Reviews

The Foolish Gentlewoman by Margery Sharp

mcr1955's review

emotional funny inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

A group of people in a country house after WWII.  One women starts feeling very guilty for something she did (or rather did not do) years before and wants to make amends.  How she decides to do this and other's opinions about it provide most of the plot.  Margery Sharp writes with that dry witty English humor which I love.  I was surprised by how much tension could be created just by interactions between people.  

krobart's review against another edition

4.0

See my review here:

https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2023/07/20/review-2208-the-foolish-gentlewoman/

bookishlybeauty's review against another edition

slow-paced

2.0

No likable characters. Boring. Awful. Not worth it. 

caroparr's review

3.0

Isabel, a kind but sentimental and stubborn woman, takes in her distant cousin Tilly because, years ago, she wronged her and has felt guilty ever since. Everyone in the household - her brother-in-law, nephew, companion, cook - can tell that Tilly is nothing but trouble but Isabel is adamant that she will not only take her in but turn over her fortune to her. A diverting character study with a couple twists that are unexpected but satisfying. For some reason I own a first edition of this, sans dust jacket, marked 10 cents.

lilias's review

funny sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

My grandmother’s initials sit on the corner of one of the first pages of this book, and I thought of her a lot as I read it. It’s a very funny book but also quite sad for subtle reasons. Sharp’s characters remind me a lot of Wodehouse’s, and I have missed his writing a lot since I haven’t been able to pick up a book of his in years, since learning of his anti-semitism. Like, Wodehouse, Sharp’s characters are quite complex, and their inner thoughts and impressions of one another are at the center of their development. Sharp is best known for her Rescuers series for kids, but I have to say I think I will be reading more of her novels written for adults.

blankgarden's review against another edition

4.0

I wrote about this book here: https://theblankgarden.wordpress.com/2016/02/10/the-melancholy-of-change/

blankgarden's review

4.0

I wrote about this book here: https://theblankgarden.wordpress.com/2016/02/10/the-melancholy-of-change/