What do you think?
Rate this book
The Season: A Summer Whirl Through the English Social Season
When travel journalist Sophie Campbell squeezed into heels and a hat to investigate the English social season, she got more than she bargained for. Why, she wondered, were events such as the Chelsea Flower Show, the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, The Derby at Epsom, Royal Ascot, the Henley Royal Regatta, Wimbledon Fortnight and Glorious Goodwood so formal, so fashionable and so famous?
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
15 people are currently reading
609 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 13, 2013
Sophie Campbell sets out to explore the typical English social season. She attends events such as the Chelsea Flower Show, the Royal Ascot, and the Henley Royal Regatta. Along the way, she also interviews people involved in these events about their historical significance. This book outlines her experiences. I particularly enjoyed the pictures, which really helped me visualize the different events.
The author chose twelve different events, so none of them gets covered with a large amount of detail. I can't quite put my finger on the reason why, but I found this book to be a bit bland. It didn't really hold my interest. Perhaps it would appeal more to someone who is English, who would understand all of the cultural references that I missed.
I received this book as a Goodreads First-Read. Yay!
The author chose twelve different events, so none of them gets covered with a large amount of detail. I can't quite put my finger on the reason why, but I found this book to be a bit bland. It didn't really hold my interest. Perhaps it would appeal more to someone who is English, who would understand all of the cultural references that I missed.
I received this book as a Goodreads First-Read. Yay!
August 18, 2017
An interesting romp through 12 events in the English summer season. The author, a travel journalist, attends all 12 events and also gives a history of each event and how it started.
August 25, 2019
A delicious read, best done in installments, about famous English events which I would love to have attended as well
August 15, 2018
Interesting romp through the English social calendar. Somewhat boring at times.
May 11, 2020
Sophie Campbell’s breezy, fun look at the modern London “Season,” and all of its iconic events was a lot of fun to read. Handsome men who spend their days in the Army or the City, girls who make a full-time job into a part-time one so they can attend all these events (think a young Sarah Ferguson who exasperated her boss with her social life), the parents paying for it all–it’s a delight. She throws in a reasonable amount of history, but it’s the level you would enjoy with a Pimms, Champers or a strong G/T. Put on your Sloaney clothes and dive right in. Rupert, Henry, Caroline, and Sohpie will let you join in their party.
September 2, 2013
3.5 stars. "The Season" is a look at the English Social Season, which takes place during the summer and acts as a who's who guide to English society. As a Yank and an Anglophile, I've been fascinated by the social season. We really don't have anything comparable on any large scale here in the States so I was interested to learn a little bit more about these customs.
Ms. Campbell takes us through the entire social season and all of the various sets of customs for each event. These events include horse races, regattas, and the Chelsea Flower Show (this event would probably be my very favorite) among other events What was especially interesting to me was how long some of these traditions and customs have been around for. I also really liked reading about the fashion aspect of these events. It does help to have a little bit of knowledge of what these various events are before you read this book so that you understand what's going on.
This book will appeal to those who want to know a little more about the why of these events. There are some really interesting historical elements to all of these events even though on the surface, they can often seem as simply an excuse to have a really big party! I thought the section about the debutantes were really interesting. Up until the end of the 1950s, families would still bring the eligible young ladies of their families to court to bring them "out," or rather to officially initiate them into the adult world. I didn't realize that happened for so long!
Overall, this is an interesting overview that whet my appetite to find out more about some of these events!
Ms. Campbell takes us through the entire social season and all of the various sets of customs for each event. These events include horse races, regattas, and the Chelsea Flower Show (this event would probably be my very favorite) among other events What was especially interesting to me was how long some of these traditions and customs have been around for. I also really liked reading about the fashion aspect of these events. It does help to have a little bit of knowledge of what these various events are before you read this book so that you understand what's going on.
This book will appeal to those who want to know a little more about the why of these events. There are some really interesting historical elements to all of these events even though on the surface, they can often seem as simply an excuse to have a really big party! I thought the section about the debutantes were really interesting. Up until the end of the 1950s, families would still bring the eligible young ladies of their families to court to bring them "out," or rather to officially initiate them into the adult world. I didn't realize that happened for so long!
Overall, this is an interesting overview that whet my appetite to find out more about some of these events!
October 3, 2014
A whirlwind indeed! Campbell takes us on a breezy tour through the English aristocratic social events of the "Season" - giving the reader a taste of the fashion and flippancy and also the historical development and importance of events such as the Chelsea Flower Show, the Royal Ascot, and the Henley Royal Regatta. It was a great introduction for me, an anglophile on the more historical side, and showed me that the "period drama" shows that I enjoy so much on TV really still have a modern equivilant in contemporary life. Which I find interesting and also a little... frightening. A fast and fun read, not dull but not terribly serious either. Recommended!
I received this book as part of the Goodreads First Reads giveaway program - thanks!
I received this book as part of the Goodreads First Reads giveaway program - thanks!
November 20, 2016
The premise of the book caught my attention, but the plodding prose and dreary historical rambles made this book into a slog. I think the author didn't really get behind the scenes or into the privileged ranks of British society to give us any more than the briefest of glimpses or the dullest of observations about the social Season.
November 17, 2013
I won this in a first reads giveaway. All in all I found this to be an enjoyable book-as the jacket said it is a description of the English Social Season. I think the book would have been better if it had gone into more detail about fewer events but that is my only real complaint.
July 12, 2014
Cricket, horses, tennis, gardens, lawns, opera...and a healthy dose of history to tell us how the English social season began, adapted, and morphed into what it is today. Very interesting for Anglophiles like myself who would love to be part of the crowd but live across the pond.
October 7, 2014
A thoroughly delightful read. Loved it
February 3, 2016
More history than I expected. Fun overall.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews