The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies by Alison Goodman
About Alison Goodman
Alison Goodman is a Melbourne- based author of historical and fantasy fiction. Her other novels include the Dark Days Club trilogy, an award- winning mix of Regency adventure and dark fantasy, and Eon and Eona, a New York Times bestselling fantasy duology published in twenty countries. Alison has recently completed her PhD, focusing on historical research and the Regency era, and can dance a mean English contra dance. She is fueled by coffee and roast potatoes and will travel a long way for a good scone. For further information, visit:
A Quote from Alison Goodman
“I am beyond thrilled that The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies is on the long list for the 2023 ARA Historical Novel Prize. Writing historical fiction is a balancing act between deep historical research and the creativity and demands of storytelling in contemporary times. We try to conjure, in that balance, both an authentic sense of history and a reflection upon today’s society. A great deal of effort and skill is employed to bring about such alchemy and it is fabulous to have such a prestigious award that recognises and celebrates historical fiction in Australia.”
About The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies
Welcome to the secret life of the Colebrook twins: unnoticed old maids to most, but unseen champions to those in need – society be damned.
Lady Augusta Colebrook, ‘Gus’, is determinedly unmarried, bored by society life, and tired of being dismissed at the age of forty-two. She and her twin sister, Julia, who is grieving her dead betrothed, need a distraction. One soon presents itself: to rescue their friend’s goddaughter, Caroline, from her violent husband.
The sisters set out to Caroline’s country estate with a plan, but their carriage is accosted by a highwayman. In the scuffle, Gus accidentally shoots the ruffian, only to discover he is Lord Evan Belford, an acquaintance from their past who was charged with murder and exiled to Australia twenty years ago. With Lord Evan injured and unconscious, the sisters have no choice but to bring him on their mission to save Caroline. What follows is a high adventure full of danger, clever improvisation, heart-racing near misses, and a little help from a revived and rather charming Lord Evan.
And so begin the beguiling adventures of the Colebrook twins …
