The Magic Touch by Patricia Keyson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Got my Downtown fix with this book, though it's set a bit earlier than the popular PBS series. This is a cleanly written (and formatted, thank God) ebook with excellent historical details and a hint at the lower status of women in the past. I really enjoyed seeing all the details of Victorian England, from the dresses and houses to the social "constraints". I especially liked how being raised in America, where her mother had a more relaxed attitude, creates conflict for the main character, Hope.

Hope, an unmarried twenty-something (nearly a "spinster" in those days!) is staying with her aunt (who is in mourning) in a country where society is more formally structured than she is used to. I like her spunk; she finds a way to explore the streets by dressing in men's clothing, visit a magic lantern (slide) show without her guardian, become infatuated with an "untitled" gentleman, and befriend her maid--all of which add to the conflict and heighten her inner conflict (because she knows she is doing much of this behind her aunt's back and that it can look bad for the family if she is caught). In the midst of it all, she is trying to figure out what to do with her life and how she fits into the more formal English society (due to her father's station) while her parents are traveling the world. She discovers that she may be more trusting than is good for her. But I like that her actions come from a good heart, even if she may not do what she is "supposed to" according to society's rules. In all, I really enjoyed this novel by an author unfamiliar to me. I look forward to investigating some of Keyson's other books.



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