July 2026 – Lady Book Dragon

William: An Englishman by Cicely Mary Hamilton

Audio Book | Bookshop.org | Ebook | TG Jones | Waterstones

Blurb

A naive couple, full of indignation at the state of Britain before the First World War, honeymoon in France and get overtaken by the onset of the war. It’s a rude awakening. The author served in France during the war, and wrote this whilst the war raged around her.

Review

I love Persephone Books and I have a dream that one day I will manage to read the entire collection! I suspect I won’t manage it but I live in hope.

I really enjoyed this book and I would have happily read it in just two or three sittings but it took me slightly longer because I read it during my daughters morning naps.

William is a social activist but he didn’t find this path by himself and sadly he only parrots the opinions of others and never comes up with anything like his own opinions. During his work he meets Griselda who is also a social activist and who has done several spells in prison fighting for women’s rights. However, Griselda is also like William and only parrots the options of others and never forms her own opinion. They believe themselves heroic and fighting for the good of many but they never sacrifice anything and only rant and rave in front of people who agree with them. Unexpectedly they find themselves in the middle of WWI and their worlds are turned upside down.

Hamilton gently makes fun of William and Griselda. She mocks their activism and their idealism in the beginning of the novel. However, as the book progresses you start to only feel sympathy for Griselda and William. They are victims of war and Hamilton shows anger towards the people who started it.

I enjoyed this book because it was a wonderful eye opener into what life was like during WWI but it was also a harrowing read and I was brought to tears quite a few times while reading it. I really enjoyed Hamilton’s writing style and I hope to read more of her work soon. I give this book 4 out of 5 Dragons.

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About the author

Cicely Mary Hamilton (born Hammill), was an English author and co-founder of the Women Writers’ Suffrage League.

She is best remembered for her plays which often included feminist themes. Hamilton’s World War I novel “William – An Englishman” was reprinted by Persephone Books in 1999.

She was a friend of EM Delafield and was portrayed as Emma Hay in “A Provincial Lady Goes Further.”

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Cecilia by Frances Burney

Bookshop.org | Ebook | TG Jones | World of Books

Blurb

Cecilia is an heiress, but she can only keep her fortune if her husband will consent to take her surname. Fanny Burney’s unusual love story and deft social satire was much admired on its first publication in 1782 for its subtle interweaving of comedy, humanity and social analysis.

Review

I fell in love with Burney’s writing when I first read Evelina so I was determined to read Burney’s other novels. However, I must admit I was not expecting such a hefty tome when Cecilia arrived. There is quite a size difference between Evelina and Cecilia. Clearly Burney wanted the money as the more volumes in a book the more money the author made in the past. Thankfully, the writing was just as good so I didn’t mind the length of the book.

This book really prompted me to do more research into the Georgian period and heiress’ as I was intrigued by the storyline of Cecilia only being allowed to keep her inheritance if she married a man who would take her name. Apparently this was quite a common thing at the time and a way for the family name not to die out if there was no male heir.

As with Evelina the main characters of Cecilia are endearing enough but the main stars of the book are the supporting cast. You have the flighty socialites, the gossip girls, slimy men, haughty toffs who are so ridiculous you just have to laugh. Miss Larolles was an absolute hoot!

The thing I loved most about this book though was the snapshot it gives you of the everyday life of Georgian society. You have members of the Ton right down to the poorest of the poor. You learn about what the etiquette was for females and males socialising, who handed who into a carriage, how you called upon acquaintances, how you made travel arrangements etc.

Cecilia is a caring and very sensitive young lady who has clearly been brought up very sheltered of the outside world. She has a desire to help all who are less fortunate than herself and can not bear to see anyone suffering. Sadly this leaves her open for exploitation. At times Cecilia really needed a friend who would offer her good advice but sadly she had wolves in sheep’s clothing.

I don’t want to say too much as I don’t want to give the story away but I will say that I can see why Jane Austen was such a fan of Burney’s work as I could not put this book down. I will be selecting another of Burney’s books to read very soon I hope. I give this book 5 out of 5 Dragons.

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About the author

Also known as Fanny Burney and, after her marriage, as Madame d’Arblay. Frances Burney was a novelist, diarist and playwright. In total, she wrote four novels, eight plays, one biography and twenty volumes of journals and letters.