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The Unknown Ajax

Georgette Heyer

4.09 · Rating details · 8,519 ratings · 660 reviews

Miles from anywhere, Darracott Place is presided over by elderly Lord Darracott. Irascible Lord Darracott rules his barony with a firm hand. The tragic accident that killed his eldest son by drowning has done nothing to improve his temper. For now, he must send for the next heir apparent--the unknown offspring of the uncle whom the family is never permitted to mention. He ...more

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Paperback, 352 pages

Published January 6th 2005 by Arrow (first published 1959)

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Aug 01, 2014 Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: regency, squeaky-clean-romance, suspense, oldies-but-goodies

One of my very favorite Heyer novels! The romance is understated; it's more a comedy of ... errors? manners? both? But it is an absolutely delightful book, with memorable personalities.

I've got to go 5 stars with this one. The Darracotts are bickering, dysfunctional family, governed by a tyrannical, irascible grandfather, Lord Darracott. They are forced to welcome the new heir to the family, Major Hugh (Hugo) Darracott from Yorkshire. They all expect him to be a low-class, uneducated and unsophi One of my very favorite Heyer novels! The romance is understated; it's more a comedy of ... errors? manners? both? But it is an absolutely delightful book, with memorable personalities.

I've got to go 5 stars with this one. The Darracotts are bickering, dysfunctional family, governed by a tyrannical, irascible grandfather, Lord Darracott. They are forced to welcome the new heir to the family, Major Hugh (Hugo) Darracott from Yorkshire. They all expect him to be a low-class, uneducated and unsophisticated person, especially when he turns out to be a giant of a man with an innocent-looking face and a deceptively placid disposition, and Hugo decides to oblige them by exaggerating his country accent and appearing to be less than he is. <-------Hugo has kind of a wicked sense of humor.

The grandfather also decides to push a match between Hugo and Anthea, his 22 year old granddaughter (gotta keep the estate in the family!). Anthea is completely horrified by this idea, but Hugo assures her that she's in no danger from him since he's unofficially engaged to another woman.

One by one, the the members of the Darracott family begin to realize that Hugo is more than he seems to be. And when the family crisis that's been brewing finally explodes, well, let's just say is that it's fascinating to see how everyone reacts in the moment of crisis ... not to mention a climactic scene that was so hilarious I had tears in my eyes from laughing so hard. :)

The Unknown Ajax (the title is taken from a line in Shakespeare's Troilus and Cressida) has an intelligent, rational hero and heroine, which I always appreciate in a book. The secondary characters are great--they all seemed like real people to me. I loved that Hugo was self-confident enough to play a bumpkin when he realized that this family was already prejudiced against him, and only those who weren't too blinded by their snobbery to look closely at Hugo saw his intelligence, education and skills--until he chose to reveal himself fully. I also liked seeing this damaged, argumentative family learn to pull together.

This is a great comedy with just a little romance and a terribly funny but suspenseful climactic scene. One of my favorite Georgette Heyer Regency novels that I've read. ...more

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Nov 17, 2014 Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical-romance, georgette-heyer

17/11/14
If possible I enjoyed this rollicking tale even more on this umpteenth reread!

Like in many of her later books, GH is experimenting more with the genre. The unlikeable Vincent is very similar to some of GH's earlier heroes (the Duke of Avon comes to mind) & our hero, Hugo is on the surface a buffoon, but we the readers are subtlely made aware that he is more than that, as we watch him seeing how much he can get his haughty relatives to swallow! Richmond is also a more complex character th ...more

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Oct 09, 2019 mark monday rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: z-georgette-heyer, alpha-team, masterpiece-theatre

Synopsis: Does the big lunk have a brain in his head, or will he be malleable clay? Inquiring minds, and greedy new family members, want to know.

It all comes together so beautifully. All of the moving parts, all the pieces of story that at first seemed like digressions, all the bits of characterization that seemed like they were perhaps just comic riffs... they all come together to create one of the most satisfying comic finales that I've ever had the pleasure of reading. What I thought was a lo Synopsis: Does the big lunk have a brain in his head, or will he be malleable clay? Inquiring minds, and greedy new family members, want to know.

