The Pursuit of Love

The Pursuit of Love cover
Good Books rating 4.0
Technical
  • ID: 9009
  • Added: 2025-12-22
  • Updated: 2025-12-30
  • ISBN: 9780307741363
  • Publisher: Vintage
  • Published: 2010-08-10
  • Formats: 3
  • Reviews: 3

The Pursuit of Love is a classic comedy that delves into the lives of the privileged and eccentric Radlett family, as seen through the eyes of their cousin Fanny. The novel is renowned for its sharp humor and insightful portrayal of family dynamics, with Mitford drawing from her own famously unconventional family for inspiration. The story unfolds at Alconleigh, the Radletts' Gloucestershire estate, where the blustering patriarch Uncle Matthew and the doting but vague Aunt Sadie raise their seven children in a whirlwind of unusual adventures. The first of three novels featuring these characters, the book follows the romantic misadventures of Linda, the most beautiful and wayward Radlett daughter, as she navigates relationships with a stuffy Tory politician, an ardent Communist, and finally a French duke named Fabrice. /n/nThe novel's introduction by Zoë Heller provides additional context and appreciation for Mitford's timeless exploration of love, family, and the complexities of growing up. With its blend of humor, romance, and social commentary, The Pursuit of Love remains a beloved classic that continues to captivate readers.

Reviews
Motherbookerblog · 2021-02-24
charming 4.00

The book is delightful and wickedly funny, focusing on an upper-class family during the interwar period. The reviewer found it to be a charming and engaging read.

The reviewer found 'The Pursuit of Love' to be a delightful and wickedly funny read, focusing on an upper-class family during the interwar period. They appreciated the book's richly detailed setting and the complex characters that inhabit it. The reviewer also noted that the book's exploration of themes such as love, family, and the complexities of human relationships is both charming and engaging. They believe that the book is a great choice for readers who enjoy witty and insightful fiction.


Quick quotes

    Focusing on an upper-class family and set during the interwar period, Nancy Mitford's novel is delightful and wickedly funny.

    It's a charming and engaging read.

    The book's exploration of themes such as love, family, and the complexities of human relationships is both charming and engaging.

Bagfullofbooks · 2015-03-06
delightful 4.50

The book is highly recommended for its depth and the multiple levels of appreciation it offers. It is a book to be read and re-read.

The reviewer highly recommends 'The Pursuit of Love' for its depth and the multiple levels of appreciation it offers. They found the book to be a delightful and wickedly funny read, with a great cast of characters and a richly detailed setting. The reviewer also appreciated the book's exploration of themes such as love, family, and the complexities of human relationships. They believe that the book is worth reading and re-reading, as each reading reveals new layers of meaning and insight.


Quick quotes

    The Pursuit of Love is a book to be read and re-read and to be appreciated on many levels.

    I highly recommend it.

    It's a delightful and wickedly funny read.

The Guardian · 2010-03-20
intriguing 3.50

The book is darker than it initially appears, with a subtle pessimism about love's pursuit. The superficial lightness conceals deeper themes.

The reviewer found 'The Pursuit of Love' to be a darker book than they initially realized. The superficial lightness of the narrative conceals a faint but beguiling pessimism about the pursuit of love. They appreciated the complexity and depth of the themes, which add a layer of intrigue to the story. The reviewer also noted that the book's ending is particularly poignant, highlighting the central character's true preoccupations.


Quick quotes

    It is a darker book than I first realised, the superficial lightness concealing a faint and beguiling pessimism about love's pursuit.

    The book's ending makes clear that Fanny's real preoccupation was never Linda's 'pursuit of love,' it was always her mother's.

    The superficial lightness conceals deeper themes.