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Gay Cavalier
It was unfortunate that Deirdre should care for a man that her beloved brother, Sean, hated. Sean had troubles too - he loved a girl whose father strongly disapproved of him. Both their romanceswere linked with the fortunes of the Sheridan Stud in Berkshire, where hunters and steeplechasers are bred, and where the charm of the fresh country air is irresistible.
- GenresHarlequin Romance
368 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1955
About the author
Alex Stuart
46 books4 followersViolet Vivian Finlay was born on 2 January 1914 in Berkshire, England, UK, the daughter of Alice Kathleen (née Norton) and Sir Campbell Kirkman Finlay. Her father was the owner and director of Burmah Oil Company Ltd., whose Scottish family also owned James Finlay and Company Ltd. The majority of her childhood and youth was spent in Rangoon, Burma (now also known as Myanmar), where her father worked. During her life, she frequently journeyed between India, Singapore, Java and Sumatra.
Although Vivian is well-known by the surname of Stuart, she married four times during her lifetime, and had five children: Gillian Rushton (née Porch), Kim Santow, Jennifer Gooch (née Stuart), and twins Vary and Valerie Stuart.
Following the dissolution of her first marriage, she studied for a time Law in London in the mid 1930s, before decided studied Medicine at the University of London. Later she spent time in Hungary in the capacity of private tutor in English, while she obtained a pathologist qualification at the University of Budapest in 1938. In 1939, she emigrated to Australia with her second husband, a Hungarian Doctor Geza Santow with whom she worked. In 1942, she obtained a diploma in industrial chemistry and laboratory technique at Technical Institute of Newcastle. Having earned an ambulance driver's certificate, she joined the Australian Forces at the Women's Auxiliary Service during World War II. She was attached to the IVth Army, and raised to the rank of sergeant, she was posted to British XIV Army in Rangoon, Burma in October 1945, and was then transferred to Sumatra in December. After the WWII, she returned to England. On 24 October 1958, she married her fourth and last husband, Cyril William Mann, a bank manager.
She was a prolific writer from 1953 to 1986 under diferent pseudonyms: Vivian Stuart, Alex Stuart, Barbara Allen, Fiona Finlay, V. A. Stuart, William Stuart Long and Robyn Stuart. Many of her novels were protagonized by doctors or nurses, and set in Asia, Australia or other places she had visited. Her romance novel, Gay Cavalier published in 1955 as Alex Stuart got her into trouble with her Mills & Boon editors when she featured a secondary story line featuring a Catholic male and Protestant female who chose to marry. This so-called "mixed marriage" touched nerves in the United Kingdom.
In 1960, she was a founder of the Romantic Novelists' Association, along with Denise Robins, Barbara Cartland, and others; she was elected the first Chairman (1961-1963). In 1970, she became the first woman to chair Swanwick Writers' Summer School.
Violet Vivian Finlay Porch Santow Stuart Mann passed away on August 1986 in Yorkshire, at age 72. She continued writing until her death.
Although Vivian is well-known by the surname of Stuart, she married four times during her lifetime, and had five children: Gillian Rushton (née Porch), Kim Santow, Jennifer Gooch (née Stuart), and twins Vary and Valerie Stuart.
Following the dissolution of her first marriage, she studied for a time Law in London in the mid 1930s, before decided studied Medicine at the University of London. Later she spent time in Hungary in the capacity of private tutor in English, while she obtained a pathologist qualification at the University of Budapest in 1938. In 1939, she emigrated to Australia with her second husband, a Hungarian Doctor Geza Santow with whom she worked. In 1942, she obtained a diploma in industrial chemistry and laboratory technique at Technical Institute of Newcastle. Having earned an ambulance driver's certificate, she joined the Australian Forces at the Women's Auxiliary Service during World War II. She was attached to the IVth Army, and raised to the rank of sergeant, she was posted to British XIV Army in Rangoon, Burma in October 1945, and was then transferred to Sumatra in December. After the WWII, she returned to England. On 24 October 1958, she married her fourth and last husband, Cyril William Mann, a bank manager.
She was a prolific writer from 1953 to 1986 under diferent pseudonyms: Vivian Stuart, Alex Stuart, Barbara Allen, Fiona Finlay, V. A. Stuart, William Stuart Long and Robyn Stuart. Many of her novels were protagonized by doctors or nurses, and set in Asia, Australia or other places she had visited. Her romance novel, Gay Cavalier published in 1955 as Alex Stuart got her into trouble with her Mills & Boon editors when she featured a secondary story line featuring a Catholic male and Protestant female who chose to marry. This so-called "mixed marriage" touched nerves in the United Kingdom.
In 1960, she was a founder of the Romantic Novelists' Association, along with Denise Robins, Barbara Cartland, and others; she was elected the first Chairman (1961-1963). In 1970, she became the first woman to chair Swanwick Writers' Summer School.
