These Old Shades

Alastair-Audley Tetralogy #1

by Georgette Heyer

Under the reign of Louis XV, corruption and intrigue have been allowed to blossom in France.

Lord Justin Alastair, the notorious Duke of Avon, known for his coldness of manner, his remarkable omniscience, and his debauched lifestyle. Society believes the worst of Justin, who is clearly proud of his sobriquet, 'Satanas'. In a dark Parisian back alley, he is accosted by Leon, a young person dressed in ragged clothing running away from a brutal rustic guardian. The Duke buys Leon, a redheaded urchin with strangely familiar looks...

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Historical, Fiction, Regency, Classics

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1926

About the author

Georgette Heyer was a prolific historical romance and detective fiction novelist. Her writing career began in 1921, when she turned a story for her younger brother into the novel The Black Moth.

In 1925 she married George Ronald Rougier, a mining engineer. Rougier later became a barrister and he often provided basic plot outlines for her thrillers. Beginning in 1932, Heyer released one romance novel and one thriller each year.

Heyer was an intensely private person who remained a best selling author all her life without the aid of publicity. She made no appearances, never gave an interview and only answered fan letters herself if they made an interesting historical point. She wrote one novel using the pseudonym Stella Martin.

Her Georgian and Regencies romances were inspired by Jane Austen. While some critics thought her novels were too detailed, others considered the level of detail to be Heyer's greatest asset.

Heyer remains a popular and much-loved author, known for essentially establishing the historical romance genre and its subgenre Regency romance.

Reviews

[Danielle The Book Huntress · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I am officially a Georgette Heyer reader now. I can see why she is touted as the best of the best when it comes to historical romance. This book was thoroughly enjoyable. I tell you, Avon is a very singular hero. I have read few books with a hero whose dialogue was so expressive, yet ironic at the same time. His wit is so sharp that it could cut diamonds. What's really interesting is that Avon is considered the worst of the worst when it comes to being a debauched rake, yet you never see him looking or acting anything less than elegant. I really admire that Heyer was able to convey this about him without going into his dirty deeds. All that occurs before the book begins. In fact, so much is conveyed and not expressly shown in this story, and done with remarkable skill. I have to say that I read this story, looking to Ms. Heyer to teach me (as a writer) the ability to create powerful dialogue that shows and does not tell. Avon is quite the character. He is definitely a dandy and a fop, wearing bright colors, dripping with lace and jewels, and high-heeled shoes. He even carries a fan that he uses. But he is a man of his time, with a masculinity that is not questionable. And to think we don't have to see him bedhopping to believe in his masculinity!! I thought that Ms. Heyer did a fantastic job in showing Avon's transition from being a cold man with a heart of stone to a loving person. You see this in his manner changing towards friends and family. And you see it in how he interacts with Leonie, who gives him her steadfast, unconditional love from the very beginning.



Avon is bent on revenge, but he exemplifies the saying, "Revenge is a dish best served cold." He waited over twenty years to obtain his revenge on his enemy. When the tool of his revenge stumbles into him on a Paris street, it takes a while for you to see how he/she plays into it. Avon concocts a shallow, bored, remote demeanor that is very misleading. The whole while, he is feeling and seeing everything that goes on around him. He sees right through Leon's facade, realizing that she is a girl. Her unique coloring, Red hair and black eyebrows, immediately brings to mind his worst enemy, Saint-Vire. Yet it takes the reader a little while to put the puzzles together. You are not bored though, as the story unfolds and you get to realize what Avon's plan is. For the lines in this story are so laugh out loud funny, you might want to be careful where you break out this book. I'm sure people thought was I was crazy in the moments I read this story in public, because I would burst out into hilarious laughter. As for the revenge plot, you have to read this book until nearly the very end to see how marvelously and skillfully Avon executes his plan for revenge. I have to say, 'Bravo.' And to be honest, it couldn't have happened to a better person.


One of my favorite characters in this story is Rupert, Avon's younger brother. Why? Because he made me laugh so hard. He had the best lines. I firmly believe that Loretta Chase must have thought of him when she wrote Bertie in Lord of Scoundrels, although Rupert is not nearly as unintelligent as Bertie is portrayed to be. Rupert does a very good job as serving as comic relief in a story that would have been quite dark without these moments of humor. Because of his contribution, I cannot even consider this a dark read. This is also in part to the back and forth dialogue between characters which has the cadence and the humor that endears comedic movies of the 1930s and 40s to this reader and movie buff. The scene with the horse that Rupert 'borrowed' and its livid owner who comes to Avon's home for redress was laugh out loud hilarious. Definitely like a scene from 1940s slapstick comedy at its best. Some of the characters that add to the wonderful atmosphere are Fanny, Avon's sister, Marling, her staid husband, and Hugh, Avon's less staid, but certainly moral friend, who often disproves of Avon's behavior, but is a steadfast friend all the same.

Leonie is a character that I liked, although at times her ingenue nature was a bit much for me. The older I get, the less I really enjoy the very young, vivacious, extremely audacious-mannered heroines. I did not let that lessen my enjoyment of this story, for Leonie is the perfect foil for Avon. This older, very jaded hero needed a very young, sweet heroine with a zest for life. He would not have fallen in love and committed to a happy ending as a happily married man otherwise. In fact, I think his cold heart would have grown colder through the years, probably pushing everyone away who loved him, had it not been for Leonie's advent into his life.

Leonie is the character that everyone loves. I suppose she might be considered a 'Mary Sue' by some, but again, I don't quibble, for this story needed a character like her for it be successful. Also I reject the notion that an old fashioned, feel-good story doesn't have its place in the world. They most certainly do. And at the end of the day, the escapades of this hoyden do make you smile and feel good.

This novel gave me a very good look into 18th century life in France and England, for which I was grateful. It is said that Heyer's book stand up against the most stringent historical accuracy sticklers. She is a testiment to the genre of historical romance, which is always taking hits as being low-brow fiction. I wonder why this has not been made into film, for I feel it would make a wonderful movie. And it has an appeal outside of those readers who enjoy romance.

This book was a joy to read, and it has made me an eager fan of Heyer. I would love to read more of her books, and since I've heard that she had some older, sensible heroine (one of my favorite types in historical romance), I expect to enjoy those books just as much, if not more.

For those romance fans who haven't read Heyer, take it from me. You really should give her a try. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ · Rating 5 out of 5]

"La vengeance est un mets que l'on doit manger froid." (Revenge is a dish that should be eaten cold.)

--Credited to Charles Talleyrand, French diplomat (1754–1838).

Revenge and a Cinderella-type plot make a great combination in These Old Shades, one of Georgette Heyer's more well-known historical novels, set in the later 1700's.



The half-French Duke of Avon is walking down the street when a small body hurtles into him. He looks into the face of this young urchin and suddenly sees the potential for taking revenge on the man who has been his mortal enemy for twenty years. So he buys the curly red-headed young orphan off the boy's loutish older brother, takes him home and cleans him up, and presents him to Paris society as his new page. *Some limited spoilers follow*

It soon turns out that this boy is not a boy after all, but an impish 19 year old girl. So Léon becomes Léonie, as the Duke takes her to his sister in England, charging her to teach Léonie manners and train her to act as a young girl in high society should.



Various shenanigans ensue, as Léonie resists fitting herself into the mold society expects, and the Comte Saint-Vire, the Duke's old enemy, takes some drastic and potentially lethal steps to try to avoid the noose he can see headed his way.

I've been tempted to knock this book down a star or two for a couple of things in the plot that really irk me: The twenty year age difference between the Duke and Léonie (he calls her "infant," for heaven's sake), which everyone in his family handwaves because they think the two fit so well together. The insistence that "blood will out": everyone can tell Léonie is well-born because of her looks and natural grace, while a boy born to peasants but raised in high society still looks and acts boorish and wants nothing so much as to leave Paris and live on a farm.

But in the end, this book was just so much darn fun to read that I have to award all the stars. Léonie is small and passionate and absolutely hilarious, given to calling people names and flying off the handle when they anger her:

"He is a pig-person. I hate him. I am glad that I bit him, and threw the coffee over him."

Justin, the jaded Duke of Avon, is one of those mastermind type of characters I adore, weaving his revenge plot while everyone else around him tries to figure out what his intentions are and why he's doing what he is. And yet the suave Duke gets tripped up by this irreverent young girl he's taken in, who sees him clearly but adores him nevertheless. He acts languid and casual around others, but every once in a while you see his true determination and strength of character show through his posing. He's also snarky and sarcastic and has a dry sense of humor:

"M'sieur, you will think I come upon a strange errand, but I have a wife!" [De Faugenac] beamed at Avon, and nodded several times.

