My Second Novel
The Trouble with Mrs Montgomery Hurst
It’s 1841, and Mr Montgomery Hurst is getting married. Of course, a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife . . . But why would he choose her?
It is marriage season in the county of Wickenshire, and Miss Amelia Ashpoint isn’t sure she can face yet another ball. But now that she has reached the grand age of three-and-twenty, time is (apparently) running out. Her father is anxious to secure her a husband and has set his sights on Mr Montgomery Hurst of Radcliffe Park.
Only, Mr Hurst has just announced his engagement to somebody else.
To the great consternation of Wickenshire, a community that thrives on gossip, the county’s most eligible bachelor is about to marry not only an unknown stranger – but a widow with three children, odd manners and no ancestry to speak of. Society is appalled and intrigued.
Meanwhile, Amelia Ashpoint has no interest in marriage at all. But in this neighbourhood, it is clear that nobody’s business is their own. And while society has high expectations for Amelia, her heart is drawing her in a very different direction . . .
A love letter to Jane Austen and Elizabeth Gaskell, The Trouble with Mrs Montgomery Hurst is a witty novel of manners and gossip, class and family, scandal and romance.
Praise for The Trouble with Mrs Montgomery Hurst
‘Katie’s writing is so charming, I just wanted to keep turning the pages. She has done a tremendous job of breathing new life into the form of the nineteenth century novel. I’d describe it as... Warm and witty, with a wonderful cast of quirky characters whose company I found irresistible’
Jessica Bull
‘A feast of clever wit and lovingly drawn characters, this is an absolute treat for fans of Jane Austen – or anyone looking for top-rate storytelling. I haven’t felt such unadulterated pleasure in a book for ages’
Hester Musson
‘An intriguing delight, with scandal, gossip and romance, and a cast of characters Jane Austen would be proud of’
Essie Fox
‘An insightful and compassionate tale of a Victorian county town and the people who live there. Romance and scandal abound in this compelling period drama, and Lumsden is not afraid to explore the issues Jane Austen could only hint at. Recommended for all lovers of Regency and Victorian historical fiction’
Laura Shepperson
‘Sheer delight! A glittering comedy of manners told with spiky wit, an eye for social critique, and (of course) a terrific sense of irony. It is impossible not to be swept off one’s feet by the elegance and rich music of Katie Lumsden’s prose’
Tom Mead
‘With its witty writing, memorable characters, and meticulous plot, this is definitely a future classic’
Emma Medrano
‘I loved this exquisitely crafted, sweeping Viennese Waltz of a book by Katie Lumsden. It propels you beautifully into a 19th century world of vivid characters and intricately interwoven storylines, echoing the best of Thomas Hardy, Mary Elizabeth Braddon, Anne Brontë and Jane Austen, but singing with modern heart and empathy. By the end of the book, I was deeply enmeshed in the lives of its characters and heartily sorry to see it end. Enter the county of Wickenshire at your peril, because you will never want to leave’
Hannah Dolby
‘Rich with scandal, romance and social mores, Katie Lumsden’s The Trouble with Mrs Montgomery Hurst is a total delight! Threaded with biting humour reminiscent of Austen, it proves poignant & thought-provoking, as it exposes the bitter realities hidden within many 19th century classics’
Anita Frank
‘Katie Lumsden’s second novel is an absolute dream of a book. The Trouble with Mrs Montgomery Hurst has a compelling storyline that kept me gripped to the last page, and beyond. It’s one of those books that plays on your mind, making you wish there was more left to read. It covers what could be familiar ground for historical fiction – wealth or the lack of it, social class, marriage prospects – but in fresh and surprising ways. The prose is flawless, and the author handles her large, diverse cast of characters with a deftness of touch that is evocative of Jane Austen. I think this book will establish her – deservedly – as one of our best historical fiction writers’
Anne Corlett
