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The Scandal of the Season: A Novel by Sophie…
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The Scandal of the Season: A Novel (edition 2007)

by Sophie Gee

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5142347,101 (3.04)36
I had somehow missed being taught "the Rape of the lock" in my English classes over the years. This novel was essentially a light, though well-written period romance - that just happened to be based on the poem. The result is that I read the 1712 edition of the poem - conveniently reprinted at the end of the novel - to myself aloud. And really enjoyed it. ( )
  nhcoffin | Apr 1, 2012 |
English (19)  French (1)  Spanish (1)  Italian (1)  Danish (1)  All languages (23)
Showing 19 of 19
I had to stop reading this book about 70 pages in. I cannot follow it to save my life. Does not hold my attention at all. ( )
  Stacie-C | May 8, 2021 |
Hands up, anyone else who hasn’t read Alexander Pope’s The Rape of the Lock? Not just me then. Thank heavens. Mind you, you don’t really need to have read it in order to enjoy this fictionalised account of its creation. Gee brings late Stuart London to life in all its snobbish splendour: here are the coffee houses, the levees and masquerades, the self-obsessed glittering mass of the nobility and the hungry throng of writers snapping at their heels. One of these, hungrier and more ambitious than the rest, is a young Catholic poet named Alexander Pope, who has come to London hoping to make his name...

For the rest of the review, please see my blog:
https://theidlewoman.net/2016/12/05/the-scandal-of-the-season-sophie-gee/ ( )
  TheIdleWoman | Dec 14, 2016 |
Alexander Pope and 'The Rape of the Lock'.

I enjoyed the flavour of the early eighteenth century in this novel; the decadent rich and the wannabes, but the story itself was a bit thin and the ending was disappointing. Having said that, the audiobook was the perfect entertainment for long periods in traffic jams. Cameron Stewart's narration was good (though his womens' voices were a bit painful!) and the narrative didn't require too much concentration.

The central character is Alexander Pope, a poet who is, according to Wikipedia, 'Famous for his use of the heroic couplet and the second-most frequently quoted writer in The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations, after Shakespeare.'
Pope is in London hoping to find inspiration for a poem that will make his name. He is mixing in wealthy circles on the back of his two published works. His circle is a bit of a cast of thousands who I struggled to remember, but it is the relationship that develops between Arabella Fermor and Lord Petre that provides the romance and Lord Petre's involvement with a Jacobite plot to kill the queen, that provides the intrigue.

I wouldn't particularly recommend this book and I'm glad that I had it in audio, but if you're a fan of Alexander Pope it could be worth reading. ( )
  DubaiReader | Nov 18, 2015 |
Recensione su: http://wp.me/p3X6aw-h6
Review at: http://wp.me/p3X6aw-h6 ( )
  Saretta.L | Mar 4, 2014 |
I can't get into this. The writing is not great, and the POV jumps around too much.
  GinnyTea | Mar 31, 2013 |
I had somehow missed being taught "the Rape of the lock" in my English classes over the years. This novel was essentially a light, though well-written period romance - that just happened to be based on the poem. The result is that I read the 1712 edition of the poem - conveniently reprinted at the end of the novel - to myself aloud. And really enjoyed it. ( )
  nhcoffin | Apr 1, 2012 |
This is a fictionalised account of the events which led up to Alexander Pope's composition of The Rape Of The Lock – Pope's arrival in London and introduction to the literary scene, his decision to abandon the epic style and start writing satire, and the scandalous liaison which led to the incident described in the poem. It was interesting reading this in follow-up to Wolf Hall, as there was a sub-plot about the discrimination that Catholics were still suffering in the early eighteenth century – not permitted to live within ten miles of London and unable to inherit. The story could also have been an interesting one, and the book was certainly trying to be a bit of a romp. But unfortunately I found the writing a bit ponderous – unsuccessfully mimicking the esprit and gallantry of contemporary satire, and telling rather more than showing. ( )
  wandering_star | Jun 22, 2010 |
They say one should never judge a book by its cover, but the cover art on the latest paperback release of this book just screams “bodice ripper,” and I couldn’t help but assume that its content would likely follow suit. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that not only did this book cover a wide range of historical figures, but also, it was very well written! Gee really captured the essence of 18th Century England: full of religious strife, class struggles, society parties, Jacobite plots, and of course, romantic intrigue.