"I felicitate you, m'sieur," said Avon gravely.

"Yes, yes! A wife! It will explain all."

"It always does," answered his Grace. . . .

"She eats her heart out for your so lovely, your so enchanting, your so elegant--"

Avon held up his hand. "M'sieur, my policy has ever been to eschew married women."

"But -- but -- what do you mean, m'sieur? My wife pines for your page. . . She cannot sleep a night until she knows that he is hers."

"It seems that madame is destined to spend many sleepless nights," said Avon.

The humorous dialogue, mixed with a suspenseful story of revenge and the cat and mouse game between the Duke of Avon and his enemy, the Comte Saint-Vire, was just a pleasure to read.

Interesting note: This book is a semi-sequel to Heyer's first novel, The Black Moth (which is old enough that you can get it for free on Gutenberg and other sites). Apparently Heyer wanted to do a sequel but the characters didn't quite fit what she wanted to do in this book. So she renamed them and changed some of their characteristics and backstory, so that the new characters are "shades" of the old ones. Hence the name of this novel, which came from a Victorian-era poem that appears at the front of this book in some editions. The poem reads in part:

Whereas with these old shades of mine,
Their ways and dress delight me;
And should I trip by word or line,
They cannot well indict me.

--Austin Dobson: Epilogue to Eighteenth Century Vignettes

All the stars!

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, except for one thing.
I was almost ready to dnf this after an hour or so because it was just so damn weird.
All this shit about a 19 year old boy who was constantly crying and weeping over this older man who rescued him. And this Duke of Avon, Justin Satanas Alastair, that kept treating him like a little pet. Ew. Whatthefuck.
Ok, so once again, I didn't read the blurb and was a bit lost. No surprises there, as this has become a running theme in my reading adventures.



Alright. First off, the book is more than 100 years old at this point, and with that in mind, it's pretty good.
You've got this stabby young woman pretending to be a boy, an older and quite dissolute playboy who isn't interested in love, an elaborate revenge plot, snobbery in the highest degree, and a good cast of characters that round out the whole thing.



I enjoyed the way it all unfolded, and I'm glad I stuck with it past all the odd parts in the beginning. The only thing that didn't get better for me was Leonie's groveling, weepy version of adoration for the Duke. I didn't like it when I thought she was a boy, and I really didn't like it when I found out she was a woman. Again, the book is 100 years old, and I'm trying not to judge too harshly, but it was still gross. And every time she would cry and kiss his hand and declare her undying love for him, a little chunk of bile would rise in my throat.
I'm not built that way, I guess.



But!
This turned out to be a pretty cool cozy mystery/romance, but maybe more importantly, it made me want to read The Black Moth.

Recommended for fans of Heyer.

[mark monday · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 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.

[L A i N E Y (will be back) · Rating 3 out of 5]

"If you desire to do good to la petite, send her to me"
"My dear father, I have never desired to do good to anyone"

When I first started this book this was my reaction to my fellow reading buddies "Doesn't the writing feel... off? It's not as flowing as my other experience with Heyer". And way too many French words/phrases?

That made me curious so I checked the publishing date, turns out this book was published in 1926 - almost 40 years before my favorite book of hers, Frederica. So it was one of her earlier works and maybe that was the reason it felt different to me. We do grow with more experience, authors are obviously no exception.

If I think of the story as a sort of parody, then this is a great one. It was funny with two likeable leads but it was also over-the-top and frankly unbelievable at (a lot of) times.


I liked both of our leads: Justin, Duke of Avon was a somewhat reformed scoundrel with a nickname of Satana (Satan). Or so we were told. Because I didn't see him be a Satan at all. He was arrogant yes, pompous sure, vindictive certainly but then he's a freaking DUKE! Isn't it 'common' for Dukes to be like that?

Anyhow, the Duke of Avon despite his many flaws was superbly hilarious! He was quick-witted and his tongue was sharp but never rude, the perfect combination for one civilly funny hero.

Léon/Léonie was, you could say, simple-minded but it never felt like stupidity. Oh sure, she blindly worshipped the Duke but I guess that's understandable seeing as he might have literally saved her life. As in the life of Leonie.

They did shared quite a few scenes where their chemistry was extremely on point but then I'd remembered the two decades age difference and I was a bit pulled out of the story. I'm not one for much older guy & teenage girl. His calling her 'infant' really bugged me too.


All in all it was enjoyable but about 100 pages too long.



•••••••••••••••••

My very first Buddy Read

with all these beautifuls

Rachelle ♥ Frankie ♥ Marguerite ♥

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ · Rating 5 out of 5]

My original review still stands. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

This time I read the battered 1937 Hardback pictured. I was very glad to be able to read an edition where some copy editor/proofreader hadn't mangled Fanny's letter to Justin. I first noticed this reading this five in one which was published in 1977.

My old hardback

"Dear Edward has given Fanny a chocolate-coloured coach with pale blue cushions. The wheat is picked out in blue." He held the sheet at arm's length. "It seems strange, but no doubt Fanny is right. I have not been in England for such a time_Ah, I beg her pardon. You will be relieved to hear, my dear Hugh, that the wheat still grows as it ever did. The wheels are picked out in blue. Ballentor has fought..."

2004 (my other edition, think first published in 2001)

"Dear Edward has given Fanny a chocolate-coloured coach with pale blue cushions. The wheels are picked out in blue." He held the sheet at arm's length. "It seems strange, but no doubt Fanny is right. I have not been in England for such a time_Ah, I beg her pardon. You will be relieved to hear, my dear Hugh, that the wheat still grows as it ever did. Ballentor has fought another duel..."

A friend says her 2009 edition has the correct dialogue.

GH reworked characters from The Black Moth into a new, fresh novel.

Belmanoir = Avon
Frank Fortescue= Hugh Davenant
Lavinia Carstares=Fanny Marling
Richard Carstares=Edward Marling
Andrew=Rupert Alistair
Diana= Jenny Merivale

Lord Merivale is not Jack (IMO), but GH makes a reference to a boyish prank (In GH's eyes) where he is a highwayman, to link the two characters.

Superfluous character Robert (Belmanoir's other brother) removed from These Old Shades.

Don't go looking too hard for faults & enjoy this book as a historical fantasy!

April 2023

My third reread since being on Goodreads. This is a comfort read for me which I flew through.

I'm in awe of how GH manages to make Avon still appear masculine in the fashions of the time - he even carries a fan. GH subtly uses this to punctuate Avon's dialogue.

The Duke fanned himself with an air, handling the chicken-skin like a woman.

Takes a skilled writer to pull those lines off!

Awesome book - written when GH was only around 23!

https://wordpress.com/view/carolshess...

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this frothy, fun tale of an orphan and her rescuer. There was a bit of an "ick" factor in the much older man and the innocent ingenue, but it's the same story in all of Heyer's books. It is a standard trope that the lady is always younger, but in most of her books, the couple is more closely allied than these two. The Duke is 40ish and Leonie only 19.

Another offputting thing is that, because of the hierarchy of society in the 1700s, the class system was strictly adhered to. Leonie and Justin could not wed, if she was of a different class or was illegitimate. This was more grotesque to me than the age difference.

Anyhoo, they meet cute, as Leon is being chased by his older brother to avoid a beating. Justin saves Leon, by buying him, ugh!, I forgot that icky part. The Duke cannot help but notice what unusual features Leon has and knows, probably from first meeting, that Leon is actually Leonie.

As I was reading , I thought this would make a great movie. There is another swashbuckling scene in which Leonie is kidnapped and spirited away by carriage and by boat from England to France, while being chased by the Dukes brother Rupert, Imminently filmable, not to mention all the gorgeous gowns and hairdos and all manner of frippery. I digress, as in all Heyer's books, the Duke becomes a better human being and all Leonie's wishes come true.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Update: I have it on good authority that this is an accurate representation of me while thinking of this book (or should I specify, the hero!):



By the way this book only gets better and funnier with each re-read I do! ;) Love these crazy people forever <3


{Please note that the following essay review contains spoilers}

I'm not sure that I can entirely express how much I truly love this book and how absolutely amazing it is.
I remember reading The Black Moth by the same author a while ago, and secretly having a shameful preference for the book's villain, the Duke of Andover, over the main protagonist. And when I read The Convenient Marriage, Lord Lethbridge was also my favourite character, against my better judgement. I don't know what it is exactly that make me love those sarcastic, cynical, mocking, badass villains so much, but I had always hoped that Andover could have had a well-developed story of his own and a happy ending. Perhaps it was the idea of potential redemption that make me like the above mentioned villains, I don't know.

