A Mad, Wicked Folly by Sharon BiggsWaller
Victoria Darling who gets into a lot of trouble for posing for a nude painting. In the year 1909,
women do not have any rights. They cannot vote, and social classes are at an all time high.
Scandals are written in newspapers, so there is no such thing as privacy.
Living in this time would be horrible. Parents chose whom their kids would marry. Women
working or going to college are frowned upon. Women can’t vote or have a say about anything.
This is nothing like the twenty-first century.
How I felt: ‘A Mad, Wicked Folly’ showed the truth about the struggles of the Edwardian Era
(1901-1910). It’s strange to think how posing nude would ruin your reputation. Today, we know
many stars who have done that very same thing and it made them famous.
Changing times is a big theme in this novel. The suffragettes are trying hard to change the lives
of women. It is amazing to think that women would get arrested just so it would show up in the
newspaper.
I did not like Papa at all. He denounces his children if they don’t do what he wants them to. He
also slapped Vicky! I disliked Papa before that, but now its pure hatred. Sir Henry needed to grow
up. Who’s he to say that Victoria couldn’t go to art school? He’s not her dad! He needs to stay
out of it. Honesty, social classes are ridiculous. Papa was hanging on Sir Henry’s every word,
just to please him. Seriously?
Edmund needed to man up, and stand up to his dad. Get a job and make your own money, so
your father doesn’t have to give you an allowance. Make your (future) wife happy. And when he
ripped that broach from Vicky’s dress, I just wanted to punch him. He was drunk, and he took
something that she cared about deeply. And he didn’t care at all.
Will and Bertram were easily my favorite characters. Bertram cared about Victoria and what
would happen if she posed undraped. And then Will was just so sweet. He cared about the
suffragettes. He wanted to help them. And he’s extremely good looking too.
Overall, this was a good book. It fits our Socialites of the Past theme of the month. There’s
drama, betrayal, and scandal, perfect for a historical fiction novel.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Year released: 2014
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