Emily Brand

I promise, promise, promise that I don't read all the knock-off Pride and Prejudice books out there. This caught my eye because it was in the non-fiction section of the library... In the Humorous/non-fiction section no less! So I picked it up and was appropriately appalled and amused in all the wrong places.

This is actually an imitation of old advice guides of the period and a mockery of those who are hard-core Darcy fans. And, if I had read this before Colin Firth, I would have supported her in every expressed sentiment. Darcy was proud, prejudiced, and incredibly snobby. And she captures that tone very well.

Consider his opinions on Flattery:
"Compliments are appropriate only once you are satisfied that she deserves to be praised."
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The Lord Byron that everyone remembers is the romantic poet who died fighting for the independence of Greece in the mid-19th century. However this George Byron was only the next in the line of reckless and profligate members of a diverse noble family who fell from power and riches over the preceding hundred years or so. This is an incredibly well-researched biography of that family following the escapades of various members through love, marriage, wild parties, scandal and poverty ending with the inheritance by a part-crippled, obscure heir. The family seat of Newstead Abbey is described with reverence and joy, the battles on the lake, the lack of funds allowing it to fall into the ruin depicted in the famous poem, and the story of the old retainer Joe Murray who saw so many of the family. I really enjoyed this book as the characters are so full of joie-de-vivre that they feel fictional, scandal follows scandal, and yet all of it is true and it offers a fascinating insight into high society in the 18th century.… (mehr)