Nevertheless, when I found out that These Old Shades was a sort of sequel to The Black Moth, I got super excited and knew that I had to read it. I got even MORE excited when I found out that Heyer had used the same characters as in The Black Moth, but had simply changed their names (hence the title These Old Shades , as she made the characters "shades" of their former selves). Then I got definitely over-the-top excited when I found out that Andover was going to be the main hero of the story, under the name of Justin Alastair "Satanas" His Grace the Duke of Avon.

Yes, all those names indeed represent the same person. As everyone who has read this novel is aware, deciphering who is whom at the beginning of the story is slightly confusing, since Heyer uses many ways to name the Duke in just a few pages (I actually thought there was about 4 different guys in that scene when Avon is talking with Davenant, just after he brought Léon to the house). But once you've figured that Avon is referred to by about 15 different names, it becomes way easier.

One of the things I simply love about Georgette Heyer's books is that she doesn't take 10 chapters to just "introduce" what is going to happen, or who the characters are. She starts off immediately with something interesting, that grasps the reader's attention right away. In this case, the Duke of Avon buys a boy he finds in the street, who is fleeing from his brother's beating hand. I was definitely intrigued, as we see that Avon has a motive for his actions which he refuses to share.

By reading a lot of reviews here on Goodreads about this book, I found that the two major problems that most people encountered with These Old Shades was that the two protagonists were annoying (particularly Léonie) and that the love story was very ick-creepy-pedophile-and-just-plain-disgusting. My modern self understands these points of view, but my inner Georgian lady thinks the hero and heroine awesome and their love story beautiful.

The character of Avon is indeed very particular. Picking up from when The Black Moth finishes, we find a Duke (around 40 years of age) carrying a terrible reputation as a debauched rake, one of his most recent scandal having been to kidnap the woman with whom he was in love (some reviewers complained that that subject was not alluded to further in the book, but that whole "abduction" thing is actually part of the main plot in The Black Moth). We see none, however, of his bad deeds in These Old Shades, but we know that he's bad just by the way he speaks, and through his relationships with his family and friends. He is as deadly with a sword as he is with words. People fear him and distrust him in general. I really enjoyed the fact the Heyer did not have to include scenes where he acted wrongly to make me believe that he was a devil (all that was actually told in The Black Moth). And another thing that I found particularly interesting was that the Duke was a tall and handsome man, very much masculine and viril, and yet he was described as wearing a powdered wig (!), lace, velvet, gold, emeralds and I- don't-know- what-that-I-never-imagined-men-wore (!!), carrying a fan (!!!!) and mincing around on high heels (!!!!!!!!!!!!). Yes, I can see how some had problems with that. As a Georgian era lover, it didn't bother me that much (I actually thought the fan-involving parts to be absolutely hilarious!).

"The Duke fanned himself with an air, handling the chicken-skin like a woman.^
[..]
His Grace smiled slowly, eyes nearly shut.
'The fan expresses my emotions. I must kiss March's hands and feet. Metaphorically speaking.' He waved the fan gently to and fro.
Davenant glared at him for a moment, annoyed at his nonchalance.
[...]
'Justin, pray put that fan away!'"

I could quote this scene on and on, as it is one of my favourites (I mean, poor Davenant is trying to have a serious conversation with Justin and he is just fooling around, fanning himself! lol!). I personally loved every scene in which the Duke had a say, and to me, he is an amazing character. But moving on. I could talk about him all day long, so let's move on.



Léonie is one of my favourite young heroines. She's just adorable. Yes, I admit that she did seem to act a lot younger than her given age (19), what with talking nonsense half the time, being so bloodthirsty and worshipping the Duke like a god. And yes, from a certain point of view, I can see that the relationship between Avon and Léonie is made a little creepy/disturbing, given that there are 20+ years that separate them, and that Avon spends the better part of the book referring to her as "my infant", "my child", etc...They seem to have more of a father-daughter relationship than a an actual romantic one.



However, there is another way of looking at it.
Just think about it for a minute.
The Duke of Avon is a cold-hearted man who has never truly cared or loved anyone or anything, and who has never been loved. (OK, there are perhaps a few exeptions...Hugh Davenant is his friend and it is said that he once loved Jennifer Beauchamp, but he tried to abduct her - twice! So...one sees the point). Then, one day, Léonie comes into his life in a most unexpected way, and gifts him with an unconditional and undying adoration. Léonie has known only misery in the nineteen years she has lived. The Duke one day decides to keep her. He shows himself to be unexpectedly good and kind to her. Isn't is normal then, for Léonie, who has never been properly cared for, and who has a terrible past, to come to love the man who got her out of her misery? He may not have acted from charity at first, but Avon's character change is one of the best aspects of this novel.
He starts as a Satan figure, and becomes a godly one (at least, to Léonie).
In a way, each rescued the other. The Duke saved Léonie from a terrible life of lies and agony, and Léonie saved the Duke from his sinful rakish lifestyle.

Honestly, I cannot blame Léonie for acting the way she does. In a world where all women are supposed to be the same, wearing giant skirts, curtseying, having their hands kissed, being accomplished, playing a lower role in the society, etc...it is no wonder that with the kind of past she's had, she chose to be different. And everyone loves her because of that. Women love her because she's sweet, beautiful, unique and funny. Men love her because she's different, espiègle and enjouée.
And...Avon comes to love her because she's herself. She's the only one who has ever dared to contradict or to talk back to him, and he likes it. It went from:

" 'If it is your will that I obey this Walker,’ said Léon with dignity, ‘I will do it y-your-r-r- Gr-r-race!’
Justin looked him over.
‘Certainly you will do so. And I prefer that you call me Monseigneur.’
[…]
‘This Walker has told me that when I speak to you, Monseigneur, I must say “your-r-r” ah, bah! I cannot, enfin!’
For one moment Justin stared haughtily at his page.
[…]
‘Be very careful,’ Justin warned him.”

to:

” ‘I called to Rupert as loud as I could and kicked the pig-person-‘
‘The Comte de Saint-Vire.’
‘Yes, the pig-person- on his legs a great many times. He did not like it at all.’
‘That,’ said his Grace, ‘does not altogether surprise me.’
[…]
‘Oh, you know the rest, Monseigneur! He gave an evil drink – pig-wash! He called it coffee.’
‘Then, let us also call it coffee, child, I beg of you. I can support “pig-person” but “pig-wash” I will not endure.’
‘But it was, Monseigneur! I threw it at him and he swore.’
[…]
‘Poor infant!’ His Grace tweaked one curl. ‘But a most indomitable infant withal.’”

Ahem – once again, I have to restrain myself from quoting the whole book!
Another awesome point about Heyer’s characterization is that she makes her secondary characters as fiery and fun as her primary ones. Justin’s younger siblings, Lady Fanny Marling and Lord Rupert Alastair, are no exception to this rule. Every scene involving them was super funny (especially with Rupert). What was the most fun about them, though, was their realization that the Duke was falling in love with Léonie. Fanny’s “plans” for them to get married and Rupert’s rebuttals that “Justin-is-too-old-and-too-devilish-for-her-and-besides-he-will-never-marry-a-bastard” were simply hilarious!

It also showed that their relationship as a family was evolving. In the beginning, Justin’s relationship with Fanny and Rupert is lacking trust, respect, and love. They fear their brother and he doesn’t care about them. As we come to see a softer side to Avon, however, we can see how that relationship gradually changes.

When Avon meets Rupert for the first time, (in the book) when he is wounded in an inn on a roadside in rural France, he acts towards him with none of his usual biting sarcasm, and even takes care of him. Rupert is greatly surprised that he is “basking in the sunshine of his approuval”, as Avon seems really proud of his courage to have saved Léonie when she was kidnapped, and does not know at first to what he should attribute the change.

Rupert and Léonie, on the other hand, have a brother/sister relationship from the first, and act like veritable youngsters when they are together; calling each other names, and fighting in the woods. Rupert is a lot closer in age with Léonie than Avon is, and it is a few times suggested that she should get with him as a couple instead of focusing on the Duke, but that Léonie can absolutely not do, and she treats Rupert as her brother throughout the novel. Avon yet plays again a sort of fatherly figure to them, recommending that they stop calling each other “imbéciles” and gently scolding Léonie for her unladylike behaviour. In a way, playing the “reprimanding older brother”, Justin gets closer to Rupert, as he probably never acted in such a way that shows that he cares at least a bit about him.

One of my absolute favourite scenes that clearly illustrates the change his Grace has with Rupert and Fanny is the sort of family-dinner they have with a few friends, on the eve before Léonie is to curtsy to the Polite World. Seeing them all talk gaily, amiably and at perfect ease was very touching.

