Customer Reviews

Aunt Crete's Emancipation

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This story is a Grace Livingston Hill rarity, in which the main character does not find a husband/wife at the end of the story. Lucretia "Crete" Ward is a nice old lady who lives with her sister Carrie and niece Luella, both of whom are very selfish and treat her like a slave. Upon learning that Donald, the son of their now-deceased older sister, is coming to visit from out west, Luella fears what others will think of them if they are seen with a "backwoods cousin," so she and her mother hurry away to a fancy resort where Luella is anxious to pursue a young man she is convinced is interested in her, which proves to be all in her head. Donald is actually well-educated and rich, and loves Aunt Crete like a mother, taking her shopping for fancy clothes and paying for French maids to fix up her hair, and then to the very resort where Luella and Carrie are staying. At first they believe Aunt Crete must be rich and famous because she seems to have the best of everything and makes friends with the family of the young man Luella has her heart set on. When they finally recognize her, they try to order Aunt Crete to leave before she "embarasses" them. Donald takes her traveling elsewhere, and she never returns to the women who mistreated her.

I agree with the previous review in that this Grace Hill at her best! If you have ever been unappreciated ,you'll enjoy this book. It is almost an unconventional Cinderella story, but I believe it's appeal will probably be to older readers. Aunt Crete is an older woman who has served her sister and her daughter selflessly for many years, only to be treated as a servant of no value and no needs. Her sister's son from out west announces his upcoming visit, so fearing the man uncouth, they flee. He's the picture of manners and refinement, and immediately discovers Aunt Crete as a caring, neglected dear relation, in short he values her. This is a short book, but delightful! Another unconvential Grace Hill story is the Obsession of Victorian Gracen, very good and very different also.

Aunt Crete's Emancipation is a very innocent and sweet story of a long list of wrongs set right that keeps readers of all ages enraptured. I just finished reading this book to my 9 and 7 year old after enjoying it again myself first. As a teenager this was one of my favourite stories and both my girls absolutely loved this story. I also think I may have caught my husband listening-in for a few nights of reading. This is a quick-read story that is a great emotional boost with a lot of reference to old fashions (and fabrics) and societial norms of the early 1900's. It is still very much a romance story yet, instead of being lovers, the man is a now-grown nephew of a departed sister whom 'Aunt Crete' has never met. Very touching story and easy to identify with.

First, let me say that I do not have the Kindle edition. I have it in PDF.

This is one of my favorites story's that GHL wrote. It's a very simple story of the good guy/woman winning over a couple of not-so-good women. I enjoy every time Aunt Crete's sister and niece get a set-down. I enjoy Aunt Crete realize that she has value.

This is, very much, worth reading. IMO.