It all comes together so beautifully. All of the moving parts, all the pieces of story that at first seemed like digressions, all the bits of characterization that seemed like they were perhaps just comic riffs... they all come together to create one of the most satisfying comic finales that I've ever had the pleasure of reading. What I thought was a loose and almost aimless plot was actually a virtuoso display by an author in full command of her powers. And an author who - despite her pleasingly tart wit and her penchant for mockery - proves to have a generous and kind heart, to all of her characters, even the most loathsome. The book is simultaneously a light, fizzy tonic and a master class in careful storytelling.

I loved the protagonist Hugo, especially his sly humor that parallels the author's own perspective on her cast. I loved the supporting characters, especially the surprisingly layered Claud, a popinjay and a lothario and a completely amusing young man who would not have been treated so sweetly in most other novels, and especially the exceedingly formal and correct Lady Aurelia, a formidable and entirely admirable woman who would perhaps have been an object of critique in many other novels. I loved that the servants had such a strong role in this story, the characters below stairs given as much attention as those above stairs. The passive-aggressive battles between manservants were a highlight - but the book is full of highlights. And most of all, I love Heyer: her light touch, her digressive but breezy storytelling style, the deadly wit on display, the genuine empathy.

This is my third read this year by this author and the third 5 stars I've given one of her books. I am a cheap and miserly curmudgeon when it comes to doling out that precious fifth star. At this point, I am fully won over. Georgette Heyer is without a doubt one of my most admired authors. ...more

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Feb 16, 2019 Richard Derus rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: borrowed, returned

Real Rating: 4.5* of five

The Publisher Says: A past dispute...
When the irascible Lord Darracott's eldest son dies unexpectedly, the noble family must accept their estranged Yorkshire cousin as heir apparent. They are convinced he will prove to be a sadly vulgar person, but nothing could have prepared the beleaguered family for the arrival of Major Hugo Darracott.

A present deception...
His clever and beautiful cousin Anthea is sure there's more to the gentle giant than Hugo's innocent blue eyes a ...more

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Oct 27, 2012 Allison rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance, setting-britain-ireland, romance, own-ebook, setting-1800s, romance-rating-mild-g-pg, smugglers, published-1950s, regency

This is the weakest Heyer I've read. I can see why it's not one of the well known ones. Frankly, it's boring! There's way too much dialect (something that I find tends to get in the way in some of her other works as well), and nothing much actually happens. Even the action at the end isn't action. There's some smuggling potential, but that all happens off the stage. There certainly isn't enough going on to justify the hero and heroine deciding they love each other. They just decide it.

I really ...more

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May 10, 2017 Lizzy rated it really liked it

Shelves: england-britain, read-2017, stars-4, historical-romance

An absolutely delightful comedy of errors!

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Apr 23, 2017 Abigail Bok rated it it was amazing

Shelves: austenesque-novels

It’s hard for me to write a review of The Unknown Ajax without drooling and driveling. You see, its hero, Hugo Darracott, is my dream guy, and every time I reread this book I drool all over him yet again. And I can see no faults in this novel, no matter how many times I read it, so critique is impossible for me; all I can do is sing its praises.

At least I can tell you a bit about it, in case you have the misfortune never to have read it. The Darracotts are an ancient family living in a remote co It’s hard for me to write a review of The Unknown Ajax without drooling and driveling. You see, its hero, Hugo Darracott, is my dream guy, and every time I reread this book I drool all over him yet again. And I can see no faults in this novel, no matter how many times I read it, so critique is impossible for me; all I can do is sing its praises.

At least I can tell you a bit about it, in case you have the misfortune never to have read it. The Darracotts are an ancient family living in a remote coastal corner of Sussex in a year shortly after the Battle of Waterloo. Their fortunes are on the decline and they feel very inbred: they live far outside the world and are both dominated and warped by an angry, manipulative patriarch. The family is numerous but each one is sharply drawn, so the reader immediately feels familiar with them and the family dynamics.

They have gathered to meet the unexpected Darracott heir—the son of a member of the family cast off decades earlier for marrying beneath him. They assume the heir will be an underbred rube, and so he appears to be—though the alert reader will soon observe that his words are not to be taken at face value. He bursts on the family like a breath of fresh air, and soon he is figuring out all the dysfunction and the secrets.

