The Last Dance of the Debutante
Kelly immerses the reader in the rarefied mid-20th-century world of British debutantes, where we experience the Season along with shy, studious 18-year-old Lily Nicholls. Lily’s grandmamma tells her she will be presented to Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace, launching her into a grueling, glittering marathon of balls and cocktail parties so she can “meet the right people” and find a suitable husband. “It’s what women of our class do.”
Lily befriends Leanna and Katherine, two very different debutantes, competing for Deb of the Year, 1958. Beautiful, high-handed, demanding Leanna Hartford bosses Lily and makes her feel managed. Nouveau riche Katherine Norman seeks a career in journalism. Mature beyond her years and genuine, her positive influence helps our heroine discover her true desire. Tall, handsome graduate student Ian Bingham provides the love interest.
From the Carlton Club to the Savoy to the Queen Charlotte’s Ball, it’s a seductive yet stultifying and repetitive whirlwind – “a strange combination of ever changing and always the same.” The tone changes when Lily leaves London and the Season behind to discover the truth of her family secrets. The novel has a coming-of-age feel as Lily develops from a shy girl into a confident young woman.
As always, Kelly creates realistic characters and shines in her depiction of an era.
