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286th out of 354 books
—
606 voters
Lady Fortescue Steps Out: Being the First Vol. of the Poor Relation (The Poor Relation #1)
From "the best of the Regency writers" (Kirkus) comes the debut of an irresistible new series, in which life is not easy for the poor relations of England's upper crust. Desperate to keep up appearances, two of this unfortunate class open a successful hotel which serves as backdrop for a series of outlandish adventures and delightful love stories--of which this book is the...more
Hardcover, 152 pages
Published
November 1st 1992
by St. Martin's Press
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I remember reading a slew of Marion Chesney novels when my children were very young. They were just the right kind of light, mindless entertainment that I needed at the time. I had to read things that were very put-downable … books that would not consume me. My free time to read was very limited.
Basically, all of the books in any given Marion Chesney series were the same book. She had a formula, and stuck to it. She changed names, places and circumstances, but the basic plots remained identical....more
Basically, all of the books in any given Marion Chesney series were the same book. She had a formula, and stuck to it. She changed names, places and circumstances, but the basic plots remained identical....more
Jul 24, 2012
Lady Knight
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Shelves:
19th-c,
18th-c,
adult,
england-uk,
historical-fiction,
humour,
online-library,
regency,
romance-focused,
wish-was-on-my-shelf
I remember spending a week home from school with the flu when I was a teenager and devouring at least four of Marion Chesney regency romances. Later I discovered her Edwardian mysteries, but didn't really connect the fact that she was the authour of both. Recently my province's online public library of audiobooks and ebooks notified me that the authour of a number of works that I had checked out in the past had a new one available (new to the library that is). I checked it out and it wasn't unti...more
(Edited to add: This is a review of the entire Poor Relation series, not just this book.)
I love this series' mixture of comedy of manners, social history, and a little romance. The books contain many well-researched descriptions of unpleasant aspects of life among the upper classes during the Regency period. The books delineate the bleak options for members of the ton (particularly women and elderly) who lose their money, and the horrible conditions for the serving class and the very poor. Thro...more
I love this series' mixture of comedy of manners, social history, and a little romance. The books contain many well-researched descriptions of unpleasant aspects of life among the upper classes during the Regency period. The books delineate the bleak options for members of the ton (particularly women and elderly) who lose their money, and the horrible conditions for the serving class and the very poor. Thro...more
Downloaded from Audible. Narrated by Davina Porter.
Elderly widow Lady Fortescue is a poor relation in regency England - one of the genteel poor who are prohibited from any useful employment or of even speaking of their plight. After a particularly stinging humiliation and the chance encounter with a similarly poor colonel, Lady Fortescue decides she has had enough of being respectable but impoverished. She invites the colonel to move in her big but barren home and pool their small resources. Thi...more
Elderly widow Lady Fortescue is a poor relation in regency England - one of the genteel poor who are prohibited from any useful employment or of even speaking of their plight. After a particularly stinging humiliation and the chance encounter with a similarly poor colonel, Lady Fortescue decides she has had enough of being respectable but impoverished. She invites the colonel to move in her big but barren home and pool their small resources. Thi...more
This short work -- at 152 pages in paperback, more of a novella than a novel -- will sneak up on you. Lady Fortescue Steps Out, sly and humorous, evolves into a fable of finding your inner strength and of knowing your own mind. It isn't until half-way through the novel that you discover there's also a bit of a romance.
Lady Fortescue Steps Out, the first in a series about the plucky poor relations of the wellborn and well-to-do, begins with the eponymous lady stepping out in all meanings of the...more
Lady Fortescue Steps Out, the first in a series about the plucky poor relations of the wellborn and well-to-do, begins with the eponymous lady stepping out in all meanings of the...more
This book found its way to my virtual shelf because it was a freebie. I don't think I would have picked it up otherwise. But I am so happy I did. I have been mired in sexy vampire novels and dystopian angst, so a little Heyer-esque regency era romance was like a drink of cool water after a run.
