434. The Pursuit of Love

The Pursuit of Love
Nancy Mitford
1945
Around 200 pages

I accidentally committed the cardinal sin of book nerdiness by reading Love in a Cold Climate first, despite the fact that LICC is a sequel to this novel. It's the D.H. Lawrence nightmare all over again. All I can do now is repent.

Fanny lives with her Aunt Emily and Uncle Davey, and often hangs with her cousins, the Radletts. The Radlett sisters, Linda and Louisa, are both anxious to get married, and story is based on Fanny's observations of the Radlett's sisters love lives. 

This had the comfortable feeling of a Jane Austen novel, although it was a bit spicier than the usual Austen fare. We're still not at full spice level, but I'll have to wait for Sarah Waters for that. A charming novel that managed to be a bit mournful at the same time.

It will be a long time before we get another woman on the List, so enjoy this while you can!

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

Carrie Bradshaw was shown reading this novel in Sex and the City 2, which is the only good thing about that movie.

Seen in Wes Anderson's film Hotel Chevalier.

Adapted into a miniseries in 2021.

UP NEXT: Cannery Row by John Steinbeck