At nineteen, Sebastian is a duke and heir to a vast country estate. A deep sense of tradition binds him to his inheritance, though he loathes the social circus he is a part of. Deception, infidelity and greed hide beneath the glittering surface of good manners.
Among the guests at a lavish party are two people who will change Sebastian's life: Lady Roehampton, who will initiate him in the art of love; and Leonard Anquetil, a polar explorer who will lead Sebastian and his free-spirited sister Viola to question their destiny....
A portrait of fashionable society at the height of the era, The Edwardians revealed all that was glamorous about the period - and all that was to lead to its downfall.
Carole Boyd reads Vita Sackville West's classic novel of elegance and decadence.
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"Shockingly good. I did not know who Vita Sackville-west was and learned she was a part of the bloomsbury set and the inspiration for Woolf's "Orlando", which I will read next. I loved that this wild woman decided to write a best sellar and then did it. Also, found the culture and mindset of the British aristocracy has only incrementally shifted over a century. Kept thinking of Diana and understanding just how radical her behavior was to divorce the Prince and peel back the facade from royal and aristocratic life." — Melanie (4 out of 5 stars)
"Shockingly good. I did not know who Vita Sackville-west was and learned she was a part of the bloomsbury set and the inspiration for Woolf's "Orlando", which I will read next. I loved that this wild woman decided to write a best sellar and then did it. Also, found the culture and mindset of the British aristocracy has only incrementally shifted over a century. Kept thinking of Diana and understanding just how radical her behavior was to divorce the Prince and peel back the facade from royal and aristocratic life."
" An interesting read...a very different time written by the lover of Virginia Woolf. "
" I was a little put off by this at the beginning, but then I was surprised at how good it was. Quite insightful. An insider's view of a segment of English society few could experience. "
" Really enjoying it! "
" I bought this book because it is often referred to in social histories of the Edwardian period. It's representation of the leisured lifestyle of the upper classes is very well done. It also hangs together well as a novel, with well-drawn characters who develop (or not). "
" Sorry had to end it short. Was not interesting enough. "
" I honestly loved this. Sections of it felt downright Austenian in their sly satire. It was a bit slow-moving in parts (which is why I subtracted one star). But yeah, there's a lot of really good stuff there. "
" I am drawn to the subject of manor houses, and this book has great literary associations! However, there are reasons why V. Sackville-West is mainly known for her gardening more than anything else... "
" The most fantastic depiction of a fascinating era. Wonderful writing, living characters, with just a pinch of sweet irony. For anyone who likes Forster, Fitzgerald or Woolf. Personally would have read 400 more pages with delight. "
" A Brideshead Revisted rip-off (even if it was written earlier.) "
" This novel depicts the life of a young Duke and his wealthy family in the late 1800's. This book provided an excellent glimpse into how the upper classes lived in England. "
" I am now going to hunt down every book this woman put out. "
" I loved this book. I loved the language, the easy fluency of the sentences, the sharp observations, the detailed recreation of a world and a time. It is quite light reading, but in no way empty. I will read more of her. "
" The book was recommended in the book "To Marry an English Lord". Interesting view of the English upper class in the late 1800's/early 1900's. "
" More elegiac writing about English country house life. Those louche Edwardians! "
" This was a great look at the upper classes during the Edwardian period. I was actually surprised at how much I enjoyed reading this novel. "
" Entertaining portrait of Edwardian high society. "
" This is a classic tale of Edwardian excess, in the shadows of the changes that shaped English society in the first decade of the twentieth century. A good read, even if I came away not really caring much for any of the characters! "
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