THE MAKING OF A MARCHIONESS

Although Emily Fox-Seton, the pivotal character in Burnett’s novel, is naïve and credulous to a fault, Lucy Scott’s narration captures Emily’s good-hearted nature and makes her believable even to 21st-century listeners who might think she’s too good to be true. When the well-born but penniless Emily unexpectedly becomes the Marchioness of Walderhurst after marrying the widowed marquis, what follows is a gentle coming-of-age tale with a gratifying denouement. Scott doesn’t attempt to modernize Emily, nor does she present her as a victim of late-Victorian sexist mores. Her interpretations of the staid marquis, the eccentric Lady Maria, and the unscrupulous Captain Osborn contribute to our enjoyment of this satisfying story of love and sacrifice. L.X. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2012]