” ‘I believe I have several times requested you not to call Rupert “imbecile”, infant.’
‘But, Monseigneur, he is an imbécile!’ she protested. ‘You know he is!’
‘Undoubtedly, ma fille, but I do not tell the whole world so.’
‘Then I don’t know what I am to call him, ‘ said Léonie. ‘He calls me spitfire, Monseigneur, and wild-cat.’
‘And so she is, by Gad!’ exclaimed his lordship.
‘I am not, Rupert. I am a lady. Monseigneur says so.’
‘A manifestly false assertion,’ said his Grace. ’But I cannot remember ever having said anything of the kind, infant.
[…]
‘But, Monseigneur, you said only a minute ago that your memory is not at all good.’
There was a shout of laughter; Avon’s own eyes were alight with it. He picked up his fan and dealt Léonie a rap across the knuckles.”

Haha, yes, I know, I know, that fan again! But I just had to include it in the passage!

Avon’s improving relationship with his sister is really demonstrated in the following scenes, as they work together to present Léonie to the respectable people at her first ball, and to make sure that she enjoys herself. Fanny is constantly looking for Justin to ask him which lady or lord Léonie should be introduced to next. As much as the Duke plays a sort of protector/father figure to Léonie, I believe that Fanny plays a very maternal role for Léonie. She treats her like her daughter (and even says so herself), educating her and dressing her with her own gowns. At first she thought Léonie to be a real trial, but by the end she loved taking care of her.



The one thing that disappointed me about this first ball scene was that Léonie and Avon did not even dance together! I was secretly really hoping for it, especially since he had promised her that he would dance with her in a previous conversation.



Oh well, that was really the only minor detail that disappointed me (oh, and of course the fact that the book cover completely reveals a major spoiler!!!!!).

As much I as enjoyed TOS though, I wouldn’t recommend it to everyone. Not everyone can stand all the “my dears” and “my infants”, and the jewels, and lace, and gold, and powder and hand-kissing and Georgian slang (the book’s literally full of it!). It’s not for everyone. However, for those like me who are totally obsessed with those kind of things, These Old Shades is the perfect book. In fact, it’s worth the read just for the over-the-top witty conversations.

And as for the love story…if at times I felt that Avon overused the nickname “my infant” and I wasn’t sure if he only loved Léonie as his ward, the ending definitely removed all doubts and left me assured and satisfied that they were both madly in love with each other.

The re-telling of Léonie’s tragic story by the Duke is perhaps the most touching part of this novel (and, yes, yes one of my favourites!). As he told her tale, his love for her shone through his voice at certain passages, and the answering adoration she held for him was echoed through the acute sacrifice she made to save his reputation she fled his house for fear she would expose him to a scandal when she discovered that Saint-Vire was her father and that she was probably his bastard-daughter.

When Avon rescued Léonie and later decided to keep her under his watchful eyes, his motives were strictly selfish. He had his own reasons for keeping her, and hoped to use her for his own ends. However, these motives soon took an important turn as he discovered Léonie’s unique personality, and came to love what he saw. His desire for revenge was then intensified, perhaps, but had a very different meaning.

When the Duke confesses his feelings for Léonie, he openly admits his unworthiness by implying that she is his superior and that he does not deserve her, or rather, that she does not deserve a man with such a tainted past. By thus humiliating himself in front of the woman he loves, it undoubtedly proves that he is an altogether reformed character.

” His Grace looked deep into her eyes, and then went down on one knee, and raised her hand to his lips.
‘Little one,’ he said, very low, ‘since you will stoop to wed me, I pledge you my word that you shall not in the future have cause to regret it.’”



Sigh…Here is my Duke of Andover from The Black Moth an entirely amended rake.

But boy, did he get his full revenge on Saint-Vire! Wow! Not only does he make him live hell by waiting so long to strike his final blow, and when he does it, proceeds with such intelligence and wit, telling Léonie’s story in front of everyone and causing Mme de Saint-Vire to have a total breakdown, but he ends up MARRYING SAINT-VIRE’S DAUGHTER, when the point of Avon’s revenge was not only to avenge Léonie, but also to get back to him for what had happened between them 20 years before when Saint-Vire would not let Avon MARRY HIS SISTER! AND NOW AVON MARRIES HIS DAUGHTER, HA!

This book is genius. Pure genius.

And just beautiful, wonderful, awesome, amazing, incredible.

Now, the question is, what the heck am I supposed to do with my life???!?!?

Well, thank God for Devil’s Cub!!!!!!!!!

[Willow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed These Old Shades. I think Heyer writes vivid, opinionated characters and she captures the Georgian period beautifully. I must admit though, I’m not sure this book is for everybody. There’s a lot of yakking. These characters talk, talk, and even more talk. Heyer doesn’t directly tell you what her characters are up to either, so you have to get to know them by what they say. Some of the dialogue is pretty hilarious, and some of it is kind of repetitive. To me, this makes the characters more visceral, but it can also slow down the action. You definitely get to know the two lovers.

I thought the Duke was hilarious. He has somewhat questionable morals, and in truth, he starts out as the villain of the story. He’s carrying around a twenty-year-old grudge that he simply MUST get even for. He’s very clever though and amusing, and let’s not forget smooth, so you can’t help but root for him. I have to admit, in the beginning, he sort of gave me the impression of being a perv with the way he takes young Leon under his wing, but then you find out he has a whole different agenda.

Of course, some of my more skeptical impressions of the Duke may be due to the fact that Leonie was so naïve and worshiping, that I thought she was a child. Of course, later on you find out she kept a lot of things to herself. When she feels comfortable, a lot more personality comes to the surface and she gets a lot more lippy. Lol

After I finished this I realized that the Duke and Leonie are polar opposites. Where she is trusting, he is cynical. Where she is impulsive, the Duke is calculating. She is innocent, and the Duke is not. They truly do complement each other. It’s no wonder they fall in love.

Of course not all was peachy. There were some eye-rolling moments, like Heyer’s snobby assertion that being noble and refined is something you’re born with and will show even if you are raised by a pig farmer. Thus it cannot be learned (which I think is a bunch of hooey). But I’m sure there are some blue-blood nobles out there who’d disagree. Yet this antiquated view actually fits perfectly with the period and gives a true aristocratic vibe, which in many ways is preferable to the politically correct views that seem to infiltrate historical fiction now.

So for my review, I give ****1/2. I thought this book was a lot of fun. I will forever think of the Duke as a young, smooth-talking Peter O’Toole and Leonie as Milla Jovovich from The Fifth Element. lol
Speaking of movies, how come they've never made a book or miniseries from one of Heyer's books? I think her books would be perfect for the Jane Austin crowd.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the Duke of Avon, Lord Justin, was twenty years old, asked for permission to court the sister of a Comte, but as Justin had a bad reputation his proposal was taken as an insult.
He was denied, making him the talk of the town.
He nourished thoughts of vengeance for twenty years.
Justin never loved anyone, and he was so vile that they called him Satanas, Satan.

One night while walking the streets of Paris, the now forty-year old Justin saved a boy who was running away from his much older, abusive brother.
Justin took one look at the boy with his red curls and decided to buy him from the brother.
He said he wanted him as his page boy.

The boy Leon was nineteen but looked younger. He said that he grew up in the country and when his parents died when he was twelve years old, his brother brought him along to Paris.

From that day forward Justin would have the boy accompanied him everywhere, and the reader is baffled not knowing about Justin's true intentions.
Leon loved his master and saviour, was devoted to him, admired and even worshipped him.
I was a tad suspicious of that relationship, having no idea where the author was leading us.
Justin told Leon that he only bought him, not from any desire to save him, but because he had a use for him. Once Leon was not of any use anymore, he would cast him away.

By chapter five l started to wonder when the heroine was going to make an appearance and thought that maybe this book is not really a romance.
Then at chapter six we got a bombshell!
It was so unexpected, so surprising that my mouth was hanging agape.

This is a compelling story, the heroine is delightful, the Hero is interesting to say the least, confident, a straight talker and a ruthless person. He was described as a man with powdered hair, thin lips, beautiful white hands, wearing gold cloth clothes, wearing a lot of Jewellery and jewelled high heeled shoes.
The characters are well drawn, and through their endless conversations they felt like real people to me.
This book is eloquently written and l wish it were made into a period movie.
I withheld a star because l found the book to be way long. It took me quite a few days to read it.
Also romance is not the strong point of this book. There's romance on the last 5% .

