Product Description

In one of the wittiest novels of them all, Nancy Mitford casts a finely gauged net to capture perfectly the foibles and fancies of the English upper class. Set in the privileged world of the county house party and the London season, the story of coldly beautiful Polly Hampton and her aristocratic parents is a comedy of English manners between the wars by one of the most individual, beguiling and creative users of the language.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #26335 in Books
• Published on: 1976-04-29
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 249 pages

Review
With less of the charm and debonair gaiety of Pursuit of Love, this approximates more closely social satire and is a delicately devastating portrait of the British aristocracy. As told by Fanny Logan, the most natural note in the narrative, this concerns several families of imposing bloodlines and often erratic eccentricity, particularly the Montdores whose only daughter Polly is Fanny's close friend. Lady Montdore, with her gimlet eye toward the rest of the world and her aggrieved attitude towards Polly, is a redoubtable figure, while Polly, whose beauty does not conceal her indifference towards the men she should attract, is quietly hostile towards her mother's social and marital ambitions for her. With the death of her aunt, Polly marries her uncle, a tired reprobate, is promptly disinherited by the irate Lady Montdore. It is Cedric, a cousin from Nova Scotia, imported as Polly's successor, who- though a nance- brings back warmth and splendor to the Montdores' lonely lives, accomplishes Lady Montdore's radiant rejuvenation... A portrait of an era, a class, a tradition which is always amusing and accomplished- but which lacks the engaging, endearing (presumably more popular) qualities of the first. (Kirkus Reviews)

Synopsis
In one of the wittiest novels of them all, Nancy Mitford casts a finely gauged net to capture perfectly the foibles and fancies of the English upper class. Set in the privileged world of the county house party and the London season, the story of coldly beautiful Polly Hampton and her aristocratic parents is a comedy of English manners between the wars by one of the most individual, beguiling and creative users of the language.

About the Author
Nancy Mitford (1904-1973) was born in London, the eldest child of the second Baron Redesdale. Her childhood in a large remote country house with her five sisters and one brother is recounted in the early chapters of The Pursuit of Love (1945), which according to the author, is largely autobiographical. After the war she moved, with her husband, to Paris where she lived for the rest of her life. She followed the success of The Pursuit of Love with Love in a Cold Climate (1949) The Blessing (1951) and Don't Tell Alfred (1960), published together in Penguin as The Nancy Mitford Omnibus. She also wrote four works of biography; Madame de Pompadour, first published to great acclaim in 1954, Voltaire in Love, The Sun King and Frederick the Great.

Customer Reviews

Very pleased Mitford fan
This is one of my favourite books so I was very nervous about listening to an abridged reading. My fears were unfounded - Prunella Scales does a marvellous job (although I would still have preferred it to have been unabridged).

Amusing comedy of love and manners
Rather to my surprise, I enjoyed this book immensely. It is the story of Fanny and her relationship with the Montdores, particularly the beautiful daughter, Polly, and her mother, in their search for love. It is still very funny; it made me laugh out aloud a few times. The language is a little dated (eggy-peggy; I'm aching; can I bend you), but even that becomes quaint after a while. It's written in a breathless, charming style, and all the characters are vivid and memorable. Still, remember, eat the rich.

Very Very Amusing
I read this book after watching the TV dramatisation and found it incredibly humourous. Uncle Matthew, Davey and Cedric Hampton are such amusing characters that I burst out laughing on the bus almost everytime I opened the book.