A Marriage in High Life, Volume I

“Flirtation” is not merely the title, but the prevailing genius of this novel; as indeed it ought to be. The noble authoress follows her subject, and never wanders from it; every incident is metamorphosed into it. How redolent of flirtation is every chapter! What an entireness of subject pervades every line! Flirtation on the part of men; flirtation on the part of women; flirtation abroad; flirtation at home; flirtation in low life, and in high life; flirtation among the single, and among the married; private flirtation, and public flirtation; and many phases more than we have room to enumerate of the same vice. If this picture should fail in reforming the male coquets who indulge in it, we entertain confident hopes that the fair will listen to her Ladyship’s exhortations, and be taught to renounce so dangerous a pastime.”—New Monthly Magazine.

“A complete gentleman, who, according to Sir Fopling, ought to dress well, dance well, fence well, have a genius for love-letters, and an agreeable voice for a chamber.”—Etherage.

“In the article of young ladies, unlike all other national manufactures, our exports considerably exceed our imports. Gentlemen may travel to study laws and politics, artists may travel to improve themselves, but few girls leave their home, except on speculation.”—Introduction.

This text is amusingly illustrated and exemplified by the author of this work, who has given some sketches of speculating aunts, flirting daughters, and manœuvring mothers, that will startle some of our fashionable Anglo-Italians.