As Lucy Muchelney watches her ex-lover’s sham of a wedding, she wishes herself anywhere else. It isn’t until she finds a letter from the Countess of Moth, looking for someone to translate a groundbreaking French astronomy text, that she knows where to go. Showing up at the Countess’ London home, she hoped to find a challenge, not a woman who takes her breath away.
Catherine St Day looks forward … looks forward to a quiet widowhood once her late husband’s scientific legacy is fulfilled. She expected to hand off the translation and wash her hands of the project—instead, she is intrigued by the young woman who turns up at her door, begging to be allowed to do the work, and she agrees to let Lucy stay. But as Catherine finds herself longing for Lucy, everything she believes about herself and her life is tested.
While Lucy spends her days interpreting the complicated French text, she spends her nights falling in love with the alluring Catherine. But sabotage and old wounds threaten to sever the threads that bind them. Can Lucy and Catherine find the strength to stay together or are they doomed to be star-crossed lovers?
more
I very much enjoyed this historical fiction for being firmly set in its time period, and yet also for being very open to the possibilities of people of differing sexualities and of other races being encountered in day-to-day life. While the writing style avoids the overly dramatic or melodramatic, it was nevertheless a real page-turner for me.
A huge part of the story is the explorations of art and science, of serious hobbies and work, by a wide range of characters. They all want to be fulfilled in terms of creativity and scholarship, as well as in love. I empathised madly!
Not perfect, but it hit a whole lot of my buttons, so 5 stars it is.
This is one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever read. I absolutely loved every moment. A f/f historical full of art, science, and fiercely fabulous women?! Yes PLEASE. Can’t wait for the next book in the series!
Historical Heroines Who Do Science are my weakness. Utter catnip. Give me ALL of the HHWDS, but only if they’re written as beautifully as this one.
This turned out to be way more than I was expecting, with a plot and character development that made it rich and unique and multi-faceted. The fact that the romantic aspects of the story are almost eclipsed by the social issues addressed is not in the least bit disappointing – in fact, the way that they were handled is what makes me want to continue with what I hope to be a series. I did get lost in the technical jargon regarding both astronomy/mathematics/science AND art/embroidery but I still enjoyed the book. So here’s to hoping there’s more coming in this lush world that Olivia Waite created! 4 out of 5 wine glasses.
When Lucy Muchelney’s lover of five years, Priscilla got married to access her trust, Lucy’s heart broke. Lucy’s father had died only six months before, she had been doing most of his mathematical work by then, but no one knew. She had received a letter from Catherine St. Day, the Countess of Moth, asking for a reliable translator for the first of five tomes of Oléron’s Mécanique céleste. Lucy knows she is fully qualified, so she travels to London to meet the countess in person to convince her that she can do it. Lucy and her brother Stephen need the money, he isn’t selling many paintings aren’t selling. Lucy is pleasantly surprised at how beautiful the countess is, but business comes first.
Lady Moth’s marriage to George was a miserable one, and while relieved she doesn’t quite know what to do with herself since she’s become a widow. Catherine had had some vague crushes on women, but she did not explore her attraction. But with Lucy, it’s different. Their initial interaction is a bit awkward, no words are uttered, but soon they know. They are from such different worlds: the glamorous, well-travelled aristocrat and the scholarly country girl, but as intelligent, gifted women, they have much in common. When faced with one more affront because of their sex, Catherine reacts. She has the means to effect changes, and by helping Lucy, she also finds herself as well as love.
THE LADY’S GUIDE TO CELESTIAL MECHANICS is a vibrantly nuanced portrait of Regency society, highlighted by Olivia Waite’s exquisitely eloquent prose and scintillating dialogues. The segments on embroidery are sheer poetry, as are Catherine’s Aunt Kelmarsh’s letters, and the fictional Obéron, translated by Lucy – but in English for us – is absolutely stunning! I loved the diversity of characters: the men who thwarted women’s ambitions – George and Stephen – those who encouraged them in their scholarly pursuits, like Lucy’s father Arthur; Narayan, Catherine’s lady’s maid, the lovely Mr. William Frampton, a mathematician whose mother hails from Saint-Domingue – and I hope there’s a story for him in the future. All the secondary characters are marvellously defined.
THE LADY’S GUIDE TO CELESTIAL MECHANICS is how I perceive the first successful feminists would have acted. These are strong, determined women who take matters into their own hands and make things happen. It is an exhilarating story where you cheer because you feel that these women are doing it right. I was outraged at how the women were treated at the Polite Science Society because it feels so real, and it’s so crisply described. I was dumbstruck at the men’s pettiness – except the darling Mr. Frampton – and awestruck when Catherine fought back in the most dignified and significant manner. And the glorious moment when Lucy and Catherine realise how they feel about each other!
Although I have read many m/m romances, I had read only a few f/f romances before but THE LADY’S GUIDE TO CELESTIAL MECHANICS came highly recommended from a favourite author of mine, someone I admire and respect, and I tried this new-to-me author. What a wonderful discovery! This is such a beautiful romance, where respect reigns supreme, where kindness and tenderness are freely given, where the characters are really attuned to each other and listen with their bodies and their hearts. I find that queer romances have much more interesting conflicts, this book is no exception, and what a spectacular plot twist at the end!
THE LADY’S GUIDE TO CELESTIAL MECHANICS is a celebration of women, knowledge, and the arts; a love letter to embroidery; insightful asides on the perils of translation. On that note, I hope that in the final version, the Italian countess is a contessa, not a contezza.The writing is indescribably beautiful, lyrical, and Ms. Waite is able to convey myriad emotions with a few well chosen words. The author’s total mastery of the English language, her nearly encyclopedic knowledge of Regency society, arts and sciences, the breathtaking descriptions, the fabulously well fleshed-out characters all contribute to make THE LADY’S GUIDE TO CELESTIAL MECHANICS an outstanding book.