The Glorious Guinness Girls

The Guinness girls were the three daughters of Ernest Guinness, the renowned beer maker. They epitomized the glitz, glamour, and self-indulgence of a particular young, privileged set in London in the 1920s. In her novel, Emily Hourican weaves a story of a fictional, well-born, but impoverished girl, 10-year-old Felicity, sent to live with the Guinness family to be a companion for the girls. Felicity, or Fliss, as she is nicknamed, has lost her father in World War I. She has an older brother Hughie, who has been sent off to school. Her mother is too depressed to care for her in their run-down estate. Like Fliss, the Guinness family lives in Ireland and are land-owning Protestants. The Guinness’s live lives sheltered from the simmering tensions between Catholics and Protestants.Fliss enters a strange world where girlish whimsies are indulged. She becomes like a sister to Aileen, Maureen, and Oonagh. Before, she had no problem wearing the same plain dress day after day; once she is installed with the Guinness’s, she is given a wardrobe of beautiful dresses and expected to wear them. She is treated like a family member, the only exception being she doesn’t go on continental vacations that the family takes. Instead, she stays behind in the family’s Irish estate, Glenmaroon, with Gunnie, Mrs. Guinness’s cousin/companion. Even as Fliss lives amid the trappings of wealth and privilege, she knows that she is different, serious, and more stable than the sisters. She is careful not to lose sight of her inner sense of herself.Hughie maintains contact with his sister and often rides over to the Glenmaroon estate with a friend Richard when they have school breaks. Hughie is a big hit with the Guinness girls but seems oblivious to their wealth. Maureen, the middle sister, begins to fall for him. Hughie likes sparring with her, but would rather spend time with a stable hand, Thomas, sympathetic to the Irish rebels. When a local Protestant family’s house is burned, suddenly, the rebels’ animosity hits close to home. After Hughie fights with Maureen, he is banned from the estate by Ernest Guinness. Fliss is distraught. From that day, Hughie vanishes mysteriously, and Fliss is left to worry about his fate.The Guinness family move to London for the girls’ seasons. Fliss becomes a chaperone to an increasingly wild Maureen. The young people Maureen seeks out as friends are aristocratic and hedonistic. This set indulges in outrageous pranks and decadent parties that end at dawn. They drink heavily. Fliss observes people who have youth, money, and a single-minded ambition to have fun no matter what the consequences. Throughout it all, Fliss seeks to maintain her separateness, individuality, and determination to find her brother. Richard comes back into her life.This novel is written from Fliss’s perspective, both as a young girl and later as an older woman reflecting on her memories. Hourican immerses the reader in the lives of the Guinness’s, the Jazz Age, the celebrity personalities, the glamour, as well as the class tensions. Fliss is a compelling character. Historical fiction readers will enjoy this novel, especially those fascinated with the Jazz Age’s giddiness and spectacle.

The Glorious Guinness Girls is a thoroughly engaging and entertaining read rich in period detail and family drama. I have long been interested in this period but this is the first time I've experienced a historical fiction read from the European perspective. It was an interesting look at some of the most important social and political issues of the time, even if they usually were seen "off camera". Make no mistake, this novel focuses on the girls, the parties, and their developing independence. The characters are extremely well drawn and pull you into the story from page one, as you witness their growing awareness of the world around them, their tragedies, and how they respond to their unique social situations. This is an excellent read, and if I found myself wishing for more from the minor players and more about the world events that were occurring around all these parties, I still found myself totally engaged by these unique characters. A very well written read and an enthusiastic recommend.

This well written and easy to read novel brings the reader through the society pages at a time of great change. I really enjoyed the historical backdrop to the story of the Guinness Girls.

Good book, but my copy is missing pages 121 to 232. I suggest you check on arrival.

Very interesting book giving you an insight into a different time

My book also missing pages from 112 to 141

Missing pages !