Book Review
Sep. 20th, 2020 03:44 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kenjariThe Privilege of the Sword
by Ellen Kushner
This fun coming of age novel is et in a world much like that of Baroque England or France. Young Katherine Talbert is summoned by her uncle, the mad Duke of Tremontaine, to join him in the city. but instead of being introduced to society and playing the marriage game, Katherine is made to learn sword-fighting. In the process, she fits herself into her uncle's unorthodox household and lifestyle, and becomes involved in some of the political and social intrigue of the aristocratic world.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I especially liked seeing how Katherine goes from initially resisting her new life to embracing it. I loved how Kushner takes teenage girls and their emotional world seriously, even when they are giggling over suitors or obsessing over popular novels. The plot is very engaging and occasionally surprising. Threaded all through it are themes concerning finding or creating the freedom to live the way you want, and women's rights and honor in a patriarchal society.
by Ellen Kushner
This fun coming of age novel is et in a world much like that of Baroque England or France. Young Katherine Talbert is summoned by her uncle, the mad Duke of Tremontaine, to join him in the city. but instead of being introduced to society and playing the marriage game, Katherine is made to learn sword-fighting. In the process, she fits herself into her uncle's unorthodox household and lifestyle, and becomes involved in some of the political and social intrigue of the aristocratic world.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I especially liked seeing how Katherine goes from initially resisting her new life to embracing it. I loved how Kushner takes teenage girls and their emotional world seriously, even when they are giggling over suitors or obsessing over popular novels. The plot is very engaging and occasionally surprising. Threaded all through it are themes concerning finding or creating the freedom to live the way you want, and women's rights and honor in a patriarchal society.
