The Marlborough House Set

If you like "Upstairs, Downstairs" and anything having to do with stately home country house weekends in Britain, this book is sure to please. Told by the daughter of one of the memoir's subjects, it is an excursion into the behind the scenes activities of the upper nobility of Britain in the Victorian to Edwardian era. The Marlborough House Set - concentrating on the Prince and Princess of Wales and their intimate chums - was considered "fast" by the oft un-amused Queen Victoria and anyone else not in it, and Anita Leslie will tell you why. She will also tell you who and how and when. It is like have tea with an elderly great aunt who speaks in confidential tones about things she knows that others only whisper about. There are some lovely old photos from the author's collection or those of her parents' friends. You come away from the book realizing that there was a lot more than grouse shooting and rubbers of Bridge happening at those house parties...and to whom!