For a truly exceptional read, Regency or otherwise, that makes you giddy with glee you need to pick up These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer. It’s a delightful story about a cross-dressing female who goes from rags to riches and from unloved to abundantly loved. It’s even a guardian/ward romance! Not to mention the kidnapping sequence and the revenge plot! It’s positively action packed.

The hero is a cross between a dandy-like Corinthian, with his scented handkerchief, heeled shoes, and fan -- and -- the veriest devil of a man with fierce eyes, keen intelligence, and a merciless thirst for revenge. The heroine is a Nonpareil who can sword fight, capture princes with a flutter of eyelashes, and shock matrons with her language!

What really pleased me is the slightly different formatting. There seemed to be much more dialogue in this novel than in others also by Heyer. In addition, every chapter has a little summary-like heading telling you what you’ll find in the upcoming section. It was very nice and a source of amusement with titles such as 'Lady Fanny's Virtue is Outraged' and 'Mr. Marling Allows Himself to be Persuaded.'

One of my absolute favorite parts is a reflection of what’s going on between some side characters:

'I don’t trust him.'

'Why, I think I do for once.' Hugh laughed a little. 'When last I saw Léonie – Léon she was then – it was "Yes, Monseigneur" and "No, Monseigneur." Now it is "Monseigneur, you must do this," and "Monseigneur, I want that!" She twists him round her little finger, and, by Gad, he likes it!'

'Oh, but there’s naught of the lover in his manner, Hugh! You have heard him with her, scolding, correcting.'

'Ay, and I have heard the note in his voice of – faith, of tenderness! This wooing will be no ordinary one, methinks, but there is a bridal in the air.'

'She is twenty years behind him!'

'Do you think it signifies? I would not give Justin a bride his own age. I’d give him a babe who must be cherished and guarded. And I’ll swear he’d guard her well!'

'It must be. I do not know. She looks up to him, Davenant! She worships him!'

'Therein I see his salvation,' Hugh said.

These Old Shades, pg 274

I hardly have the words to describe how awesome that last line is and indeed this whole section. The only thing that could make this story better is more of it! I did not want it to end!

These Old Shades is a must read for Heyer fans and one I would very much recommend for new comers to try first. You will not be disappointed.

Rating: 5 Stars

Buy: These Old Shades

Find and buy more Georgette Heyer novels.

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Categories:

5 Stars, ARC, Book Review, Comedy of Manners, Cross-Dressing Female, Dukes and Earls, Eliza Doolittle, France, Gentry, Georgette Heyer, Great Britain, Guardian/Ward, Kidnapping, May/December, Regency, Revenge, Rogues and Rakehells, Travel, Virgin Heroine

Tags:

Corinthian, cross dressing, dandy, delightful story, devil of a man, Georgette Heyer, glee, handkerchief, heeled shoes, heroine, keen intelligence, little finger, marling, naught, nonpareil, princes, rags to riches, revenge plot, thirst, unloved