited Emily Eden’s The Semi-detached House with a Goodreads group. This is Eden’s second novel, though published first in 1859. Emily Eden (1797–1869) was born into an aristocratic family (her father William Eden, 1st Baron Auckland was a diplomat and politician (also author Leggi tutto

"'My dear child!' said Lady Sarah, kissing her, 'you are likely to meet with many kindnesses, small and great, in your journey through life, if you keep up that warm interest in the happiness of others which you feel now. Like will to like, and so my Blanche will find warm friends wherever she goes