Fiction.
Mystery.
Historical Fiction.
HTML:As Christmas of 1804 approaches, Jane Austen finds herself "insupportably bored with Bath, and the littleness of a town." It is with relief that she accepts a peculiar commission from her Gentleman Rogue, Lord Harold Trowbridgeâ??to shadow his niece, Lady Desdemona, who has fled to Bath to avoid the attentions of the unsavoury Earl of Swithin. But Jane's idle diversion turns deadly when a man is discovered stabbed to death in the Theatre Royal. Adding to the mystery is an unusual object found on the victim's bodyâ??a pendant that contains a portrait of an eye! As Jane's fascination with scandal leads her deeper into the investigation, it becomes clear that she will not uncover the truth without some dangerous playacting of her o… (más)
I enjoy Regencies, Jane Austen, and mysteries; how could I not like this book? Of course, I read it and all the footnotes, and I thoroughly loved it.
Barron plays fair with the readers concerning the guilty party. This one had me guessing to the end, so it was quite satisfying. The historical footnotes always have good information about the time and the customs; I always learn something new. And while this can be read out of order, start with the first book, Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor.
The series is highly recommended for fans of Regencies and mysteries. ( )
1804 December. Jane is bored with Bath and is glad when friend Lord Harold Trowbridge asks her to shadow his niece Lady Desdemona. Resulting in an invitation to his mothers' party. But a body is soon discovered, and it is Lord Kinsfell, sister to Desdemona who is taken into custody. The magistrate having no choice as he was standing over the body with a knife in his hands. Jane and Lord Harold investigate determined to prove his inncoent. An enjoyable and well-written mystery ( )
3rd book in an interesting series in which Jane Austen herself is the protagonist, solving riddles of intrigue. Made even more amusing by the statement that the series is based on secret writings kept by Jane and supplemented with actual letters, etc. that she did indeed write. ( )
A rout-party, when depicted by a pen more accomplished than my own, is invariably a stupid affair of some two or three hundred souls pressed elbow-to-elbow in the drawing-rooms of the great.
"More lives have been ruined — more spirits broken — from a fear of idle gossip and report, than are numbered on Napoleon's battlefields, Miss Austen."
The precarious ground of Camden Place might readily serve as metaphor, for all in mankind that prefer false grandeur to a more stable propriety.
For any man may possess a heart, and the most wounded sensibility, though he parade like a peacock and grin like a monkey.
"I do confess, Lord Harold, that with so much of sorrow to be found in the everyday — tragedies, perhaps, of a smaller scale — I can but wonder that we pay so often for the privilege of enduring it. When I exert my energies towards the theatre, I hope to be transported — to leave such griefs and disappointments behind."
(From Jane and the Wandering Eye p 24)
"when 'tis done, then 'twere well It were done quickly. If th' assassination Could trammel up the consequence, and catch With his surcease, success; that but this blow-"
"Might be the be-all and the end-all here, But here, upon this bank and shoal of time, We'ld jump the life to come. But in these cases We still have judgement here, that we but teach Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return To plague th' inventor. This even-handed justice Commends th' ingredient of our poison'd chalice To our own lips. He's here in double trust: First, as I am his kinsman and his subject,"
(From Jane and the Wandering Eye p 24-25)
"Strong both against the deed; then, as his host Who should against his furtherer shut the door, Not bear the knife myself. Besides, this Duncan Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been so clear in his great office, that his virtues Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongu'd, against The deep damnation of his taking-off; And pity, like a naked new-born babe, Striding the blast, or heaven's cherubim, hors'd Upon the sightless couriers of the air, Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye, That tears shall drown the wind."
(From Jane and the Wandering Eye p 25)
"I have no spur To prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself, And falls on th' other-"
(From Jane and the Wandering Eye p 298)
"Yet my enemies need not be crowing To my chain I have always a key, And no prison can keep me from going.
"Small and week are my hands I'll allow, Yet for striking my character's great, Though ruined by one fatal blow, My strokes, if hard pressed, I repeat."
(From Jane and the Wandering Eye p 299)
"Divided, I'm a gentleman In public deeds and powers; United I'm a monster, who That gentleman devours."
(From Jane and the Wandering Eye p 299)
"When my first is a task to a young girl of spirit, And my second confines her to finish the piece, How hard is her fate! But how great is her merit, If by taking my all she effects her release!"
(From Jane and the Wandering Eye p 300-301)
"My first has the making of honey to charm, My second brings breakfast to bed on your arm. My third bores a hole in leather so fine, while united the whole breaks a heart most kind!"
Fiction.
Mystery.
Historical Fiction.
HTML:As Christmas of 1804 approaches, Jane Austen finds herself "insupportably bored with Bath, and the littleness of a town." It is with relief that she accepts a peculiar commission from her Gentleman Rogue, Lord Harold Trowbridgeâ??to shadow his niece, Lady Desdemona, who has fled to Bath to avoid the attentions of the unsavoury Earl of Swithin. But Jane's idle diversion turns deadly when a man is discovered stabbed to death in the Theatre Royal. Adding to the mystery is an unusual object found on the victim's bodyâ??a pendant that contains a portrait of an eye! As Jane's fascination with scandal leads her deeper into the investigation, it becomes clear that she will not uncover the truth without some dangerous playacting of her o
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Barron plays fair with the readers concerning the guilty party. This one had me guessing to the end, so it was quite satisfying. The historical footnotes always have good information about the time and the customs; I always learn something new. And while this can be read out of order, start with the first book, Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor.
The series is highly recommended for fans of Regencies and mysteries. (