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite romance novels, ever. I am not even afraid to review it here on this pretentious book site, I love it so much. I have worn through my copy of it. It is lovely beat up and bent back to the pages of all my favorite parts. The Heyer hallmarks are all here: great characters, hilarious plot, breaking the genre rules, a somewhat effete hero (but in a manly way). The main character, Leonie, is absolutely adorable. I don't even care if others find her annoying, she makes me laugh. I've been reading this book since I was 13 and I still feel that way.

This book actually has some great layers. There's real darkness and fear and complexity in the characters. It isn't just the farce that it could be. Far from it. There's real mystery and a deep sympathy to the hero, Justin. Easily the first book hero I ever fell in love with. He's quite gothic, but with that Regency sprinkling of humor that I love. (Think Mr. Rochester... but polished. And hilarious.)

Whatever, shut up. I love Georgette Heyer. This was one of the books that really helped along my love for 18th/19th century Brit lit.

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Group Read Georgette Heyer Fans Group

This was my favourite book as a very young teen & I have read it more than any other title!

GH was not altogether happy with The Black Moth & decided to bring back Devil Belmanoir - this time as the romantic hero. This is well known, but also Lavinia & Richard become Fanny & Edward, Frank Fortescue becomes Hugh Davenant, Diana becomes Lady Merivale. I don't think Lord Merivale is Jack - he lacks Jack's whimsical sweetness. But their & Belmanoir's back story is used to very good effect.

The extract from a poem by Victorian poet Austin Dobson (which has been at the front of every edition I have read of this novel except the Arrow)

This Age I grant (and grant with pride),
Is varied, rich, eventful;
But, if you touch its weaker side,
Deplorably resentful:

Belaud it, and it takes your praise
With air of calm conviction;
Condemn it, and at once you raise
A storm of contradiction.

Whereas with these old Shades of mine,
Their ways and dress delight me;
And should I trip by word or line,
They cannot well indict me.

This story is so well told that I simply don't care about major plot holes. I don't care that Avon is treating 19 year old Leonie like a child & withholding information from her that she had a right to know. I don't care that French characters in this book who are fluent in English fall back into their French for very easy English terms. What I do care about is the Romance with a capital R that sweeps you along & makes this book nearly impossible to put down. Yes it is flawed but GH was still only around 23 when she wrote it - this is an accomplished book for anyone let alone so young an author!

& I do love is the way that GH manages to make the dress of the time look masculine - no easy task. I love the rich cast of characters that, like a few of her other great works, become a group of friends that you want to hang out with. & Rupert & Leonie's relationship is quite complex. She is more than a sister to him - yet they are not in love.

& the book does contain some of the greatest lines in romantic fiction.

“Léonie, you will do well to consider. You are not the first woman in my life."

She smiled through her tears. "Monseigneur, I would so much rather be the last woman than the first,” she said.”



What can one do but *swoon*

Can't wait to read the sequel Devil's Club next month.

[WhiskeyintheJar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I'm too much a product of my time. Having a hero who was 40yrs and a heroine who was 19, combined with the hero constantly calling her infant and for 80% of the story portraying her as very young, innocent, and wide-eyed, I couldn't and didn't want to buy into their romance.

If you liked Val from Hoyt's Maiden Lane series, you're going to love our hero Justin, definitely an inspiration for him. I was a big fan of Justin and his wit, he's constantly miles and moves ahead of everyone else. Leonie was kept so young, guileless, and precocious without much emotional maturity growth, I have to be that person and say I wasn't a big fan of the heroine.

The father figure falling for the young girl who hero worships him but written very well with tangled weave drama.

[Trin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Most fandom people I've talked to either love or at least rather like this book, but it seems it's my turn to feel all "bwah?" and left out, as Punk does with The Dreyfus Affair and Siria does with Swordspoint. I hated it. I despised pretty much all the characters, other than Hugh and Rupert—Leonie was irritating, and Avon was just creepy. I know he was supposed to be "Satanas"—the devil of a man who isn't really that bad, but I found him neither enjoyably naughty nor charming; he was just kind of slimy. The idea of him and Leonie being together really skeeved me out, not because of the age difference—I actually like an age difference, when it's done well—but because of the power dynamic, I guess. All the power was Avon's, both practically and emotionally, and throughout the whole book Leonie was worshipful of him and he condescending towards her. Ew. I also didn't see the slash at all; Hugh was one of the few nice characters, as I said, so I guess it could be construed that he put up with Avon because he was in love with him, but Avon didn't seem particularly gay to me—he was just an 18th Century dude who lived in France and was a bit of a vain ass. The overall package was not appealing, and neither was this book, which is too bad, because I really enjoyed the only other Heyer I've read, The Masqueraders.

Before I read These Old Shades, I was planning to read The Grand Sophy soon, but now I'm not so sure; Shades turned me off, and I also heard that Sophy has a really ugly Jewish stereotype in it. Those of you who've read it: what do you think?

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was charming, witty, and written so damn well! It's rare that a book written in 1926 could be relevant a century later. No wonder every hr writer is inspired by her.

This is a must read book!

[Hana · Rating 4 out of 5]

The literary equivalent of those marvelous British period dramas with utterly glorious settings and luscious costumes.



I can never resist this sort thing. Pages of details of soft white brocades, ruffle upon ruffle, falling over great hoops, auburn hair piled in elaborate curls, pearls against soft pale skin, and perfect accessories like...chicken-skin fans.

And since this is 18th century France before the Revolution, the men are just as gorgeous and even more colorful....



When we first meet the hero, the Duke of Avon, he is arrayed "in a full-skirted coat of purple satin, heavily laced with gold," his wig immaculately powdered, carrying a beribboned cane, and mincing along in high heels. The Duke is returning to his palatial Paris hôtel from a night of gaming or perhaps other amusements when an urchin stumbles across his path and begs for help: "Great violet-blue eyes gazed wildly up at him, terror in their depths."

This is a Georgette Heyer romance so we all know where this is going, but getting there is splendid fun. The plot is a lively but improbable mix of The Count of Monte Cristo and My Fair Lady yet it's all so glittering that I hardly noticed the plot holes as I gawked at ballroom scenes at Versailles and yearned to own one marvelous gown after another.

The descriptions are splendid, the dialog witty, and the protagonists are likable, particularly the little urchin who is transformed into....well that would be telling!

Along the way, we get to meet luminaries at the court of Louis V, including the famed courtesan, Madam Pompadour....



splendidly dressed, of course!

I've read most of Georgette Heyer's Regency romances, but I'm new to those set in 18th century France and England. You can be sure I'll be back for more! Read with fellow Georgette Heyer Fans who added so much to the pleasure--thank you all!

[Merry in and out for the next few days · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely wonderful wonderful read 100 years after it was written. I read this many years ago and its one of the few books that has held the test of time. Many many others have written better reviews. I can just say this is well worth reading and the characters are so good!

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the sharp wit, the intrigue, the characterization…

These Old Shades is a 1926 Georgian historical romance that established Heyer as a writer. In this standalone novel, Heyer recycled characters from a previous book, now ‘shades’ of the original, giving this book its title.

On his way home late one night, Justin the Duke of Avon has an encounter with a fleeing child, and thus, rescues him from his pursuer, then brings him home to work in his household as a page. This action sets Justin, among others, on a life changing course.



Arm yourself with a character list and keep it handy. No joke. You’ll need it primarily for the first couple of chapters until you recognize the multitude of names used to refer to Justin, Duke of Avon. I had the same issue with other characters, basically anyone with more than a first name. Here’s a list of the characters with the tiniest spoiler, if you read closely, but mostly it’s spoiler free.

• Justin "Satanas" Alastair, Duke of Avon, (also called his Grace or the Duc or the English Duc) age 41
• Lady Fanny Marling, Justin’s sister
• Mr Edward Marling, Fanny's husband
• Lord Rupert Alastair, Justin’s brother, early 30s
• Harriet Field, Justin’s cousin
• Hugh Davenant, the Duke's friend, early 30s, sometimes guest of Justin’s
•
• Gaston, Justin’s valet
• Walker, Justin’s maître d'hôtel
• Léon Bonnard, 19 years old page for the Duke Avon.
• Jean Bonnard, a tavern-keeper, Léon's older brother
•
• Anthony Merivale, lives near one of Justin’s estates, had past conflict with Justin
• Lady Merivale, formerly Jennifer Beauchamp, wife of Anthony Merivale.
• Madame de Verchoureux, Justin’s beautiful mistress
•
• Comte de Saint-Vire, rival of Justin.
• Henri de Saint-Vire, the Comte's son, 19 years old
• Léonie de Saint-Vire, the Comte's daughter, 19 years old
• Armand de Saint-Vire, younger brother of the Comte


Action started immediately and the descriptive writing keep me engaged throughout the book. Several times the suspense could be felt as the game or adventure was afoot. However, I was on the edge of my seat for the climax! It was fun and exciting, and I loved how everything ended. That’s not to say it was devoid of tender moments. There were a few touching scenes that made my eyes glisten. But for the most part, it consisted of either action or humor.

Characters were well developed, varied, and interesting. I would say the characterization and witty dialogue, from the multiple narrators, was the definite strength of this book. My favorite was Justin’s brother Rupert. He was a hoot, mildly debauched, and was often saying things like, “Thunder an’ turf!” If you were having a party, you’d want to invite this lively character. He proved he was loyal and protective. Here is a quote from a favorite scene with Rupert lying in bed eating but intent on defending his charge with a minor outfit adjustment…

”Where’s that pistol? Plague take this broth!” “He threw the bowl and the rest of its contents on the floor, settled his wig straight, and reached out a hand for the pistol”

Justin’s character, “a tall, haughty figure,” showed the most character growth over the story. Starting out self-centered and hedonic, he evolved to the point that his friends and family commented on his change. Léonie, Justin's love interest, exhibited a temper with her retorts but nevertheless I found her quaint and amusing. One who was both innocent and fiery. These characters and others became like old friends before the ending.

The clothing descriptions were entertaining and had me grinning or eye rolling! One opening line that was a hilariously juxtapose to Justin’s masculinity was, “he walked mincingly, for the red heels of his shoes were very high.” This was a dude that carried a beribboned cane, wore a powered wig, had jewels on his lace and fingers, and, finally, “languidly waved” “a fan of lavender silk.” The ladies didn’t miss out either; their gowns were no less detailed or lavish. What I wouldn’t give to see a film adaption of this book!

Although the MCs showed affection for each other in minor ways, and it was evident they cared for one another, I wouldn’t shelve this as romance. It’s more historical fiction to me. If this were a modern romance, I probably would rate the hero as a reprobate. From the text, we know he frequently spent time with his light O’ love (his mistress) after he had met his love interest and begun developing tender feelings for her. She was keenly aware of his behavior too. Ultimately, he proved he could speak lovely words from the heart with apt timing.

You may notice that Justin often called Léon, Rupert, and Léonie by terms of endearment that mostly reflected their youthful age compared to him. Pet names such as, “infant, Little one, child, beloved, mes enfants, ” Other characters referred to Léonie with, “la petite” and the like. I mention this tendency because it continues throughout the book, and so that a reader at the beginning won’t draw a premature distasteful conclusion.

Overall, this was one of the best, if not the best, historical fiction books I’ve read. The story, the characters, the lively dialogue all added up to a delightful read. The only odd bit that’s still puzzling me was in reference to his Grace “swept a magnificent leg” or “made a leg.” So, history buffs, please enlighten me.


Note: I believe finding out about the characters and the story before I started reading helped my experience to be successful. Where did I start? Why with this excellent and thorough review and my resource for all things Georgian/Heyer, please see my friend Anne’s review of These Old Shades.

[Vivian · Rating 4 out of 5]

GAH! I adore Georgian period romances. The ridiculous extravagance and theatricality of action and costume are simply divine.

"I thought you disliked melodrama, my friend?"
"I do; but I have a veritable passion for--justice."
"You've nourished thoughts of vengeance--for twenty years?"

Other pluses which definitely made this a win: Heroine disguised as a boy, swordplay as well as hoydenish behaviors overlaid with a sweet naïveté; and an older sworn bachelor and renown rake charmed back into life's pleasure from the malaise of ennui. It's Pygmalion with far more entertaining circumstances.

The button of her foil came to rest below his left shoulder.
"Touche," said Avon. "That was rather better, infant."
Leonie danced in her excitement.
"Monseigneur, I have killed you! You are dead! You are dead!"
"You display an unseemly joy," he remarked. "I had no notion you were so bloodthirsty."

If you like historical romances, brats, and an age difference then you really can't go wrong, here. I feel rather silly that the title was so off-putting to me that I failed to read it earlier. And yes, I comprehended the ancient Greek concept of shade, but dismissed the opportunity. Rather stupid of me, to be honest.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STARS

‘Oh, Monseigneur, I never thought that you would be so very blind!’ she said.
His Grace looked deep into her eyes, and then went down on one knee..

Oh how I adored this book! Such fantastic characters. I am absolutely in love with Le Duc! Even in his extravagance, no especially in his extravagance. What a character he is! Now you must understand, I am very quickly becoming quite the Regency nerd, so keep this in mind if you are thinking of picking up this book. It is a classic, published in 1926, but trust me, it holds up as well as any Jane Austen. So much wit and humor, touching moments and sadness as well. But above all... romance. There is quite an age difference in the H/h, about 20 years, but when you consider the background of each, it couldn't be any other way. I cannot wait to start the next book! Highly recommend.

and then...

His Grace took snuff.

[ꕥ Ange_Lives_To_Read ꕥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of Georgette Heyer's earliest novels, and coincidentally the one I read when I first discovered her a few years back. For my second read of this novel I'm much more familiar with her writing style, so I got into the spirit of the thing more quickly than I did the first time.

This is a very entertaining adventure with hints of mystery and comedy. For me it is not as successful as a romance because of an issue with the main couple, they had a much-too-large age difference although I liked the characters as individuals. The Duke especially was very witty and had some one-liners that had me giggling.

A note on the audiobook: I don't recommend it, at least the version I found at Hoopla. The narrator had such an annoying voice and exaggerated French accent it was like nails down a blackboard to me. So I switched over to the kindle edition.

[Susan's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without a doubt, this was Heyer's very best historical. I fell off my chair more than once laughing at Leonie's audacious conversation with "Monseigneur" - what a heartbreakingly beautiful love story!

[Izzah ꒰紅葉を期待 ಇ Duchess of Cabria꒱ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bow to the Queen

There are debates whether Austen's repertoire should be considered a historical contemporary romance or just a historical romance. I don't care much about those sorts of discussions since I prefer to spend my time reading the books than debate about them.

However, if Austen became an inspiration to more modern romance writers, there's no denying Heyer set the standard for what would become the "Historical Romance" genre.

Given that some of her stories (this one included since it was finished in 1922, though only publish in 1926) are almost or over a century old, suffice to say I was terrified I wouldn't understand them. I kept putting off reading the Gaia of HR, but a dear friend recommended it and I decided to finally take the plunge.

Act like a villain vs To be a villain

He walked mincingly, for the red heels of his shoes were very high. A long purple cloak, rose-lined, hung from his shoulders and was allowed to fall carelessly back from his dress, revealing a full-skirted coat of purple satin, heavily laced with gold; a waistcoat of flowered silk; faultless small clothes; and a lavish sprinkling of jewels on his cravat and breast. [...] although a light dress sword hung at the gentleman’s side its hilt was lost in the folds of his cloak,

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Men in heels with swords are hot.

Masculinity is an artificial and fluid concept and if you're uncomfortable brandishing a dainty chicken-skin fan, then you're probably of peasant stock.

But fashions aside, what I absolutely loved about Alastair was the fact that he was never a real villain. His rank made his youthful indiscretions a bigger deal than they were and with time, he conformed to the image the world had of him and began playing the role.

By the time he meets the heroine, he has forgotten he is capable of more. But he will soon be reminded.

It is so entertaining, and so—er—novel, to be a gilded saint in the eyes of—er—unfledged innocence. I shall keep the boy for just so long as he continues to amuse me.

He says it cynically, but those could be said to be his famous last words. The more he insists he is a villain, the more he tries to prove it to Léonie. He even takes her to a high end brothel, but soon regrets that decision.

“Me, I did not think them pretty. Painted, and vulgar, with loud voices, and common tricks. But I did not see much.” His brow wrinkled. “I do not know—I think perhaps I had offended Monseigneur, for of a sudden he swept round, and said ‘Await me below!’ He said it as though he were angered.”

That, I think, is the peak of his attempt at maintaining his villainous façade to Léonie. It's actually very early in the book, at around 10%. From there, I think what's left is a very cynic, but not cruel or even disillusioned man. Because everyone is used to him being a devil, all his actions are taken with suspicion by those around him, but we the readers see him through the eyes of Léonie, we see his kindness, his humor, his patience. What we see is a man with a plan for revenge too, sure, but not at the cost of an innocent girl.

His plan is probably not completely formed until the very last minute, but his end goal of ruining Saint-Vire changes from avenging himself to avenging his ward.

Too many years of hard living will not suddenly make him sweet and docile, but the fact that he's giving into her demands 30% in, shows you his soft spot for the heroine is there to stay.

“Promise! Please, you must promise!”

