Lucilla Marjoribanks is still at school when her mother dies. From that point on, Lucilla claims her life’s goal is to “be a comfort to papa”. It’s Lucilla herself who defines what “being a comfort” means. Dr. Marjoribanks is known for the hospitality of his dinners, with his guests being mainly the men of Carlingford. Upon Lucilla’s return from school at age 19, she organizes Thursday evenings for the ladies, with the men joining them after their dinner. Lucilla determines to devote ten years to being “a comfort to papa” before marrying, thinking that she’ll probably have “gone off” in ten years’ time. She has no lack of potential suitors during this time, including her cousin, Tom; Mr. Cavendish, whose ability to flirt is so useful to Lucilla’s Thursday evenings; and archdeacon Mr. Beverly.

Lucilla is an unconventional heroine. She knows it, Carlingford knows it, and her author surely knows it. Her high opinion of herself and her abilities could easily come across as arrogant, yet time after time events and circumstances prove that she accurately judges her own value. ( )

I don't know why [a:Margaret Oliphant|16378912|Margaret Oliphant|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1512818550p2/16378912.jpg] isn't more widely read. While my favorites are still the angsty-clergymen novels, I love the way Mrs. Oliphant creates female characters, and this novel was especially entertaining. No doubt it would have been even funnier if I were able to catch all the contemporary references.

The story follows Lucilla Marjoribanks from her youth to the cusp of middle adulthood, as she seeks in various ways to be "of use" to Carlingford society, which means exercising her influences over its social world and, later, its politics, with often surprising results. As always, I thoroughly enjoyed Oliphant's insights into human nature, and I'm not sure anyone does irony better than she does. I found it especially interesting to read Lucilla's reflections on turning thirty and trying to find avenues for her talents: "When a woman has an active mind, and still does not care for parish work, it is a little hard for her to find a 'sphere.'" I HEAR YOU, LUCILLA. ( )

Some books if you can't catch the rhythm of just became joyless works you have to force march yourself through.

I kept trying to get through this book, but the writing, flow, and the characters were just too much for me to overcome. I gave up.

I know that that was supposed to be a comedy of sorts and it was poking fun at Victorian attitudes. However, the entire book at this point was joyless. Miss Marjoribanks was awful. She either had people who were running around to do her bidding (since she saw all as her subjects) or people that she must eventually conquer.

So I quit at 42 percent because at this point, I don't care what happens to anyone. I am hoping maybe a meteor hits the town and everyone is wiped out, but I doubt that happens. ( )

I loved this book.

Imagine a comedy of manners among the english upper-class like Jane Austen, but where even the most dubious of characters and actions are treated with a warmth and affection that makes them perhaps unfortunate but not despicable, and you will have a good idea of what to expect with Miss Marjoribanks.

Lucilla (Marjoribanks) is an immensely talented, intelligent, energetic and capable young woman. Sadly, she is a woman of the upper-class, and therefore her acceptable sphere of influence is approximately the size of a dinner plate. But she attacks that dinner plate with great gusto and supreme confidence, and it is from this mismatch that the central humour of the book is formed. If only she'd been born a boy, as her father likes to say, she could have been a doctor or lawyer or politician or anything. Alas, she was born a fairly wealthy girl, and so she can only throw dinner parties. It goes without saying that her dinner parties are unequaled.

Around Lucilla--who naturally forms herself into the centre of Carlingford society--a number of other characters with ambitions from the venal to the profound coalesce. The characters, plots, subplots, and conclusions are all very satisfying. I'll be hunting down her other books as soon as I can. ( )

A strong willed young lady takes over the social scene when she returns from school. Her duty is to be a comfort to her papa". The first 2/3rds of the book deal with her at 19. Interesting and comical.
The last third deals with her 10 years later when her father dies. Ends with her marrying her cousin Tom and setting out to conquer a new village/town.

I liked the earlier part, not the later. First was refreshing and interesting. Later was same old, same old and you wanted her to get on with it. Good to read once." ( )