An Ignorance of Means

By: Jennifer Oakley Denslow

Narrated by: Elisabeth Lagelee

In 18th century France, women had few choices and little chance to shape their destiny.

Within these limits, Catherine Drummond dreams of a marriage as supportive and tender as that of her parents. But on her wedding night, her new husband relates his own vision.

Catherine’s desire for sweet domesticity is crushed when Robert Picard reveals himself to be a man of his time, and assumes he will have the freedom to cavort without censure among the pantheon of women he has always kept.

She is trapped in the gilded cage of the chateau Lac d’Or.

Catherine attempts to escape, only to be cast into a fresh hell from which release means being sent on a treacherous journey she could never imagine.

©2019 Jennifer Denslow (P)2021 Jennifer Denslow

Not your Typical Romance

First off let me start by saying that this book does involve domestic violence so be prepared for triggers. Catherine is a great character and I feel that several people can identify with her. You can not help but to feel for Catherine and her struggle to accept her new place in this new marriage but she quickly learns that all is not what she hoped for - a marriage of love much like her parents. In addition to being a wonderful historical romance, the narration by Elizabeth Lagelee is beautifully done to the point that you can really feel as if you are each character. Truly a great story especially if you are partial to historical reads or audiobooks.

Good book for the right person

Ignorance of Means is a story of a young woman, Catherine Drummond, who is married off to a man who turns out to be the exact opposite of what she expected. Hoping to marry into a loving relationship like her parents, she instead finds a harsh and loveless man who wants nothing to do with her other than to sire a child. After several bouts of abuse (*trigger) at the hands of her husband's handler, the young woman devises a plan to escape with the only friend she has, her maid. Determined to get back to her mother and father, Catherine escapes, but not without complications. Over and over again Catherine is faced with obsticals and survives, almsot out of luck, not necessarily out of resilience. Eventually she makes it to a safe place and decides to start a new life there. Although this book wasn't for me, doesn't mean it isn't the perfect book for you! A fictionaol account of what many women through in the 18th century, Ignorace of Means is the perfect book for anyone who loves historical reads. One of the biggest problems I had was was the narrator. Although she did a nice job making use of her French, for me it was hard to listen to and detracted from the story.

Absolutely engaging!

The words are engaging and the narration is wonderful! I was lucky enough to get this book just prior to starting a longer work commute - lucky me! I was able to make a normally terrible 1 hour drive much better.
My emotions were all over the place with the characters - from the allure of their wedding night to the realization that not everything is as it seems in this whole new world for our main character. Who can she trust? The servants? The guard made of pure muscle? Or the extravagant dress maker hired for her first big event as woman of the house.
I really enjoyed this book and told my co-worker about it who likes to listen to audiobooks on her walks.
Definitely a good one!

Tale as Old as Time

What a story! I cannot express how much this book, though fictional, strikes a blow at the harsh reality for women during the 18th Century. I can’t imagine being accepted for a marriage that was approved by my parents, only to find out the truth of the matter after the fact. This is a powerful tale for anyone who studies women’s history or even love reading factual novels regarding the past. I personally feel for Catherine in this story. She is a character that you will be so connected to that you’ll feel her emotions as you read. The narrator did a phenomenal job at portraying each character and their demeanor. This was a quick story to listen to and one that can actually teach young women of today some valuable life skills/lessons. This book reminds me of The Giver in the way Catherine’s betrothed decided to utilize his wife for his own ploy. I can’t wait to hear/read more from this author!

Compelling Tale of Resilience

Trigger warning for domestic abuse. A lesson in women's history lies within the pages of this historical fiction. The trials and tribulations of women are tough to imagine, but easy to listen to in Jennifer Oakley Denslow's story. Catherine's journey is not one of happiness and humor but of hardship and hope. I was compelled to keep listening to see if Catherine found light after so much darkness. It becomes clear, less than a day after their marriage ceremony, that Robert is not the ideal husband she and her parents had hoped for, The pearls breaking in the opening lines serves as an ominous foreshadowing of events to come. Catherine must accept the brutal reality of her situation. She is an intriguing heroine, and it is easy to connect with her and root for her. She is a reflection of perseverance and optimism, and the evolution of her character is written well from soft-spoken and naïve to strong and capable. I found the story unpredictable in its plot twists and Denslow's attention to detail thorough. Her language is rich, descriptions are beautiful, and Elizabeth Lagelee's narration of them is perfection. Lagelee's use of a French accent keeps the listener engulfed in Denslow's setting. Her portrayal of the various characters is wonderful, and serves as one more reason I found the characters captivating. Overall, I would recommend this audiobook for it's gorgeous writing, superb character development, and historical context.