A Mad, Wicked FollyStep into the dazzling world of Edwardian London, where a young girl dreams of being an artist, despite her family’s disapproval. “At equal turns humorous and heartbreaking.”—School Library Journal, starred review “[A] compelling coming-of-age tale that’s as good as any British period drama.”—BCCB Welcome to the world of the fabulously wealthy in London, 1909, where dresses and houses are overwhelmingly opulent, social class means everything, and women are taught to be nothing more than wives and mothers. Into this world comes seventeen-year-old Victoria Darling, who wants only to be an artist—a nearly impossible dream for a girl. After Vicky poses nude for her illicit art class, she is expelled from her French finishing school. Shamed and scandalized, her parents try to marry her off to the wealthy Edmund Carrick-Humphrey. But Vicky has other things on her mind: her clandestine application to the Royal College of Art; her participation in the suffragette movement; and her growing attraction to a working-class boy who may be her muse—or may be the love of her life. As the world of debutante balls, corsets, and high-society obligations closes in around her, Vicky is torn. Just how much is she willing to sacrifice to pursue her dreams? |
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arms art model art school artist asked began Bertram breath carriage Carrick-Humphrey Clemence Housman Clement's Inn Cumberbunch Daily Bugle dance door drawing dressed drew Edmund Edwardian era Emmeline Pankhurst eyes face father feel felt fingers fly-posting force-feeding Freddy friends front girl hair hand hansom cab head heard held inside Jamie kissed knew Lady lady's maid laughed leaned looked lords-in-waiting Lucy Mamma married Mermaid Miss Darling mother mouth mural never Northbrook painting Pankhurst Papa parents PC Fletcher pencil police constable poster pulled Reform Club rose satchel shook shoulder shoved shrugged side Sir Henry sitting sketch sketchbook skirt smiled someone Sophie sorry stared stepped stood stop suffrage suffragettes sure Sylvia Sylvia Pankhurst tell things thought told took turned Vicky Victoria voice vote waited walked watched Will's window woman women women's suffrage WSPU