Unlike many of Heyer’s novels, this one never goes to London; basically all the action takes place within the walls of the Darracotts’ house. Perhaps because of the rural estate setting, we see more of lower-class characters than some of her high-society books allow for. And a surprising amount of the story is narrated from the point of view of servants—a hint that the beliefs and practices of the aristocratic characters are open to challenge.

The plot is intricate and unusually heavy on action and suspense, considering the setting. The characters are also complex and psychologically plausible. As with all the Heyer Regencies, it is hilarious; the reader is in a constant chuckle. But it is also deep in its portrayal of human frailty, of the harm we can do to one another and how to heal it.

I have never met a popular fiction I found more pleasing and satisfying than this one. ...more

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Jun 23, 2013 Tweety rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: regency, romance, sweet-and-clean-g-to-pg, reviewed, georgette-heyer, england, smugglers-pirates-highwaymen, owned

4 1/2

Another fun Heyer!

This is a dysfunctional family who gets put to rights by a "weaver's brat" aka Hugo. Major Hugo. None of the family particularly likes each other and no one is pleased to have the Major the heir to Lord Darracott's dwindling fortune. Especially as Hugo is a Yorkshire yokel who doesn't know the right of things. They are sure they can teach him how to be a gentleman. Big and dull witted looking, Hugo slowly takes them all by storm, even Anthea who was determined not to lik ...more

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Jan 28, 2012 Caz rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: audiogals, audiobook, romance-regency, oldies-but-goodies, romance-1800-1850

This is my second review in AudioGals' Month of Audio Favourites, and I've given it an A+ for narration and B+ for content.

I haven’t read The Unknown Ajax in years, but it was one of the first of Ms. Heyer’s novels I purchased in audio and I remember being utterly delighted by it, thinking that the story came to life in a way I hadn’t experienced when reading the book. Daniel Philpott’s performance is nothing short of perfect and, re-listening to it in order to write this review, I couldn’t help This is my second review in AudioGals' Month of Audio Favourites, and I've given it an A+ for narration and B+ for content.

I haven’t read The Unknown Ajax in years, but it was one of the first of Ms. Heyer’s novels I purchased in audio and I remember being utterly delighted by it, thinking that the story came to life in a way I hadn’t experienced when reading the book. Daniel Philpott’s performance is nothing short of perfect and, re-listening to it in order to write this review, I couldn’t help but think what a shame it is that he hasn’t narrated more audiobooks in the genre. (He has one other Heyer title to his credit – Charity Girl.)

The story is a simple one, and one that also appears in some of Ms Heyer’s other books – that of the outsider who is flung into the midst of an unsuspecting family and then proceeds to fix their problems and bring them closer together.

At the beginning of The Unknown Ajax, the irascible and autocratic Lord Darracott is awaiting the arrival of his heir, a young man he has never met. Major Hugh Darracott – Hugo – has recently sold out of the army and, given his parentage – his father married a Yorkshire “weaver’s daughter” – the family expects him to be an uneducated, uncouth clodpole.

Right from the start, it’s clear that Hugo is no pushover when he makes his way to Darracott Place under his own steam, ignoring the arrangements dictated by his grandfather. On his arrival – several hours later than expected – he is immediately ushered into the presence of the family: his grandfather, his aunt and her two grown children, Anthea and Richmond, who is the one member of the family upon whom their cantankerous grandsire dotes.

Seeing at once that they are expecting a common-as-muck dimwit, Hugo immediately sets about living down to expectations, adopts a broad Yorkshire accent and acts like a total country bumpkin. In actuality though, Hugo was educated at Harrow, is wealthier than anyone else in the family, is very shrewd and possessed of a wicked sense of humour. Watching him pull the wool over (almost) everyone’s eyes is a delight as they are taken in by his permanently guileless expression and the impression he gives of being a brainless giant.

You can read the rest of this review at AudioGals. ...more

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Feb 20, 2016 ᴥ Irena ᴥ rated it liked it

Shelves: historical-romance

2.5

The only reason why I am shelving this as romance is that none of the other genres would work either. At least it has some romance in it.

If I decided to go back and read Heyer I didn't enjoy as much as, say, The Grand Sophy or Frederica, this one would be on the list. While the writing is (no surprise there) good, it didn't grab my attention as I expected it would.

