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Product Description
Product Description
From New York Times bestselling author Mary Balough comes a classic historical tale that sizzles with romance and unforgettable drama. Reginald Masson is wealthy refined and by all accounts, a gentleman. However, he is not a gentleman by birth, a factor that pains him and his father. Bernard Mason, with the Regency society that upholds station love all else. That is, until an opportunity for social advancement arises, namely, Lady Annabelle Ashton. Daughter of the Earl of Havercroft, a neighbor and enemy of the Mason family, Annabelle finds herself disgraced by a scandal, one that has left her branded as damaged goods. Besmirched by shame, the earl is only too happy to marry Annabelle off to anyone willing to have her. Though Bernard wishes to use Annabelle to propel his family up the social ladder, his son does not to marry her, preferring instead to live as the wild, single life he is accustomed to. With this, Bernard serves his son an ultimatum: marry Annabelle, or make do without family funds. Having no choice, Reginald consents and enters into a hostile engagement in which the prospective bride and groom are openly antagonistic, each one resenting the other for their current state of affairs while their respective fathers revel in their suffering. So begins an intoxicating tale rife with dark secrets, deception, and the trials of love-a story in which very little is as it seems.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I think that Mary Balogh is probably the best current writer of Regency romances. She manages to combine characterisation, interesting plots and at least a worthy attempt at historical accuracy. She is also particularly good at writing short stories (get hold of her story 'The Wassail Bowl' as an excellent example).
What may not be instantly apparent, if ordering 'A Matter Of Class' online, is that it's in no way a full-length novel. My reviewer's copy was 190 pages in length but these pages are printed with large text and wide spacing. In a normal book's printing that's probably under 100 pages. I found the book rather more of a lengthy short story than a book on its own, as much as I enjoyed it.
This book revolves around a clever plot device that isn't revealed until the end of the book (and which I shan't give away here). It was very well done, however, and I found myself turning back to the start of the book again once I'd finished it to see if I could pick up the clues. We follow the story of Reginald Mason, a man whose father has made his money in trade and who is trying to establish Reginald as a gentleman. This is somewhat difficult when Reginald is gaming to excess and generally behaving like a wild son.
When Lady Annabelle Ashton, daughter of the Earl of Havercroft, is caught eloping it seems that she won't find anyone to marry her. However, the daughter of an Earl is a worthy candidate to help elevate Reginald to more lofty circles and his father is for the match. Annabelle's father, too, sees Reginald as her only possible salvation from ruination. But can these two make something out of such an awkward start. And is there any significance to their previous meetings as young children?
This was a good read, as always from Mary Balogh, but it is short and in some ways that was a disappointment. It's definitely still worth buying, however.
Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2009
What may not be instantly apparent, if ordering 'A Matter Of Class' online, is that it's in no way a full-length novel. My reviewer's copy was 190 pages in length but these pages are printed with large text and wide spacing. In a normal book's printing that's probably under 100 pages. I found the book rather more of a lengthy short story than a book on its own, as much as I enjoyed it.
This book revolves around a clever plot device that isn't revealed until the end of the book (and which I shan't give away here). It was very well done, however, and I found myself turning back to the start of the book again once I'd finished it to see if I could pick up the clues. We follow the story of Reginald Mason, a man whose father has made his money in trade and who is trying to establish Reginald as a gentleman. This is somewhat difficult when Reginald is gaming to excess and generally behaving like a wild son.
When Lady Annabelle Ashton, daughter of the Earl of Havercroft, is caught eloping it seems that she won't find anyone to marry her. However, the daughter of an Earl is a worthy candidate to help elevate Reginald to more lofty circles and his father is for the match. Annabelle's father, too, sees Reginald as her only possible salvation from ruination. But can these two make something out of such an awkward start. And is there any significance to their previous meetings as young children?
This was a good read, as always from Mary Balogh, but it is short and in some ways that was a disappointment. It's definitely still worth buying, however.
Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2009
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I think that Mary Balogh is probably the best current writer of Regency romances. She manages to combine characterisation, interesting plots and at least a worthy attempt at historical accuracy. She is also particularly good at writing short stories (get hold of her story 'The Wassail Bowl' as an excellent example).
