The title refers to a steamer that carried wealthy American young women from New York City to England to marry an English "gentleman" who was low on funds and whose estate was dilapidated. She brings her money, he offers status. The woman didn't really have status in the U.S. because their family money was "new." This story began as a meek and mild young woman was married to a bully of a man who cut her off from her family once he got her money. However, 10 years into the marriage, the headstrong sister arrives and sets things straight and even finds a down and out manor owner herself! My only criticism is that book is overly long. It could have ended at 350-400 pages and not the 512 as written. A tad melodramatic. ( )

Mariage anglo américain à l'époque victorienne.

This review was written for the first time I read this novel...I've enjoyed it just as much on successive readings!

Who knew that Frances Hodgson Burnett had written books besides The Secret Garden and A Little Princess? I had never heard of The Shuttle, but after this I will certainly be trying some of her other works of fiction. The characters were drawn extremely well and leave very strong impressions. It's a story full of romance and drama, and despite what sounds like a depressing storyline (girl goes to rescue her sister from an abusive husband), there is actually quite a bit of hope and positivity in it. I read through it very quickly and would highly recommend it! ( )

Potential Trigger Warning

Betty Vanderpoel's older sister, Rosy, married an Earl, moved from New York to his estate in England, and hasn't been heard from in years. After the end of her education at a prestigious finishing school, Betty decides to find out what happened and boards "The Shuttle," Burnett's term for the scores of ships making their way across the ocean between American and "the Continent." What she discovers is hardly a surprise, it's how Burnett does it that was unexpected.

Did you know that the author of [b:The Secret Garden|2998|The Secret Garden|Frances Hodgson Burnett|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327873635l/2998._SY75_.jpg|3186437] and [b:A Little Princess|3008|A Little Princess|Frances Hodgson Burnett|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327868556l/3008._SY75_.jpg|1313599] wrote books about adults? I didn't. In fact, I'm not really sure where I found out about it, but I'm glad I did, even though it has its downsides. Those, unfortunately, include an old-fashioned amount of foreshadowing, some melodramatics, a questionable amount of negativity towards the British upper class(I mean, they're people too) and an incredibly stuck-up neighbor.

But Burnett's exploration of the psychological effects of abuse is stunningly accurate. Her astute observations, through Betty's eyes, are something you wouldn't expect in a book written in 1907. Nor would you expect it to be Betty, a woman, to be the one rushing off to help the lady in distress. This is, for its time, a remarkably feminist book---highlighting both the rampant issues facing women in that time-period(difficulty in proving abuse, loss of children due to divorce, public scandal, and ruined reputations) and the slowly expanding opportunities they were being given(education, business, and humanitarian work).

Also given a re-worked treatment is the topic of attempted rape. During my graduate work, I read Samuel Richardson's [b:Clarissa, or, the History of a Young Lady|529243|Clarissa, or, the History of a Young Lady|Samuel Richardson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1373639647l/529243._SY75_.jpg|2767990] (spare yourself, if you can). Clarissa, as blameless as she is, spends a lot of time fainting, losing her mind, and blaming herself. None of that is present here. Betty attempts her own defense, first physically and then, when given a chance, outsmarts him with her own wit.

It was, in its way, a refreshingly honest and unexpectedly true-to-life view of real issues. No glossing over period ills here. I suspect, just from a glance, that some of this stemmed from Burnett's own life experiences. Which is why I finished the book in spite of the rather pointed negative observations, both stated and unstated, regarding the Americans, the British, and the upper class. Because Burnett was familiar with both countries and the most qualified, yet compassionate, critiques often come from those who are members of the critiqued group. ( )

I had no idea, until I saw a review of this novel on someone's blog, that Burnett had even written novels for adults. I read her children's novels decades ago (when I was a child) and remember them as very Victorian and overly sentimental. "The Shuttle" on the other hand is not at all sentimental - and it was great.

The Vanderpoels, American millionaires, have two daughters and the eldest, Rosalie, marries Sir Nigel Anstruther and moves to England. They lose contact with her - it's not really a spoiler to say that Sir Nigel turns out to have only been after her money and is emotionally and physically abusive to her. Twelve years later, her much younger sister, Betty, who was always suspicious of Sir Nigel, sets out for England to get to the bottom of things. Betty is a fantastic character, who while pretty much perfect to start with, still manages to develop and grow as a character. Rosy is a bit pathetic and her poor son fades out of the story completely about half way through, but Sir Nigel is an excellent villain and Betty falls in love along the way.

If I had to criticize, I would say it is perhaps longer than it needed to be and there is more description of internal musing and less dialogue than is ideal. Still, the best book I have read for a while - I read the free Kindle edition, but have ordered a Persephone Books edition to keep. ( )