Lady Vernon and Her Daughter

Recently widowed, Lady Vernon is forced to rely on her self-serving brother-in-law to care for her and her lovely daughter, Frederica. In Regency England, where aristocratic life is centered upon securing a financially advantageous marriage, Lady Vernon seeks to make the best match for Freddy. Narrator Susan Duerden artfully navigates extensive character explications, including litanies of familial relationships and family rankings and speculations on financial worth. Duerden's cultured tones--sometimes dulcet, sometimes scratchy--perfectly represent the hypocrisy of the social hierarchy. Duerden's voice lingers spitefully over gossipy letters and bristles with indignation when misrepresentations are aired. The authors use letters and conversations from Jane Austen's little-known epistolary work, LADY SUSAN, as their starting point, then veer off in surprising and delightful directions. S.J.H. (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine

August 10, 2009
Inspired by Jane Austen's novella Lady Susan
, this biting social comedy from mother-daughter duo Rubino (the veteran author) and Rubino-Bradway (the first-timer) is a delightful, worthy homage to Austen. In 19th-century England, Lady Susan Vernon is left nearly penniless after her honorable, wealthy husband dies and his unscrupulous little brother, Charles, bilks Susan and her daughter, Frederica, of their share of his fortune. Forced to rely upon the kindness of friends, the two spend several months bouncing from home to home. Subjected to the two-faced machinations of her social circle (particularly from Charles's wife, Catherine), Susan cleverly (and believably) turns several of her enemies against each other, using their own words. As in Austen's novels, securing a generous dowry and a “good” marriage (that is, one with money and status) is the all-important goal of every woman, but Susan is a dynamic character more than capable of delivering a shocking surprise.