[ANH]≫ PDF Gratis These Old Shades Georgette Heyer 9780099465829 Books

These Old Shades Georgette Heyer 9780099465829 Books

Download As PDF : These Old Shades Georgette Heyer 9780099465829 Books

These Old Shades Georgette Heyer 9780099465829 Books

An absolutely great read! After the moderate success of her first novel, The Black Moth, Georgette Heyer intended doing a sequel, but the story grew and matured so much she made the unusual decision to change the character names and do a stand-alone. Both were the so-called "Georgian" period, previous to the Regency. It was her first hit, though I might not have said it was her best a couple days ago. These Old Shades was my first Heyer novel, after her true-history novel The Spanish Bride. I decided to read them all, and I've gotten to know her work so much better. I also promised to review them all, so I dipped into this for a quick refresher. You guessed it. Couldn't put it down. What's remarkable is how much more I enjoyed it this time than the first time, two years ago. Engaging and romantic, I think it has some of her best characters ever. You care so much, and these people become so real you can see and hear them. That's not schizophrenia. It's great writing.

It's the story of a thoroughly dangerous man - Justin Alastair, Duke of Avon. His dark and scandal-ridden past returns to haunt him throughout, often in the form of characters drawn into the story. The man they call "Satanas" is given a chance at redemption. He suspects he's found his soul again when he's walking down a Paris street after a night with his mistress. He's nearly knocked down by a ragged boy running from a beating. Léon is nineteen, with enormous eyes and Titian-red hair. His Grace is infamous for his chilly manner and cold blood, but on a whim, struck by the boy's appearance, he buys the child and makes him his page. From the opening description Justin may turn off the modern reader, who can probably better identify with a Regency dandy in white cravat and superfine coat, a Beau Brummell. But dandyism was born in this decadent century, and Avon is an outstanding example from page one, mincing down the street in a purple cape and red shoes with diamond-studded heels. An age of contrasts. These aristocrats walked arm in arm with male friends, toe-point danced,waved painted fans, and wore puce skirted coats drenched in lace, like Elton John in his heyday. They were also cynical, immoral, amusing, and deadly when they were crossed. The dialog for Justin is just prime, even funnier when you filter it properly. Think Scarlet Pimpernel. Justin himself goes in and out of it, his affected persona being a wall to hide his true thoughts, and old wounds.

I don't normally care for the cross-dressing-girl tales that have become common currency in historical romance, but here it works, and makes sense for reasons that later unfold. I think even with a plain book cover and no previous knowledge, a reader would catch on pretty fast that Leon's a girl. Still it's never clumsy or obvious. What is obvious is that Justin, who's forgotten how to care about anyone, is deeply touched by the child. It's also clear he has ulterior motives. With the red hair and unusual features, Justin suspects at once that Leon is the bastard child of an old enemy, the Comte de Saint-Vire. He has plans to use the boy to have revenge on the count, though as the story unfolds the reason for the resemblance is darker and more complex. This mystery sub-plot is more entertaining than the standard McGuffin, particularly once Leon is revealed to be Leonie. From that point Justin makes her his ward, planning to adopt her, which astonishes his friends, his brother and sister, and everyone else in London and Paris. Jaws drop when this man of no morals insists on all the proprieties for his beloved "infant." Justin is feared by many, and has lost friends over the years because of his behavior, but the genuinely adorable Leonie brings several of them slowly back. She's playful and at ease with her adored "Monseigneur" and will hear no word against him. Since a lot of people have more than a word, even his family, they get a fiery faceful from her, and begin to suspect there are sides to him they haven't seen. His Grace hasn't seen them either.

