Their cleverness lies in how they manage and manipulate their situation - as females - and I find this a more satisfying regency read than those by authors who give their heroines 21st century American sensibilities but dress them in a ball gown and plop them in a manor house and call it a “regency” romance. To me, this is much more realistic, and takes nothing away from the intelligence of these women to realize and accept that they could not be 100% independent of men in that time, in that society. But I appreciate that Clarissa and the "poor relations" were fully aware of the hand fate had dealt them and had to work within the confines of society, as women, to achieve their goals-and, yes, even if this means relying somewhat on men to make it happen. The "bluestocking" education Clarissa received and the school for girls that her mother ran was a bit unlikely, and some of it is a bit farfetched.
I also really appreciated that this is a regency with characters who actually feel of-the-time, rather than so many of those regencies penned today that have impossibly modern heroines acting in ways utterly impossible for the time.
The fun here lies in all the tangled webs and schemes and how they play out. I do think the characterization is a bit of a weak point- perhaps because it's such an ensemble cast, and a relatively slim book, I never felt like I really got into the mind and heart of any of the characters fully enough, though I enjoyed them all (even loved-to-hate Clarissa's brother and sister-in-law). It's not great literature, but it's well-written and humorous. Lots of fun! I thoroughly enjoyed this breezy read. Perhaps to adventure the ladies must add romance. Meeting the Earl of Grandiston and his companion (a devotee of the divine Oriana) on the road sets hilarious events in motion. However, their relatives may have other plans.
Can sensible Miss Micklethwaite, aging romantic Miss Appleby and the beautiful Miss Oriana Petersham escape their fate? To keep the vivacious, impulsive Clarissa in check they must at least try. They must put the estate to rights with little money and less experience. In Regency England Mrs Thorne's School for Young Ladies is about to close due to the death of young Clarissa's mother a year ago.This leaves eighteen-year-old Clarissa Thorne and her three school mistress friends no option but to return to the bosom of their families as despised 'poor relations' - at everyone's beck and call for all their lives.īut Clarissa has just inherited Ashcroft, a large crumbling estate, and she offers her companions an escape - run away with her to a life of independence and adventure.
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