Thursday, April 21, 2016

Dancing into Battle

From Austenprose:
Attending a society ball with the characters was quite heady. When one thinks of the Regency-era, and especially the ball room scenes made famous in Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer novels, the hairs on the back of my neck stand at attention. Fellowes did not disappoint. There was enough description of the decor, music and ball gowns to properly set the stage, quenching fans of the era. The characters that filled the ball room are what really added interest and potential for the future. Fellowes is building his world and framing personalities beautifully.

The end of the episode was puzzling – and meant to be, by design. We are not really sure what the big secret is. Why is Sophia gasping and sobbing over the sight of the group of officers that Lord Bellasis is with? Later, we learn that he dies at Waterloo. Not entirely a surprise for me, but a big shock for our heroine.

It is early days, but the opening was spare in its simplicity, yet brimming with potential. (Read more.)
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