The Making of a Marchioness and The Methods of Lady Walderhurst

By: Frances Hodgson Burnett

Narrated by: Bobbie Frohman, Full Supporting Cast

In early 1901, 15 years after Little Lord Fauntleroy and 10 years before The Secret Garden, Frances Hodgson Burnett wrote The Making of a Marchioness. She followed this short novel in the spring of the same year with the sequel, The Methods of Lady Walderhurst. The satisfying Cinderella quality of the first book which illustrated the harsh realism of Edwardian society, combines with the exciting melodramatic developments in the second book to create an intriguing story that continues to entertain us today.

Author Frances Hodgson Burnett (1849–1924) was an English-born author of romances and books for children. After moving to America in 1865 she established a popular reputation with the publication of That Lass o'Lowries in 1877. She is best known for such stories as Little Lord Fauntleroy, The Little Princess, and The Secret Garden.

Public Domain (P)2004 Alcazar AudioWorks

Great story, issues with recording

I really enjoyed the story. The second half of the book had recording issues. Several times a sentence would repeat. Also portions of the story were skipped/missing which made it hard to follow at times.

Narrator was wrong for this

I have the version read by Lucy Scott, so may be spoiled. I kept wanting to yell at the narrator that Emily has 3 syllables (Em I ly, not Em ly). She would be fine for something else, but it was jarring to hear an American accent for this very British story.

a big shrug

I really have always liked this novel, but this is not the best portrayal of it. I actually bought a different version because I could barely get through this one, the other version that I purchased was amazing. I suggest you look elsewhere for this title.

Not what I expected

I read the secret Garden years ago and loved it. This was a very different kind of book; the characters were very different in that the men and women's characters were new types to me. Our modern era has a very different view on the character of people in society. A very interesting book.

Delightful Melodrama

The two halves of the book are quite different in tone, but I enjoyed both. The simple heroine is so courageous and endearing in the first half; you begin to want her kindness and perseverance to be recognized somehow. I found it to be a soothing and pleasant listen. Although the second half has some unpleasant reminders of cultural prejudices, concern for gentle Emily held my interest.