tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post7577935756732233748..comments2024-02-22T17:59:50.213-05:00Comments on in so many words...: Review: TO MARRY AN ENGLISH LORD Tales of Wealth and Mariiage, Sex and Snobbery by Gail MacColl and Carol McD.WallaceYvettehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-27254228916743867482012-07-24T09:56:04.770-04:002012-07-24T09:56:04.770-04:00Thanks, Kathy!Thanks, Kathy!Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-2794935461249793712012-07-22T01:33:09.486-04:002012-07-22T01:33:09.486-04:00Lovely article on press conference for Season 3 of...Lovely article on press conference for Season 3 of Downton Abbey.<br /><br />http://www.mercurynews.com/entertainment/ci_21130580/tv-press-tour-downton-abbey-cast-reflects-successkathy d.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-78991965726964773262012-07-21T14:41:44.006-04:002012-07-21T14:41:44.006-04:00Okay, Deb, you've more than intrigued me. I...Okay, Deb, you've more than intrigued me. I'm putting THE BUCCANEERS on my 'must' list. The only Wharton I think I've ever read is ETHAN FROME, but it remains one of my favorite books ever.Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-56746062495069005872012-07-21T14:39:44.493-04:002012-07-21T14:39:44.493-04:00Sue, never heard of it. Maybe they changed the nam...Sue, never heard of it. Maybe they changed the name for American consumption? I'll see if I can find it nonetheless. Thanks for the tip. :)Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-88161154629273600492012-07-21T14:38:13.773-04:002012-07-21T14:38:13.773-04:00Deb, I did see the PBS show and really liked it. W...Deb, I did see the PBS show and really liked it. What those girls suffered!! Was there a scene near the end when one of the young marrieds ran from a tea party out in the open (in front of shocked society)and ran off with someone? I kind of remember it like that. Shocking! Ha!<br /><br />I should read the book. Maybe I'll a get a chance one of these days.Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-86191232537160924532012-07-21T14:35:35.028-04:002012-07-21T14:35:35.028-04:00Kathy, I hadn't heard the Shirley MacLaine new...Kathy, I hadn't heard the Shirley MacLaine news. THAT WILL BE FUN!<br /><br />I too love Maggie Smith. Did you see her in EVIL UNDER THE SUN? She was delightful!Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-43140122162439617072012-07-21T11:36:12.319-04:002012-07-21T11:36:12.319-04:00Re Sue's comment: there's a great scene in...Re Sue's comment: there's a great scene in The Buccaneers where the new American wife is either trying to write thank you cards or figure out seating arrangements and she has a list in front of her about how to address a duchess or marchioness or who would take precedence over who when entering a room and you can tell that not only is the American wife utterly baffled but she's bored and bewildered in equal measure. One if those small but telling scenes that make the book so good.Debnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-25460521421216663392012-07-21T09:46:18.948-04:002012-07-21T09:46:18.948-04:00From this side of the pond, I can feel quite sorry...From this side of the pond, I can feel quite sorry for these American girls, virtually 'sold' into the British aristocracy - talk about a 'commodity'! Almost on a par with a prize heifer!<br /><br />And having been thrown into society many of them could not do right for doing wrong; the only common factor was that they spoke English! The culture and customs were alien on both sides and I'd like to think that many had kindly housekeepers and such, who would steer and advise them. However, I fear that was all too often not the case and the poor new wife-chatelaine would have no support from either the family she'd married into or the society that treated her with snobbish distrust!