The Semi-Attached Couple, and The Semi-Detached House
by Emily Eden
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The worst thing to happen to the season's perfect couple: marriage. When the young and gorgeous Helen Eskdale met the wealthy aristocrat Lord Teviot, everything clicked. This was a couple that was meant to be - the match of the year, if not the ages. But in the rush to the altar, there was no time for bride and groom to actually get to know each other. Now the question is: Can they keep their marriage from falling apart? The semi-attached couple explores the upstairs-downstairs intrigues and show more comic misunderstandings central to the classic English romance with all the wit, style, and charm of a Jane Austen novel. show lessTags
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Though not quite to the standard of Austen, Emily Eden, writing thirty years later, captures that same wry humour and scathing social eye in her two novels. I enjoyed The Semi-Attached Couple far more, but both stories are filled with familiar characters and romantic devices.
The honest portrayal of marriage between the Teviots in the first half book descends into a Victorian melodrama, putting me in mind of Baroness Orczy, but the bluff Mrs Douglas and Eltonesque Lady Portmore livened up the scenes of domestic misery. (I love Mrs Douglas' honest appraisal of one woman's 'mistaken bonnet' and her droll comment that 'the Beauforts all laugh as if they thought they had good teeth'!)
The slightly patronising air of the characters in The show more Semi-Detached House, particularly the 'angelic' Blanche, and the farcical plot that reads like a Trollope novel written by Wodehouse, didn't hold my attention or amuse me at all, unfortunately. I actually struggled to finish, but I have yet to tackle Persuasion by the incomparable Austen, too! show less
The honest portrayal of marriage between the Teviots in the first half book descends into a Victorian melodrama, putting me in mind of Baroness Orczy, but the bluff Mrs Douglas and Eltonesque Lady Portmore livened up the scenes of domestic misery. (I love Mrs Douglas' honest appraisal of one woman's 'mistaken bonnet' and her droll comment that 'the Beauforts all laugh as if they thought they had good teeth'!)
The slightly patronising air of the characters in The show more Semi-Detached House, particularly the 'angelic' Blanche, and the farcical plot that reads like a Trollope novel written by Wodehouse, didn't hold my attention or amuse me at all, unfortunately. I actually struggled to finish, but I have yet to tackle Persuasion by the incomparable Austen, too! show less
The Semi-Detached House is a rather fluffy Victorian piece about a young Viscountess who moves into a semi-detached house for her confinement, while her husband is away in Prussia on a diplomatic mission. She's a rather flighty figure, but settles down after getting to know her neighbors, the Hopkinsons. On the other hand, the nouveau-riche Baron Sampson and family go off showing their money in a way completely unflattering, while neglecting their orphaned niece. One of those stories where all's well that ends well, unless you're the bad guy. The introduction compared Eden's works to Austen, but this one reminded me more of Elizabeth Gaskell with its focus on speculations and other less noble pursuits.
Highly recommended for those who show more like Victorian literature. I'm not quite sure what a semi-detached house is (one with a shared garden?), but it sure sounds like fun if you've got good neighbors. show less
Highly recommended for those who show more like Victorian literature. I'm not quite sure what a semi-detached house is (one with a shared garden?), but it sure sounds like fun if you've got good neighbors. show less
Two 19th century novels:
My favourite was definitely the former- published 1859 but written thirty years before, and with a definite Jane Austen flavour to the story of an aristocratic newly-wed couple, struggling to get used to their new life. Watched (and constantly criticized) by their poorer, jealous neighbour Mrs Douglas; and given additional stresses in their married life by the trouble-making comments of the truly ghastly, self-aggrandizing Lady Portmore, there are moments of laugh-out-loud humour.
The Semi-Detached House is more of a typical Victorian story, as Lady Blanche Chester (reluctantly taking such a residence while her husband is away) finds her neighbours much nicer than she had anticipated, and all ends well.
My favourite was definitely the former- published 1859 but written thirty years before, and with a definite Jane Austen flavour to the story of an aristocratic newly-wed couple, struggling to get used to their new life. Watched (and constantly criticized) by their poorer, jealous neighbour Mrs Douglas; and given additional stresses in their married life by the trouble-making comments of the truly ghastly, self-aggrandizing Lady Portmore, there are moments of laugh-out-loud humour.
The Semi-Detached House is more of a typical Victorian story, as Lady Blanche Chester (reluctantly taking such a residence while her husband is away) finds her neighbours much nicer than she had anticipated, and all ends well.
The Semi-Detached House
Pregnant Blanche and her sister move into a semi-detached villa while Blanche's husband is away on a government mission to Berlin. Initially prejudiced against her neighbours, the Hopkinson family, Blanche gradually comes love and rely on them. In addition we meet Baron Sampson, an apparently rich businessman who has dealings with the Hopkinsons' son-in-law, the perpetually miserable Willis.
This was a warm, amusing book in which common sense and kindness were prized. It is a pity that the Jewish characters were so dastardly - even the more likeable Rachel was unable to love the man she married - but this was presumably an acceptable prejudice at the time of writing. There was quite a lot of coupling off of all show more the unmarried men and women, which was a little hard to keep track of, but I enjoyed Willis' transformation.
