lots of extra seasoning
An absorbing read with lots of extra seasoning in the form of different fonts and printers' adornments to give the effect of facsimile handbills and play scripts, letters and journal entries. It took a little getting used to at first but then I found it added zest to the story of the coming of age of Ursula Flight in Restoration England. (And, no, the verisimilitude didn't extend to printing 's' as 'f' anywhere.) But I do believe my vocabulary has been transiently adulterated by my immersion in this volume!
There were definite shades of Defoe's Moll Flanders as Ursula tends to have things happen to her and then makes impulsive decisions. She seeks learning and love, independence and excitement. She makes a robust and earthy heroine who shows us a lot of the views of her time, particularly the position of young women. She also shows us daily life in houses both rich and poor, in the country and the city.
There were definite shades of Defoe's Moll Flanders as Ursula tends to have things happen to her and then makes impulsive decisions. She seeks learning and love, independence and excitement. She makes a robust and earthy heroine who shows us a lot of the views of her time, particularly the position of young women. She also shows us daily life in houses both rich and poor, in the country and the city.