The Hand of Ethelberta

Nov 28, 2025 1:59 PM

Author:Thomas Hardy,Tim Dolin,Tim Dolin,Patricia Ingham

Adventuress and opportunist, Ethelberta reinvents herself to disguise her humble origins, launching a brilliant career as a society poet in London with her family acting incognito as her servants. Turning the male-dominated literary world to her advantage, she happily exploits the attentions of four very different suitors. Will she bestow her hand upon the richest of them, or on the man she loves? Ethelberta Petherwin, alias Berta Chickerel, moves with easy grace between her multiple identities, cleverly managing a tissue of lies to aid her meteoric rise. In The Hand of Ethelberta (1876), Hardy drew on conventions of popular romances, illustrated weeklies, plays, fashion plates and even his wife's diary in this comic story of a woman in control of her destiny.

Reviews

Funny, tender and sharp, The Learning Curve is for anyone who has been inside a school - or, indeed, for anyone who has been in love

—— The Times

Book of the Month - The Learning Curve: A hilarious novel ... you can sit back and enjoy the ride with all the fab ups, heart-rending downs, cruel realities and (eventually) that wonderful heart-felt surety which every great romance should create

—— handbag.com

Chick-lit at its best

—— Eve

A captivating comedy

—— Red

Light-hearted fun

—— Heat

Witty modern romance

—— Woman's Own

This is a feel-good book you'll want to devour in one sitting

—— Closer

Witty, comforting and lively

—— Glasgow Evening Times

The Learning Curve teaches that you can reach for the stars and you're never too old to do it either

—— Bath Chronicle

'Witty and intelligent...just the thing for a lazy summer day'

—— Newsday

Genuine wit and charm

—— Image

Witty novel about life and love after divorce, Hollywood-style.

—— Daily Express

A bitchy and entertaining look at life in La-La Land

—— The Sun

A perfect poolside read

—— New Woman

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