What may not be instantly apparent, if ordering 'A Matter Of Class' online, is that it's in no way a full-length novel. My reviewer's copy was 190 pages in length but these pages are printed with large text and wide spacing. In a normal book's printing that's probably under 100 pages. I found the book rather more of a lengthy short story than a book on its own, as much as I enjoyed it.
This book revolves around a clever plot device that isn't revealed until the end of the book (and which I shan't give away here). It was very well done, however, and I found myself turning back to the start of the book again once I'd finished it to see if I could pick up the clues. We follow the story of Reginald Mason, a man whose father has made his money in trade and who is trying to establish Reginald as a gentleman. This is somewhat difficult when Reginald is gaming to excess and generally behaving like a wild son.
When Lady Annabelle Ashton, daughter of the Earl of Havercroft, is caught eloping it seems that she won't find anyone to marry her. However, the daughter of an Earl is a worthy candidate to help elevate Reginald to more lofty circles and his father is for the match. Annabelle's father, too, sees Reginald as her only possible salvation from ruination. But can these two make something out of such an awkward start. And is there any significance to their previous meetings as young children?
This was a good read, as always from Mary Balogh, but it is short and in some ways that was a disappointment. It's definitely still worth buying, however.
Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2009
What may not be instantly apparent, if ordering 'A Matter Of Class' online, is that it's in no way a full-length novel. My reviewer's copy was 190 pages in length but these pages are printed with large text and wide spacing. In a normal book's printing that's probably under 100 pages. I found the book rather more of a lengthy short story than a book on its own, as much as I enjoyed it.
This book revolves around a clever plot device that isn't revealed until the end of the book (and which I shan't give away here). It was very well done, however, and I found myself turning back to the start of the book again once I'd finished it to see if I could pick up the clues. We follow the story of Reginald Mason, a man whose father has made his money in trade and who is trying to establish Reginald as a gentleman. This is somewhat difficult when Reginald is gaming to excess and generally behaving like a wild son.
When Lady Annabelle Ashton, daughter of the Earl of Havercroft, is caught eloping it seems that she won't find anyone to marry her. However, the daughter of an Earl is a worthy candidate to help elevate Reginald to more lofty circles and his father is for the match. Annabelle's father, too, sees Reginald as her only possible salvation from ruination. But can these two make something out of such an awkward start. And is there any significance to their previous meetings as young children?
This was a good read, as always from Mary Balogh, but it is short and in some ways that was a disappointment. It's definitely still worth buying, however.
Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2009
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This story by Balogh was what all her books tends to be, a very good read. The forced marriage between persons of different classes is a well tried topic that Balogh always succeed with. However this book has a somewhat different twist that actually was quite nice. It is a slightly lighter read than her book normally are and I liked that as a change.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Book - A Matter of Class Mary Ba/logj
I have lots of Mary Balogh's book, and have enjoyed most of them very much. "A Matter of Class" is awful was really difficult to read it to the end. Not worth buying.
Published 10 days ago by Mrs. Diana L. Williams
Great Short story
I have to say this was one of the nicest little Regency stories I've ever read.
Although I had an idea which way the story was going it didn't spoil it for me. Read more
Although I had an idea which way the story was going it didn't spoil it for me. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Dilly
Enjoyable Regency Romance
I really enjoyed this book. It is a different take on the classic "forced to marry by parents" storyline. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Sarah Lambert
Don't waste your time...
I am so annoyed that I bought this book and wasted time on reading it. It has no wit or charm about it, the characters so flat and so unbelievable, and the story line... Read more
Published 19 months ago by victorianwannabe
Delightful short story
A thoroughly delightful way to spend a few hours. I would wholeheartedly recommended this short story. Another gem by Mary Balogh
Published on 18 Jan 2010 by Mrs. Janet Dutton
Flimsy, utterly rubbish book
To say that I was disappointed by this book is an understatement. None of the characters appear to have an inner life; they all blurt out whatever is in their thoughts immediately. Read more
Published on 1 Jan 2010 by Bright Particular Star
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