Bringing Down the Duke

Evie Dunmore’s debut, Bringing Down the Duke, was delightful! Set in England in 1879, when women were still considered their husbands’ property and were not entitled to vote, this book follows Annabelle Archer, impoverished country girl recently accepted into Oxford’s first program for women, and her nemesis, Sebastian, Duke of Montgomery. Annabelle is a part of a group of “radical” suffragists whose mission it is to target men in power in order to persuade them to amend The Married Women’s Property Act of 1870 in order to allow women to own property and therefore have the right to vote. Annabelle’s target is Sebastian, who is uptight, seemingly conservative, and has just been tasked with winning the Tory election campaign in order to regain one of his family’s properties. Annabelle ends up at Montgomery’s property over Christmas, and the two realize they’re not so opposed after all, and their tentative friendship quickly turns into a love affair. Their class and Montgomery’s need to appear conservative force the two to make difficult decisions about their future together when there seemingly is no future. If you liked the grand grovel by Haven in Day of the Duchess, the ending of this book will be so satisfying. 

This book was refreshingly different. I loved how Annabelle is a scholar and a (reluctant) political activist, and it’s always fun when there’s specific historical events happening in the story. The writing is funny, and Dunmore does a great job of setting up real opposition to her characters’ HEA and gets them through it. There are great female friendships, and a depiction of Queen Victoria that is, from what I’ve read, very accurately awful. Dunmore is going to an author to watch, and this book looks to be the start of a great new series.

This is an absolutely delightful debut that hits all the familiar notes of historical romance while managing to feel new and fresh at the same time. The setting -- Oxford, 1879 -- is a refreshing change from the ballrooms of Mayfair, and the focus on women's suffrage makes for fascinating reading (and a fascinating heroine!). I'm looking forward to many more wonderful books from Evie Dunmore.