The Distaff Side: A Novel - Hardcover

Praise for Elizabeth Palmer

The Dark Side of the Sun
"[T]his energetic page-turner emphasizes the passions seething beneath the famed stiff upper lip demeanor that sees these characters, along with the rest of England, through the horrors of war."
- Publishers Weekly

"[S]ure to please lovers of women's fiction. Highly recommended"
- Library Journal

"Passion-plagued characters, an adverb for every emotion, and an addictive novel-within-a-novel come together for something akin to a satisfying mug of ale."
- Kirkus Reviews

The Golden Rule
"Juggling as many story lines as a soap opera, and with deadly wit, Dublin writer Palmer skewers all manner of pomposity and self-absorption in a contemporary London crowd . . . . Palmer's social satire is irresistible"
- Publishers Weekly

"The charm and surefire wit of Palmer's previous work rise to the occasion once more...the tale told here is a gleeful union of satire and romance, immensely entertaining and hearty."
- Kirkus Reviews

"In the tradition of Scarlet Angel and Flowering Judas, this sharp, satirical novel by one of Britain's finest writers gives a pointed, irresistible jab to the hypocrisy of the "appearances are everything" crowd."
- Ingram

Flowering Judas
"Engaging characters and lush atmosphere add up to delightfully fresh and frolicsome fun."
- Publishers Weekly

"Like a Restoration playwright, Palmer deftly evokes a world where vengeance is sweet, true love unexpected, and the race to the swift. A marvelous modern romp."
- Kirkus Reviews

Old Money
"Palmer's literate, understated, meticulous style makes Old Money a delight to read."
- Boston Globe

"[A]n archly funny examination of the subtle wiles of the rich. Palmer's third novel is an acerbic tour de force."
- Publishers Weekly

"[W]itty English comedy of manners . . . the spoof on high society, money, family, and power remains a great deal of fun."
- Library Journal

"[R]espectable . . . [an] enjoyable romp"
- Booklist

Plucking the Apple
"With an impeccable blend of empathy and mocking wit, Palmer delivers a novel of high-society slapstick that is nearly impossible to put down. [An] abundance of delightful wickedness . . . hilarious, acutely observed scenes . . . [a] savvy and highly literate romp."
- Publishers Weekly

"[T]horoughly likable romp . . . a consistently lively read."
- Kirkus Reviews

"Fans of the movie "Four Weddings and a Funeral" will lap up this story of manners and morals . . . engaging characters and wry humor entice to the end"
- Booklist

Scarlet Angel
"[A] comedy of manners, adroitly plotted and recounted with dry wit and engaging cynicism."
- Publishers Weekly

"In the deliciously deadpan, confidential tone of an avid gossip, Palmer gives us a world in which the evil are very, very bad, and the good often betrayed by their own timidity."
- Kirkus Reviews

"[A] sleek and alluring tale . . . rendered in meticulous and suspenseful detail. Palmer has cleverly melded key elements of gothic romance with the structure of psychological thrillers and achieved a creation that defines entertainment."
- Booklist

"The characters are remarkable, as is Elizabeth Palmer's prose, frequently and deftly employing wry understatement."
- Roanoke Times & World News