The Semi-Attached Couple
Helen marries Lord Teviot on a brief acquaintance; he loves her jealously, but she is concerned that she does not feel for him as her sisters do for their husbands. This misunderstanding/estrangement was a little tiresome, although I suppose Helen does at least have the excuse of being very young; Teviot seemed rather petulant at times. The real joy of this story for me was the awful Lady Portmore and the sublime put downs served her by Mrs Douglas. This reminded me of Anthony Trollope (one of my favourite authors - and much more than it reminded me of Jane Austen) especially with the description of the election. Again, there was a bit of pairing off of unattached young people - I think Eliza could have done better for herself.
Highly recommended. show less
Pregnant Blanche and her sister move into a semi-detached villa while Blanche's husband is away on a government mission to Berlin. Initially prejudiced against her neighbours, the Hopkinson family, Blanche gradually comes love and rely on them. In addition we meet Baron Sampson, an apparently rich businessman who has dealings with the Hopkinsons' son-in-law, the perpetually miserable Willis.
This was a warm, amusing book in which common sense and kindness were prized. It is a pity that the Jewish characters were so dastardly - even the more likeable Rachel was unable to love the man she married - but this was presumably an acceptable prejudice at the time of writing. There was quite a lot of coupling off of all show more the unmarried men and women, which was a little hard to keep track of, but I enjoyed Willis' transformation.
The Semi-Attached Couple
Helen marries Lord Teviot on a brief acquaintance; he loves her jealously, but she is concerned that she does not feel for him as her sisters do for their husbands. This misunderstanding/estrangement was a little tiresome, although I suppose Helen does at least have the excuse of being very young; Teviot seemed rather petulant at times. The real joy of this story for me was the awful Lady Portmore and the sublime put downs served her by Mrs Douglas. This reminded me of Anthony Trollope (one of my favourite authors - and much more than it reminded me of Jane Austen) especially with the description of the election. Again, there was a bit of pairing off of unattached young people - I think Eliza could have done better for herself.
Highly recommended. show less
The Semi-Attached Couple is a humorous and witty look at a Victorian couple who didn't exactly marry for love. Surrounding their romance, or lack-thereof, is busybody family members, a cultural protocol for decorum, and good, old-fashioned Victorian society standards. Of course, Sarah married too young and Lord Teviot married too quick. Neither understands the other and isn't sure of themselves. There is plenty of gossip, secrets, and satire in The Semi-Attached Couple.
Reminded me of Trollope.
Ooh, the character of Lady Portmore - would not want someone like her in my real life, but she is a delight to read about - indefatigable in her catty comments.
Ooh, the character of Lady Portmore - would not want someone like her in my real life, but she is a delight to read about - indefatigable in her catty comments.
Both books quite lovely, offering engaging views of victorian middle class life.
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- Canonical title
- The Semi-Attached Couple, and The Semi-Detached House
- Original publication date
- 1859-1860
- People/Characters
- Lady Eskdale; Lord Eskdale; Mrs Douglas; Mr Douglas; Eliza Douglas; Sarah Douglas (show all 18); Lady Helen Teviot; Lord Teviot; Lady Portmore; Colonel Beaufort; Blanche, Lady Chester; Arthur, Lord Chester; Jane Hopkinson; Rose Hopkinson; Janet Hopkinson; Willis; Rachel Monteneros; Baroness Rebecca Sampson
- First words
- "Well, I have paid that visit to the Eskdales, Mr. Douglas," said Mrs. Douglas in a tone of triumphant sourness. (The Semi-Attached Couple)
The Hon. Emily Eden (1797-1869) was an aristocratic spinster, shrewd, well-read and observant, and above all witty. (Introduction)
This story was partly written nearly thirty years ago, before railroads were established, and travelling carriages-and-four superseded; before postage-stamps had extinguished the privilege of franking, and before the Reform B... (show all)ill had limited the duration of the polling at borough elections to single day. In re-writing it I might easily have introduced these and other modern innovations; but as I believe the manners of England to be as much changed as her customs, there would have been discrepancies between my scenes and characters: the background would not have harmonized with the figures. When I wrote it, I thought it a tolerably faithful representation of modern society; but some young friends who are still living in the world, from which I have long retired, and who have read it with the indulgence of happy youth, condescendingly assure me that it is amusing, inasmuch as it is a curious picture of old-fashioned society. Therefore, in giving it to the world, I trust that to my own contemporaries it may have the charm of reminding them of their youth, and that to the young it may have the recommendation of being a strange Chronicle of the Olden Time. E.E. (The book was first published, it must be remembered, in 1860.) ~Preface to The Semi-Attached Couple
"The only fault of the house is that it is semi-detached." (The Semi-Detached House) - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Willis has been accepted, and is in high spirits. (The Semi-Detached House)
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)And I must own you succeed. (The Semi-Attached Couple)
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Evangelicalism had advanced enough for it to be clear that the correspondent who so enjoyed the book could not have read it aloud to Lady L on a Sunday, but had to wait till Monday for this indulgence. (Introduction)
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Therefore, in giving it to the world, I trust that to my own contemporaries it may have the charm of reminding them of their youth, and that to the young it may have the recommendation of being a strange Chronicle of the Olden Time. (Preface to The Semi-Attached Couple) - Blurbers
- Cecil, Lord David
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