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    Becoming Belle
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    Becoming Belle
    Unavailable
    Becoming Belle
    Audiobook12 hours

    Becoming Belle

    Written by Nuala O'Connor

    Narrated by Jayne Entwistle

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    A witty and inherently feminist novel about passion and marriage, based on a true story of an unstoppable woman ahead of her time in Victorian London.

    In 1887, Isabel Bilton is the eldest of three daughters of a middle-class military family, growing up in a small garrison town. By 1891 she is the Countess of Clancarty, dubbed "the peasant countess" by the press, and a member of the Irish aristocracy. Becoming Belle is the story of the four years in between, of Belle's rapid ascent and the people that tried to tear her down.

    With only her talent, charm, and determination, Isabel moves to London alone at age nineteen, changes her name to Belle, and takes the city by storm, facing unthinkable hardships as she rises to fame. A true bohemian and the star of a dancing double act she performs with her sister, she reigns over The Empire Theatre and The Corinthian Club, where only select society entertains. It is there she falls passionately in love with William, Viscount Dunlo, a young aristocrat. For Belle, her marriage to William is a dream come true, but his ruthless father makes clear he'll stop at nothing to keep her in her place.

    Reimagined by a novelist at the height of her powers, Belle is an unforgettable woman. Set against an absorbing portrait of Victorian London, hers is a timeless rags-to-riches story a la Becky Sharpe.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateAug 7, 2018
    ISBN9780525591009
    Unavailable
    Becoming Belle
    Author

    Nuala O'Connor

    Nuala O’Connor was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1970. A graduate of Trinity College Dublin, she is a novelist and short story writer, and lives in County Galway with her husband and three children. Nuala has won many prizes for her short fiction including the Short Story Prize in the UK and Ireland’s Francis MacManus Award. She is editor at flash e-zine Splonk.

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    Reviews for Becoming Belle

    3.5/5

    12 ratings4 reviews

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 4/5
      The story of Isabel Bilton, the daughter of a military family in Britain, is a journey from a young rebellious but talented girl to a famous actresses in London. Belle and her sister Flo go to London as young innocent girls but quickly gain jobs as performers in a theater. Isabel becomes infatuated by a young "baron" from America who turns out to be a fraud. She is left alone but is befriended by a gay man named Isador Wertheimer. Isabel gives birth to a son who is quickly farmed out to be wet nursed by a poor family.The rest of the story tells of her trials and her determination to become something. When she meets another young noble, William LePoer Trench, they quickly marry. William's father is enraged and sends his son off to Australia and immediately starts divorce proceedings. The trial is held after William returns and Isabel is found not guilty of having an affair with her friend.She becomes known as the peasant countess of Clancarty after her marriage. This is a kind of historical bodice ripper in parts.
    • 4/5
      *I received a copy of this book from the publisher.*I'd never heard of Belle Bilton previously, so I enjoyed reading a novel about a woman whose life reads like a fictional fairy tale. Belle and her sister were music hall dancers, and Belle had a child out of wedlock before she met Lord Dunlo, the heir to an earldom in Ireland. Dunlo and Belle fall in love and marry, but Dunlo's powerful father opposed their union and went to great lengths to have the marriage dissolved. All of which makes for fun reading, although I still have mixed feelings about Dunlo as a character.
    • 4/5
      Nuala O’Connor, Author of “Becoming Belle” has written an enthralling and captivating novel about ambition, love, passion and making dreams come true. The Genres of this story are Historical Fiction and Fiction.This also also is a story of a feminist way ahead of her time, and a Bohemian way of acting and living. The timeline of the story is around 1887 in London, and other areas. The story goes to the past only when it pertains to the characters or events in the story.The author describes her colorful cast of characters as complicated and complex , possibly due to the circumstances and the time. The main character is based on Isabel Bilton, who is 19 years old when she comes to London to be an entertainer. Isabel is the oldest of three sisters, and has the need to escape her mother’s oppression, and find her way. Soon after, her sister Flo comes and joins her and both become part of a dancing and singing act. The two sisters are extremely popular at The Empress Club and The Corinthian Club, where high society visits.At this time, Isabel changes her name to Belle. Belle has a certain innocence and naivety about her. Belle seems to prefer the friendship of men to women. Unfortunately Belle is betrayed and left with dire consequences. With the help of Flo and a wealthy friend, Belle lands on her feet. Belle is determined to find true love.Belle makes sure she is able to provide for herself, and becomes determined to do well.In 1891, Belle has become a countess. Along the way, the press attacks her, people betray her, and she finds herself in a trial, fighting for her reputation.I would recommend this entertaining Historical Novel for those readers that enjoy reading about a Bohemian lifestyle and feminism in this time period. Happy Reading!!
    • 4/5
      Becoming Belle is the story of Isabel Bilton, she changed her name to Belle for her career, who became a dancer/actress on the London stage. She performs with her sister Flo and they take London by storm. They frequent the clubs and that is where Belle meets William, Viscount Dunlo. They fall in love and marry but William's father, Lord Dunlo, opposes the marriage and sends William abroad to get him away from Belle. Belle has a protector, Isidor, who is supposedly gay. Even though it is known in the circles they travel in, it is not in the open so when Lord Dunlo has Belle watched, this is speculation that she was unfaithful to William while he is gone. This is used against Belle when Lord Dunlo tries to have the marriage dissolved. Prior to meeting William, Belle ended up pregnant by a man, Alden Weston who she had a one night stand with. Because of her career, she chose to send the baby out to a wetnurse to be raised. The court case is dismissed and William and Belle go to Ireland where they live at Garbally Court, which still stands. This is a story that is mostly based on research, true facts and speculation by the author. A romantic story of a strong woman who defies what society feels how a woman should behave, she is shunned by normal society, has a mother who never liked or loved Belle. Belle's life was not all roses though, as there is hardship and heartbreak. She perseveres and finally gets what she wants, William.A historical fiction story that is well worth a read. I really enjoyed it! I highly recommend it!