A Calamity Of Mannerings by Joanna Nadin
Published by UCLan
WITH the highly anticipated Netflix release of Queen Charlotte, a spin-off to the wildly successful Bridgerton, the romance series set in an equally dreamy and witty interpretation of Regency Britain, teenage readers will be on the lookout for something with a similar appeal.
A Calamity Of Mannerings is this and so much more, with a unique charm of its own to keep you hooked and laughing throughout.
Modern readers expect to be able to relate to characters while gaining an understanding of the political and social issues affecting people at the time. With a teenage girl at the heart of this story, it is impossible to ignore the progress that has been made with women’s rights since 1924, the year the story takes place, and without weighing down its lightheartedness, Nadin does not attempt to ignore it.
The honesty of the prominent quote “It is a curse to be born a girl…” allows the perfect balance of being swept away by historical fashion and romance alongside a solid exploration of the hardships facing the characters.
In 1924, Panth Mannering is 16 and has decided to keep a journal to document, what is already in January, the most eventful year of her life.
Following the recent death of her father, the once wealthy household has been left in disarray, with only her sisters and mother left.
In having to pass their home to their male cousin, Valentine, and move in with their grandma, the Mannerings are facing unimaginable change.
While Panth’s bright and constantly amusing younger sister Marigold attends to her various pets, including ever-breeding rabbits and a sheep, her older sister Aster is often melancholy, particularly at the prospect of marriage. Though Panth refuses to admit it, she longs to know the depths of romance, passion and joy she reads about in novels, and a part of her would not mind getting married at all.
With little experience around men, except childhood best friend Freddy Spencer, who even if she were to consider (which she most certainly wouldn’t!) spends too much time away studying at Cambridge.
As the months pass by with the loss of her father and childhood home in the back of her mind, and occasionally in the forefront, Panth becomes acquainted with the possibilities of adulthood, and a handsome American named Buck Buchanan.
The format of a diary is one which makes the reader feel instantly and greatly connected to the narrator. Where with some protagonists, this comes across as self-centred, in Panth’s case, it is something entirely more endearing.
With quick wit, romance and explorations of class and high society, it has a great deal to offer. Where solidarity, not only between women, but in sisters and mothers who try (if clumsily) to help each other at every turn, is concerned, A Calamity Of Mannerings sets a beautiful example.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here