A Dubious Legacy [Import] [Paperback]

Mary Wesley (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 329 pages
• Publisher: Black Swan; New Ed edition (May 2, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0552772593
• ISBN-13: 978-0552772594
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent novel, July 1, 2000

By 

Lila J. Olix (Chula Vista, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Dubious Legacy (Paperback)

A Dubious Legacy is the second book written by Mary Wesley that I have read, and her writing entrances me. This book spans the period of 1944 through 1990 and focuses on the lives of the participants at what appears to be a straightforward dinner party. As the evening progresses, unexpected and unusual things occur. The book goes on to tell the story of the effect these events have on the lives of those present at this dinner party.

By slowly telling the story, uncovering information bit by bit, the writer creates a feeling of suspense. I was reluctant to put the book down, and felt slightly uneasy until I was able to finish it. I enjoyed the unusual characters the writer was able to create and felt that they were right at home in the setting of this novel. Mary Wesley also allows the reader to feel that they intimately know the characters by the end of the story. Somehow she is able to accomplish this with a minimal amount of detail.

I totally enjoyed this book and I have no qualms about recommending it to readers who enjoy the genre of comedy of manners. I am eager to read other books written by this author.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing commedy of manners, December 26, 2002

By 

Ladyce West "Ladyce West" (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Dubious Legacy (Paperback)

This was my introduction to Mary Wesley. I liked this book very much and I intend to read Wesley's other books. A Dubious Legacy kept my interest, my attention and was responsible for the discreet smile I presented throughout its reading. For, indeed, the doings of three couples through several decades in mid 20th century -- the subject under scrutiny in this comedy of manners -- was portrayed with humorous detachment and unwavering perspicacity. Ms Wesley is very good at placing her characters within the axioms of each decade's mores and develops insightful cameos of each era's preoccupations.
This is a short novel, a succinct book, developed in a fast tempo, keeping all along a mystery we hope to unveil. The central characters look at first as banal as they can be, but soon we realize appearances are misleading. These six upper middle class friends in the English country side are the source of great social commentary made by an ironic and warm narrator, a painter as it were, using few incisive strokes. The result is great fun and speedy reading, a book which I would recommend to anyone wishing to be intrigued and entertained.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Engaging but..., August 21, 2010

By 

Cockatoo (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dubious Legacy (Bookworms Library) (Paperback)

Yes it was engaging but still strangely unsatisfying. Mary Wesley's novels always intrigue but the characters in this one annoyed me. I much prefered Harnessing Peacocks, the Vacillations of Poppy Carew and the Camomile Lawn.