A review by mbenzz
To Marry an English Lord: Or How Anglomania Really Got Started by Gail MacColl

5.0

I found this book to be incredibly interesting. I usually stick to the Tudor period when I read, but this book was recommended to me so I gave it a go...loved it! I knew next to nothing about this time period except that the social scene was run by an extremely rigid set of rules. I've been to Newport RI and driven down the beautiful Bellevue Ave lined with the magnificent mansions of the Gilded Age, but never took the time to read about any of their owners.

This book has certainly peaked my interest in this time period, and I've added to my reading list a bunch of other books pertaining to this era, including many of the works of Edith Wharton. I'm also thinking I may have to give Downton Abbey another go. I watched most of the first season via Netflix, but then never kept up with it. Now that I understand the dynamics of Victorian/Edwardian high society a little better, I may enjoy it more.

If you're at all interested in this time period, or are a fan of Downton Abbey, then I highly suggest reading this. Another reviewer put it absolutely perfectly when she said this book is a "...cross between a dynamic history book and a high-society gossip rag". Being written in the style that it is makes this a super easy read and at no time do you feel bogged down by all the names and families being mentioned (it CAN be a little confusing at first, especially if you're new to all these names I was, but you'll catch on). I'm so glad I stepped out of my comfort-zone to read this.