Georgette Heyer Fans discussion

I've talked about this for a while & now I'm doing it. This was my dad's favourite book as a lad. When I got this edition (well the British one, but it's the same cover!) he was so disappointed, but I'm hoping we had (I didn't like it either) got used to Heyer's lighter touch with her later books. This is heavier.


I'm just up to the start of Chapter 3 & I'm enjoying it so far.
My copy has an introduction by her late son Richard. He certainly shows some of the wit that made his mother famous!

" With the exception of a female living in California who, for some obscure reason, considered that all of her works should be publicly burned by the hangman...

:D

Anyone who wants to join this read, feel free. Just use spoiler tags when necessary as there will only be this one thread.

Carol
As I mentioned before, the key to enjoying this is to not take it all seriously. Think Victorian/Edwardian era boys' own adventure story.
The actual history (battles, real people) is fairly accurate.

Barb, you may have inspired me to read Simon the Coldheart! I didn’t think anyone could achieve that. ;-) I actually love reading Golden Age children’s books, even those pitched to boys. Robert Louis Stevenson, Rudyard Kipling, etc.

So far it is reminding me more of The Conqueror then My Lord John in writing style. (this is a compliment)

Abigail wrote: "Barb, you may have inspired me to read Simon the Coldheart!...
Abigail--I read entirely too much G A Henty in my youth! I think 'Simon' is in the mold of Doyle's 'The White Company',and Howard Pyle's 'Otto of the Silver Hand'--both favorites of mine.
Give it a try. It certainly isn't as wooden as 'My Lord John'.

A character flaw of mine is that I really hate admitting I'm wrong.

*shuffles feet, looks embarrassed*

I was wrong about Simon the Coldheart. I rocketed through this read. I would love to give 4★ when I do my review, but the book has some structural flaws - understandable when the author was so young. I think it's going to end up as 3.5★

Looking forward to reading your review!

Carol ♔Type, Oh Queen!♕ wrote: ... I was wrong about Simon the Coldheart. I rocketed through this read. I would love to give 4★..."

Carol--welcome to the Simon fan club! I'm looking forward to reading your review.

Thanks guys - review is up. I wouldn't have bothered putting a thread up if I had known it was going to be this easy a read! I thought it was going to be a 2 week slog & everyone here was going to have to encourage me("come on little buddy, you can do it!) :D

I found a copy of this book at the library and liked the cover so I decided to give it a try. The first half was a piece of cake, I read it with much enjoyment. Midway through the book there is a major shifting of gears--we are propelled 15 years into the future and the action moves to France. Most important, is GH going to make me believe in this romance between Simon & Lady Margaret? My reading stalled, but I made a little progress at lunch today.

Sheila wrote: "I found a copy of this book at the library and liked the cover so I decided to give it a try. The first half was a piece of cake, I read it with much enjoyment. Midway through the book there is a m..."

Don't read till you have finished, Sheila! (view spoiler)[ I found the last third very clumsy. I'm not sure how the book could have ended though without the romance. (hide spoiler)]

Carol ♔Type, Oh Queen!♕ wrote: "Sheila wrote: "I found a copy of this book at the library and liked the cover so I decided to give it a try. The first half was a piece of cake, I read it with much enjoyment. Midway through the bo..."

Now I have to finish so I can read your spoiler! :)

But we will have a great discussion!

Carol, I read your review and I completely agree that much of the second half reads like a silent movie, especially (view spoiler)[the death of Raoul the Terrible (hide spoiler)]. Nevertheless, I felt she made the love story work, and I wasn't at all sure she could pull it off. It was the chapter "How he came upon the Lady Margaret in the Gallery" that convinced me, probably because Fulk has come on the scene and he makes Simon more human.

The first half of the book was pure fun.