Lady Fortescue is one of the many genteel impoverished, starving in their mansions in 18th century London. In her desperation, she comes up with a scheme to gather other similarly situated members of soci...more
Lady Fortescue is one of the many genteel impoverished, starving in their mansions in 18th century London. In her desperation, she comes up with a scheme to gather other similarly situated members of soci...more
Marion Chesney is fave under any pseudonym: M.C. Beaton, Sarah Chester, Helen Crampton, Ann Fairfax, Marion Gibbons, Jennie Tremaine and Charlotte Ward. Her books of lovable lost souls in a bind are all on my reread list. Christie-style character over blood mysteries start with "The Quiche of Death", and funny period quirky offbeat romances for even old poor eccentrics with "Mrs. Fortescue steps out". Scottish moor croft or shabby elegant Regency London ballrooms; Agatha Raisin with small eyes a...more
This bit of fluff is set in Regency England. Lady Fortescue is a widow who has fallen on hard times. She opens her historic but empty townhouse in a fashionable part of London as a hotel and gathers half-a-dozen other impoverished nobles or upper-middle-class folk to be the live-in employees as well as her new friends. They name the hotel "The Poor Relations Hotel." This novel is presented as frothy fluff, but serious issues simmer beneath the surface, such as what the elderly do when they have...more
A frothy, silly comedy of manners with a romantic subplot and great narration by Davina Porter. It doesn't quite float away like a soap-bubble because the underlying seriousness of the plight of the poor relations, and the way they band together to find security, self-respect, and companionship, grounds it.
The characters are all a bit caricatured (well, some more than a bit) and don't look for realism here. Is it a great book? No. But it is a highly competent diversion and I enjoyed the heck ou...more
The characters are all a bit caricatured (well, some more than a bit) and don't look for realism here. Is it a great book? No. But it is a highly competent diversion and I enjoyed the heck ou...more
What a different perspective on every regency romance novel that I have ever read.
The characters were spunky, funny and this romantic, historical fiction caught me open mouthed. It was nice to find a book that contained an entertaining story with a perspective that I hadn't thought too deeply about in the past. In addition, the elderly spunkyness made me laugh continuously. I'll admit the romantic story line was an echo of so many others I've read in the past, but this has become a favorite ve...more
The characters were spunky, funny and this romantic, historical fiction caught me open mouthed. It was nice to find a book that contained an entertaining story with a perspective that I hadn't thought too deeply about in the past. In addition, the elderly spunkyness made me laugh continuously. I'll admit the romantic story line was an echo of so many others I've read in the past, but this has become a favorite ve...more
Lady Fortescue Steps Out by Marion Chesney is like sitting and eating bon-bons. Wrapped in a cozy comforter. In a chair pulled up just the right distance from a crackling fire. This novel set in Regency England was just what was called for at the moment. Light and breezy. Funny and outlandish. Adventure and romance. It is the absolutely charming first novel in Chesney's The Poor Relation series.
The Poor Relation is the name which Lady Fortescue and her happy band of fellow poor relations give to...more
The Poor Relation is the name which Lady Fortescue and her happy band of fellow poor relations give to...more
Marion Chesney's Regency novels are pure pleasure reading and have some interesting fact about the period that is worth the effort. I read the "Traveling Matchmaker" series first, then "The Poor Relation" then the "A House for the Season" and finally "A School for Manners." Chesney creates the zaniest characters, but so believable in their folly. I wished someone would turn these novels into a television season. Enjoy, if you can find them in print. Better yet get them into an e-book.
This is the first volume in the Poor Relation series. It is set in Regency England and tells the story of a group of "poor relations", those living in genteel poverty. They rarely have enough to get by and rely on the good will and good/ or not so good nature of relatives. Lady Fortescue comes up with the idea of banding together and pooling their resources. They turn her house into a hotel called the Poor Relation. Charming, clean story. Great fun.
Feb 13, 2013
Jerelyn
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
audio-books,
regency-romance
Delightful! A simple wholesome romance, I loved the plot line, the genteel poor banding together for a better life. Great characters, witty dialogue and a sweet love story to boot. There was nothing about this I didn’t like. A short novel perfect for a quick regency fix.
Davina Porter is as usual superb; her flawless character portrayals are a joy to listen to. She is always spot on, she is the best of the best, in my humble opinion.
Davina Porter is as usual superb; her flawless character portrayals are a joy to listen to. She is always spot on, she is the best of the best, in my humble opinion.
I downloaded this from my public library's Ebsco audiobook database--it doesn't have that many choices, so I picked one that looked mildly interesting--and I ended up really enjoying it! I listened to it one weekend when I was very sick in bed, and it was just the thing: not too taxing, clever set-up, interesting characters, humour and romance. Perfect comfort reading if you like Regency romances. Oh, and Davina Porter's narration is excellent.