“This passion for oaths and promises!” sighed Avon. “I promise, my infant.”

This is him not more than two chapters later

“Monseigneur, I have killed you! You are dead! you are dead!”
“You display an unseemly joy,” he remarked. “I had no notion you were so bloodthirsty.”
“But it was so clever of me!” she cried. “Was it not, Monseigneur?”
“Not at all,” he said crushingly. “My guard was weak.”
Her mouth dropped.
“Oh, you let me do it!”
His Grace relented.
“No, you broke through, ma fille.”

I adore him.

It's in the blood

As a modern, advanced minded person, I should be offended at this book's message of "blood will out."
.
.
.
But I'm not. Léonie is too delightful, too prickly effervescent. Alastair's barbs might be sharper but she uses her thorns without compunction. I would argue that her easy charm makes her hits that much more redoutables, death by a thousand cuts and all that.

She will always think him wonderful, and she’ll not mind his morals, for she’s none herself;

Fanny knows what she's about.

Final Thoughts

This book is joy, silliness and romance wrapped in one wonderfully well written story. Yes, my fears were real since I did lose track of some scenes a few times, but not enough to not absolutely adore this story.

CW: violence below ↓







P.S.: Alastair is my new book husband. Don't challenge me, I play dirty 🔪

[Jacob Proffitt · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of Georgette Heyer but I've been avoiding this story since, well, pretty much forever. I'm just not a fan of the excesses of Louis XV. The fashions were silly (even sillier than fashions usually are), the morals deeply disturbing, and the intrigues were singularly sordid. And I could tell that a lot of this took place in that milieu. But I tried to start Devil's Cub and the holes were so obvious that I just couldn't do it so I finally picked it up.

Heyer is great so I went along with the meandering plot and thrown-together action. The traipsing about Paris, London, villages in France, an English estate, etc. And I even enjoyed getting to know Leonie and seeing her wrap Avon around her finger without even meaning to or half trying.

But the excesses and fashions did bug me. And it doesn't help that Heyer's classist prejudice is so strongly present (the two babies swapped at birth display all the characteristics of their class origin and none of the characteristics of their upbringing). And the age difference is a seriously disturbing one if you stop to think about it even a little. So when Leonie went off on one of my least favorite peeves (unilateral decisions for the other's "own good") with a dose of author-induced stupidity (what, Leonie suddenly believes Avon is an idiot and knows less than literally all of Paris "society"), I decided I was done and I'd just forgo the final, I dunno, 20%?

At least I can move on to Devil's Cub, now...

[Naksed · Rating 3 out of 5]

A guardian-ward romance set in France under the reign of Louis XV. This is a revenge story where the dish is served very, very cold.

The dialogue and characterizations in this story were superb, particularly the male protagonist, a fortyish fop who is much deeper than his frivolous image suggests. The denouement of his meticulously planned revenge was chilling.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

2020 Review
I just...I laugh out loud. Even knowing the lines are coming. Even already having read them 4 times. I can't help myself. I giggle helplessly every time I hit the scene with the guy with the stolen horse.

2019 Review
Squeeeeaaaaaalllllll.
Major fangirling. Lovely re-read. Happy Amy.

March 29, 2017 Review 5 stars
It causes me almost physical pain re-reading my review from 2011...I must apologize. I was so young. However, on principle, I don't change reviews, only add to them. So here is my addition:
For many years, I have viewed These Old Shades as my least favorite of my favorite Heyer novels. While I have read and re-read her other works, I've generally avoided this one.
Which probably was a good thing for me.
Now that I'm older, I view this book in a totally different light. It is utterly charming. Justin Alastair is swoon worthy and Leonie is memorable and fantastic. Their romance is sweet and lovely. There are so many memorable, fun characters.
*content sigh*
Really, this book was remarkably good. I need to buy it. Like, now.

..........................................................................

April 7th, 2011 Review 3 stars

Have you read These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer?
My, how droll of you, but you verily must. I tell you, you haven’t read Heyer until you’ve read this one. It has got a bit of everything and is a very sweet romance at that!

Justin Alastiar, Duke of Avalon, takes pride in his nickname, Satanas. He is a coldhearted man, known for scandal and vice, disliked by just about everyone. When he buys (“body and soul”) a red-headed youth from the streets to serve as his page, everyone presumes it is just another of his mad whims. Who brings a page everywhere, anyway? But Avalon has suspected what only a very few know, and that is this supposed farm urchin “Leon” is really “Leonie”, the legitimate and wronged daughter of his hated enemy, the Comte de Saint Vire, whose mad desire for a son led him to disown his very child. Determined to get his revenge on Saint Vire by bringing abject humiliation, Avalon adopts the child (now properly made Leonie) and sets her up to destroy her own Father. What he did not expect was the beautiful transformation of the young girl, whose heart of gold may be just the thing to melt Satanas’s heart of stone…
I began this book…warily. While Heyer apparently has no problem setting up heroes with a past (look at Frederica or Arabella ) never has is it quite as obviously flaunted. Of course, you need to in this case. The Duke of Avalon rather deserves his nick-name. But still…I was wary.
And I’d recommend reading the book like that, with half an eye out. I was less distracted by his vices because I was expecting them. And it really isn’t too bad. Just a note if warning there, then.
Actually, I quite deplored the two main characters, Avalon and Leonie. Deplored I say! xD (deplored is such a fun word) They were delightfully well done and yet I dislike both of them excessively! While I wanted them to get together, I didn’t like them personally . Which is probably what makes Heyer’s writing so remarkable, you can dislike a character and still root for them. Avalon was a licentious profligate (more fun words) whose main interests seem to be in revenge, his various mistresses, and his clothing.
Leonie is more difficult to pin down, because she hides behind a mask. Avalon is the only one who recognizes that under heir air of innocence and impishness is a hurt, unloved young woman. That is part of what makes their romance so sweet. Everyone sees her bouncy exterior, but he recognizes her for who she really is and, as his character changes, begins to love her for it. I got tired with her duped innocence, though. I don’t think it was “faked”, but it got irritating after a while. The story hints that she gained a bit of the Duke’s haughtiness, but she doesn’t seem to have gotten much brighter.
Here is a bit of an example of what her character is like:
On the night of all ball hosted in her honor with all of fashionable Paris turning out, she is dressed to the nines and glamorously makes her entrance into their immediate circle of friends…when they don’t immediately behold her, she pauses on the stairs, unfurls her fan, and says reprovingly,
“But look at me!”
Which is followed by her skipping (or perhaps it is dancing, she seems to “dance about the room” a great deal) down the remaining stairs and onto her guardian’s arm. Quaint comments like “but look at me!” seem to stress what a dear, quaint, innocent creature she is….even as you learn what she has been to and how very “un-innocent” she is.
And so you see the double mask painted with her, hiding behind being a “quaint darling” and the “latest goddess of Paris”, while secretly struggling with pain and fear and longing.
So while her “innocence” got on my nerves and while Avon’s past was really a bit of a turn-off, by the end of the book they have gone through quite a bit of character change, greatly for the better. (I still didn’t like them but they were much better xD)
The secondary characters in this book, though, were excellent! Very memorable, from Avon’s sister Fanny and younger brother Rupert, to his dear friend Hugh, to Fanny’s husband, to his English neighbors who dislike him personally but are quite fond of Leonie…even to Leonie’s biological uncle or Conde, the Prince who finds her charming, it is such a mixed bunch of good characters! You can’t help but like ‘em!
This book has a bit of everything. Kidnapping, chase, betrayal, a landowner’s best beaver cap! It is a beautifully created world of royal France and polite England, of counts and dukes and duels! Oh it is lovely.
The story itself is almost a fairytale; the young, wrongly-abused girl plucked from the streets and made a princess. The romance was adorable and, I think, believable. If you are rather distraught t the idea of a 40-year-old man with a history marrying a 20-year-old (as I certainly was!), it is handled well.
I would like to make one last comment…I am rather flabbergasted how many reviewers consider Avalon the best Heyer hero. Sure, he has many elements of sweetness and awareness (“I know women”, he frequently states) but the best ??? Ah well, to each his own.
Would I recommend this book? Yes. I would. To an older audience, mind you, and I probably wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend it, but you really haven’t read Heyer until you’ve read this one. It isn’t my favorite (I still prefer The Grand Sophy and Frederica and maybe even Cotillion ) but it is excellent it its own way.

So read warily, it is comic and romantic, but...older. At least that is what this teenager says. Very much a romance novel (with action thrown in)


(EDIT: oh, and why does the book have the same cover as "The Grand Sophy"? Most peculiar.)

