Normal view MARC view ISBD view

Weldon, Fay, 1933-

Habits of the house / Fay Weldon. - London : Head of Zeus, 2012. - 314 p. ; 22 cm. - Love & inheritance bk 1 . - Love & inheritance trilogy ; bk. 1 . - Weldon, Fay, 1933- author. Love & inheritance trilogy ; bk. 1. .

Fay Weldon's new novel takes us inside the lives of an aristocratic household in the last three months of the nineteenth century. It's a time of riot and confusion, social upheaval, war abroad and shortage of money. Tea gowns are still laced with diamonds; there are still nine courses at dinner, but bankruptcy looms for the Dilbernes. Whilst the Earl, gambler and man about town, must seek a new post in government; his wife Lady Isobel's solution is to marry off their son Arthur to a wealthy heiress, and without delay. But how? It's the end of the season, and choices are few. There's Minnie O'Brien from Chigaco - rich enough, but daughter of a stockyard baron, and with a vulgar mother and dubious past. Hardly suitable ...! Fay Weldon tells this tale of restraint and desire, manners and morals with wit and sympathy - if no small measure of mischief - as young Minnie and Arthur, thrown together by their parents, strive to determine their own destiny.

ISBN: 9781908800046 9781908800053 (pbk.)

Nat. Bib. No.: GBB234205 bnb

Nat. Bib. Agency Control No.: 016063529 Uk

Subjects--Topical Terms:
Aristocracy (Social class)--England--Fiction.
Household employees--Fiction.

Subjects--Geographic Terms:
London (England)--History--19th century--Fiction.

Index Terms--Genre/Form:
Historical fiction.
Love stories.
Domestic fiction.

Dewey Class. No.: 823.92