There is one thing that didn't really sit well with me. (view spoiler) ...more

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Oct 22, 2013 Lady Wesley rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommended to Lady Wesley by: Miranda Davis

Shelves: listened, fave-favorites

This is one of my favorite Georgette Heyer titles, and listening to the narration by Daniel Philpott makes it just perfect.

Hugo Darracott unexpectedly becomes the heir to his grandfather, Lord Darracott. They have never met, because Hugo's father married a "weaver's daughter" and was cut off by his snobbish, irascible sire. When Hugo arrives at the estate his grandfather shares with his widowed daughter-in-law and her two almost-grown children, he realizes that they are expecting to meet with a ...more

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Nov 16, 2012 Hannah rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: romances, 2012-reads, regencys

Rating Clarification: 2.5 Stars

I'm reet glad this Heyer is finished. Happen I didn't care for Hugo, the family Darracott or this story at all. Greatly wished this was one of Heyer's whodunnits, so that Lord Darracott could be murdered and Inspector Hemingway could arrive and solve the case, but alas this was just one sloooooooow and boring regency with little excitement, humor, romance or basically anything I've come to expect from Heyer.

While it gets high ratings from most of my GR friends (and ...more

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Aug 02, 2014 Wendy rated it it was amazing

A five star story and a five star plus audio experience. The extraordinary narration by Daniel Phipott brings this clever, funny, witty tale to life.

Major Hugo Darracott is summoned to Darracott House by his controlling, autocratic, manipulative grandfather. The old man has always known of his grandson's existence, although the rest of the dysfunctional family do not. His son married against his wishes to a poor common Yorkshire weaver's daughter... or maybe, unbeknown to him, not so poor, or so A five star story and a five star plus audio experience. The extraordinary narration by Daniel Phipott brings this clever, funny, witty tale to life.

Major Hugo Darracott is summoned to Darracott House by his controlling, autocratic, manipulative grandfather. The old man has always known of his grandson's existence, although the rest of the dysfunctional family do not. His son married against his wishes to a poor common Yorkshire weaver's daughter... or maybe, unbeknown to him, not so poor, or so common. After the death of his sons in the line of succession, and a grandson, Hugh is next in line and despite his best efforts Lord Darracott cannot disinherit him.

Hugo is a large amiable man with a determined streak; against all outward appearances he is clever and wily, and very quickly recognises that his aristocratic family thinks him a gormless, cloddish, country bumpkin. And so he deliberately proceeds to live up to their expectations of him by pulling the wool over their eyes. He exaggerates a broad Yorkshire accent - with hilarious results. One of his cousins, indolent, sarcastic Vincent, unkindly nicknames him Ajax after the blockish meathead in one of Shakespeare's plays, Troilus and Cressida. Vincent particularly resents Hugo's turning up as he himself would have been once removed from inheriting without the appearance of this, never before heard of cousin.

How Hugo brings about this eclectic mix of, “up their own backsides" relatives, to like and respect him, is clever, funny and endearing. His grandfather has decided that Hugo will marry another cousin, the Lady Anthea Darracott, for the dual purpose of bringing him some respectability and of also marrying off his granddaughter who will continue to keep the clod up to snuff and not embarrass the family. Both Anthea and Hugo appear to be against this idea when it is first suggested. It doesn't take Hugo long, however, before he realises that this is exactly what he would like to happen. How he goes about convincing Anthea to not only like him, but to care for him....well I thought it rather lovely.

Other reviewers have commented that this is not a very romantic tale, I think it is, sweetly so. It is also funny and farcical but has a cleverly written plot. Hugo is a most likeable character, large and apparently guileless, and of course he is not, he is a well educated Major, recently of a cavalry regiment and definitely nobody's fool. With some skill he has the entire Darracott family doing exactly what he wishes. The females in the family are the first to recognise this fact.

I loved the wonderful narration by Daniel Philpott, he pitches his voice to each character so perfectly that male and female, young and old are entirely believable and recognisable. Hugo's Yorkshire accent is plausible when he is laying it on thick to appear cloddish, or when he reverts to his well educated self with a commanding demeanour and just a very slight Yorkshire burr. Mr. Philpott manages to turn Georgette Heyer's excellent story into a fabulous one. I highly recommend the audio version to any lover of Ms. Heyer's work or why not just become a convert? Devotees of Regency HR won't be disappointed. ...more

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Mar 17, 2018 Vivian rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: romance-hist, library, 2018-odyssey

Amusing story of succession.

This is really not a romance, but more of a family dynamics' vehicle. You have the unforeknown, dark horse relative of mixed origins hailing from the northern hinterlands plopped into the decaying Sussex/Kent gentry of the Darracotts. The "new", not really new, but new to all but Lord Darracott coming to meet the family after the heir apparent's unexpected demise, Hugo wastes no time in playing the idiot to meet his family's expectations.

Done for more amusement than s ...more

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Jul 14, 2019 Debbie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: i-own-it

5+ stars!

How on Earth did Georgette Heyer come up with so many distinct characters and so many completely dissimilar plots? The lady was brilliant, I tell you!

The Unknown Ajax centers around the extremely dysfunctional Darracott family, ruled with an iron fist by eighty-year-old Lord Darracott. He's sired four sons, three of whom are dead. His eldest, the heir, drowned recently along with the grandson who would have been next in line to inherit.

The crochety patriarch had cast off Hugh, the 5+ stars!

How on Earth did Georgette Heyer come up with so many distinct characters and so many completely dissimilar plots? The lady was brilliant, I tell you!

The Unknown Ajax centers around the extremely dysfunctional Darracott family, ruled with an iron fist by eighty-year-old Lord Darracott. He's sired four sons, three of whom are dead. His eldest, the heir, drowned recently along with the grandson who would have been next in line to inherit.

The crochety patriarch had cast off Hugh, the second of his sons, years ago for defying him by marrying the lowly daughter of a weaver and settling far from home in Yorkshire. Hugh died years ago, making Lord Darracott's grandson Hugo, a major in the Light Division, now the heir of Darracott Place despite never even having been to Sussex. The existence of Hugo comes as a startling surprise to the rest of the Darracotts, who all had believed Matthew, the sole surviving son, would inherit.

There's nothing Lord Darracott can do about it but fume and plot how to mold this assumedly ignorant rube into someone capable of running an estate. He decides his granddaughter Anthea would be able to manage things if the two were to marry.

The Yorkshire man who shows up is tall and broad with childlike, innocent eyes but a firm, resolute jaw. Major Hugo Darracott's physical size leads Vincent (Matthew's oldest son) to nickname him Ajax after the oversized warrior in the Trojan War.

The Sussex Darracotts are a discontented group made up of Lord Darracott, his son (Matthew), two daughters-in-law (Mrs. Darracott, Lady Aurelia) three grandsons (Vincent, Claud, Richmond) and one granddaughter (Anthea), all with their individual idiosyncrasies and complaints about Lord Darracott's treatment of them. They goad and snipe at each other behind his lordship's back, while he has no qualms about demonstrating approval for his favorites and verbally abusing the others.

Hugo takes advantage of how badly they underestimate his intelligence to observe and make conclusions about his relatives and the estate he will own one day. Much of the fun in reading this is that, like the Darracotts, the reader is rarely certain when he's being completely truthful and when he's just messing with their heads (which he does quite frequently).

The story that unfolds is masterful, with secrets, unconventional wooing, hobgoblins, smugglers, fiercely competitive valets, a frustrated but determined Preventive officer, and a suspenseful climactic scene that has the usually squabbling Darracotts conspiring together with a wacky plot to save one of them from the gallows.

I've only started working my way through Heyer's novels (this is my sixth). I've loved them all, but it's hard to imagine a story that can top this one. ...more

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Aug 10, 2020 eyes.2c rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: regency-romance, kindle

I've been using Rachael Hyland's book Heyer Society - Essays on the Literary Genius of Georgette Heyer to guide my re-reads and am working my way through those titles in the chapter on Heroes.
Love Hugo, the deceptive giant of a man.Banter throughout is first class. After 40 years plus I still Heyer. I'm sure I've read her titles way more than three times each, but I've read so much over the years it's all a bit of a blur. Still a bit sad that when I made the rash decision to downsize my books I ...more

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Jan 03, 2020 Sophia rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: audio-books, historical-romance

An aristocratic family is reeling from the loss of two family members only to learn the son of the family prodigal is the new heir. And what a prodigal he is likely to be reared provincially in the wilds of Yorkshire in the wool industry and only attaining some respectability through an officer's rank in Wellington's army. Oh yes, the Darracotts are in an uproar about Hugo, the Unknown Ajax. As one of the most sparkling of Georgette Heyer's gems, I couldn't resist picking this one up in audioboo An aristocratic family is reeling from the loss of two family members only to learn the son of the family prodigal is the new heir. And what a prodigal he is likely to be reared provincially in the wilds of Yorkshire in the wool industry and only attaining some respectability through an officer's rank in Wellington's army. Oh yes, the Darracotts are in an uproar about Hugo, the Unknown Ajax. As one of the most sparkling of Georgette Heyer's gems, I couldn't resist picking this one up in audiobook and enjoying it once again.

Georgette Heyer has a gift for the Regency comedy of manners, spirited Regency dialogue and cant, ripping plots, and slow-burn sweet romance. The Unknown Ajax takes us to a family estate on the coastal border of Sussex and Kent where the majority of the story is the happenings during a family gathering for the arrival of a long lost family member. This is just after the allied victory at Waterloo ending the Napoleonic Wars when many military are returning home including the new heir of the family.

The Darracotts are all in an uproar about some country bumpkin from Yorkshire inheriting their prestigious family title and estates. None want him and least of all Anthea whom her grandfather, the current Lord Darracott, is insisting she marry this new heir while Vincent another grandson feels the injustice of giving way to the rural interloper. Into this atmosphere of genteel hostility arrives large, phlegmatic Major Hugo Darracott.

The book introduces the situation, the characters, and then how Hugo's arrival is like the cat among the pigeons- a part he gladly plays because he is well aware what they all think of him. He was curious about his dead father's estranged family and now he's seen them. He knows he must inherit and take over the estate after his grandfather so he has his work cut out for him to charm them in his own whimsical way. But, of all of them, he most seeks to win over his beautiful, sharp tongued and equally sharp-witted cousin Anthea. Meanwhile, an over-zealous custom's agent hangs about hoping to catch the smugglers operating in the area and there are rumors of a ghost at the family dower house.

I have enjoyed most of Georgette Heyer's books over the years, but this one is probably one of my top favorites. It all boils down to Hugo. He's such an engaging hero. He puts up with a great deal from all his new-found family and their ignorance about his past that he faces with either silence or amusement. He's humble and doesn't need to show off just how capable he is. It all comes out slowly though so that by the end not one member of the family is in doubt of his worth.

The comedy of how Hugo fools them all and just the quirky, fun characters surrounding him particularly Claude the high-strung dandy who studiously sets out to bring Hugo into fashion or that rivalry among the valets going on below stairs. Just so much to make one smile and laugh.

But, she doesn't neglect the suspenseful moments or the sweet sparkling romance to give the story its heart. The way the final scenes play out is riveting even while delighting the reader's sense of humor. The adorable way Hugo courted Anthea into first liking him to finding herself falling for him was another master stroke.

The focus of this book is on the family as a whole and the dynamics of having such characters all under the same roof. I thought this was all painted so well and was itself an entertaining part of the story.

This was my first occasion to hear Daniel Philpott narrate and I was impressed with his range of voices from curmudgeonly old Lord Darracott to tart Anthea, dramatic Claude and stately Lady Aurelia. And many more. Genders, classes, regional accents, pacing, tone, and timing were all splendidly worked.

All in all this revisit to an old favorite went prodigiously well, as Hugo might say. I can heartily recommend this one to those who enjoy sweet Regency era comedy romance or want to ease their way into the classics through this almost-classic. ...more

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Apr 23, 2019 Heidi rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, oddball-faves, little-to-zero-sexy-time, hr-faves, repeats-be-still-my-heart, booktrails-travel, austenesque-lovers-2019, audible-faves

What an unexpected and captivating read. As many have stated there appears to only be a subtle romance element. However; even though the reader is not being smacked over the head with "l'amour", I firmly believe that the friendship, admiration and ultimate affection between the Major and Anthea underpin the whole tale.

This book really shows off Georgette Heyer's talent to marry a suspenseful plot with the depiction of a deep relationship blossoming between two fully well developed characters wit ...more

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Dec 14, 2012 Edward Hoornaert rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical-fiction, regency-romance

IMO, this is one of Heyer's better books--if not the very best of the lot. Hugo is a marvellous character, so self-assured that when he becomes the heir to a barony, he plays along (and with!) his new-found family's low opinion of him as yokel from Yorkshire. His understated sense of humor appeals to me a lot.

The secondary characters really help to bring this book to life. Many of them start out to be stock Heyer characters--the fop, the arrogant and uncaring Corinthian, the aloof daughter of an ...more

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Jul 01, 2015 Aayesha Khatri rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: alpha-gamma-hero, hero-supposedly-loves-someone-else, businessman, hero-is-an-original, hero-i-more-than-loved, hero-is-charming-charismatic, heroine-is-hardworking, hero-is-tall-and-wide, rich-guy-poor-girl-theme, hero-is-wonderfully-kind

This book was, hands down, one of the most funniest books I've ever read in my life. I was giggling, sniggering, chuckling and snorting throughout the beginning of the story. (Why not the end? I'll come to that later.) Hugo was one heck of a character *snaps knee, laughing butt off* I don't think I've ever come across a hero like that, ever. Trust Heyer to come up with the best. She is truly such an awe-inspiring author, I love her.

The problem is, it kind of fell flat for me in the last third. M ...more

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Jul 15, 2008 Melissa McShane rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 19th-century, favorites, historical-fiction, own, romance

Read 7/5/17: This time, I was listening to it as an audiobook, and it took FOREVER to get going. I hadn't realized before how much of the beginning--nearly the first half--is setting up Hugo as the dull-witted ox who's playing the Darracotts. The best moments were the interactions between Hugo and Anthea and watching Anthea gradually fall in love with him.

Read 12/4/12: I like that this is one of Heyer's romances that's more fiction/mystery/adventure novel. The scene near the end, where (view spo ...more

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Oct 16, 2016 Pamela Shropshire rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance, in-my-library, romance, georgette-heyer

The Darracott family of Kent & Sussex are the very definition of a dysfunctional family. Old Lord Darracott despises all his sons, and actually disowned one for marrying a "weaver's daughter. " N.B. Lord Darracott basically despises everyone except Richmond; he tolerates Vincent; but by the end of the book, he grudgingly admires and is grateful to "that weaver's spawn."

The players assembled at Darracott Place are: Lord Darracott; Mrs. Elvira Darracott, his daughter-in-law, and her two children, ...more

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Oct 10, 2019 Abigail rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: Georgette Heyer Fans / Readers Who Enjoy Regency Romance

Shelves: georgette-heyer, regency-romance, romance, fiction

Furious that his title and estates would now pass to his unacknowledged grandson, whose father he had disowned for daring to marry the daughter of a Yorkshire weaver, old Lord Darracott determined that his heir must be whipped into shape, enlisting the help of his reluctant, bullied family in the task. But neither he, his supercilious grandson Vincent, nor his spirited granddaughter Anthea, had counted on the "Unknown Ajax" and his lamentable propensity towards levity, and in the end, it was Cou ...more

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Jul 02, 2013 Amy rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: georgette-heyer, re-read-in-2019, re-read-in-2018

2019 Review
I mean, is it truly a 3-star read? I'm inclined to bump it up a star. But also after the hero proposes I still had about a quarter of the book to go and I mentally checked out. It is a funny and well-written conclusion but getting there...
We'll leave it at 3 stars.

2018 Review
Well, I disagree with my younger self. I do not believe this book represents Heyer delving into improbable adventures. And I do not think the smuggler plot comes out of nowhere. It actually starts almost at the b ...more

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Jun 01, 2012 Lady Wesley rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fave-favorites

Five plus stars!

The romance is very low-key, but the hero is magnificent, as he tries to fit into this family he never knew. There's a large cast of characters, and each one is deftly and lovingly drawn -- even the ones we don't like very much. There's so much going on, with Heyer's trademark humor. Definitely rereadable. ...more

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Jun 26, 2015 Andrea added it · review of another edition

Shelves: 1800s, regency, audiobook, romance

Hugo is an army Major who is a grandson of Lord Darracott. Darracott's family have never met (or even heard) of Hugo, owing to Hugo's father being cast off for marrying a commoner. But when a couple of unfortunate deaths leaves Hugo heir to the title, he is summoned to meet the family.

