Sophie Gee

[The Scandal of the Season]: [[Sophie Gee]]

You enter this book believing that you'll be reading steamy, bloody, political historical fiction, only to be given the old AP-English bait-and-switch, and you soon discover that the main plotline is a fictionalized account of the circumstances behind Alexander Pope's poem "The Rape of the Lock". If you're still reading this review, you might actually enjoy the book.

I very much enjoyed the unusual historical premise, as it was a nice change from show more re-envisioning this incredibly famous queen or that important moment, yet was not such a small event that I found myself wondering why I was reading it. [[Sophie Gee]] brings together a range of events--social, political, religious, and literary--to create context, a fulfilling story, and a satisyfing backdrop. Her research into the "stuff" of the period was well done and added to the umwelt without seeming too clever, smug, or overwhelming.

The book is not without its flaws, however. The characters can be a little precious, especially Alexander Pope, who is written to be the book's dwarfish-but-loveable hero. It's also a little simplistic, which makes for an easy, enjoyable read, but doesn't really transport the reader in any meaningful or lasting way. show less

A fabulous read that although takes a few pages to get going is worthwhile in the end. I enjoyed watching the relationship between Arabella Fermor and Robert Petre develop through the eyes of the poet Alexander Pope. However it is London 1711 and their relationship is not conventional, providing the scandal of the season from the title.

Alexander is in need of inspiration and it isn’t until the end of the novel that he sees the motivation for this most famous poem. You can tell the author show more has an interest in literature as well as history as both are excellently entwined within the novel. The writing style is great, Gee has made this time in history extremely readable and you forget at times you are reading about real events.

For me, the blurb lives up to its hype. As a bonus in the edition of the book that I have was an explanation of the sexual mores of the times. Don’t expect the 18th Century written by Jane Austen in this novel, as Gee explains this is set a lot earlier than she was writing and people had much more freedom.

Underlying the sizzling sexiness of the novel is treasonous plot against Queen Anne. Therefore there is a range of material to appeal to different audiences. For me it was reading about Alexander Pope, for others it might be the seductiveness of the period or the political plots and fears. I prefer the UK cover to the US cover in that the UK cover looks more of the times whilst the US cover appears modern in its interpretation. A super read, one I’m pleased I was recommended to read. show less

Hands up, anyone else who hasn’t read Alexander Pope’s The Rape of the Lock? Not just me then. Thank heavens. Mind you, you don’t really need to have read it in order to enjoy this fictionalised account of its creation. Gee brings late Stuart London to life in all its snobbish splendour: here are the coffee houses, the levees and masquerades, the self-obsessed glittering mass of the nobility and the hungry throng of writers snapping at their heels. One of these, hungrier and more show more ambitious than the rest, is a young Catholic poet named Alexander Pope, who has come to London hoping to make his name...

For the rest of the review, please see my blog:
https://theidlewoman.net/2016/12/05/the-scandal-of-the-season-sophie-gee/ show less

Poet Alexander Pope moves to London to set his mark on the world, but the road of literary ambition proves to be a little more difficult then he initially imagined once the social season begins. Amidst the endless succession of masquerades and parties, gossip runs rampant and a reputation can be destroyed in an evening. Beneath the superficiality of the party circuit, a darker undercurrent of political intrigue exists: the year is 1711 and murmurs of a Jacobite rebellion threaten to restore show more James VII of Scotland to the English throne.

Alexander's exploits are juxtaposed with those of the spoiled, pretentious Arabella Fermor. When she begins an affair with Lord Petre, a leading peer of the realm, the consequences will inspire one of the most renown poems in the English language.

Sophie Gee's prose is so witty and sharp that it's hard to believe The Scandal of the Season is her first novel. Decent historical fiction is hard to come by these days, particularly during this time period, but this entire book was an enjoyable read. My only complaint is the deceptive bodice ripper cover. show less