Violet Vivian Finlay Porch Santow Stuart Mann passed away on August 1986 in Yorkshire, at age 72. She continued writing until her death.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 28, 2013
3 1/2 Stars ~ Deirdre is a young woman who helps her father raise and train horses. When the neighbouring farm sells to a wealthy veteran, Deirdre assumes the man is older. To her surprise the Colonel is actually in his thirties. Alan spent a year as a prisoner of war, and he's still relearning his social skills. Deirdre enchants him, and when her father is injured in a riding accident, Alan offers to help her in any way. When Deirdre's brother Sean spots Alan, he tells Deirdre to stay away from him. The two men have a history from the war, which neither man wants to reveal.
This love story was originally published in the 50's, and though there are references to events of the times (Korean war) and medical conditions easily treated today (TB), I didn't find this story all that dated. I was pleasantly surprised that Ms. Stuart gives us the hero's point of view which adds depth to his character. Deirdre is a strong heroine, used to shouldering responsibility. Alan greatly admires her, and respects her determination to solve her own problems. This was a pleasantly refreshing love story that I enjoyed reading very much. I'm looking forward to reading other books written by Ms. Stuart.
At the time this book was published, it created a bit of a stir as Deirdre's brother Sean (Irish Catholic) was in love with a wealthy landowner's daughter (Protestant).
This love story was originally published in the 50's, and though there are references to events of the times (Korean war) and medical conditions easily treated today (TB), I didn't find this story all that dated. I was pleasantly surprised that Ms. Stuart gives us the hero's point of view which adds depth to his character. Deirdre is a strong heroine, used to shouldering responsibility. Alan greatly admires her, and respects her determination to solve her own problems. This was a pleasantly refreshing love story that I enjoyed reading very much. I'm looking forward to reading other books written by Ms. Stuart.
At the time this book was published, it created a bit of a stir as Deirdre's brother Sean (Irish Catholic) was in love with a wealthy landowner's daughter (Protestant).
February 23, 2020
I've recently concluded that Alex Stuart produced her best novels in the middle to later years of her career (unlike her friend and contemporary Jean S. MacLeod whose better books, I think, were the handful she initially wrote for M&B). 'Gay Cavalier' was first published by M&B in 1955 (the Harlequin imprints appeared a decade later) and it has that faintly twee, 'chintzy' feel that characterises some of the authors earlier novels, although it's not nearly as 'homespun' as other titles of hers from the 1950's, e.g. Castle in the Mist.
Other reviewers have captured the plot-line of the book very neatly already, including the back-story regarding a life-changing encounter between the hero and the heroine's brother while both were on active service during the Korean War, as well as the seemingly religious based objections to the heroine's brother dating the girl from the 'big house' (under then M&B editorial policy any explicit reference to religion was verboten, but Alex Stuart had been known to side-step the ban before, including in her historical novel The White Cockade). Both these sub-plots are layered deftly into the story and, along with incidents involving minor characters, in particular the Irish horse trainers (whose brogue is well captured), combine to make the novel considerably more vivid than your standard vintage romance.
Both protagonists in 'Gay Cavalier' are likeable - even if the heroine is a little too young and naive to have as much depth as many of the other characters - and the story is quite charming. In summary, there's a lot to like about this novel, however the author has produced better novels (e.g. A Sunset Touch and Someone Else's Heart) so I'm rating this title
three-and-a half vintage romance stars.
Other reviewers have captured the plot-line of the book very neatly already, including the back-story regarding a life-changing encounter between the hero and the heroine's brother while both were on active service during the Korean War, as well as the seemingly religious based objections to the heroine's brother dating the girl from the 'big house' (under then M&B editorial policy any explicit reference to religion was verboten, but Alex Stuart had been known to side-step the ban before, including in her historical novel The White Cockade). Both these sub-plots are layered deftly into the story and, along with incidents involving minor characters, in particular the Irish horse trainers (whose brogue is well captured), combine to make the novel considerably more vivid than your standard vintage romance.
Both protagonists in 'Gay Cavalier' are likeable - even if the heroine is a little too young and naive to have as much depth as many of the other characters - and the story is quite charming. In summary, there's a lot to like about this novel, however the author has produced better novels (e.g. A Sunset Touch and Someone Else's Heart) so I'm rating this title
three-and-a half vintage romance stars.
October 24, 2019
Aww this was a very sweet vintage romance. ❤️
The heroine was sweet. The hero was a nice, decent guy who was smitten from the start. Not too much angst, the issues were overcome almost immediately and were not too drawn out as is often the case lately.
Dated since many references to the Korean War and in some of the expressions the characters use, but all in all they are some of the details that contributed to the charm of the book.
Gay cavalier refers to one of the heroine’s horses, not the Hero 😂
The heroine was sweet. The hero was a nice, decent guy who was smitten from the start. Not too much angst, the issues were overcome almost immediately and were not too drawn out as is often the case lately.
Dated since many references to the Korean War and in some of the expressions the characters use, but all in all they are some of the details that contributed to the charm of the book.
Gay cavalier refers to one of the heroine’s horses, not the Hero 😂
August 15, 2015
I really like this hero. Poor fellow is only 35 but his love interest is 19 and he feels a bit ancient in comparison to his rival. I don't usually like horsey books but this one was fun and sweet.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews