Out of the Fashion

by L.T. Meade

"One of those charmingly-written social tales, which this writer knows so well how to write. It is delightful reading..." -Glasgow Herald

270 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1892

About the author

Mrs. L.T. Meade (Elizabeth Thomasina Meade Toulmin Smith), was a prolific children's author of Anglo Irish extraction. Born in 1844, Meade was the eldest daughter of a Protestant clergyman, whose church was in County Cork. Moving from Ireland to London as a young woman, after the death of her mother, she studied in the Reading Room of the British Museum in preparation for her intended career as a writer, before marrying Alfred Toulmin Smith in September 1879.

The author of close to 300 books, Meade wrote in many genres, but is best known for her girls' school stories. She was one of the editors of the girls' magazine, Atalanta from 1887-93, and was active in women's issues. She died in 1914.

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I love Mrs. L.T. Meade, I wouldn't always say that her books are on the "progressive" side, especially when it comes to her girls' fiction. That made this quite a surprise - it's overtly feminist in its attitudes towards women and marriage and there's a distinct sensation that when Sybil does, in fact, opt for marrying Mark (who really is what my mother would call a weenie), she's settling, or at least not making the best choice for herself. Much of the novel is a direct refutation of the moral norms of the Victorian Era when it comes to women, and although it may not feel hugely feminist to readers today, it definitely feels like it must have been at least a little mind-blowing for Meade's original audience of upper-middle class young ladies.