pagesofjulia

Thanks to Katy at A Few More Pages for hosting this meme. To participate, share the first line or two of the book you are currently reading and, if you feel so moved, let us know what your first impressions were based on that first line.

Today I’m reading The First Lady of Fleet Street: The Life of Rachel Beer: Crusading Heiress and Newspaper Pioneer. I’m intrigued for several reasons: I tend to appreciate biographies of semi-obscure figures (if they’re well done, which I can’t yet judge of this one); this will be my second newspaperwoman biography of the year (here‘s the first); and I like Rachel’s last name. 🙂 The book begins with a prologue:

Late May 1903. Earl’s Court, a two-storey stone mansion in Tunbridge Wells.

A slight woman sits erect in her chair, nearly swallowed by her weighty crepe mourning dress. Heavily framed mirrors, priceless paintings, dim-gilt Chinese cabinets, and fresh lilies and orchids adorn every inch of the spacious drawing room.

Well done, I say, and I am optimistic.

What are you reading this weekend?

This quotation comes from an uncorrected advance proof and is subject to change.

Filed under: book beginnings | Tagged: biography, history, nonfiction |