A Proper Education for Girls

by: Elaine diRollo

Published by: Crown Publishers, a division of Random House

Reviewed by Barbara L. Fielder

For the author’s first novel, her story is engaging, unique and in some cases quite unsettling. Set in England in 1857, Alice and Lilian, two strong-willed adult twins, set about to carry out their lives in a rather unconventional fashion.

Lilian, the lovely and graceful of the two girls is banished from her home by her widowed father, yet you don’t know why. Their father is a stern however fascinating character of vast wealth and a strong curiosity for unusual, odd and interesting artifacts.

Alice, a rather plain and unattractive girl, is a recluse and remains in her father’s mansion under his scrutiny and watchful eye. Her primary contact with the outside world is the peculiar collection of visitors that are invited to her father’s great mansion.

Within the confinement of this environment is a “hot house” complete with rare and exotic foliage from around the world. Alice’s aunts and grandmother also live in this great mansion and find the “hot house” to their liking for their fragile bodies. So it is in this section of the great mansion that the old women gather together for interaction, card games and liquid refreshment. Alice of course is a constant visitor, and as curator of the vast collection amassed by her father, she serves as a caregiver to the flora (a full grown peach tree is Alice and Lilian’s favorite).

Lilian’s story is the opposite of Alice’s. She has married a clergyman who takes his ministry to India. India in the mid 1800s is uncivilized and dangerous in many parts of the country, yet the English are determined to civilize the country and its people. This is an intriguing part of Lilian’s story and sets the stage for her dramatic, uncharacteristic, dangerous and grisly exploits in the lush jungle and the military cantonment where she and her husband reside. Her passion for painting foliage offers her unique opportunities, to be revealed as her story unfolds.

Alice falls prey to a life-threatening danger under the culpable eye of her father and a Dr. Cattermole. Does Alice fall victim to the unthinkable? Does Lilian find her way home from the dangers of India? Do the sisters reunite?

Armchair Interviews says: Read and enjoy.