Source: Review copy from author
Rating: ★★★★☆
Laura Hile channels Sir Walter Elliot from Jane Austen’s Persuasion in her latest book, Marrying Well for Fun & Profit: Persuasion’s Sir Walter Elliot Advises the Upwardly Mobile Miss. It’s a short escapist read written from the point of view of a high society snob who is overly concerned about his looks and keeping up appearances, regardless of how much money that requires one to spend. What ensues is a hilarious, tongue-in-cheek advice on marrying well that touches on such topics as Debt, Bling, Ageing, The Fauxpology, Cyber Dating, and His Mumsie Dearest. I loved the title of one section, “Your Mirror, Your Friend,” given Sir Walter’s love of the looking glass.
Sir Walter begins and ends each section with relevant and equally amusing quotes, leads off each column with “My Dear Vulgarian Miss,” and in true Sir Walter fashion, signs off each time with “Cordially yours in the upward climb.”
I laughed out loud so many times throughout the book, and I even annoyed my husband and daughter by insisting on quoting several passages. Here are some of my favorites:
On “Debt”:
My dear, you must adjust your thinking. For nothing shrieks Plebeian or Cit (or my personal favorite, Mushroom) more loudly than a voiced determination to pay one’s debts. Repeat after me: ‘It is enough to simply pay the interest.’ And, ‘I’ll pay it off once I get my inheritance.’
Gambling debts–as between gentlemen and gentlewomen–are something else entirely. Neglect these to your peril! I do not gamble. Shopping is safer.
On “Chocolate, the Inexpensive Therapist”:
It has been said that chocolate is a girl’s best friend. It is the Inexpensive Therapist, no appointment necessary. Chocolate calms nerves, subdues sorrows, and patches together a broken heart. It also relieves menopausal symptoms, although I would not know. (Even if I were a woman, I am not at all old enough to experience those.)
On “His Mumsie Dearest”:
A mother-in-law who is deceased is one of the benefits to marrying a much-older gentleman. But young ladies never consider this. They should! Especially in your modern times! Cholera was pernicious in my day, but it had its uses.
Hile does a great job poking fun at Sir Walter and our enjoyment of him. I could picture a Sir Walter type with his quill poised over the paper, seriously contemplating these matters and delighting in the chance to contribute his expertise. If you have a couple of hours to spend with a pot of tea and are in need of some laughs, I highly recommend Marrying Well for Fun & Profit.
Please check out Sir Walter’s guest post from yesterday and Laura Hile’s generous giveaway of 2 copies here.
Disclosure: I received Marrying Well for Fun & Profit from the author for review.
This sounds like such fun! Thanks, Laura and thanks, Anna, for this great review! I’d love to read Sir Walter’s advice on matrimony 😀
I could have quoted Sir Walter all day! There are so many funny passages.
Okay, full disclosure happening here. As when I wrote Elizabeth Elliot, I made Sir Walter smarter than Jane did. A lot smarter.
Thanks for the great review, Anna. I really did not expect much when I published this little book. I forgot how dearly we love (and need) to laugh…
My pleasure! I can’t wait to read the Elizabeth Elliot books at some point. 🙂
Big prerelease this spring … 🙂
Yay!!
This book looks funny, and it’s on my TBR list. Great review, Anna.
Thanks, KateB. Hope you enjoy it as well!
Good luck with the giveaway, Kate. Sir Walter is too much fun.
That sounds like so much fun!
Sir Walter aims to please. Or rather, to correct and advise. Because one must have the proper outlook, don’t you know. Good luck with the giveaway. Thanks for entering.
Kathy, it really was a fun and funny book!
This sounds absolutely hilarious.
Sir Walter at his classic best. Or rather, worst.
The opinions expressed in this little book I blame on him, but they tell rather a lot about my inner snarky self. Dear oh dear.
It was! I’m sure you’d get a kick out of it.
A bit of wry wisdom under his conceit. This does sound like a fun read. I enjoyed reading a few of the ‘letters’ a little while back on her blog posts.
He does manage to be wise while also being ridiculous. 🙂
I would love to know if Anne and Wentworth know of this new endeavor? I can only imagine their thoughts! Delightful review!
Carole, Sir Walter was after me to move the decimal point on the price several places to the right–as a matter of pride. (His ego is offended that I am selling his book for 99 cents.)
Captain Wentworth wants me to do the same thing, but for purely practical reasons. Namely, that if Sir Walter makes enough cash to support himself, he won’t need to move in with the Wentworths.
I feel the Captain Wentworth’s pain. Nevertheless, I am standing my ground. 🙂
Laura, you crack me up! 🙂
Oh yes! Chocolate is definitely the inexpensive therapist. Works for me.
For me, too! 😉
I bought a copy of this very recently. It sounds a total hoot!
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Sounds like fun (and I give you props for having the courage to get into this egotist’s head — it’s not something I would have liked to try, altho’ I look forward to reading the results!).
Laura did a good job channeling him for our enjoyment. 🙂
You chose hilarious quotations, Anna, and I understand that the book is full of this awesome fun. It is definitely on my TBR list!
Thanks, oloore! I bet you will love it!