Title: These Old Shades
Author: Georgette Heyer
Product ISBN: 9781402228032
Publication Date: October 2009

ABOUT THE BOOK

Set in the Georgian period, about 20 years before the Regency, These Old Shades is considered to be the book that launched Heyer’s career. It features two of Heyer’s most memorable characters: Justin Alastair, the Duke of Avon, and Leonie, whom he rescues from a life of ignomy and comes to love and marry.

The Duke is known for his coldness of manner, his remarkable omniscience, and his debauched lifestyle. Late one evening, he is accosted by a young person dressed in ragged boy’s clothing running away from a brutal rustic guardian. The Duke buys “Leon” and makes the child his page. “Leon” is in fact Leonie, and she serves the Duke with deep devotion. When he uncovers the true story of her birth, he wreaks an unforgettable revenge on her sinister father in a chilling scene of public humiliation.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Georgette Heyer (August 16 1902 – July 4 1974, pictured left) was an amazingly prolific writer who created the Regency England genre of romance novels.

Although Jane Austen published during this period (1811 – 1820), she was writing contemporaneously while Heyer was making very well-researched historical fiction, full of all you could ever want: romance, fashion, upper classes, cross-dressing, arranged marriages, murder, intrigue, cant language, sarcasm and humour!

Walk into any second-hand bookshop and they will know her name and may even know that she wrote her third book under the pseudonym of Stella Martin. In fact, you usually find that many people have read at least one of her books.

MY THOUGHTS
I have been reading a lot of historical fiction lately and some of then have been downright good, some so-so and some are just awful that I had to put them away. In the meantime, my husband has been complaining about the stacks of books that are slowly taking over ever spare corner in our home. He says, can’t I get these things electronically? Well, I have considered getting one of those e-readers and even played with the idea of an iPad since there are a few apps and ipad accessories that have attracted me. But really, is it worth it? Plus, like the novels that I read, I’m a bit old fashioned. I still like having the actual printed book in my hands, flipping through its pages and smelling that ‘new book’ smell. I like the smell of old books too, so I guess just the smell of books is enough to transport me to another world.

Oh back to what I think about this book…

This book falls into the category of ‘enjoyable’ read. It’s not a high literary work of art, but it’s not trash either. Of the few Georgette Heyer books I have read, I have enjoyed all of them and took them for what they are. They are pleasant company to spend a lazy afternoon with. I love the uniqueness of the characters in these books. And in this book specifically, I love the contrast in the characters. The hero is older, much more sophisticated while our heroine is more of a scoundrel in disguise. She is a bit of a tomboy, very rough on the edges, but we see her blossom and we see her feistiness come through and we fall in love with her at the same time that the Duke does. If you like historical romances, I think you will enjoy this book and other Georgette Heyer books. The characters are well developed and they don’t do or say too many stupid things.