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Genre: Historical: European, Young Adult
The Lady’s Guide To Petticoats and Piracy is so much fun. It’s a sequel to The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue but it works on its own. The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue was an adventure story as well as a romance. The Lady’s Guide To Petticoats and Piracy keeps the adventure but is not a romance, although romance is discussed.
Set in the mid-1700s, it features Felicity Montague, who wants to be a doctor but is working for a baker instead while she applies aggressively, repeatedly, and unsuccessfully to medical schools. The book opens with the glorious line:
I have just taken an overly large bite of iced bun when Callum slices his finger off.
This is an exaggeration. Callum (the baker) only sliced part of his finger off. In short order, Felicity repairs the finger, dodges Callum’s woozy marriage proposal, and heads off to London to join her brother, Monty, and Monty’s boyfriend, Percy. Applying to medical school in London proves no more successful than applying in Edinburgh. However, Felicity does hear that her idol, Dr. Platt, is about to marry Felicity’s estranged childhood friend, Johanna, in Germany. If Felicity can make it to Germany in time to crash the wedding, she might be able to convince Dr. Platt to take her on one of his expeditions.
Everything goes perfectly and Felicity and Johanna reunite with past conflicts blissfully forgotten, and Felicity has perfect social skills, charms Dr. Platt, and becomes a surgeon. The end.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA NO.
The ensuing plot includes but is not limited to a Muslim pirate who is a woman, misogyny, map theft, strategic embroidery, more pirates, a slobbery dog, and a voyage to Algiers. There’s a lot of adventure and intersectional feminism. The characters are layered, and I liked how different kinds of femininity were explored, with Johanna telling the judgmental Felicity:
You refused to let me-or anyone!-like books and silks. Outdoors and cosmetics. You stopped taking me seriously when I stopped being the kind of woman you thought I had to be to be considered intelligent and strong. All those things you think make men take women less seriously – I don’t think it’s men; it’s you. You’re not better than any other woman because you like philosophy better than parties and don’t give a fig about the company of gentlemen, or because you wear boots instead of heels and don’t set your hair in curls…I like dressing this way. I like curling my hair and twirling in skirts with ruffles…and that doesn’t mean I’m not still smart and capable and strong.
I also appreciated the fact that Felicity’s sexual orientation (she is an aromantic asexual) is presented in positive terms. Johanna is not judged for wanting an eventual romance with a man, nor is Sim (the pirate) judged for being attracted to Felicity. The previous book, A Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, was a romance between Monty and Percy. However, Felicity’s dream is considered as valid as the more romantic dreams of her brother and her friends:
“I think I want a house of my own,” I start, the words a discovery as they leave my mouth. “Something small, so I don’t have too much housework, but enough room for a proper library. I want a lot of books. And I wouldn’t mind a good old dog to walk with me. And a bakery to go to every morning where they know my name.”
“And you don’t want anyone with you?” Sim asks, raising her head. “No family?”
“I want friends,” I say. “Good friends, that make up a different kind of family.”
While Felicity is the narrator and central character, Johanna and Sim are also well developed. They avoid being stuck in sidekick roles and instead play equal roles with Felicity in accomplishing their own ends. I would love for Sim to get her own book since her future is most likely to be action-packed.
Above all, this book is fun. It made me happy. It entertained me. It encouraged me. These are no small feats. I was constantly being delighted and surprised by how these three resourceful women solve the many problems with which they are presented, and I loved their rivalries and friendships.
A postscript for history lovers:
The author’s note talks about real life women who pursed careers as naturalists (like Johanna), as pirates (Sim), and as doctors (Felicity) during the 1700s. This section is fantastic.
A postscript for dog lovers:
There is a dog. The dog is fine. He is a slobbery Alpine mastiff. Here is a picture of an Alpine mastiff:
They are considered to be extinct in their pure form but are the ancestors of St. Bernards and modern Mastiffs. They were huge, up to 39 inches tall. I am 58 inches tall. If I had an Alpine Mastiff I would look even more like a hobbit than I do now. That would be awesome. Dear Santa, I have been good, please send me this doggie, thanks ever so.
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Why first person present tense, though? WHY?
I read “she is an aromatic asexual” and I wondered what the way she smells has to do with anything.
This sounds like a fun read!
Thanks for the review : )
That is one big dog! Thanks for a fun review, Carrie; this sounds like a book I’d enjoy.
This sounds like a fun read!
UGH! My apologies for the extra comment(s). It didn’t look like the first took, so I was revising and hit submit accidentally and…I need more coffee.
Thoroughly enjoyed the first one, so I’m sure I will enjoy this one too. Sounds quite different. Glad to get a hint that Monty & Percy are still together.
I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the first one, (although I no longer remember the details about why).
Bar none, one of the best books I’ve read this year. A marvelous story about found families, friendship and following your dreams.
If can’t find that gorgeous doggy, there’s always Irish wolfhound or Kangal Shepherd dog – both 34 inches 😀 And if you want a dog that you can totally ride there are Caucasian shepherd dog and Central Asian Shepherd dog, both about 30 inches, but way more… substantial that Irish wolfhound! 😉
I’ve been saving this post to read because I was reading the book and wanted to wait until I finished. I liked it so much! What a fun adventure! I agree with everything you said from the fantastic opening line to the intersectional feminism. I loved the first book too, but was not disappointed that this one didn’t have romance.