Leonie is a wildly eccentric character, and no one writes an eccentric quite as well as Heyer. It's probably why she's so often compared to Wodehouse, but in her hands screwballs become not only funny, but touching. Justin won't hear a word about romance with her, and says he's too old for her, even in this world where men so often married younger women. But in reality it's clear he feels she's far above him. Once he begins her transformation to a lady the mystery kicks in with a wild series of abductions, mistaken identities, balls, sword fights and some of the funniest dialog ever. When Leonie flatly states that despite what he is she loves him and trusts him completely, Justin observes, "This promises to be a new experience." It is, and a very different sort of love story.

I can't recall ever seeing a poem or preface quote in a Heyer novel, but she has one here, from poet and historian Austin Dobson, who wrote biographies of major figures in the 18th century. He reflects her view of this gaudy age, in forgiving some of the darkest of all the violent contradictions. Because, he says, when seen "through these old shades of mine, their ways and dress delight me." It's really how I felt, delighted.


Tags : These Old Shades [Georgette Heyer] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Under the reign of Louis XV, corruption and intrigue have been allowed to blossom in France, and Justin Alastair,Georgette Heyer,These Old Shades,Arrow Books Ltd,0099465825,Biographies & Memoirs - Biographies,Historical fiction

These Old Shades Georgette Heyer 9780099465829 Books Reviews

I am a major Georgette Heyer fan; have been reading her books since high school in the '60s. Many of them I've read more than once. Somehow, I never read These Old Shades. If I had read this as my first Georgette Heyer, I am not sure I would've tried another one! I can't stand the heroine..Leon/Leonie. She is immature and insipid. The fact that the hero keeps calling her 'infant' is just "yuck"! (I know, I know....different time period when older men married much younger women) I had to actually force myself to keep reading and finish this book, which never happens with Georgette Heyer stories. Unfortunately, I picked up Devil's Cub to read not realizing it is part of this series! Leonie is in that book as well. Guess what? She is now 40 ish and still just as annoying! Thankfully, she isn't the main character so I will keep on reading. There are so many of Ms Heyer's books that I love; just not, These Old Shades.
Georgette Heyer in These Old Shades, leaves the Regency Period for which she was famous and sets her story in per-revolutionary, France with a twist only she could make plausible. The hero of this book, Justin Alistair, Duke of Avon. earned our hatred as the villain of a previous book. Now living in Paris, he is consumed with desire for revenge on a French nobleman who humiliated him several years before, but he as yet has no leverage with which to do any damage to the other man. Then one night he rescues an urchin from an abusive family, appoints the child as his page, and the two become inseparable. The action--and there is plenty of action--shifts from France to England and back to France.
As Justin's plot begins to unfold, several old enemies are enlisted on his side, and the story ends satisfactorily with the triumph of good and the downfall of the villain, For readers who appreciate good story-telling, this book will be fun to read. For those who care nothing for how a story is crafted so long as it has lots of explicit sexual scenes, a warning. Heyer does not do sex. She is good enough at her craft that she can enthrall the reader without. If you cannot read a book without it, please stay away from Heyer---and also Austen, Dickens, Tolstoy and all the other writers of talent.
The Duke of Avon is nick-named Satanas for many good reasons. He lost and won a fortune, supported and discarded mistresses, keeps many secrets from his relatives and friends, dresses in the finest fashion, and drawls insults to his high-born friends and family. One night, in a particularly sleazy alley in Paris, he encounters a boy running from punishment. His master is also his brother, and the Duke gives a diamond to the brother to buy this servant. He makes Leon, whose red hair, dark brows and blue-violet eyes, his page. A tale of revenge and reformation, adventure, mystery, and savage hatred where only one man can triumph. This book holds up well for modern readers even though it is nearly 90 years old. Lots of witty dialogue lightens the drama.
An absolutely great read! After the moderate success of her first novel, The Black Moth, Georgette Heyer intended doing a sequel, but the story grew and matured so much she made the unusual decision to change the character names and do a stand-alone. Both were the so-called "Georgian" period, previous to the Regency. It was her first hit, though I might not have said it was her best a couple days ago. These Old Shades was my first Heyer novel, after her true-history novel The Spanish Bride. I decided to read them all, and I've gotten to know her work so much better. I also promised to review them all, so I dipped into this for a quick refresher. You guessed it. Couldn't put it down. What's remarkable is how much more I enjoyed it this time than the first time, two years ago. Engaging and romantic, I think it has some of her best characters ever. You care so much, and these people become so real you can see and hear them. That's not schizophrenia. It's great writing.

It's the story of a thoroughly dangerous man - Justin Alastair, Duke of Avon. His dark and scandal-ridden past returns to haunt him throughout, often in the form of characters drawn into the story. The man they call "Satanas" is given a chance at redemption. He suspects he's found his soul again when he's walking down a Paris street after a night with his mistress. He's nearly knocked down by a ragged boy running from a beating. Léon is nineteen, with enormous eyes and Titian-red hair. His Grace is infamous for his chilly manner and cold blood, but on a whim, struck by the boy's appearance, he buys the child and makes him his page. From the opening description Justin may turn off the modern reader, who can probably better identify with a Regency dandy in white cravat and superfine coat, a Beau Brummell. But dandyism was born in this decadent century, and Avon is an outstanding example from page one, mincing down the street in a purple cape and red shoes with diamond-studded heels. An age of contrasts. These aristocrats walked arm in arm with male friends, toe-point danced,waved painted fans, and wore puce skirted coats drenched in lace, like Elton John in his heyday. They were also cynical, immoral, amusing, and deadly when they were crossed. The dialog for Justin is just prime, even funnier when you filter it properly. Think Scarlet Pimpernel. Justin himself goes in and out of it, his affected persona being a wall to hide his true thoughts, and old wounds.

I don't normally care for the cross-dressing-girl tales that have become common currency in historical romance, but here it works, and makes sense for reasons that later unfold. I think even with a plain book cover and no previous knowledge, a reader would catch on pretty fast that Leon's a girl. Still it's never clumsy or obvious. What is obvious is that Justin, who's forgotten how to care about anyone, is deeply touched by the child. It's also clear he has ulterior motives. With the red hair and unusual features, Justin suspects at once that Leon is the bastard child of an old enemy, the Comte de Saint-Vire. He has plans to use the boy to have revenge on the count, though as the story unfolds the reason for the resemblance is darker and more complex. This mystery sub-plot is more entertaining than the standard McGuffin, particularly once Leon is revealed to be Leonie. From that point Justin makes her his ward, planning to adopt her, which astonishes his friends, his brother and sister, and everyone else in London and Paris. Jaws drop when this man of no morals insists on all the proprieties for his beloved "infant." Justin is feared by many, and has lost friends over the years because of his behavior, but the genuinely adorable Leonie brings several of them slowly back. She's playful and at ease with her adored "Monseigneur" and will hear no word against him. Since a lot of people have more than a word, even his family, they get a fiery faceful from her, and begin to suspect there are sides to him they haven't seen. His Grace hasn't seen them either.

Leonie is a wildly eccentric character, and no one writes an eccentric quite as well as Heyer. It's probably why she's so often compared to Wodehouse, but in her hands screwballs become not only funny, but touching. Justin won't hear a word about romance with her, and says he's too old for her, even in this world where men so often married younger women. But in reality it's clear he feels she's far above him. Once he begins her transformation to a lady the mystery kicks in with a wild series of abductions, mistaken identities, balls, sword fights and some of the funniest dialog ever. When Leonie flatly states that despite what he is she loves him and trusts him completely, Justin observes, "This promises to be a new experience." It is, and a very different sort of love story.

I can't recall ever seeing a poem or preface quote in a Heyer novel, but she has one here, from poet and historian Austin Dobson, who wrote biographies of major figures in the 18th century. He reflects her view of this gaudy age, in forgiving some of the darkest of all the violent contradictions. Because, he says, when seen "through these old shades of mine, their ways and dress delight me." It's really how I felt, delighted.