While I was reading this book, I told anyone and everyone I came into contact with (whether they wanted to hear it or not) just how crazy it was... because IT WAS CRAZY AND I NEEDED TO TALK ABOUT IT. I told one patron that the first one hundred pages alone would have given the Days of Our Lives writers material for at least two years. While that fact didn't even remotely make him want to read the book, he did agree with me that, yes, the plot of These Old Shades must be bananas. Then he wandered off with his philosophy book*.
On page three, Justin Alastair, the Duke of Avon -- known as Satanas to his friends and enemies -- buys a nineteen-year-old peasant boy called Léon who happens to bear a striking resemblance to one of the Duke's greatest enemies. Shortly thereafter, he makes Léon his page and begins flaunting him all over town.
I'm not going to tell you more -- just know that there is baby-swapping and cross-dressing and kidnapping and some very interesting flirtation and then a full-on romance and, throughout it all, a journey towards redemption. While I was somewhat sketched out by the nature/nurture aspect of the story -- that, regardless of upbringing, someone born a peasant will grow up to be a clod and someone of noble blood will grow up to be charming -- it was easy for me to set it aside and enjoy the story.
Some fun:
Léon took the fine lace handkerchief which the Duke held out, wiped his eyes, blew his nose, and gave it back again. The Duke received it gingerly, and eyed the crumpled ball through his quizzing glass.
"Thank you," he said. "You are nothing if not through. I think you had better keep it now."
Léon pocketed it cheerfully.
I found Léon somewhat obnoxious (I lost count of how many times Heyer described him looking through his eyelashes) but still strangely likable, I loved pretty much all of the secondary characters** and I (of course) loved Justin. He was so BAD, he totally reveled in his badness and yet... well, regardless of how you end up feeling about him (and there are some people who dislike this book and Justin very, very much), he's an interesting character. Part of what made the book so enjoyable for me was that the majority of the characters were having FUN. Their adventures brought them joy, even with the grave danger, rather like Vicky Bliss and John Smythe running for their lives -- and laughing.
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*I love that patron.
**It's one that I think I'll re-read specifically FOR the secondary characters -- Rupert is a complete doll, and I also loved Fanny, Edward and the Merivales.
I'm reading through Georgette Heyer, but I haven't gotten to this one yet. Sounds like it'll be a doozy.
Posted by: Maureen E | 27 October 2008 at 12:52 PM
I'm looking forward to hearing what you think about the other two. My favourite is 'An Infamous Army' but for other reasons.
Posted by: Nic Dempsey | 27 October 2008 at 03:49 PM
I'm glad you mentioned the crazy. I love the crazy!! This and Devil's Cub (the sequel) are my favorite Heyers. They have everything I love about her other books, plus an extra dash of crazy, improbable, melodramatic goodness. It's like someone merged typical Heyer with a Maureen Johnson blog post. Soooo awesome.
Posted by: Elizabeth | 27 October 2008 at 04:00 PM
It's my #2 favorite Heyer, running a very close second to Frederica.
But I adore this book so much! In fact, I just re-read it earlier this month.
Posted by: Shayera | 27 October 2008 at 05:02 PM
I adore Georgette Heyer. Hers were some of the first books I remember checking out from the "grownup" section of the library. I had read everything in the young adult sections and my mom thought I might like them. I just finished "These Old Shades" a couple of days ago!
Posted by: becka | 27 October 2008 at 11:50 PM
Not too long ago, I started to read "The Black Moth" which is Heyer's very first novel. The characters seemed suspiciously like those in "These Old Shades." Sure enough, she liked the characters in "The Black Moth" so much that she transformed them and transferred them to "These Old Shades!" I don't think "The Black Moth" is the best of her books, but considering she was still in her teens when she wrote it and it is still in print, that's quite an accomplishment.
Pat
P.S. For a crazy, improbable, plot try "The Masqueraders." It's also early Heyer and I loved it.
Posted by: | 28 October 2008 at 02:26 PM
Great review! I'm adding a link to your review on my review of this book. It is a weird/crazy/soap plot, isn't it!
Posted by: Amanda | 30 October 2008 at 12:15 PM
I LOVE this book and its secondary characters, esp. the Merivales. In fact, after I finished it, I was so sure that there had to be a Heyer book out there describing how the Merivales had gotten together (and how Justin had almost ruined the match) that I searched Heyer websites for several days trying to find it. It doesn't exist, alas, but it's fun to imagine.
Posted by: Cheryl | 21 November 2008 at 09:26 AM
That would be excellent! I can just imagine a young and dastardly Justin!
Posted by: Leila | 21 November 2008 at 09:45 AM