A Proper Education for Girls
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Review
`[An] assured, very funny debut; one of the best I've read this year' --Scotland on Sunday
`beautifully written and an absolute joy to read...Elaine di Rollo's debut should be read, and it should be rewarded' --The Scotsman
`plenty of tongue-in-cheek fun to be had' --Daily Mail
`beautifully written and an absolute joy to read...Elaine di Rollo's debut should be read, and it should be rewarded' --The Scotsman
`plenty of tongue-in-cheek fun to be had' --Daily Mail
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Careful, because this book has also been published under the rather better title A Proper Education for Girls. Same book, so don't buy it twice!
In 1857, two feisty sisters have been separated. Lilian has been married off to a missionary and sent to India, having disgraced herself at home. Alice has remained as her father's amanuensis and curator of his collection of scientific curiosities.
Out in India, Lilian thrives and 'goes native,' scandalising her fellow mem-sahibs. When she encounters the man who was the cause of her downfall back home ... well, I won't spoil it for you!
Meanwhile, their father is beginning to regret that his remaining daughter isn't more feminine and accommodating ... has Alice's education had a masculinising effect?
Elaine di Rollo has a doctorate in medical history and, with a light touch, weaves in a lot about Victorian sexual hypocrisy and the appalling treatment of women by the medical profession.
It's highly-amusing and, as other reviewers have pointed out, makes a jolly good holiday read. But it did take me a while to get into it, though ... I was half-way through before I really started enjoying it.
In 1857, two feisty sisters have been separated. Lilian has been married off to a missionary and sent to India, having disgraced herself at home. Alice has remained as her father's amanuensis and curator of his collection of scientific curiosities.
Out in India, Lilian thrives and 'goes native,' scandalising her fellow mem-sahibs. When she encounters the man who was the cause of her downfall back home ... well, I won't spoil it for you!
Meanwhile, their father is beginning to regret that his remaining daughter isn't more feminine and accommodating ... has Alice's education had a masculinising effect?
Elaine di Rollo has a doctorate in medical history and, with a light touch, weaves in a lot about Victorian sexual hypocrisy and the appalling treatment of women by the medical profession.
It's highly-amusing and, as other reviewers have pointed out, makes a jolly good holiday read. But it did take me a while to get into it, though ... I was half-way through before I really started enjoying it.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I suppose people who submit reviews to Amazon are mainly from people who enjoyed it. I didn't. It's not bad; the basic idea is clever, the characterisations are deftly drawn, and there are flashes of rather sardonic humour. But it's slow and heavy-handed; satire needs to be sharp and here it's a very blunt instrument. Ms do Rollo needs to read Jane Austen, Susan Ferrier, Margaret Oliphant to see how it's done with wit and grace, and the precision of a surgeon's scalpel. And we really need a fresher insight into 19th century patriarchal society then we get here. George Eliot, Elizabeth Gaskell, and the Brontes covered the ground pretty thoroghly - and they had first-hand experience. So only 2/5 from me and a 'shows promise'
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Seldom do we encounter a new novelist being so inventive, daring and creative. This is witty, intelligent stuff, packed full of historical interest, literary hommage, sensual description, swashbuckling action and bloody good fun. The twists and turns don't detract from the frantic pace. I can't wait for di Rollo's next offering.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Amazing book
I loved this book, the characters, the setting, the story. A real gem. Miss this one at your pearl you won't be disappointed, its fantastic. I hope there is to be sequal.
Published 10 months ago by Gill
Unfinished? Badly edited? Both?
Dealing with 19th century medicine, sexism, science and imperalism (and yes, that turns out to be a bit much to fit into 300 short pages), this is, or rather wants to be, both what... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Boko
an astonishing debut
Elaine di Rollo - The Peachgrowers' Almanac
Is this really a "sober" scientist's writing? Read more
Is this really a "sober" scientist's writing? Read more
Published 19 months ago by Thomas Krause
Something completely different.
I absolutely loved this book. It was not at all what I expected and I found myself still turning pages at 4am. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Mel
Cracking adventure tale for girls
I was blown away by this book - it wasn't at all what I expected. The humour, adventure and derring-do was all there as promised but it was also incredibly dark, with lashings of... Read more
Published on 19 April 2010 by Harriet the Spy
A very powerful and exciting story
What a powerful and exciting story! At first I thought this story was a gentle tale of two sisters living in their difficult victorian times, but then the story grabs you and you... Read more
Published on 30 Nov 2009 by Mrs. Helen Price
Confusing
I really disliked this book, I have been waiting over a year for somebody to write a critical reveiw so that I could agree,but as I appear to be very much in the minority in my... Read more
Published on 18 Nov 2009 by Sqwelshe
Proper Education for Girls
A Perfect holiday read! Lots of fun and frolics to be had and a heart warming ending for those who are keen on sister solidarity!
Published on 13 Oct 2009 by Sarah Bennett
a fantastic read
Once I started reading this novel I couldn't put it down. I really enjoyed all the twists and shocks as I read the story and the characterisation of the two sisters who are true... Read more
Published on 28 Aug 2009 by Mrs. Marie Dobbin
A great read!
I received this book as a Christmas present, and couldn't put it down once I started it. The writing is superb, and the heroines are wonderful! Read more
Published on 29 Dec 2008 by D. M. Mason
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