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Dance-Partner
Dance-Partner
308 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1931
About the author
Berta Ruck
132 books16 followersAmy Roberta Ruck was born on 2 August 1878 in Murree, Punjab, India, one of eight children by Eleanor D'Arcy and Colonel Arthur Ashley Ruck, a British army officer. Her family moved to Wales, where she went to school in Bangor. On 1909, she married novelist (George) Oliver Onions (1873-1961), and they had two sons: Arthur (b. 1912) and William (b. 1913). Berta died only nine days after her 100th birthday.
From 1905, she began to contribute short stories and serials to magazines, and on 1914, her first novel "His Official Fiancée" was published. She wrote over eighty romance novels. She also wrote an autobiography and two memoir-style works.
From 1905, she began to contribute short stories and serials to magazines, and on 1914, her first novel "His Official Fiancée" was published. She wrote over eighty romance novels. She also wrote an autobiography and two memoir-style works.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
January 14, 2024
Out of the three stories I've read so far by Berta Ruck (the others being His Official Fiancee and A Land-Girl's Love Story), this is the one I found the most charming.
The premise is very striking! An orphan loses her comfortable independence in a stock market crash and monetizes her androgynous good looks by getting a job as a male dance partner. When she finds lodgings alongside a dashing young pilot who caught her eye before she cut her hair, hijinks ensue. I was fortunate enough to be reading a 1930s edition with a very jazz-age cover that brought the dance palace jives to life.
Unfortunately the lighthearted love story is weighed down by some pretty unpleasant racism. The antisemitism in particular feels ominous as both the setting and publication date are between WWI and WWII.
Overall, a fun romp that is interestingly transgressive for its time.
The premise is very striking! An orphan loses her comfortable independence in a stock market crash and monetizes her androgynous good looks by getting a job as a male dance partner. When she finds lodgings alongside a dashing young pilot who caught her eye before she cut her hair, hijinks ensue. I was fortunate enough to be reading a 1930s edition with a very jazz-age cover that brought the dance palace jives to life.
Unfortunately the lighthearted love story is weighed down by some pretty unpleasant racism. The antisemitism in particular feels ominous as both the setting and publication date are between WWI and WWII.
Overall, a fun romp that is interestingly transgressive for its time.
Displaying 1 of 1 review