The Banishment

It is unfortunate that publishers and public libraries insist upon classifying books as westerns, science fiction, mysteries, romances, etc. People who say they do not like westerns, for example, pass on "Lonesone Dove." And people who sniff at romances miss out on Jane Austen--and Marion Chesney. This book is the perfect example of what I mean. It's catalogued under romance at the library, and readers of standard fiction may never realize it exists. Ms. Chesney has a fine and seamless command of plot, character, realistic detail, atmosphere, and dialogue. The series is about six daughters who are forced out of their fine manor house as a result of gambling debts incurred by their father. The young women are willing to all but prostitute themselves to return to Mannerling. That pile of brick and mortar simply means more than anything. This is certainly comparable to Austen in its humor and writing, so do not pass it by. This is a fine piece of work, regardless of genre or sub-genre.

This story is so refreshing and the subsequent volumes keep you highly entertained, due to the author's remarkable ability in maintaining intrigue in this story of the loss of the childhood home of the six Beverley sisters. As the eldest, Isabella is chosen to court the roguish gambler Mr.Judd, the new owner. Her parents and sisters have no sympathy for her and encourage this horrible man's attentions. So, will she swallow her pride and go for the handsome Lord Fitzpatrick? Doubtful, Lord Fitzpatrick fears Isabella can never love a man as she does her home.

I accidentally came across this book in our library because of the lovely pencil illustration on the cover, and was surprised at the carefully drawn out character of a young self-centered woman who realizes that external possessions/position do not always a happy/person make. I loved this book!. It is clean, emphasizing relationships, and the dialogues both spoken and in thought are really funny and insightful. I was touched and felt honored to have come across a book as honest, sweet and full of self-discovery as this. I recommend this book highly!!! I wish they would take it out of the out of print section! LeeAkiko