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Shades of Milk and Honey
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Read Shades of Milk and Honey
The Glamourist Histories: Book 1

Shades of Milk and Honey (2010) (edit title/settings)

by Mary Robinette Kowal (Author) (edit contributors)

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Description edit see section history

Shades of Milk and Honey is an intimate portrait of Jane Ellsworth, a woman ahead of her time in a version of Regency England where the manipulation of glamour is considered an essential skill for a lady of quality. But despite the prevalence of magic in everyday life, other aspects of... read more

Summary edit see section history

The main character of the story is Jane Ellesworth. She is a talented yet plain woman who considers her self to be a spinster. The foil to her character is her beautiful, younger sister, Melody. Jane is shown to be the more compassionate of the two, because she continually makes sacrifices for... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

The main character of the story is Jane Ellesworth. She is a talented yet plain woman who considers her self to be a spinster. The foil to her character is her beautiful, younger sister, Melody. Jane is shown to be the more compassionate of the two, because she continually makes sacrifices for her less sensible sister. They both have feelings for their wealthy neighbor, Mr. Dunkirk. Because of this, they often feel envious of each other’s looks and talents. The two characters become even more conflicted when their former childhood friend, Captain Livingston comes back home during a ball. Another new mysterious character is introduced at the ball who is Mr. Vincent, a renowned “glamourist.” At first, Mr. Vincent shows dislike towards Jane although Jane greatly admires Mr. Vincent’s talents as an artist. Later, Melody and Jane befriend Mr. Dunkirk’s younger sister, Beth. Eventually, Beth tells Jane in confidence that she is secretly engaged to Captain Livingston and that Mr. Dunkirk must not find out. Despite Jane’s feelings toward Mr. Dunkirk and her growing friendship with him, she keeps Beth’s secret. In the mean time, Jane and Mr. Vincent grow more acquainted and he even gives her his sketch book which contains all of his ingenious concepts of “glamour.” However, Jane finds out that Melody is secretly engaged to Captain Livingston as well. She warns Mr. Dunkirk about the scandal and he goes after the Captain to duel him. Jane goes after Mr. Dunkirk to stop him from killing the man and eventually all the characters meet up in a frenzied confrontation. Captain Livingston accuses Jane of telling lies, and Mr. Dunkirk believes him despite his friendship with Jane. It is later revealed that Captain Livingston became engaged to two women and planned to marry the wealthier of the two to pay off his debts. Mr. Dunkirk’s disloyalty convinces Jane that he is dishonorable and refuses to speak to him. In turn, she and Melody mend their relationship and become closer than ever. Jane also realizes after reading Mr. Vincent’s book that he is in love with her and she with him. He returns to her house and proposes to her. In the epilogue, Jane and Mr. Vincent travel around England as renowned artists spreading their talent and love with the rest of the world.

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First Sentence edit see section history

The Ellsworths of Long Parkmead had the regard of their neighbors in every respect.

Table of Contents edit see section history

Jasmine and Honeysuckle
Doves and Roses
Nymphs at the Ball
Neighbours and Salts
Art and Glamour
Strawberries and Bonnets
Nymph on the Hill
Flowers and Novels
A Tonic in the Maze
The Broken Bridge
A Dinner Invitation
Beast and Beauty
The Beast Upset
Curiosity Unrequited
A Book and a Gift
Change and Fury
Leaves and Confession
Order and Disarray
Trust and Distractions
Packing and Discovery
Wolves and Muses
Leaving the Maze
The Box on the Mantel
Duels and Deals
Snake in the Grass
Solicitations

Acknowledgments
Glamour Glossary
Advance Preview of Glamour in Glass

Glossary edit see section history

  • glamour: This basically means magic. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the original meaning was "Magic, enchantment, spell" or "A magical or fictitious beauty attaching to any person or object; a delusive or alluring charm." It was strongly associated with fairies in early England. In this alternate history of the Regency, glamour is a magic that can be worked by either men or women. It allows them to create illusions of light, scent and sound. Glamour requires physical energy in much the same way running up a hill does.
  • glamural: A mural that is created using magic.
  • ether: Where the magic comes from. Early physicists believed that the world was broken into elements with ether being the highest element. Although this theory is discredited now, the original definition meant “A substance of great elasticity and subtlety, formerly believed to permeate the whole of planetary and stellar space, not only filling the interplanetary spaces, but also the interstices between the particles of air and other matter on the earth; the medium through which the waves of light are propagated. Formerly also thought to be the medium through which radio waves and electromagnetic radiations generally are propagated.” (OED) Today you’ll more commonly see it as the root of “ethereal,” and its meaning is similar.
  • folds: The bits of magic pulled out of the ether. Because this is a woman’s art, the metaphors to describe it reflect other womanly arts, such as the textiles.
  • Sphere obscurci:: French for “invisible bubble.” It is literally a bubble of magic to make the person inside it invisible.
  • lointaine vision: French for "distance seeing." It is a tube of glamour that allows one to see things at a distance. The threads must be constantly managed or the image becomes static.

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 1 of 4 in The Glamourist Histories. (standard series)

Followed by Glamour in Glass.

This book is in Random Synapses: 100 Book Reading Challenge (2011). (community list)

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Mary Robinette Kowal (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Tor Books
Country: U.S.A.
Publication Date: August 3, 2010
ISBN: 076532556X
Page Count: 304

Awards edit see section history

  • Nebula (Finalist, 2010: Best Novel)

Classification edit see section history

  • Library of Congress: PS3611.O74948 S53 2010
  • Dewey: 813

More Books Like This edit see section history

   
  • Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell
  • And Only to Deceive
  • The Serpent's Shadow
  • Soulless

Books That Influenced This Book edit see section history

   
  • Jane Austen: The Complete Novels

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