To the Manor Drawn

by Leslie Ann Bosher

248 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 23, 2011

About the author

Welcome to my corner of the Goodreads’ “Author” section. The question you’re probably asking is, “What does this writer have to offer me?” Let me attempt to entice you with a review by an English Duchess, for my first book, written under the name, Leslie Ann Bosher.
“To the MANOR Drawn, is an enchanting read full of witty observations about the transition from London to a rural lifestyle. The book is beautifully written!” Emma, The Duchess of Rutland.
Now, let me try to lure you further with a brief background sketch. I’m a woman of the 60s, 70s, 80s – and beyond. Raised in North Carolina, I headed west to begin my undergraduate studies followed by postgraduate work in International Relations at the University of London.
With a head full of ideas, a teased-out Afro, and a discarded bra, I put my thumb out – Europe became home. Going further afield, I embarked on a sabbatical from London to Nepal. Life as a rolling stone suited me. Subsequently, I accepted a position as tutor for the Saudi Royal Family in Riyadh.
Returning to London, I proudly accepted dual citizenship. It was there that I discovered the joys of writing for pay becoming a freelance contributor to several glossy lifestyle magazines. My checkered past provided humorous material for enough articles to keep me employed and to catch the eye of a publisher, Murdoch/Pier One Books which kick-started my new career.
Flying Solo, debuting Spring, 2015, written under the pen name, Lauren De Lannier, is set in England, Spain, and America. It examines the nuances of emotion experienced by a woman who is forced to explore the fertile ground of regret, revenge, and fortitude. Wickedly romantic, the story features an impressive collection of fascinating characters and misadventures. My website is chocked full of tantalizing teasers. Please browse around and thank you for your interest. It matters!

Reviews

[Geoff Cumberbeach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightfully and amusingly written and interestingly informative of life in rural Briton.

[Don Dible · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just like a hot cup of milk-laced tea, teaspoon of sugar properly stirred in, To the Manor Drawn has refreshing properties. It's soothing and energizing, all at the same time. Leslie Ann is a transplanted Southern belle whose language charms and whose colorful, descriptive scenes bring the English countryside alive. This is a tale of manners and mores as long-time Londoners throw caution to the winds and move to a rural county where everything they know about England will turn topsy-turvy as they remodel an ancient property, make peace with the locals who do not take kindly to city interlopers, and create a home from whence even a trip to Paris loses its appeal.

The author's words drip with the slow honey of the Southern region of the United States, but her perspective is pure British stiff-upper-lip, with a little of Jane Austen's attention to manners and deportment. What a read for Anglophiles all over the world!

I loved this book and look forward to another installment.

California Anglophile

[Pat Skinner · Rating 5 out of 5]

To the Manor Drawn
by Leslie Ann Bosher

I love this book and will read it again and again. It's funny, cozy and sharp all at the same time. What if you were in a Downtown Abbey setting that had been shaken up so that upstairs/downstairs melded into one contemporary attempt to enter the world of the English countryside and conduct yourself appropriately with all comers? That's the terrain Leslie Ann Bosher takes us through as she settles into English rural life and finds her way through the maze of manners and mindsets.

Any Anglophile will love this witty foray into the unknown that is English country living. Make a cup of tea or pour yourself a glass of wine (or a wee dram of whatever suits you) and enjoy this American Southerner's take on the bucolic life as only the English can shape it.

P.L. Skinner

[Jeanette Ringel · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was very unusual to read a book having knowledge not only of the author but also the area and many of the people and places mentioned.

To the Manor Drawn provides the reader with an uncluttered account of country life and how those not blessed with being born in the country can adapt and appreciate. Overall a very light and enjoyable read producing a colourful and quite interesting insight into how the county lives its year. It provides a gentle reminder to those of us living here as to what is available to us each and every day and to the outsider what a gem of a place to visit.

[Tracey White · Rating 3 out of 5]

I live in Rutland, have done half my life and yet I learnt so much from this book. Really enjoyed the historical facts and rich setting descriptions.

[Gail Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyed this book

[Faye Whitman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well written tale by a lady from North Carolina, hurled unwittingly into the mud, blood, beer and good cheer to be found in and around Rutland, England's smallest county. A volume of remarkably easy reading, it skips from one aspect of life to another with speed and aplomb but that very speed leaves many questions about what happened next in each cameo snapshot. If " leave 'em wanting more" is Leslie Ann's motto, she' certainly achieved it. The history's right and the occasional travelogue/restaurant review style suits the subject admirably. As Burns said, "Tae see oursels as others see us" is a gift and, although undoubtedly aimed at an American readership, this book would make a great present for any one headed across the ‘pond’ or anyone yearning for a taste of fresh country air.

[Cheryl Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

To the Manor Drawn provides the reader with an uncluttered account of country life and how those not blessed with being born there can adapt and appreciate its unique character. Overall, an enjoyable read producing a colorful and interesting insight into the rhythm of England. It provides a gentle reminder as to what is available to locals and, for the outsider, what a gem of a country it is to visit. Rutland is still very much a county to which people often ask where exactly it is despite its close proximity to London, Cambridge and the Sea. Will the Manor Drawn change this by emulating the classic "Year in Provence"? An invasion of tourists, a full 747 landing at East Midlands with sights set on Rutland? If so, the author will have a lot to answer for.

[Sonno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether you seek a rural adventure or simply yearn for an unpretentious escape, like a siren's song, Leslie Ann Bosher's To the Manor Drawn beckons you to the heart of the English Countryside.

Equal parts travelogue, history lesson, personal diary, and epicurean roadmap, you will be delighted by her understanding of the English and their often-quirky customs.

So, hoist on your Wellies and canter over to the Jackson Stops Inn for a pint and a friendly game of Nurdles with the locals or meander down country lanes antiquing. Either way, you armchair read will place you firmly in one of the most enchanting regions of England.

[Barbara Coulter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed every moment of To The Manor Drawn. I actually rationed the time each day so it would last longer! Because I have visited the area and know some the the places mentioned, it has a special resonance for me. I've actually given two copies to other Anglophiles who I know will enjoy it as much as I did. I usually read historical novels, so this was a breath of fresh air. Thanks.

[Marty Shannonhouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this witty memoir which could have been titled "To The Manor Drawn and Quarterd. Found myself laughing out loud at the authors's razor sharp wit and spot on description of what we imagine the English countryside offers an American big city girl.
I recommend this book.