The Dreadful Debutante (Thorndike British Favorites) [Large Print] [Paperback]

Marion Chesney (Author)

Book Description

Series: Thorndike British Favorites | Publication Date: May 1999

The Marquess of Grantley attempts to restore the unruly, tomboyish Miss Mira Markham to respectability after her jealous antics and hoydenish behavior threaten to ruin her social acceptance.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Having tried all her life to please her father by becoming the son he always wanted, the irrepressible Mira takes her hoydenish ways to London and, despite scandal, treachery, and jealousy, ends up making the match of the season. This story has something of a barebones quality about it and lacks detailed descriptions couched in elegant prose. Instead, the focus is on the numerous characters and the relatively involved plot. Short and to the point, this swift-moving, engaging romp quickly skims the surface of Regency society. Chesney is a veteran writer of numerous light and frothy Regencies (many of which are available in hardcover from Severn House), including the series "A House for the Season" (St. Martin's). (Chesney lives in England.)
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: G. K. Hall & Company (May 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0783885024
• ISBN-13: 978-0783885025
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,492,376 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mira's boisterous and slides down banisters ..., October 10, 2000

By 

Ruth A. Caldwell "Highland Princess Mum" (Walnut Creek, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Dreadful Debutante (Thorndike British Favorites) (Paperback)

The London marriage mart held no interest for Mira, as she had her heart set on a childhood dream. Once her diabolical sister learns of the dream, she sets out to win the hand of Lord Charles, object of Mira's dreams. Mira had many jealous temper tantrums (including pushing her sister into a fountain) and nearly ruined her own respectibility. She didn't care until the Marquess of Grantley came to the rescue... then he wished he hadn't. This book was truly a great hoot. Wish there'd been a sequel.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just a good romance, May 2, 2008

By 

Roger Long "longrush" (Port Clinton, OH USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Dreadful Debutante (Large Print Romance) (Hardcover)

Many readers may have a negative reaction to any novel described as a romance, just as some literateurs snub westerns, mysteries, and sci-fi. This is unfortunate. Snubbing romances means missing all of Austen, the Brontes, much of Hawthorne, Tolstoy, Rebecca, etc. Snubbing any genre by name is a mistake; there are simply good books and bad books--in any classification.

To the point, this is a fine piece of work. The plot was interesting and moved well, although it was pretty obvious what the final result would be. The characters in English society during the Regency period were interesting and varied. London itself almost becomes a character. But the best part is the writing itself. It is witty, funny, sticking pins into the foolish ideas of the era, not that we do not have foolish ideas today.

There is an unavoidable resemblance here to Jane Austen, surely. Young women of a certain social class are seeking a suitable husband. Rather, the debutante's parents, and more specifically the mothers, are hoping to marry off a daughter to a wealthy man, and if he is titled, so much the better. Love is beside the point, in many cases, within the arrangements.

I did like this book very much. I've read other Chesney books (M.C. Beaton books) and found them all excellent, I particularly like the Hamish MacBeth series, the Agatha Raisin mysteries, and the Edwardian Mysteries. It is always good to find a writer who is intelligent and can truly write.

12 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FUNNY AND A ROMANTIC STORY, March 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Dreadful Debutante (Thorndike British Favorites) (Paperback)

Marion Chesney is one of the best romantic writer in the regency romance series. A wonderful story teller and Marion, keep up the good job. I hope you can continue to write more stories in the regency romance novels.