Yorkshire born, Hugo is an imperturbable and sharp-minded man, who hides much of his competence behind a tendency to play the yokel, and his own affable nature. The story lets us watch his family almost as a whole ...more

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Jun 30, 2016 Jan rated it really liked it

Shelves: regency, historical

I really enjoyed most of the book except this time around, somehow I didn't find the big final scene at the end quite as satisfying. It seemed to be too busy and also a little too drawn out. Also, I would like to have seen a bit more interaction between our lovers in their final moment before The End. It was unsatisfyingly brief!

But, as usual I loved Ms Heyer's characters and was immediately drawn into the story from the very beginning. And the warring valets Polyphant and Crimplesham were hilar ...more

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Sep 09, 2016 Mela rated it really liked it

Shelves: british-literature, historical-romance, humor, zz-georgette-heyer, historical-period-long-19th-century

I have had much fun. It is more family comedy than romance. There are different characters, some witty, some silly, some are bossy and so on. Add to this plot twists and a good idea for an engaging story and you will have a good piece of Heyer's work. I see here elements from her other books. It is one of these her books which have some sociological and psychological analysis of society and human.

I would prefer a little more romance, more "sparrings" between hero and heroine but clearly, in this ...more

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Jul 13, 2013 QNPoohBear rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: clean-romance, kisses-only, regency-romance

Lord Daracott has recently lost his heir and grandson in a boating accident. He long ago disowned his second son for joining the army and marrying a weaver's daughter, but now he must accept Hugh's son, a weaver's "brat" as his heir! The irascible Lord Daracott has little hopes for his country bumpkin heir, but sends for Hugo whom he plans to place under the tutelage of his more proper grandsons. Finally, Lord Daracott's plans include marrying his granddaughter, Anthea, off to her cousin Hugo to Lord Daracott has recently lost his heir and grandson in a boating accident. He long ago disowned his second son for joining the army and marrying a weaver's daughter, but now he must accept Hugh's son, a weaver's "brat" as his heir! The irascible Lord Daracott has little hopes for his country bumpkin heir, but sends for Hugo whom he plans to place under the tutelage of his more proper grandsons. Finally, Lord Daracott's plans include marrying his granddaughter, Anthea, off to her cousin Hugo to "keep him in the family." The outspoken Anthea is furious with her grandfather's plot and plans to keep this new cousin of hers at a distance. Fresh from the army, Hugo seems to fulfill his family's low expectations. Hugo patiently accepts his cousin Vincent's jealousy, cousin Claud's lessons in dandyism and young cousin Richmond's adoration. Hugo, however, is no match for Anthea. As Anthea spends more time with Hugo, she begins to suspect that this unknown Ajax isn't exactly all he appears to be and quite loses her heart to her quirky cousin. A near brush with a family scandal brings to light Hugo's redeeming qualities .

This is an odd book for Heyer. It doesn't follow any of her usual conventions. It isn't truly a mystery, though there is a bit of a mystery and it isn't a screwball comedy, though there are comedic moments. The plot moves slowly. It's difficult to understand Hugh until he wants people to know his story and then his personality becomes clear. The romance is also very subtle and not really the focal point of the novel. I did not understand the references to Ajax, however, a quick search of one of the quotations in the novel brings up Shakespeare's Troilus and Cressida, a play which I have not read. I enjoyed the last quarter of the book the most but wished for more scenes with Hugo and Anthea to finish up that plot thread. This isn't my favorite Heyer novel but it's worth a read for her fans. I wouldn't recommend novice Heyer readers starting with this one because there is an enormous amount of slang, almost too much and the story is character based rather than plot based. ...more

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May 24, 2019 Namera [The Literary Invertebrate] rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-romance, drama, humour, likeable-heroine

I nearly gave this 3 stars, but Hugh is such a spectacular character that it drove the rating up to 4. He's quietly hilarious, and maybe he's not sardonically witty like the Duke of Avon but he's no slowpoke.

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About Georgette Heyer

Georgette Heyer

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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 nov ...more

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“Does it ever occur to you, Mama, that my grandfather is a lunatic?” — 20 likes

“I'm not talking nonsense, lass. I'd give you the whole of the moon if I could, and throw in the stars for good measure,' he said, taking her hand, and kissing it. 'You couldn't be content with less?” — 9 likes

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