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ravenlynne 's review for:
The American Heiress
by Daisy Goodwin
So I started this book, expecting this:
And there was some satisfaction and some disappointment. Sure the heroine was more Bella Swan than lady Mary Crawley, which is where it seems most people found issue with the book. One has to remember three things, though when thinking about this. First: Downton Abbey is fiction, shocking and hurtful as that may be to hear. Second: Downton Abbey takes place more than 20 years after the setting of The American Heiress, and times have most certainly changed. Third: Women back then simply did not have any way to defy the sort of husband that is portrayed in this book.
Women back then basically laid back and “thought of England.” Blue bloods certainly didn’t marry for love and indiscretions ran rampant. As a wife you provided the heirs and beautiful parties and kept your mouth shut. As much as my modern sensibilities wanted to rail against the misogynistic Victorian system of marrying the daughter off to someone to gain status, then basically telling her to suck it up, I have to admit that this matter, at least, was historically accurate.
If you’re looking for a Victorian love story with a truly happy ending and a pinch of feminism, don’t read this book. If you want something light and entertaining, with a heroine who isn’t really ever that heroic, go for it.
And there was some satisfaction and some disappointment. Sure the heroine was more Bella Swan than lady Mary Crawley, which is where it seems most people found issue with the book. One has to remember three things, though when thinking about this. First: Downton Abbey is fiction, shocking and hurtful as that may be to hear. Second: Downton Abbey takes place more than 20 years after the setting of The American Heiress, and times have most certainly changed. Third: Women back then simply did not have any way to defy the sort of husband that is portrayed in this book.
Women back then basically laid back and “thought of England.” Blue bloods certainly didn’t marry for love and indiscretions ran rampant. As a wife you provided the heirs and beautiful parties and kept your mouth shut. As much as my modern sensibilities wanted to rail against the misogynistic Victorian system of marrying the daughter off to someone to gain status, then basically telling her to suck it up, I have to admit that this matter, at least, was historically accurate.
If you’re looking for a Victorian love story with a truly happy ending and a pinch of feminism, don’t read this book. If you want something light and entertaining, with a heroine who isn’t really ever that heroic, go for it.