3.5 Stars.
Read for Victober. I liked the book's version more than the movie's one. It was a pleasant read but I wasn't in the best mood to appreciate it, also while reading it, I was thinking all the time about reading other books instead of this one.

Although primarily known today for her children's books, France's Hodgson Burnett wrote a great many novels for adults, and, in fact, The Making of A Marchioness was written ten years befor A Little Princess. Many of the same themes appear in both books, however.

Marchioness is, like Priness, a Cinderella story. In each, a kind, well-mannered character is left in reduced financial circumstances through no fault of her own and must make do in getting on in the world. As in most Cinderlla stories, things work out well for them in the end, but the struggle is the story.
Marchioness is well told, full of enough detail so that a reader can quite easily picture Emily's small bed sit, done up in reds, as well as the people she meets.
The one drawback for modern readers is the slightly racist anti-"Hindoo" themes surrounding two of the characters. As these are fought against be Emily herself, however, perhaps these can be seen more as a commentary on society at the time rather than straight racism. Not all the evil- doers are "Hindoo," after all, and the motivations for their bad acts are quite British, as are Burnett's views on marriage.
Overall, an enjoyable, well-written book, with characters one can root for.

What an absolute pleasure to read this book.

Definitely not a favorite, too saccharine and just not up to my expectations. Just found out, though that ITV (which was behind the most recent adaptations of Persuasion and Northanger Abbey) has commissioned a TV movie of it. Sounds like they're going to change the plot somewhat. Wonder if it'll be more likeable than the book. Now, what I'd really love to see is an adaptation of Burnett's totally wonderful book The Shuttle.