If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. It's free and a great way to keep up to date. Thanks for visiting!
Regency Buck by Georgette Heyer is loosely based on the premise of Pride and Prejudice. I would not go so far as to say it’s a retelling of the classic tale, but there are elements of this Regency romance that bring to mind the farce that Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet went through before getting out of their own way to declare love for one another.
For instance, Lord Worth is the Mr. Darcy character of this little drama. While not despised to the extent of Mr. Darcy by his heroine, Lord Worth is on the brunt end of a lot of negative criticism from his ward Miss Judith Taverner. He can do nothing right and is as cold an aloof in presence as Mr. Darcy appeared to be. His manners and arrogance nettle Judith beyond the telling many times throughout the novel.
So how did Judith and Peregrine get to become Lord Worth’s wards?
Their father wrote in his will that they would be placed under the fifth earl of Worth until coming of age. Of course he meant to direct them into the hands of Julian Audley’s father, the fourth earl of Worth but confused the matter and bungled it entirely. Julian finds the matter tiresome and can’t wait to be rid of them fast enough though maybe not for the first reasons that come to mind. He tells them to stay in the country.
Of course Judith and Peregrine disregard this and the novel starts with them en route to London. They stop overnight in the village of Grantham, where a fight is about to occur. Peregrine is ecstatic and decides they must stay longer in order to see it. Of course the room they wrote ahead to let has been given away because of the crowd swarming the village. Distressed, Judith presses on the innkeeper to make amends. However it is not the innkeeper but a charming stranger that gives up his room for them.
Similarly later that day before the day of the match, Judith and Peregrine are wheeling about the country in search of ruins when they happen upon another carriage speedily racing down the lane in the opposite direction. A near accident occurs, nobody is hurt, but the horses are startled and the stranger driving is unaccountably rude. Both Judith and Peregrine take exception to the man’s behavior and write him off as a bad sort indeed.
Shortly thereafter, Judith and Peregrine recognize their estranged cousin as the kind stranger at the inn and formally establish the acquaintance.
Once in London, the siblings look up their guardian and are dismayed to find the nasty aristocrat from Grantham is their keeper.
Add a dash of mystery - who wants Peregrine dead?
Peregrine as heir to the Viscountcy is being attacked left and right. The attacks are not always obvious; they come in many forms upon his person. Sanguine and completely obtuse, Peregrine does not notice them for what they are. Even Judith, usually kept in the dark on some of her brothers less savory ongoings, sees a pattern and admits her qualms to Worth who prevails upon her to keep her suspicions to herself.
The question becomes who will profit most from Peregrine’s death. His sister will receive even more money for her dowry, making the current 80,000 pounds seem paltry. But Judith loves her brother enormously, it can’t be her. It must be the man who vies for her hand… Julian Audley, Lord Worth, their guardian or Mr. Taverner, their cousin. Each man lays the blame on the others feet, but Judith trusts them both. What’s a girl to do?
Locales: primarily London and Brighton.
Real famous people who appeared in the book: Beau Brummell, Prince Regent.
This novel has a sequel in An An Infamous Army
Overall I found it focused less on the romance and more on the mystery. I almost wished Brummell was the lead male because he and Judith found teasing and comfortable conversation between themselves on many occasions.
Rating: 3 Stars.
Originally posted 2008-11-24 05:43:45. Republished by Old Post Promoter
Related Posts -
Pirate Contest Entry: The Secret Weapon "So here it is -finally! I'm not even going to say how long this took." - Paul Paul, this was well worth the wait! I'm so glad you managed to get everything sorted out with your computer and software! There's... -
Let's Go a Viking in Romance Who were the Vikings? Vikings were warrior men from the Scandinavia region of the world including specifically Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Viking is linked to naval expeditions or naval raids. A member of such a trip is called a Viking.... -
Review: The Forbidden Lord by Sabrina Jeffries By: Marcia, guest reviewer Quiet and obedient Emily Fairchild is not expecting an adventure. She is content to care for her father, a country vicar since her mother died after a long illness less than a year before. She is... -
Review: The Heiress by Jude Deveraux The Heiress by Jude Deveraux started off exceptionally well in my opinion but tapered off into mediocrity and stayed there after the jumpstart. It’s too bad that it did that as my initial impressions of the novel were four out... - Book Review: Never Romance a Rake by Liz Carlyle By: Marcia, guest reviewer Most Regency Romances portray life in this period as opulent and sensual. And it was, but it was also very hard. Wealthy children were valued not so much as individuals but for what they could contribute...
Related Websites - Trees, part 2 "Imagine if one of these trees fell on your house," said a visitor one day, his head awkwardly tilted upward, his face screwed up like a man facing into a strong wind. "I'd rather not make such comments within their...
- How to Have Fun Running (Gulp!) Many people have a love/hate relationship with running. It's a highly polarizing activity, as many people find it the most difficult, laborious type of exercise, and others find it the most freeing, liberating exercise possible. Where do you lie? And...
- Lighter Side - Katoey Elected Village Head 'Man' From today's Bangkok Post: Choochat Dulayapraphatsorn, 46, beat three other candidates during the village head election in his community late last month, and last Wednesday he was effectively appointed by a district chief as the village chief of Ban Moo...
- Elizabeth Arden Lipstick Makeup Store
- Elizabeth Grant Anti-Aging Products Skin Care Store
- Elizabeth Arden Foundation Makeup Store
- Elizabeth Arden Women Discount Fragrances Store
- Elizabeth II UK Great Britain Stamps
Categories:
3 Stars, Book Review, Comedy of Manners, Counts, Marquis, Viscounts, Dukes and Earls, England, Georgette Heyer, Guardian/Ward, Heiress, Regency, Secondary Romance
Tags:
0 comments ↓
There are no comments yet...Kick things off by filling out the form below.
Leave a Comment