Title: Snobs Author: Julian Fellowes type of book: Literary Fiction call number: FIC

This book is strong in character, story and setting.

Summary:
The narrator is a male stage actor who is friends with, becomes friends with, or is an acquaintance of all the major characters in the novel and characters' points of view are filtered through his eyes for the reader. Edith wants to marry rich and have a glamorous life in the aristocracy. At a racing event, the narrator bumps into Charles Broughton, whom he has met before, and wants to meet the beautiful and charming Edith. Soon Charles is in love and Edith believes she has want she always wanted. They marry, to the disapproval of Lady Uckfield. Within eight months, Edith is bored and angry with her husband, even though she knows him to be honest and caring, just not exciting or all that intelligent. Broughton House is to be used as location for a film shoot the narrator is appearing in. The handsome Simon is the charismatic lead actor and Edith finds herself not so bored anymore.

I would recommend this book!

Why?
Middle class Edith is about to make some big mistakes in upper class life and possibly regret her decisions. The narrator is an outsider and insider to all the classes at the same time. He is able to float in and out of a variety social situations and comment to the reader the "snob" factor of both the middle class and upper class. The novel provides an interesting insight to British culture, especially the privileged few. It is easy to read and is at times very funny as a comedy of manners for the modern era.

Employee Initials: KS Review Date: April 2005

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