<br /><br />Yvette - if you are able to get it (or you may have already seen!) do try to watch <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0310733/" rel="nofollow">Bertie and Elizabeth</a> It's one of the best adaptations/portrayals of the years leading up to and beyond the abdication that I've ever seen - beautifully shot, too!SueHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11394307650434614637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-41052903381660886462012-07-21T09:43:51.502-04:002012-07-21T09:43:51.502-04:00Have you read Edith Wharton's The Buccaneers? ...Have you read Edith Wharton's The Buccaneers? A fictionalized account of a group of rich American girls (or, I should say, American girls with rich fathers) who travel to England and end up marrying into the British aristocracy--for better or for worse (in one particular case, supposedly based on Consuelo Vanderbilt, much much worse). If you haven't, I highly recommend it. It was made into a PBS series a few years ago (screenplay by Gore Vidal); that, I was less interested in.Debnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-79830302613529792292012-07-21T03:47:49.569-04:002012-07-21T03:47:49.569-04:00And it's true that humor can be found in all s...And it's true that humor can be found in all sorts of situations; that is true.<br /><br />And enjoy whatever you enjoy in historical dramas, etc.<br /><br />I confess that I liked Downton Abbey, went through withdrawal after the season ended.<br /><br />But I mean who can resist Maggie Smith? One withering look, a one-liner delivered like no one else can do. Favorites include: <br />This is an instrument of torture (phone) OR We can't have the Turkish ambassador assassinated, can we? (and many more)<br /><br />I see that Shirley Maclaine will play Dame Smith's nemesis, the U.S. mother-in-law.<br /><br />Someone could get hurt with all those daggers flying through the air. I cannot wait.kathy d.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-49476579832165940492012-07-20T11:17:11.190-04:002012-07-20T11:17:11.190-04:00Kathy: yes, but....
I still enjoyed/enjoy watchin...Kathy: yes, but....<br /><br />I still enjoyed/enjoy watching all the PBS Masterpiece costume dramas down through the years. Enjoy reading historical mysteries and novels. <br /><br />I made believe the bad societal stuff was happening someplace else - like in another universe. The mind has a wonderful way of compartmentalizing. (Is that a word?) Well, you know what I mean.Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-75641474362971186202012-07-20T03:22:43.086-04:002012-07-20T03:22:43.086-04:00Edward VII looked like an "urbane frog."...Edward VII looked like an "urbane frog." Now that's another quotable remark from Yvette's Critics Corner.<br /><br />I don't know. I couldn't feel sorry for these women and certainly not these limpid aristocrats. I'd be frustrated in reading this that they didn't donate funds right here for homeless children and food and medical care for poor people. And then pitch in and help out and lead some kind of a useful life.<br /><br />If it were me in this situation, I'd be one of those "downstairs" people running around waiting on the idle rich.<br /><br />I do agree there's grounds for humor here.kathy d.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-37094667786514022672012-07-19T10:30:58.600-04:002012-07-19T10:30:58.600-04:00The problem with Edward as I see it (besides his p...The problem with Edward as I see it (besides his physical resemblance to a somewhat urbane frog), is that his mother, the queen, would not give him any responsibilities. He simply had NOTHING to do.<br /><br />Men get into trouble and bad habits when they have nothing to do. :)Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-84228950276294821842012-07-19T10:28:34.109-04:002012-07-19T10:28:34.109-04:00Thanks, Joanne. Yes, exactly, I should have though...Thanks, Joanne. Yes, exactly, I should have thought of that myself: a scrapbook describes it perfectly. :)Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-78371332315750886232012-07-18T19:34:33.725-04:002012-07-18T19:34:33.725-04:00Hi, Yvette - Years ago I read Edward VII's bio...Hi, Yvette - Years ago I read Edward VII's biography (I recall it was subtitled "The Gay Monarch" when that had a different connotation), and it made fascinating reading. Among other things, he was a wild practical joker who went to great and expensive lengths for a good laugh.Mark D. Ruffnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09241533547309049140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3185294584889963228.post-55226782323743711782012-07-18T17:53:04.686-04:002012-07-18T17:53:04.686-04:00This is such a fun book! I have an older version o...This is such a fun book! I have an older version of it, but it's such a fun and informative book -- almost like a scrapbook of the times with bits of gossip. I love it, and of course, I'm a big-time Downton Abbey fan. Nice highlight of the book. :)Joannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07716758796036142540noreply@blogger.com