Excellent author along the same lines as Georgette Heyer. No anachronisms! The underpinnings of Society are far more visible though. Ah, the good old days where people starved to death in the streets and working for a living was considered not quite nice! This volume was my introduction to Marion Chesney's works.
I do not regret subsequently buying *all* her books for my Kindle. I know I shall reread them. They make me laugh.
I do not regret subsequently buying *all* her books for my Kindle. I know I shall reread them. They make me laugh.
This is a very light-hearted, quick read, but it's set in Regency England, so I liked it. Much fluffier than the historical fiction I usually read, but fun. There are times when I think the narration and even the dialogue slips into a more modern day usage, but it's not awful. I'll probably continue the series, off and on, since it is in the Amazon Prime lending library. (I wouldn't pay for more of these, probably).
Well done! Part of a series, but enough story to stand on its own. Completely enjoyable. Pulling the mask off of polite society which hides the genteel poor like they didn't exist, this is a story of those widows who AREN'T rescued by a gentleman in love, the Colonel who didn't have a substantial pension, etc. and gives a kind of believable story of how they save themselves by creating a hotel.
What a delightful little novella! It ended far before I was ready to let go of the wonderful characters the author had created. But, I suppose that's why she made it into a series (capitalist! ;-) ). I thoroughly enjoyed this one and will read the rest of the series, as I *must* know what becomes of Lady Fortescue and the rest of the Poor Relations.
Fluffy and oddly enjoyable.
My first loan from the Kindle Owners Lending Library .
My first loan from the Kindle Owners Lending Library .
Marion Chesney is actually M.C. Beaton writing under a different pen name. There are 6 books in this series and they are delightful, quick, easy reads. They are a bit of a mytery and a bit of romance novel but if you are looking for something to read on the beach or in the bath - these are perfect.
This first book in the Poor Relations series is adorable and endearing. The characters are colorful and entertaining, the situation they find themselves in novel, and the story very enjoyable. A quick read, with all of the historical enjoyment of the Regency era, I'll definitely continue the series.
A story of love, regency and genteel but still starvation-bound poverty. The cover billed it as charming and merry, but I didn't find it very merry, and only occasionally charming. Would have liked it more if I had disliked Sir Philip less.
This was an entertaining and amusing little tale. I listened to the audio version read by Davina Porter who is absolutely amazing at bringing an author's characters to life. If you're looking for a light read set in Victorian England I would definitely recommend this tale.
Fluffy romances, but better written than most of the genre. They steer clear of bodice-ripping and are uplifted to semi-historical by Marion Chesney's inclusion of details of Edwardian society. Not great literature, but fun quick reads.
An engaging and fun Regency romance with a nice cast of characters. This was the first book in the series and I will look for the others on audio since the narration was done by Davina Porter who is always so good with historicals.
I listened to this as an audiobook. Not good. It's says its a romance, but it isn't really, not in the traditional sense. Also, it was very short, making all of the storylines feel rushed.
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This is a quick book that I got on a sale and found it quite enjoyable. It was a different story than so many romances that seem the same and had characters that were endearing or that you hated immediately.
Lady Fortescue Steps Out was enjoyable. I liked the characters and there were amusing moments. It appears that the author was as historically accurate as possible, but I'm not an expert on that era.
This is one of the few books/series I would read again. These stories of Marion Chesney started me on my adventure...reading Regency Romance/Novels/History! I love them all. It must be a "past life" thing:)
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Also writes as: M.C. Beaton, Jennie Tremaine, Sarah Chester, Helen Crampton, Ann Fairfax, Marion Gibbons, Charlotte Ward.
Marion Chesney (Marion McChesney) (born 1936) is a popular and prolific author. She has written numerous successful historical romance novels under her own name, including the Travelling Matchmaker and Daughters of Mannerling series. Using the pseudonym M. C. Beaton, she h...more
More about Marion Chesney...
Marion Chesney (Marion McChesney) (born 1936) is a popular and prolific author. She has written numerous successful historical romance novels under her own name, including the Travelling Matchmaker and Daughters of Mannerling series. Using the pseudonym M. C. Beaton, she h...more
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Oct 12, 2012 10:12am