The Three Miss Kings is an Australian classic published in 1891, which was republished by Virago in the 1980’s. It is about three grown-up sisters living in early 1880’s Victoria (Australia). They live on the coast and have recently been orphaned. Elizabeth is the eldest at about 27 years old and is described as having a good figure, and is wise. Patty is the middle sister and is passionate and good-looking. Eleanor or ‘Nelly’ is the youngest and is a blonde beauty. When their parents die they decide they would like to see something of the world. They have lived a secluded life up on the cliffs without much interaction with the neighbourhood. Together they decide to move to Melbourne, though the reality of moving is not without it’s anxieties and heartbreak.
In Melbourne they meet Paul, the son of their kindly solicitor, who helps them to settle in. The sisters find lodgings at a boarding house near Fitzroy Gardens but they struggle with being obligated to other people and crave their independence. Daily life is fairly relaxed and tranquil in which they walk in the park, visit the library to read books, play the piano, and prepare their own meals and perform housekeeping tasks. By now Paul has helped them to find a proper apartment in the same area which they quietly enjoy.
It’s not all smooth sailing with Paul as one of the sister’s offends him which continues for some time. An attempt by Paul to give them a social life nearly ends in disaster when they’re seen as dowds at a party, but they are rescued by a high society woman when they bond over music. This wealthy woman, Mrs. Duff-Scott, practically adopts the sisters and takes them to all the social events of the season, making them into fashionable ladies and planning their future matrimonial prospects. The question here is how did they overcome their pride and their need for independence?, as Paul, of a much lower status, as a journalist, wonders somewhat bitterly.
To say any more would be to spoil the rest of the story but I will say this, there is a mystery to be revealed. The women change over the course of the novel and it is not always for the better. Nevertheless what the women learn along the way is important because they become less ignorant and it influences who they choose to be. My favourite character is Elizabeth because of her gentle common sense and the man she falls in love with is a wonderful match for her. I love them as a couple even though she bows to him too much. Seeing Melbourne in the Victorian era was fascinating and so was the social life of women during that period. I also liked how the characters react to their changed situations whether I approved or not. What I didn’t like as much was how all but one let their spouses dominate them and there was one couple I simply couldn’t be happy about – particularly the behaviour of the male partner. I didn’t believe this couple had a chance to get to know one another.
The themes that dominate the novel are musical tastes, the contrast between independence and wealth, as well as contrasting wealth with hardwork, inheritance and good works, belief in God or the goodness of man, and finally relationships.
Readable 