One of my favorite movies of all time is Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, its title derived from a line in Alexander Pope’s poem “Eloisa to Abelard,” which also comes up in the movie. When I first saw this film, I ran to Borders to pick up a copy of Pope’s poems, which I had studied in school briefly but not really paid much attention to. I became interested in Pope as a person and have always wanted to know what drove him to finally write satirically, as his earlier works are much more serious in tone than his later.

The Scandal of the Season answered my question ten-fold. Gee was able to intertwine Alexander Pope’s story seamlessly with the rest of the novel: Pope is a talented poet but an outsider to London society, who manages to work his way “in” as he observes these peculiar subjects and their frivolous ways, ultimately satirizing the ridiculousness of this “fashionable set” in what would become his most famous poem yet, “The Rape of the Lock”. Throughout his stay in London, Pope meets such literary greats as Richard Steele, Jonathan Swift, and John Gay. I truly felt after reading this book that I had gained some insight into the lives of some of history’s most well respected writers, and the times that shaped their writings.

The back-story of this book is the love affair between Lord Petre, Baron of Ingatestone, and Arabella Fermor, the most beautiful girl in London. When Lord Petre’s well-to-do family learns of the affair, they chastise him for falling for Arabella, whom they deem an ill-suited match for the Baron. They manipulate him into forsaking his beloved, forcing him to embarrass her publicly in order to ensure that the connection between the two of them be forever severed. My complaint about this novel, and the reason why I’m giving it a rating of 3.5/5 Wives of Henry VIII, is that something about the relationship between Arabella and Lord Petre just seemed a bit off to me. It was all about “the chase” in the beginning, but then once they were actually together, their chemistry seemed to fizzle. Arabella and Lord Petre as characters fell a bit flat. Their love saga just seemed to lag and drag on a bit, without really growing as a relationship at all. I found the characters on Pope’s end of the story had much more depth, while the others were not nearly as well developed.

Aside from the lackluster couple, I really did enjoy the way this book was written and Alexander Pope’s part in the tale. Gee’s tongue-in-cheek writing style echoed Pope’s sardonic sentiment the whole way through, giving a real sense of how ordinary folk must have felt back in those days, watching as women fretted hysterically over which pair of gloves would be better suited to the day’s outfit, as if the wrong choice in stylish accoutrements could ruin one’s life entirely. I hope Sophie Gee will write another novel, she has a lot of talent as a writer and her knowledge of 18th century history really impressed me. With some fine-tuning, she could easily become a fantastic novelist.

http://histficchick.blogspot.com/ ( )
  HistFicChick | Aug 3, 2009 |
I received this book as a Christmas gift, and I was anxious to read it because I usually really enjoy historical fiction. Unfortunately I felt like this book was more romance than history. I mostly enjoyed the romance, and at times the book really was a page turner. But in the end the novel felt a little flat. The characters were quite flat, and there was little of the historical element that I had been expecting. The author writes well, so I hope if there is another novel it has more of a historical slant. ( )
  bachaney | Sep 25, 2008 |
A fabulous read that although takes a few pages to get going is worthwhile in the end. I enjoyed watching the relationship between Arabella Fermor and Robert Petre develop through the eyes of the poet Alexander Pope. However it is London 1711 and their relationship is not conventional, providing the scandal of the season from the title.

Alexander is in need of inspiration and it isn’t until the end of the novel that he sees the motivation for this most famous poem. You can tell the author has an interest in literature as well as history as both are excellently entwined within the novel. The writing style is great, Gee has made this time in history extremely readable and you forget at times you are reading about real events.

For me, the blurb lives up to its hype. As a bonus in the edition of the book that I have was an explanation of the sexual mores of the times. Don’t expect the 18th Century written by Jane Austen in this novel, as Gee explains this is set a lot earlier than she was writing and people had much more freedom.

Underlying the sizzling sexiness of the novel is treasonous plot against Queen Anne. Therefore there is a range of material to appeal to different audiences. For me it was reading about Alexander Pope, for others it might be the seductiveness of the period or the political plots and fears. I prefer the UK cover to the US cover in that the UK cover looks more of the times whilst the US cover appears modern in its interpretation. A super read, one I’m pleased I was recommended to read. ( )
  SmithSJ01 | Aug 29, 2008 |
Poet Alexander Pope moves to London to set his mark on the world, but the road of literary ambition proves to be a little more difficult then he initially imagined once the social season begins. Amidst the endless succession of masquerades and parties, gossip runs rampant and a reputation can be destroyed in an evening. Beneath the superficiality of the party circuit, a darker undercurrent of political intrigue exists: the year is 1711 and murmurs of a Jacobite rebellion threaten to restore James VII of Scotland to the English throne.

