Sunday, July 19, 2015

Miss Marjoribanks

I was a bit apprehensive about reading this particular classic. There seemed to be more unfavorable reviews of it than favorable, and I was worried I might not like it. Happily for me, however, it turned out to be not only an enjoyable read, but a surprisingly funny one, too. Miss Marjoribanks by Margaret Oliphant is like a cross between Jane Austen's Emma and Elizabeth Gaskell's Cranford. It's heroine, 19-year-old Lucilla Marjoribanks, has been away at school, but now she's returned home to Carlingford with decided views about society and her father and her own duty to both.
"...the Doctor's daughter was not a mild young lady, easy to be controlled; but, on the contrary, had all the energy and determination to have her own way ... Lucilla felt more and more that she who held the reorganisation of society in Carlingford in her hands was a woman with a mission."
 She takes charge of her father's household, redecorates the drawing room in colors that complement her complexion so that she'll look especially well when she hosts her Thursday Evenings, and she quickly begins her successful "reign" over Grange Lane. But it's Lucilla's views on men, religion, marriage, and her own importance in society that really made me smile.  Here are four examples:

In such work as hers, a skillful leader is always on the outlook for auxiliaries; and there are circumstances in which a nice clergyman is almost as useful to the lady of the house as a man who can flirt.
For everybody knows that it requires very little to satisfy the gentlemen, if a woman will only give her mind to it." 
...(she) had been brought up in the old-fashioned orthodox way of having a great respect for religion, and as little to do with it as possible...  
 "I don't see the good of single women," said Lucilla, "unless they are awfully rich..."
I ended up really liking Miss Marjoribanks.  There's one sad thing that occurs in the second half of this book, but overall this classic novel not only made me smile, but on several occasions, it actually made me laugh out loud. I got the definite feeling that Oliphant was poking fun of Victorian society with Lucilla's egocentric yet "magnanimous" views of society and Carlingford's submission to this determined heroine, which is why I'm counting this book as my Humorous or Satirical Classic for Karen's Back to the Classics Challenge.

Happy Reading!

 

14 comments:

  1. I've been meaning to try Mrs Oliphant's books for ages, and your lovely review is definitely encouraging me to pick up my copy. Thank you!

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    1. Thank you! I hope it makes you smile like it did me.

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  2. This sounds delightful! I will add it to my list of classics to try. It's so seldom I come across classics that aren't, well, gloomy. Or melodramatic. Or otherwise depressing. The slightly sardonic humor in these excerpts is wonderful.

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    1. These little wry comments are sprinkled throughout the novel; and Lucilla ended up being a pretty funny character. You can't take anything in this novel too seriously.

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  3. I enjoyed your review. I am not familiar with Margaret Oliphant's work, but I'm adding her to my list.

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    1. This is the only book of hers that I've read, but I did end up liking it. I'd give her a try again.

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  4. This was my introduction to Margaret Oliphant, & I loved it from the very first page. Lucilla also reminds me of Georgette Heyer's The Grand Sophy. The other Chronicles of Carlingford are enjoyable, but none measures up to this one.

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    1. It's definitely Lucilla that makes this book so humorous. It was a nice surprise.

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  5. I haven't read anything by Oliphant, but even your review made me smile. I can deal with one sad thing, especially if the rest of the novel is humorous.

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    1. And the sad thing isn't crushing...it does dampen Lucilla's spirits for a short while, but she doesn't stay down for long. And it ends well.

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  6. You are always reading classics I have never even heard of! Do you work from some sort of list or do you just know more than I do?? :)

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    1. Truth? I had never heard of this book either until I read about it on someone's blog last year. And it sounded like a book I might like, so I bought a used copy from Powells. There are a lot of people out there more familiar with the classics than me...I'm just trying to catch up. :)

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  7. A classic to make me smile? Resembling The Grand Sophy? Bring it on! I also had never heard of this one (or very fleetingly) so I'm glad you brought it to my attention.

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    1. I was not familiar with Oliphant's writing until I read a blog review about this particular novel, but I'm really glad I read it. I thought it was fun.

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