Gentlemen from England

This book is a bit of a pot-boiler but it is well-researched historical fiction. The young Englishmen came to southern Minnesota, tried to farm (hired locals because they didn't actually know how to farm themselves), overspent on parties, etc., mostly went broke and were bought out by German farmers who moved up from Illinois. It was very interesting to me because my ancestors were the German farmers. In fact, a corner of our farm was taken up by a public cemetery populated by the English, whose births and deaths predate those of my family's by about a generation. Places, though renamed, were all recognizable to me.

I bought this for my mom because her library didn't carry it. I had gotten it from my library and thought it was wonderful.

I got this book on a whim, just because I love the Betsy-Tacy books, and figured that since those are autobiographical, then this would be what "Betsy" would have written. It is a good book- it tells the story of a misguided but sweet young man from England who jouneys to America to make a new life for himself. He encounters two extremely gothic characters who give the book an interesting twist, and has a passionate love affair. Through all his mishaps and passions, he finally discovers himself- and happiness- in a transported world of foxhunts, balls, and estates that must soon conform to new customs or perish. If you like the Betsy books, you will probably like this- it is an adult book, but still captures the youthful spirit and vibrance of the Betsy series. Lovelace writes with heart, taking the reader into her world.