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hard to believe this book was first published in 1926. Almost 100 years ago. Wow. And it's hardly dated, although some of the dialogue does feel a little stilted or old-fashioned compared with 'modern' historical romances.

This book has to be one of the original cynical-rake-falls-for-good-woman-and-reforms-for-life tales, a much beloved HR trope still in 2020. It is is beautifully done, with Heyer's typical light touch. Leonie is such a charming, delightful character, and the mature Justin is perfect for her. The age gap between them is not a problem for me. Yes Leonie is young, but she has had some harsh experiences in her life that make her far from naive. And for her, Justin is able to grow and change his rakish ways.

This story has it all. There is a deep and beautiful romance at its centre, but there is adventure, drama, humour, madcap journeys, gorgeous Georgian fashions, settings ranging from an English country house to the court of Versailles, and a great cast of secondary characters who you almost wish had their own books (Hugh Davenant for example).

As with all Heyers, it's a clean read, but the romance is still wonderful. Just a look between the characters is enough to convey a world of feeling. The understatement leaves much to the reader's imagination, and it's a world away from the crudity of some of the more explicit HRs out there. This one is a charming, elegant, fast-moving, and still a very satisfying read after all these years.

[Sam I AMNreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick, zany, humorous book-- and my second Heyer, recommended by Georgie-who-is-Sarah as a better offering than Beauvallet. I'd have to agree, though that same swashbuckling feel exists here. Her writing is bold and upbeat.

I am still, somehow, by the end of their evolving and strange relationship, convinced of Justin's love for Leonie.

I had tons of fun with this, time reading is only due to print copy.

[Seema Khan Peerzada · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is just a picture of how personally I take my books and how involved I get! Great many spoilers and fan girl babbling ahead!


Now I don’t know how this happened but it was just a coincidence that I read The Black Moth before reading These Old Shades and I hadn’t read any of the blurbs about these books before beginning them either. While I read it, there was some clicking going on in my mind that something is familiar, that I know some of these things. I also felt that Satanas was so similar to The Duke of Andover, the Devil. Further Anthony Merivale is very much alike Sir Anthony Ferndale, in that he had some highwayman history to his name, and had rescued his wife Jennifer from Satanas while he was abducting her and also had had a terrific sword fight with him that was played with almost the same level of expertise, though Merivale had a slight edge over Avon (remember Jack taught fencing in France?) Now weren’t all these actions what had also ensued between Sir Anthony Ferndale and the Duke of Andover? Further the character of Hugh Devanant is again similar to Devil’s friend who unwaveringly is focused on reforming Devil and is seen prophesying that he will one day love someone more than himself. I felt curious and I then did some research. It turns out that Heyer had written These Old Shades using the same characters, retaining their character essence in their names and just made them more three dimensional. And it indeed is another side to the story of The Black Moth (set three years after the happenings of The Black moth) and it was said that she had named the book as she did in order to give it a continuation of sorts.


I did not like The Black Moth as much as I have liked other Heyer books; in fact I have listed it in my bottom 5 Heyers recently. But after having read TOS, I am fascinated! There can be no other book like These Old Shades! I love it to the last shred! And that is an understatement! I just cannot understand how this was penned. The detailing of emotions, actions, feelings and situations is just out of the world!


First, It is Monseigneur and Léon, the page!

Oh such a cute mix of loyalty, devotion, love, servitude, fury in Léon and of an apparently detached interest, care, admonition and command in Satanas. This phase in their lives was so pure and unadulterated. I was touched at Léon’s selfless and zealous dedication to Avon and his fury in defense of his master. Léon’s rescue at the hands of Avon from the clutches of Jean and his horrid wife, have earned for the Duke a lifelong dedicated and devoted servant. Léon has placed his Monseigneur on a pinnacle of heroism.


Here, It always goes like:


Avon: Do this! (With haughtiness)
Léon: Yes, Monseigneur!
Avon: We go to Vaussauds!
Léon: Yes, Monseigneur!
Avon: an impertinent page!
Léon: (engaging smile)
Avon: My Léon (Oh, how cute!)
Léon: I will be yours forever My Monseigneur!
Avon: My infant! (How endearing!)
Léon: You are the best Monseigneur!


Then the covers are lifted and truth revealed to Avon (though he’s known it forever!) Léon turns into Léonie and is taught to be a girl again and becomes Avon’s ward.


Then it is Monseigneur and Léonie, the ward!


Oh there’s growth in this phase. Growth in love, in devotion, in care and in affections and fondness of Léonie and Avon for each other. It’s not just Léonie who is fond of him; there is also growth in Avon’s attachment here. And there’s not just fondness, but a mutual respect evident. I had a lump in the throat and almost cried at a couple of places. Some of the best scenes I have ever read are in this book, especially the one where Avon leaves Léonie in Lady Fanny’s care. That’s my favourite scene. Then, the travel to and from Versailles. Also, Léonie and Avon’s reunion in Bassincourt.

What we come across in this phase is:

Léonie: Monseigneur do this! (With an engaging smile)
Avon: Yes infant!
Léonie: Monseigneur not our library! (a captivating dimple here)
Avon: Yes, ma fille!
Léonie: Monseigneur not that! (an ensnaring peep from beneath the lashes)
Avon: yes my child!


So basically, she has Avon around her little finger! Satanas, whom no one could prevail upon finally comes to love someone more than himself!


I never thought I’d say this, but: “I love Satanas!” I mean who could not?? For all his satanical actions, I still find His Grace of Avon, Justin Alastair one of the most charming and endearing heroes ever! He is enthralling and fascinating. The sarcasm and the sharp straight-faced one-liners are just too good! Under the façade of his satanical acts, there is a human aspect to Justin which only Leonie succeeds in nudging out. His kindness, empathy and care for Leonie are remarkably beautiful. He is aware of his own unworthiness and is trying his best to save Léonie from himself. His anguish and accumulating vengeance for what Léonie has had to suffer for her father’s vile actions is captivating to read. To revenge Léonie’s sufferings he, at one point forgets that he himself had a score to settle with Saint Vire so taken is he by her and so selfless is his love.


Léonie or Léon! She is my most beloved of Heyer heroines, even more than Frederica and Venetia whom I had found the most likable up till now. Reading TOS has really changed the sequence of my favourites. She is just so selfless in her love for Justin and so devoted to him. There’s nothing she won’t do for him. The sweet mix of innocence, wisdom and cynicism and her defense of her master with all her life and heart are just so cute! “I am his dog” – who says this? I mean this is the height of innocent devotion! Her reminiscence of the small conversational details they have had, her fear of losing him, of being away from him and unhappiness at being parted from him when he’s on his travels, her whim of keeping the library out of reach of outsiders just because it is ‘their’ sitting place and where he had brought her for the first time are the things which really show how much he means to her and how much each moment they passed together is important to her.


Such intricate description of the small nothings which are valued as everything endears the book so much to the heart!

I found their love for one another selfless and unadulterated. There is a sense of belonging between them right from their first meeting with each other and their bond just grows stronger each moment. And it was not just Justin and Léonie, but Monseigneur and Léon were equally beautiful. “My Leon” and “Monseigneur” are just simple endearments denoting such deep fondness, pride and affection. They are just made for each other!


Hugh Devanant, Lord Rupert Alastair, Lady Fanny Marling who have substantial roles to play in the story are all so very likable. Rupert’s outspoken jests are hilarious! Lady Fanny is a sweet heart and Hugh Devanant such a level headed and caring friend. Merivale is interesting and I felt like killing Saint Vire myself! (Told you I get too involved!)


The story is compelling. The way it is wrought is remarkable. Splendid, in fact! No doubt, it is so loved and appreciated around the globe.


I could go on and on and on about it and still not be satisfied with what I’ve written because this is not even a tenth of what I feel! I’ve come to love and appreciate Georgette Heyer even more after this and am royally spoilt for other books!


I would just say: IF YOU HAVEN’T READ THIS BOOK, YOU’VE LEFT A BEAUTIFUL TREASURE UNOPENED. A MUST READ IN THIS LIFETIME!

[Heidi (MinxyD14) · Rating 5 out of 5]

(March 2025 - Third read/listen - Audible version Narrated by Alexander Vlahos - 4 Feb 2021)
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(April 2023 - Second read/listen - Audible version Narrated by Alexander Vlahos - 4 Feb 2021)
The newest Audible version is incredible! An utter joy to experience this story again through Alexander Valhos' talented narration. If this is a favorite GH series, I highly recommend Noble Satyr by Lucinda Brant and her three new books in the Roxton Foundation Series, released earlier this year.
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(February 2019 - First read/listen - Audible version Narrated by Cornelius Garrett - 17 Mar 2015)