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Edwardian Belle
'Belle Barclay, heroine of this sparkling Edwardian romance, is vivacious and alluring, tender and passionate, and star of the Diadem Theatre - in those days second only to the Gaiety or Daly's, Her career as an actress comes to an abrupt halt with a curious proposition from one of her aristocratic admirers.
Tempted by the lure of a life of comfort, though determined not to give herself for anything less than love, she agrees to join a house party to meet her suitor's formidable uncle and guardian - the Honourable Piers Henry Lefroy Lefroy Gore, V.C.
What had begun on her side as an innocent curiosity mushrooms into a drama over which she has terrifyingly little control...
Belle is certain to enthrall the man of her choice and the reader of her refreshing romance - the first of many from this gifted writer.'
Tempted by the lure of a life of comfort, though determined not to give herself for anything less than love, she agrees to join a house party to meet her suitor's formidable uncle and guardian - the Honourable Piers Henry Lefroy Lefroy Gore, V.C.
What had begun on her side as an innocent curiosity mushrooms into a drama over which she has terrifyingly little control...
Belle is certain to enthrall the man of her choice and the reader of her refreshing romance - the first of many from this gifted writer.'
- GenresHistorical Romance
223 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1978
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 23, 2018
Come One, Come All, to The Girl From The Diadem!
THE CAST
Miss Belle Barclay: Thespian, heroine and villainess (her maid’s words, not mine) all rolled up into one.
Miss Daisy Sash: Belle’s maid and BFF
Hugo, Lord Orsett: Young nobleman and charmer
Colonel Gore: Hugo’s uncle and former soldier. He controls the purses until Hugo reaches the age of 25. A grouch.
Nabbs: Former soldier and Gore’s valet-butler. The grouch’s grouch.
Julia Sweeting: A simpering miss and Hugo’s childhood sweetheart.
Mrs. Sweeting: The scheming mother.
Muriella Goldspink: American heiress and the Colonel Gore’s first choice for Hugo’s wife.
Mr. And Mrs. Goldspink: The ‘parents with a plan’.
Tubby Arbuthnot: Hugo’s best friend.
The Dowager Duchess: Colonel G’s influential mother.
~~~~~
Belle Barclay was in a dither. She was dependent on her voice. Her performances relied on the inflection, pulse and strength while on stage, whether it was speech or song. But she was losing it and needed to find a different occupation.
Hugo, Lord Orsett, appealed to Belle for assistance. He was 21 years old and in love. He hoped, with Belle’s influence, that his uncle would change his mind about who and when he could marry.
If only it was that easy. ‘Promises like piecrusts were made to be broken.’
After an initial slow start and while trying to learn all the characters, I enjoyed this Edwardian conglomeration of eccentrics and misfits. It was refreshing to see Belle’s POV as both the “villainess” and heroine. If I could best describe this story, it was like watching an eclectic Upstairs, Downstairs.
THE CAST
Miss Belle Barclay: Thespian, heroine and villainess (her maid’s words, not mine) all rolled up into one.
Miss Daisy Sash: Belle’s maid and BFF
Hugo, Lord Orsett: Young nobleman and charmer
Colonel Gore: Hugo’s uncle and former soldier. He controls the purses until Hugo reaches the age of 25. A grouch.
Nabbs: Former soldier and Gore’s valet-butler. The grouch’s grouch.
Julia Sweeting: A simpering miss and Hugo’s childhood sweetheart.
Mrs. Sweeting: The scheming mother.
Muriella Goldspink: American heiress and the Colonel Gore’s first choice for Hugo’s wife.
Mr. And Mrs. Goldspink: The ‘parents with a plan’.
Tubby Arbuthnot: Hugo’s best friend.
The Dowager Duchess: Colonel G’s influential mother.
~~~~~
Belle Barclay was in a dither. She was dependent on her voice. Her performances relied on the inflection, pulse and strength while on stage, whether it was speech or song. But she was losing it and needed to find a different occupation.
Hugo, Lord Orsett, appealed to Belle for assistance. He was 21 years old and in love. He hoped, with Belle’s influence, that his uncle would change his mind about who and when he could marry.
If only it was that easy. ‘Promises like piecrusts were made to be broken.’
After an initial slow start and while trying to learn all the characters, I enjoyed this Edwardian conglomeration of eccentrics and misfits. It was refreshing to see Belle’s POV as both the “villainess” and heroine. If I could best describe this story, it was like watching an eclectic Upstairs, Downstairs.
April 19, 2018
Belle Barcley, billed as Beautiful Belle Barcley, a star of the Diadem theater show The Girl and the Garter is in trouble. She is losing her voice and her carrier is crashing to a premature end. Enters the young Lord Orsett with a job offer to pose as his love interest in order to win the wife of his choosing by making his uncle relent. Even though the plan, as Belle thought, has the simple merit of complete lunacy and she doubted the uncle would relent, she sees a chance to get a much needed money- the uncle would buy her off. She hoped it would be enough to set up a little shop to secure her future.
What followed is best described as an unabashed romp full of complications upon complications until the very end or as a comedy sitcom with a hilarious running commentary on a side.
The book is very light on romance even though there are numerous love stories running throughout. But it is rich in a fascinating portrayal of the Edwardian society from Upstairs to Downstairs, from London theater scenery to countryside. The cast of characters is numerous and eclectic and some players are so over-the -top, that I couldn't help but laugh at their absurdity.
What followed is best described as an unabashed romp full of complications upon complications until the very end or as a comedy sitcom with a hilarious running commentary on a side.
The book is very light on romance even though there are numerous love stories running throughout. But it is rich in a fascinating portrayal of the Edwardian society from Upstairs to Downstairs, from London theater scenery to countryside. The cast of characters is numerous and eclectic and some players are so over-the -top, that I couldn't help but laugh at their absurdity.
August 26, 2020
As far as I know, this author wrote only three novels and is not the JM who authored Pushcart War and a number of other YA novels. All this lady wrote are romantic comedies, with an emphasis on comedy, set in the late Victorian to early Edwardian era. If you find more titles by her, let me know.
July 14, 2022
Read it multiple times in the early 80s. Surprisingly, it was just as good when I read it again this year. There aren't many books that Ican say I still enjoy after almost 40 years!
June 10, 2024
I liked the heroine even though she was looking to be bought off by a rich family. She was an actress, aged 29, and singer, newly fired because her voice was weakening. The hero/heir, aged 21, was the focus of a big birthday bash lasting about a week. He wanted to marry an unsuitable rather stupid and childish girl , aged 18, good family but no money which his family disapproved of. He and his buddies plotted that if he escorted an actress to his birthday celebrations, surely the family would prefer the stupid childish girl. The whole thing backfires more than once. It is hilarious and a keeper. There is a scene right out of a farce where the heroine announces to a group of stodgy females of the Ton that she is going to marry the hero. All he-- breaks loose!
April 3, 2024
A fun, unexpected gem.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews