the suspects take a lot of getting used to. the family in question are bizarre aliens from a distant planet called Upper Class England and oh boy theythe suspects take a lot of getting used to. the family in question are bizarre aliens from a distant planet called Upper Class England and oh boy they are something else. my jaw dropped several times when reading about their abnormal antics. especially the late arrival: a half-brother who comes across as the most pleasant yet still irritating lunatic one could ever meet. his younger half-siblings are not so charming, alas. the reader must put aside certain things to enjoy this strange sister and brother: a need for characters to act rationally, or to exhibit empathy, or to have even the slightest bit of conversational skills needed to survive outside of their studio apartment. these unnatural creatures are interesting though, on an anthropological level. however did they survive in the wild? and do such beings still exist??
Heyer, as always, has a marvelously light touch, a great eye for detail, and a droll sense of humor. this is a lesser work but I still enjoyed it, despite her obvious snobbery. love her!...more
this is my nominee for Most Perfectly Realized Country House Mystery. it includes the following:
- an actual Country House as the setting. I've been suthis is my nominee for Most Perfectly Realized Country House Mystery. it includes the following:
- an actual Country House as the setting. I've been surprised at how little country houses (or rather, Country Mansions) actually feature in certain books advertised as a Country House Murder Mystery. tsk tsk, false advertisers!
- a sensible & forthright protagonist who, due to certain circumstances, is a Character Who Is Not A Suspect. this is ideal for both audience identification and for sardonic commentary on the mystery
- a dapper, wry, and highly intelligent detective who arrives at the country house, and the novel itself, about one-third of the way through the story
- fun cast of supporting characters & suspects, including such luminaries as Old Rich Asshole Who Gets What's Coming To Him, Young Rich Asshole Who Is Actually In Debt, Lady On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown, Artistic Young Fool, Trashy Gold-Digger, Prime Suspect Who Clearly Can't Be The Killer Because Too Obvious, Capt. Reliably Manly, Big Personality Foreigner, The Vicar, The Gossip, and of course various domestics, policemen, a doctor
- SLIGHT SPOILER: a major red herring who all the clues are subtly leading too, but joke's on you smarty pants, it's not that person despite all those subtle clues. those tasty little breadcrumbs that you thought only you saw, they led you astray! I guess I'm talking to myself here LOL
- surprise killer! well, I was surprised.
- best of all, an author who is top of form in her ability to set a stage, create some atmosphere, and plant some enjoyable characters and fun dialogue in this country house setting. kudos, as always, to the amazing Georgette Heyer...more
a delightful experience! a fizzy farce full of high spirits. there was also a certain amount of forthright bloodthirstiness present that I haven't seea delightful experience! a fizzy farce full of high spirits. there was also a certain amount of forthright bloodthirstiness present that I haven't seen in her other books. (besides from murderous Leonie of These Old Shades.) but then I've only read a dozen of her books; perhaps there are pockets of bloodthirstiness to be found elsewhere. or maybe she just relegated bloodthirstiness to her Georgian era. also, why I am using the word "bloodthirstiness" so much? someone's got a problem.
the gender swapping was super fun. if I have a critique - and it's a teensy one - it's that I wish more time had been spent with Robin-as-Kate. that moment at the beginning of the book with a surprisingly heavy "Kate" suddenly "fainting" on a dastardly villain to slow him down was awesome.
as a big fan of this splendid author, it was fascinating to see in this early novel the templates that provide the foundation of so many stories that followed. the play with gender, of course; explicitly present here, much less broad in later novels like Cotillion. Anthony Fanshawe as a kind of precursor to Hugo Darracott and John Staple; Prudence Tremaine reminiscent of Nell Stornaway and Anthea Darracott. the book itself was a treat similar in flavor to those two novels starring Hugo/Anthea & John/Nell: The Unknown Ajax and The Toll-Gate. (both top favorites.)
and all that said, I don't think I've come across a character much like "Tremaine of Barham." the complete self-absorption and the overwhelming ego, the charm and wit and charisma, the brazen trickery, those amazing outfits, of course the casual bloodthirstiness... it was all so endearing. I mean really, at one point he reflects on a plot he created that will allow his son to bait and then kill a mutual annoyance, and handwaves that future death aside with the reason he's simply too obnoxious to live in the same world with me. I totally get where he's coming from....more
The Godfather Georgette Heyer has all her little ducks in a row. She's got the period detail, check. She's got the Old World styles, check.
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The Godfather Georgette Heyer has all her little ducks in a row. She's got the period detail, check. She's got the Old World styles, check. She's got all the characters who don't know what's about to happen to them and who'll get what's coming to them, check. She's got the manipulations and the double blinds and the cards all stacked up, check. She's got the romance under wraps but about to come up on deck, check. And she's got the gun and someone who knows how to use it, check. The Big G knows what time it is and the reader's about to know too.
Kingpin Sophy brooks no disagreement. Oh she'll let you rant and rave all you want. Let the little pawns moan and groan, but in the end they'll fall right in line. Sophy knows what's best for you, just follow her lead, minion. You'll see.
Dapper Don Sophy has all the skills and she pays all the bills. She's got the street smarts she learned on the Continent. She's got all the connects to the old school players. She's got the fashion sense to turn all heads. She's got the gun that will silence your attempt at some funny business. Minor league players don't stand a chance. Best stay in line.
Boss Bitch Sophy has her eye on that mouthy guy. She likes his sass. She'll show him how she handles a horse, 'cause that's her way of flirting. And she'll show him how she handles a gun, that's how she lets off some steam. She plays a little rough but she knows he'll learn to deal with it. She don't pick no weak bitches to be her number two. He'll learn it's best sometimes to just shut up and look pretty. Sophy always gets her way, there's no stopping this juggernaut, step aside or get rolled over. Don't mess with this one....more
look at that hilariously uninterested, put-upon expression on the heroine's face. the cover illustration really gets her.
the Regency Buck in question look at that hilariously uninterested, put-upon expression on the heroine's face. the cover illustration really gets her.
the Regency Buck in question is Peregrine Taverner, heir to a fortune, feckless and prone to gambling and sport and falling quickly in love, and prey to a number of circumstances that look suspiciously like murder attempts. but this young buck is far from being the protagonist, or even a particularly interesting character. that interesting protagonist would be his older sister, the pugnacious and strapping Judith: an ambitious lass, but frequently irritated when having to deal with pretentious decor or people. perhaps this book should have been titled Regency Eyeroll.
forgive the laziness, but the following is just a copy & paste of my comment in the fantastic group Georgette Heyer Fans. also, watch out - this is full of spoilers, so probably best not to read unless you have already read the book.
Really enjoyed this one! despite still being a relative newbie to Heyer (only a dozen books in, and none reread yet), I think a big part of my enjoyment was due to having read other books before this one and so instantly recognizing that Worth was worth putting up with. He's Heyer's kind of guy: super snobby and cutting while having a secret heart of gold. I think knowing that made me amused rather than annoyed at all of his very high-handed comments towards the siblings. He's definitely a dick, but since I understand & really appreciate Heyer's templates, I never doubted that he would come through, even though we're never provided access to his thought process. His character was pure pleasure to me.
I wonder if contemporary readers of the novel were fooled and even thought that he had some slight chance of being the villain in the book. Or did they also already get Heyer? I think understanding the author's perspective on her characters could mean the difference between seeing the book as a mystery or as a slow-burning romance. For me, there was no mystery because Worth is like other Heyer heroes, and so of course the cousin is the actual villain. It was very enjoyable for me to see how Worth played his various secretly-altruistic schemes without letting the siblings in on who was actually behind all the murder attempts.
I also really enjoyed Judith. Maybe I'll see more of her type the more I read this wonderful author, but this is the first time I've seen a Heyer heroine who was this particular combination of canny & reactionary. I loved both her understanding of how to make her mark in society by having certain eccentricities and her complete lack of understanding of Worth's true nature. Also really appreciated her loathing of small talk bullshit and her disinterest in ever kowtowing to society or society's current heroes. My kind of person!
Brummell was a delight, what a great person to actually read about as a character, rather than read about as a historical personage. Scattergood had a fantastic name and a few good moments (although I wish there were more). Peregrine was a lot of fun!
Unlike a number of reviewers, I thought this was a very humorous book. The dialogue was so effortlessly witty, I was smiling constantly. "Sparkling dialogue" is the phrase that came to mind a lot - I was reminded of particular movies from the 30s & 40s directed by Howard Hawks and/or starring Carole Lombard.
Carol said in her review that this would be a good starting point for someone new to Heyer, and despite what I said about my enjoyment of Worth coming from having read other Heyer books, I really agree. I enjoyed all of the in-depth details of the milieu, it felt like an introduction to Regency London. And it was genuinely edifying - it led me to many Wikipedia searches, what with all of the name dropping and rich descriptions of both settings and couture. That said, I loved that she streamlined those sorts of details in subsequent books because overall that's my preference when it comes to info drops. Also, can't say I loved the cockfighting scene because I'm a soft-hearted animal lover and the idea of cockfighting is sickening to me.
This is probably heresy to say, but I did slightly prefer this to These Old Shades & especially to Devil's Cub (really enjoyed both books though, and the heroines in both are fantastic). This one was just more of a pleasant experience - Shades & Cub alienated me at times with their gender dynamics. I think I read somewhere that it will be clear in the 4th book how this one connects to the prior books....more
an enjoyable collection. there is a chatty, casual looseness to the writing in the majority of these pieces that make them feel like they were initialan enjoyable collection. there is a chatty, casual looseness to the writing in the majority of these pieces that make them feel like they were initially written for various personal blogs. certainly a brightly accessible and mainly cheerful collection, rather than a dry study (although I would dig a dry study on this author). perhaps the most scholarly essay is by Kirsten Elliott, on the city of Bath and its place in a number of Heyer novels. there are a few awkward stumbles here and there in the collection: one writer tortures the word "mortar" when trying to use it as an analogy, another goes on a bit about her own published works in a rather unseemly way, and the essay on recommendations for other authors to read didn't give me a single specific recommendation within Heyer's primary genre. that said, this mainly felt like hanging out with a bunch of fun, lively people talking about an author we all love. just like with this group of authors (excepting one woke grouch), Heyer has brought pure joy to my life and so I can't help but connect with anyone else who loves her. I did skip the essays on The Great Roxhythe (the author literally told me to, if I didn't like spoilers - thanks, Rachel Hyland!), Bath Tangle (also spoilers throughout, but that social media sendup looked pretty amusing), and The Grand Sophy (plan on reading that one this year, so I'll wait). the most useful essay for me was Maura Tan's sharp piece on Heyer's contemporary novels, because those 4 books have held scant interest for me until now. but the whole book was actually useful to me - in addition to being a sweet treat - as it helped me add to and rearrange my to-buy list of Heyer novels. Beauvallet jumped up a few places, as did The Reluctant Widow. and now that I think about it, I'm going to walk up the street right now and buy some!...more
The case for Why Shoot a Butler? is far from airtight. The cons: overly long and at times rather dull, a surprising amount of flat characters, disorgaThe case for Why Shoot a Butler? is far from airtight. The cons: overly long and at times rather dull, a surprising amount of flat characters, disorganized characterization for one key character (are they or are they not phobic about death? depends on which part of the story they appear), and the annoyance of a cover that includes false advertising - there are no actual murders in a country house in this book.
But the pros pushed this into 3 star territory, if but barely. First and foremost, the author presents a protagonist in the vein of a number of other Heyer heroes, but ratcheted up several notches: namely, an arrogant jerk. Youngish barrister Frank Amberley is one of the most condescending, insulting, offensively self-assured leads in a book that I've ever read, and he gets away with it, time and again. He was a joy to read about! His horrid snideness is denigrated by others but celebrated by the author. And had me constantly smiling. I also liked the throway line about him, repeated maybe twice and which of course made me like him even more: "but at least he's kind to animals" - said to excuse the insulting peremptory quality of nearly all of his comments.
There are a couple other characters who were a lot of fun: a poor bumbling sergeant, often the butt of Amberley's derision, and our hero's aunt, who more than matches him in cleverness but is not such a meanie about it, concealing her true nature behind amiable ditheriness. And I loved the eventual marriage proposal: so abrupt, jarringly so. I gasped in surprise when it was announced, it was made in such an unsentimental, high-handed way. Such a Frank Amberley kind of proposal. Swoon, my hero!...more
this is a pleasant, satisfying, perfectly accomplished tale. I smiled, my heart was warmed, I enjoyed the elegant prose and wry dialogue and brisk narthis is a pleasant, satisfying, perfectly accomplished tale. I smiled, my heart was warmed, I enjoyed the elegant prose and wry dialogue and brisk narrative, the comic bits landed, the characters were amusing and endearing. all the good things. the father who is such a kind, well-meaning fellow that he inspires instantaneous guilt & self-loathing in his children at even the idea that he may be disappointed with them - well, that is a great superpower and he was a treat to read about. and best of all: Ulysses! Heyer often shows a soft spot for animals, but this was my first experience with one being so completely central to the story. what a great dog!
another thing I enjoyed that is often a part of her stories but which is centralized here: the importance of charity and altruism. sweet, slightly daffy Arabella is characterized almost entirely by her insistence on doing the right thing for any child, animal, or down on their luck adult who crosses her path. for a while I didn't have a precise grasp on who she really was, other than a pleasant and forthright person who sometimes doesn't deal too well with condescension. Arabella's specific personality was rather fuzzy to me. but that eventually changed: in time, the novel shows that this is her most important attribute, it's key to who she is. the author is playful with this trait but she doesn't portray it as remotely negative. the characters that surround Arabella find it amusing as well (or rather irritating), while also recognizing that this virtue is exactly why she is so different from everyone else. all of that really charmed me. I love that scene where Beaumaris just stares at Arabella, fascinated and impressed, as she goes off on a monologue regarding how far she'll go to make sure a child is well taken care of.
I thought Beaumaris' personality was a bit fuzzy too, at first. mainly he reminded me of a low-key version of other detached but essentially kind-hearted style gods that inhabit what sounds like a high number of Heyer novels. still, I really enjoyed him. and perhaps because his characterization is softly rather than very sharply etched - lightly sardonic but never vindictive, always properly outfitted but not fashion-obsessed, etc. - it was actually easier for me to relate to him. and I certainly related to his cheerful but fortunately not mean-spirited sadism! many of my victims family & friends & colleagues don't seem to get that this is a positive attribute in a person.
it's interesting for me to read Heyer novels that are all about the romance while reflecting on my own gender, as a reader... i.e. reading a book that is designed so that its female readers relate to and identify with its protagonist while seeing its male lead as an object of desire. the book is quite literally not written for people like me. as a queer man (bi, to be specific), it's not exactly heavy lifting for me to find a male character appealing or not. I also have no problem with seeing myself in female characters in books that aren't Heyer romances. I can usually empathize with most anyone. and yet, despite always sympathizing with Heyer's female characters, it is the male characters that I tend to identify with. maybe I am just being an old-fashioned gender essentialist (I hope not!) but it is her female characters that enchant me and it is her male characters that I actually try to relate to on a personal level. I'm rambling here, but I guess what I'm trying to say is that it was great to eventually see myself in Beaumaris and it was even better seeing him fully appreciate how wonderful Arabella is as a person.
this was a perfect read for a Christmas season spent on my own this year, which was a first for me. the novel was a real spirit-lifter. Thank you Carol for recommending it!...more
An apt title! Dominic, the Marquis of Vidal, is the devil's "cub" indeed - a devilish beast who may one day grow up into a human. This bestial young nAn apt title! Dominic, the Marquis of Vidal, is the devil's "cub" indeed - a devilish beast who may one day grow up into a human. This bestial young nobleman immediately resorts to violence or threats of violence when angered, is quietly and eerily dangerous when drunk, nonchalantly guns down any who may annoy him - whether that be an intrusive highwayman or a fellow gambler who calls him a liar (personally I can't blame him for either), and less understandably, has no notion of chivalry when it comes to ladies who aren't of the gentlewoman persuasion: sneering, threatening, kidnapping, and throttling without an iota of remorse, basically treating them like trash. This book often functions as a fascinating portrait of a child who combines the less attractive traits of his compelling parents (as featured in the excellent These Old Shades): the animalistic temper of his mother Leonie and the cold ruthlessness of his father the Duke of Avon, as well as their mutual disregard for human life. Fortunately, Dominic has also inherited some of their more positive traits. Even more fortunately, the redoubtable Mary Challoner - a wonderfully admirable and relatable creation - has entered his so-called life. Not only will she not brook his argumentative selfishness, she'll bring a gun to the debate. My money is on Mary to transform the selfish beast into a caring human being.
In case I'm giving the impression that I thought this was a dark psychological portrait, I should be clear that the book - despite its disturbing moments - is mainly delightful, full of sweetness and empathy, wittily written, briskly paced. A light and charming affair, for the most part. It has all of the strengths of the best of Heyer. The disturbing elements actually deepened the novel in an interesting way; although I preferred its predecessor, this sequel was great. My only genuine complaint is dealing with Dominic as a romantic lead. As a character, he was entirely absorbing. An often chilling creation and a study on how little distance this apple fell from the parental tree. But as a romantic lead? For the most part, I did not enjoy him as such, often completely loathing him and actively rooting for him to experience physical harm. I'd expect this sort of reaction to a lead character when reading about some typically rape-inclined antihero within an operatic bodice ripper, but not so much when enjoying a delicate, nuanced Heyer confection. And thus a lower rating than what I'm used to giving her novels.
Complaints aside, Devil's Cub features a lengthy scene near the end of the book that is one of the most hilariously written in the Heyer books I've read so far. The scene is basically Mary recounting her misadventures to - unbeknownst to her - the Duke of Avon. This scene should have bored and annoyed me, as it is explaining in detail a story that I've literally just read. Instead it is a wonderful example of comedic storytelling. Reading the icy Duke's subtle reactions to everything he's hearing (including Mary's perspective on both his son and himself) was pure pleasure. I love how much Georgette Heyer can make me smile.
Frederica is an old maid. She's been "on the shelf" for years and at this point in her life is mainly concerned with making sure her much lovelier youFrederica is an old maid. She's been "on the shelf" for years and at this point in her life is mainly concerned with making sure her much lovelier younger sister finds the right man. She has no such ambitions for herself, as she knows her eligibility has long since come and gone. But she's fine with her lot in life! She's been mistress of her household for quite a while, and is quite used to holding the reins and looking after her younger sister and two younger brothers as only a devoted mother could. Frederica is destined for a life full of family, but a life that is essentially devoid of any romantic love. Our poor heroine may be a stolid, capped matron, but she remains spry and quick-witted despite her advanced years. Frederica is 24 years old.
Vernon is the Marquis of Alverstoke. He's been an eligible bachelor for well over a decade and would prefer to go to his grave as such. Far from a loving sibling, he has a vague affection for one sister, thinks nothing at all about a second, and is actively indifferent towards a third. They all know him to be a selfish rake and lover of married ladies easily cast aside when bored. Boredom is perhaps the chief cross that the Marquis bears. If someone begins to bore him, it's over. If he suspects someone could bore him, it won't even begin. Boring people also include individuals like debutantes, commoners, his boring heir, and all of his boring nieces and nephews - most whose names he's never bothered to learn. Vernon is the hero of the novel.
Georgette Heyer wrote a book that I knew would be a delicious treat within pages. Every sentence elegantly in place, the comedy both subtle and broad, the characters charming or outrageous or sometimes both. This is a master of the form, writing in a relaxed style, always making sure period detail is front and center without overwhelming the plot, always making certain her story's various parts are kept carefully moving along while not feeling rushed. It is like she wrote this smiling; I certainly smiled more times than I can count. Frederica herself reminded me of another of her heroines: the fabulous Venetia, although she is her own unique individual. She has a certain attractive gravity that is unlike Venetia's effervescence. Lord Alverstoke reminded me of another of her heroes: the Duke of Avon, although he is also his own unique individual. His apathy and especially his quick ability to be utterly bored by boring people charmed me (perhaps because that latter trait reminded me of myself). There were many times I sat back, amused, that this was actually the novel's central character.
This was all set to be a happy 4 star book, until the accident, and the farm, and the showing of true, hidden colors by Lord Alverstoke. Hidden from himself as well! That sequence was incredibly moving, and deepened the novel in a way that I did not expect. Maybe a couple manly tears were even shed. And then the story moved back into light, fizzy comedy - and did not suffer for it. The richness of the book is admirable. Voilà, 5 stars!...more
Synopsis: Does the big lunk have a brain in his head, or will he be malleable clay? Inquiring minds, and greedy new family members, want to know.
It alSynopsis: Does the big lunk have a brain in his head, or will he be malleable clay? Inquiring minds, and greedy new family members, want to know.
It all comes together so beautifully. All of the moving parts, all the pieces of story that at first seemed like digressions, all the bits of characterization that seemed like they were perhaps just comic riffs... they all come together to create one of the most satisfying comic finales that I've ever had the pleasure of reading. What I thought was a loose and almost aimless plot was actually a virtuoso display by an author in full command of her powers. And an author who - despite her pleasingly tart wit and her penchant for mockery - proves to have a generous and kind heart, to all of her characters, even the most loathsome. The book is simultaneously a light, fizzy tonic and a master class in careful storytelling.
I loved the protagonist Hugo, especially his sly humor that parallels the author's own perspective on her cast. I loved the supporting characters, especially the surprisingly layered Claud, a popinjay and a lothario and a completely amusing young man who would not have been treated so sweetly in most other novels, and especially the exceedingly formal and correct Lady Aurelia, a formidable and entirely admirable woman who would perhaps have been an object of critique in many other novels. I loved that the servants had such a strong role in this story, the characters below stairs given as much attention as those above stairs. The passive-aggressive battles between manservants were a highlight - but the book is full of highlights. And most of all, I love Heyer: her light touch, her digressive but breezy storytelling style, the deadly wit on display, the genuine empathy.
This is my third read this year by this author and the third 5 stars I've given one of her books. I am a cheap and miserly curmudgeon when it comes to doling out that precious fifth star. At this point, I am fully won over. Georgette Heyer is without a doubt one of my most admired authors....more
Chapter 1, in which I continue my love affair with a most enchanting author!
Chapter 2, in which Venetia is established as a heroine of much wit, honesChapter 1, in which I continue my love affair with a most enchanting author!
Chapter 2, in which Venetia is established as a heroine of much wit, honesty, and vitality.
Chapter 3, in which Venetia is contemplative of the rakish Lord Damerel and her brother Aubrey takes a wracking spill.
Chapter 4, in which Venetia and Lord Damerel find the best of all things: friendship.
Chapter 5, in which it is noted that the Scoundrel is but hidden twin to the Good Man: each male contains both sides; the Sensible Woman is best served by accepting that reality.
Chapter 6, in which I return after a sojourn in Venice to Venetia, and find her just as charming as ever.
Chapter 7, in which we enter the excruciatingly finite mind of Edward Yardley, suitor to Venetia.
Chapter 8, in which we enter the intensely melodramatic mind of Oswald Denny, suitor to Venetia.
Chapter 9, in which Venetia jumps from a loft, Oswald loses hold of his senses and showers her with kisses, Damerel adroitly dampens these boyish enthusiasms, and I smile from ear to ear.
Chapter 10, in which Lady Denny realizes, aghast and agog, that true love beats in the hearts of sweet, innocent Venetia and that notorious rake, Damerel.
Chapter 11, in which a frightful ogress enters the story!
Chapter 12, in which the reader is reminded that a heroine's wit and virtues are often best illustrated when she is set against an ogress of the first order.
Chapter 13, in which Damerel fiercely declares his love and Venetia is unperturbed by this statement of the obvious.
Chapter 14, in which the reader recalls that allies with the best of intentions may be more obstinate and troublesome than the worst of enemies.
Chapter 15, in which Venetia awakens into nightmare.
Chapter 16, in which London fails to amuse or even distract.
Chapter 17, in which Inspiration and Understanding strike like twin lightning bolts!
Chapter 18, in which a shockingly exciting secret is revealed.
Chapter 19, in which the shockingly exciting secret is met.
Chapter 20, in which Venetia marshals her force of personality and wields her weapons of wit and earnestness in gentle battle against the idiotish and stoopid well-wishers surrounding her.
Chapter 21, in a which a lady makes clear that she prefers a libertine and his orgies; and in which a perfect tale of quirky romance comes to a perfectly quirky romantic close....more
what a wonderfully odd book. I had so many different kinds of guilty feelings that popped up while enjoying this... but the end result was that it turwhat a wonderfully odd book. I had so many different kinds of guilty feelings that popped up while enjoying this... but the end result was that it turned out to be far from a guilty pleasure. it was pure pleasure, perfectly free from guilt! guilt's such an ugly, ungainly emotion anyway, who needs it.
one of the basic premises of the novel should have disgusted me to no end: that aristocrats should be solely with other aristocrats, and the "base born" should be with their ilk only. never the two shall meet! even in the case of aristocratic bastards, the poor things. that attitude is not just displayed by literally every character, it drives the narrative forward. there's no getting around the idea; one just has to accept that this was a sign of the times if there's going to be any enjoyment. it was a struggle for me, particularly as the novel has a bit of a cameo from Madame de Pompadour, whose very existence (and power) within the court of King Louis XV is a slap in the face of such nonsense. still, that divide constitutes the rules of the game, and since I wanted to play this game, I had to accept its rules.
our hero Lord Justin Alastair aka "Satanas" is the worst kind of condescending, high-handed, fashion-obsessed snob. the sort who revels in his poor reputation and who takes an unseemly pleasure in cutting insults, fake smiles, and cold revenge. he is good to his friends and family, in his way, but is loathe to have that goodness recognized - indeed it seldom is, as the recipients of his goodwill nearly always focus on his nasty insults rather than his quiet generosity. and of course, he has a sordid history as a shameless rake, one which he embraces. all of those things should have made me despise him, and I did - at least in the beginning. but then, shockingly, I recognized myself in him! the blackened coal that I have in place of a heart began to warm to him and soon I was hanging off of his every word and deed as if they were my own. as the saying goes, to love oneself is certainly the beginning of a lifelong romance.
our heroine Leonie should have driven me up the wall with her juvenile antics and especially her insanely, insipidly worshipful attitude towards Lord Alastair. it was really too much. but Heyer does such a splendid job in surrounding that sycophancy with other layers: Leonie is, in a way, a natural. there is no pretense to her. she is also given to bloodthirstiness and violent displays of temper, which I found delightful. and she has a backstory that hints at physical abuse and neglect, and above all a history of abandonment, that adds tragic layers to what could be a purely annoying character. while her personality traits made her character act much younger than her years, that background helped to create a character who was also suffused with a sort of melancholy, and a familiarity with despair. she is a surprisingly rich and original creation.
the title should have annoyed me because it has nothing to do with the actual story, but is rather a sly jest made by the author in acknowledgement that this book is sort of a remake. "these old shades" of past characters, now reborn. I usually dislike authorial cutesiness. but I love the title. it is weirdly resonant, despite being basically a quip.
I neglected to read the back cover of the novel before starting it, so I may be one of the few Heyer fans who didn't realize that "Leon" was actually a girl disguised as a boy. I gradually figured it out, but it took some time. that oversight combined with the portrait of Lord Alastair as an arch and distinctly effeminate (although deadly) dandy made the first quarter of the book a strangely homoerotic experience. it was rather creepy: jaded older queen "buys" a young man right off of the streets and proceeds to make the boy his page, and then trots him out to be drooled over by high society. but it was also rather fun. it is a testament to this book's charm that the fun wasn't reduced an iota when Leon became Leonie. this was a really satisfying book and I am looking forward to reading more by the author....more
Synopsis: Naive country lad Kit Charing's obstreperous and stingy guardian has made it clear that the boy will inherit nothing unless Kit marries one Synopsis: Naive country lad Kit Charing's obstreperous and stingy guardian has made it clear that the boy will inherit nothing unless Kit marries one of her nieces: either the amiable but rather dim fashion plate Frederica Standen, the simple-minded Lady Dolphinton, mean-spirited Claudette, uptight bible-thumper Huette... or the intended target, the beautiful and very popular Jacqueline Westruther. Unfortunately, despite being rather in need of funds, the prideful minx Jacqueline resists, refusing to engage with this marriage plot. And so Kit enacts his own scheme: he and kindly Frederica will fake an engagement, in the hopes of igniting jealousy in the heart of flirtatious Jacqueline. All's well that end's well when both Kit and the reader come to understand the callow heartlessness beneath Jacqueline's beauty, and the strength and loyalty that lie under Frederica's shallow obsession with fashion and manners. Girls will be girls! As boys will be boys.
I loved this sweet and comedic confection. Heyer must have been in a playful mood when writing Cotillion, as she does surprising things in this novel: mercilessly sending up the superficial nature of high society including its discreet but constant focus on money; putting romance to the side while instead providing a generous number of comic scenes based around shopping, couture and the appropriate colors that should be worn by certain complexions, describing an unpleasant dinner party followed by a trashy masquerade, and the visiting of many so-called attractions of London; spoofing the very idea of how a proper marriage proposal should be conducted; making unseemly jokes about red light districts and honey traps; and best of all, confounding reader expectations around gender roles and what sorts of traits romantic leads should embody. I grinned happily and laughed out loud many times. The title is clever as well, delineating the romantic entanglements that four couples dance through in the novel - with one couple being a surprise, last-minute addition. All in all, Cotillion is an amiable and cheerful delight.
Actual Synopsis: switch the genders in the Synopsis....more
Amuse Bouche Pour la table, we present a pair of charming Georgian romantics. They are très amusant! These liOn the menu tonight: THE TALISMAN RING
Amuse Bouche Pour la table, we present a pair of charming Georgian romantics. They are très amusant! These light little treats will tantalize your taste buds and have two simple(-minded) components: a delightful if melodramatic young miss served "à la française" alongside a feckless and overwrought young heir. Other - lesser - restaurants have served such dishes as a main course - how droll! Here they find their proper place: as a lure to engage you in more, shall we say, substantial fare. They exist merely to whet your appetite. Enjoy these trifles as they were meant to be enjoyed: in one quick bite! And then on to more interesting dishes.
Hors d'Ouevres Hand-cut maccheroni alla chitarra served with an appealing selection of supporting characters and condiments for you to pick and choose from as you wish! Feel free to pick one or to sample all - we consider each to be a special favorite and each will delight you in a different fashion. Whether it be a self-absorbed Justice whose appetites reign supreme, an indomitable smuggler, two spirited but perhaps less than valiant Bow Street Runners, a stouthearted innkeeper, an overly starched butler, a perspicacious and hard-punching young groom, or a sinister valet up to no good... no matter your personal predilection, we guarantee you will find a supporting player to your liking!
Entrée Banger and mash. For those with more rarefied tastes, be assured that these are no simple country offerings! Both our banger and our mash are of the highest, most dignified quality: a bonafide Sir and a sister to a Justice. Despite being gentlefolk, our banger Sir Tristram Shields and our mash Miss Sarah Thane have hearty "down to earth" flavors guaranteed to please. Indeed, they have been aged to perfection: respectively 31 and 29 years. To more shallow diners, our central dish may appear uninspiring. But to such as those, we can only respond thusly: make haste to a more shallow establishment, more suitable to your inane interests! We are quite proud of our doughty and dauntless duo, their intelligence and resourcefulness, their quick-witted ability to say what needs to be said and their clear-thinking capability to do what needs to be done, with no unseemly dilly-dallying or tedious mooning over nothing. Sir Tristram and Miss Thane are the genuine article and witnessing them come together on your plate should more than satisfy any appetite. Well, any adult appetite. If you request a substitution of more airier fare, we shall promptly direct you back to our Amuse Bouche. Or perhaps to our children's menu. Or perhaps to the door!
Dessert We present to you the sweetest of sweets, the tastiest of treats, the very model of fabulous villainy... an ornately dressed, coiffed, perfumed, powdered, and beribboned Beau parfait! Served with knife and quizzing-glass (hidden talisman ring at no extra charge). Enjoy him while you can; his time in the open air will be fleeting.
Wine Pairing We are pleased to provide the vintage Georgette Heyer, well-known to discerning purveyors of vintage romance. A glass of our Georgette Heyer is simultaneously bubbly and tart, sardonic and warm-hearted, with a range of exquisite notes to be savored: amusing dialogue, lovable characters, elegant prose, a brisk narrative, and an accomplished expertise at providing perfect historical detail without drowning her audience in, shall we say, "too much" history. She has the lightest of touches. One glass will surely not be enough!...more
for those fans of cozy mysteries, particularly the ones featuring goofy aristocrats stuck in an eerie mansion with murder in the background and light for those fans of cozy mysteries, particularly the ones featuring goofy aristocrats stuck in an eerie mansion with murder in the background and light banter constantly in the foreground, please ignore the 2 stars. this is a 4 star book for you.
so a group of la-di-da, fiddle-dee-dee upper class English types, their aunt, and couple of their servants take over a Bad House with a Bad History for their summer vacation. haunting and terrorizing them is the dreaded, maybe-a-ghost Monk, who apparently has a lot of death on his hands. eventually murder occurs. what is behind all of these sinister shenanigans? and who is this mysterious Mr. Strange - a potential lover or a dreadful villain lying in wait?
I have no doubt that Heyer knows how to write and it is hard for me to put a finger on what left me cold. perhaps it was due to the dialogue being light but not bubbly or sparkling - and I wanted champagne not tap water! perhaps it was due to the characters being basically quite unremarkable and uninteresting and even rather interchangeable. perhaps it was due to being able to figure out the identity of the dread villain fairly early on. maybe I should just blame the tepid romance. I dunno. but this one did leave me with a feeling of EH? EH! and that means 2 stars.
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