A Dubious Legacy

by Mary Wesley

Book Overview

On a midsummer weekend in 1954 James and Matthew, two rather priggish young Englishmen, take their girls, Barbara and Antonia, away for a brief holiday at a friend's home in order to propose marriage. But no one is prepared for what unfolds--and will spin itself out over the next 40 years.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0670846724
• ISBN13: 9780670846726
• Release Date: November 1992
• Publisher: Viking
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.5" x 1.0" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

Intriguing commedy of manners

This was my introduction to Mary Wesley. I liked this book very much and I intend to read Wesley's other books. A Dubious Legacy kept my interest, my attention and was responsible for the discreet smile I presented throughout its reading. For, indeed, the doings of three couples through several decades in mid 20th century -- the subject under scrutiny in this comedy of manners -- was portrayed with humorous detachment and unwavering perspicacity. Ms Wesley is very good at placing her characters within the axioms of each decade's mores and develops insightful cameos of each era's preoccupations.This is a short novel, a succinct book, developed in a fast tempo, keeping all along a mystery we hope to unveil. The central characters look at first as banal as they can be, but soon we realize appearances are misleading. These six upper middle class friends in the English country side are the source of great social commentary made by an ironic and warm narrator, a painter as it were, using few incisive strokes. The result is great fun and speedy reading, a book which I would recommend to anyone wishing to be intrigued and entertained.

An excellent novel

A Dubious Legacy is the second book written by Mary Wesley that I have read, and her writing entrances me. This book spans the period of 1944 through 1990 and focuses on the lives of the participants at what appears to be a straightforward dinner party. As the evening progresses, unexpected and unusual things occur. The book goes on to tell the story of the effect these events have on the lives of those present at this dinner party.By slowly telling the story, uncovering information bit by bit, the writer creates a feeling of suspense. I was reluctant to put the book down, and felt slightly uneasy until I was able to finish it. I enjoyed the unusual characters the writer was able to create and felt that they were right at home in the setting of this novel. Mary Wesley also allows the reader to feel that they intimately know the characters by the end of the story. Somehow she is able to accomplish this with a minimal amount of detail. I totally enjoyed this book and I have no qualms about recommending it to readers who enjoy the genre of comedy of manners. I am eager to read other books written by this author.