Mary Dunn (1) (1900–1958)

A wonderful, satirical look at the British Aristocracy. The book is very funny; early in the book Lady Addle remarks about a great-uncle who'd distinguished himself at Waterloo, "by fighting his way thought a phalanx of travellers and reaching the booking-office first". This event cost him the loss of a right sleeve. These sorts of stories prevail as she discusses the scandal surrounding her brother at a croquet game, her relationship with her mother-in-law, and her much-married sister. The book is topped off with hilarious captions to real Victorian pictures. Well worth the read!… (mere)

Spoof of the aristocratic Edwardian upbringing of Lady Blanche Addle of Eigg; she recalls her illustrious ancestors 'a great uncle distinguished himself splendidly at Waterloo by fighting his way through a phalanx of travellers and reaching the booking office first'; her coming-out ball 'my dress was simple and dainty in the extreme being made entirely of quilted bombazine caught up over a heavy white ottoman'; and a trip to India where she was invited to the summer palace of 'the vastly rich Nizam of Chortlepugger...in order to hear his famous singing elephants'.
Quite amusing; as I read it I could imagine it being narrated by Dame Edna Everage (Barry Humphries)!'… (mere)