Alexander's exploits are juxtaposed with those of the spoiled, pretentious Arabella Fermor. When she begins an affair with Lord Petre, a leading peer of the realm, the consequences will inspire one of the most renown poems in the English language.

Sophie Gee's prose is so witty and sharp that it's hard to believe The Scandal of the Season is her first novel. Decent historical fiction is hard to come by these days, particularly during this time period, but this entire book was an enjoyable read. My only complaint is the deceptive bodice ripper cover. ( )
  kiravk | Aug 24, 2008 |
A fictional account of the poet Alexander Pope's season in London that was his inspiration for the poem The Rape of the Lock. The story follows a scandalous affair and also a Jacobian plot to murder the queen. This book aspires to be "literary fiction," but it does not quite achieve that goal. ( )
  gwendolyndawson | Mar 24, 2008 |
I was a little bit at odds with this novel from the start -- it was written by one of my former professors, but Enlightenment-era historical fiction really isn't my bag -- but I was pleasantly surprised once I started getting into it.

The novel immerses you first into violence then abruptly into the fashionable world of 18th-Century London, amidst which Alexander Pope seeks the muse for the poem that will make his career. We know he will write that poem, we even know what poem that is, but despite all that, Professor Gee does an impressive job of pacing her plot and holding back revelations until the absolute last moment, keeping the reader wondering not only when The Rape of the Lock will figure into the proceedings, but also what will happen to the characters.

Despite being painted in a historically-accurate coat of pretense, we begin to like the characters perhaps more than we let on, and Professor Gee wisely gives us an afterword to tell us what happened to the real-life personages.

Though the novel handles its romantic, courtly plot better than its political one (possibly because the former has more substance), it performs exactly as it should and keeps things moving along nicely. A good, quick read, particularly for the interested student of this era.
  dczapka | Mar 19, 2008 |
This was a delicious book, warmly recommended to me by a library member, just what I like,a steamy literary romance (the sex scenes had just the right dash of female interest eroticism) with edifying information about the era of Pope and the foppish manners of the English court, which had me looking up stuff in the encyclopedia to enhance the reading experience. A great first novel by an Australian, I hope she produces many more of this calibre. ( )
2 vote d_burn | Nov 26, 2007 |
[The Scandal of the Season]: [[Sophie Gee]]

You enter this book believing that you'll be reading steamy, bloody, political historical fiction, only to be given the old AP-English bait-and-switch, and you soon discover that the main plotline is a fictionalized account of the circumstances behind Alexander Pope's poem "The Rape of the Lock". If you're still reading this review, you might actually enjoy the book.

I very much enjoyed the unusual historical premise, as it was a nice change from re-envisioning this incredibly famous queen or that important moment, yet was not such a small event that I found myself wondering why I was reading it. [[Sophie Gee]] brings together a range of events--social, political, religious, and literary--to create context, a fulfilling story, and a satisyfing backdrop. Her research into the "stuff" of the period was well done and added to the umwelt without seeming too clever, smug, or overwhelming.

The book is not without its flaws, however. The characters can be a little precious, especially Alexander Pope, who is written to be the book's dwarfish-but-loveable hero. It's also a little simplistic, which makes for an easy, enjoyable read, but doesn't really transport the reader in any meaningful or lasting way. ( )
  SelimaCat | Nov 22, 2007 |
4 stars for the period detail ( )
  mtnmamma | Oct 27, 2007 |
A charming novel imagining the events that led to Pope's writing of "The Rape of the Lock." While the characters weren't very developed, I believe that the author may have been trying to recreate the superficiality that was so much a part of London society in the early eighteenth century. She gets the tone of conversation just right, with everyone genteely battling to be wittier than the next person and to be the center of polite attention. The continual jockeying for position among the belles, beaux, and literati seems appropriate, and the characters would have been more concerned with appearances and reputations than depth of character. Not a great novel, but an intriguing one. ( )
  Cariola | Oct 17, 2007 |
Novel about Alexander Pope and the events that inspired his poem "The Rape of the Lock." Slow moving, but interesting view of 18th century London. ( )
  mabeline | Sep 11, 2007 |
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