Wentworth Hall

June 11, 2012
Maggie is the eldest daughter of the (formerly) wealthy Darlington family of Wentworth Hall, a sprawling and once glorious manor in the English countrysideâyet she's in love with a lowly stable groom. Lila is her naïve younger sister, jealous of Maggie's popularity with the boys, especially their handsome, rich visitor, Teddy Fitzhugh, to whom Lord and Lady Darlington hope to wed Maggie. Enter a bevy of servants with their own scandals, loves, and grievances, plus Teddy's nasty twin sister, Jessica, and readers are set up for nonstop period drama. Grahame's witty debut is a terrific start to a series in the vein of Anna Godbersen's The Luxe books, with a setting that will thrill Downton Abbey fans. A minor shortcoming: the satirical interludes, written anonymously by someone with inside knowledge of the Darlingtons' financial situation and published serially in a newspaper. While they supply additional intrigue as the family struggles to determine who the interloper is, they disrupt what is otherwise the delicious, gossipy, drama-filled life of the Darlington ladies and their counterparts in the servants' quarters. Ages 12âup.

November 1, 2012

Gr 7 Up-Wentworth Hall, the Darlingtons' estate, crumbles around its owners, hinting at the turmoil ahead. The eldest daughter, Maggie, and her mother have returned from a yearlong trip to France along with Mrs. Darlington's new baby and the baby's French nanny. Maggie no longer has the carefree attitude she left with, and her sister and the staff, most noticeably Michael, the stable keeper, wonder why. As the family adjusts to the return of these two women, it is announced that two more houseguests, the recently orphaned and wealthy Fitzhugh twins, will be staying with the family. With the Darlingtons' own finances quickly diminishing, it is assumed that Maggie will marry the Fitzhugh son or an aging bachelor who lives next door. After the Fitzhughs move in, a local newspaper runs a column by a mysterious satirist who pokes fun at the Darlingtons' tattered home, their shallowness, and their secrets. Those secrets, including two illegitimate children, are slowly revealed during the course of the novel, which is set in the English countryside in 1912. Nora, a likable member of the service staff, bridges the upper-class and working-class worlds, but most of the characters and the gushy dialogue between Maggie and Michael quickly become tiresome. Teens who enjoy romance novels may be enthralled with the Darlington soap opera, which ends well for some. The predictable plot and lack of depth, however, will leave others wishing that they had chosen something else.Hilary Writt, Sullivan University, Lexington, KY

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