I've just finished this but I feel like I've cheated slightly. I already had it on audible to listen to. It's read by Joanna Lumley. So I listened.
Although it's nice to have a book read to you, the downside is you get more distracted (I do boring jobs around the house) when listening. I also found I got a bit mixed up trying to remember which of the men were which. If I'd actually read the paper copy I would have checked back.
I've read a few books set around this period by women and have noticed before the remarks about the "worst family in the village" etc. Uncle Oswald being a bit of a tragic weirdo, living with the family having no money. How amazing it is when the posh family take notice of one. How shameful to have a drunk son. At the beginning, before you get to grips with the story and characters, I found it a bit oppressive and made me feel a bit down. It seems the prospect for women hadn't changed much from Austen a hundred years before. And class structure rigidity exhausting because it's all pretty much unquestioned.
However, by the time I got back into the rhythm of reading early 20th century women's literature I did really enjoy it. So that, by the time it gets to the shameful drunk son, I found it quaintly amusing.
I did really like Olivia and found her relationship with her sister very believable. It was also so much better that it was about a young girl experiencing her first dance. Rather than an older girl and the denouement being who she gets married to. Which is the usual plot.
I did feel a bit sorry for poor old Olivia having to encounter so many ghastly or sad types before finding that Rollo was nice and normal (and, handily the highest class chap ) to restore her faith.
As others have said, it does still resonate across the decades despite some now dated ideals. I do find social history depicted in books written in the era interesting.
Overall I enjoyed the book and would look for more of her books.
Thank you!