Georgette Heyer Fans discussion
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Regency Buck and An Infamous Army--Peregrine Tavener
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I think the characterization is fairly consistent: he's immature. Didn't Lord Worth agree to the early marriage somewhat against his better judgment? I have hope for him, however, although I don't remember much about Harriet.
Mary wrote: "I think the characterization is fairly consistent: he's immature. Didn't Lord Worth agree to the early marriage somewhat against his better judgment? I have hope for him, however, although I don'..."Yes, Harriet doesn't stand out much the way Heyer writes her.
"You you like little brown mice?" is what Worth asks Judith after meeting her. She answers something like,
"Yes, when they are as nice as Miss Fairford."
Immature is an excellent description of Perry. It is a quality that usually comes across as endearing, when he goes on about yachts and Worth's cravats. I was impressed how Heyer wrote this hurdle in Harriet and Perry's marriage. It was realistic and not easily solved.
I do agree, a clever bit of writing and character depiction. I think Perry was always going to be a rather shallow, but goodhearted man , probably always easily led and maybe given to infidelities and bad speculation. In AIA we are given to understand , I think, that Harriet begins to realise that she has married a man who will never be the rock she wanted. But also, she grows up herself and begins to see that everyone is flawed and she must do the best she can with what she has drawn in the marriage lottery, And they do love each other after all.
I can see I was right not to read this one... that sort of story is fine when you're looking for realistic character development, but that's not why I read romances. :)
Barbara wrote: "I do agree, a clever bit of writing and character depiction. I think Perry was always going to be a rather shallow, but goodhearted man , probably always easily led and maybe given to infidelities..."What do you think of a dose of reality in a romance novel? Since AIA is more a history, I like the real life sorrows in this one.
Louise wrote: "I can see I was right not to read this one... that sort of story is fine when you're looking for realistic character development, but that's not why I read romances. :)"Would it change your mind if I told you that Perry and Harriet is a side story? Their relationship is kind of a nice foil for the others. AIA isn't your typical romance, but it has all the glitter and wit one can expect from Heyer. But I wouldn't read this one when you are in the mood for, say Cotillion or Friday's Child :)
Not really, because I think reading it would spoil my enjoyment of Regency Buck. A happy ending, at least in a romance, should be just that... for me anyway.If it were totally unrelated to other characters and other books I would possibly enjoy it as you say, where they are not the main characters.
Louise wrote: "Not really, because I think reading it would spoil my enjoyment of Regency Buck. A happy ending, at least in a romance, should be just that... for me anyway.If it were totally unrelated to other..."
I agree with you, Louise. I enjoyed reading Regency Buck, and I had high hopes for Perry and Harriet's marriage by the end. Despite Perry's lack of maturity, I never saw him as turning into the kind of man he became in An Infamous Army. Reading that book pretty much ruined any thought of re-reading Regency Buck. I have no problem with realistic romances in general, such as Heyer's A Civil Contract which was one of my favorites of hers even though it is not romantic in the traditional sense. But taking a beloved character like Perry and turning him into something distinctly distasteful is not my cup of tea. I wish Heyer had used new characters for An Infamous Army instead of ruining my fond memories of the old ones.
I know what you all mean about not wanting to re-read RB after AIA. Judith and Worth were never my favourite people anyway, but at least Judith had spirit and Worth a sense of humour in RB.
I agree with those who find the characters from Regency Buck less likable in An Infamous Army, but I also like the way GH not only wrote a sequel but pulled together two strands of characters. Don't forget that Lady Barbara is the daughter of the couple in Devil's Cub and the grand-daughter of the couple in These Old Shades.
Mary wrote: "I agree with those who find the characters from Regency Buck less likable in An Infamous Army, but I also like the way GH not only wrote a sequel but pulled together two strands of characters. Don..."I believe that Barbara was Dominic and Mary's granddaughter, and Avon and Leonie's great-granddaughter.
Donna wrote: "Louise wrote: "Not really, because I think reading it would spoil my enjoyment of Regency Buck. A happy ending, at least in a romance, should be just that... for me anyway.If it were totally unr..."
I get that. In my universe, Downton Abbey ends in the hospital and not by the side of the road. Sometimes it's best to keep things the way we like them (though I did enjoy AIA).
Downtown Abbey! WHY?! It ends there for me too!
The "why" is an easy one ... the actor wanted out. You can't exactly force them to stay...
Well yes... But kill him off!?! I guess that was the 'cleanest' way to get him completely out of the story...
It's a lot easier to explain than "Matthew is still around somewhere but he doesn't actually spend any time with his wife and kid..."
Very true... Really sad though! And what a way to end it - neither his wife at the hospital or the rest of the family at Downton knowing yet!!
Margaret wrote: "It's a lot easier to explain than "Matthew is still around somewhere but he doesn't actually spend any time with his wife and kid...""Yes. It's convenient (and what else can they do?) But I don't like it.
I don't watch Downton so may get this wrong - I saw a newspaper article which argued that because of the position he held he couldn't just go away for a while. Moreover, Julian Fellowes felt it wouldn't have been credible or desirable to ruin the love story with Mary. There was no chance the actor would return, so that was that.
Yeah it was the only way - main character! But still don't like it. I wasn't expecting it either! Great way to end the Christmas special!
Mod
Peregrine and Harriet are this couple in Regency Buck and I think GH was interested in exploring how one of these marriages might have turned out. In fact, Judith and Worth have become the staid, conventional couple by the time of Waterloo! He reads the papers and she takes the baby to feed the swans and won't even have a carriage race.
Marriage seems to have worked all of the willful rebellion out of Judith or maybe she has matured since she's older. I quite enjoyed her rebelliousness. She and Worth turned out to be a very dull married couple with a child.
Andrea (Catsos Person) wrote: "Marriage seems to have worked all of the willful rebellion out of Judith or maybe she has matured since she's older. I quite enjoyed her rebelliousness. She and Worth turned out to be a very dull m..."I just finished rereading An Infamous Army, which was never one of my favorites. This time, I realized my problem with it is exactly what you have said Andrea - Judith Worth! I do also miss the humor which most of her romances contain, but the mood matches with the more serious historical parts so I can accept that loss. But Judith turned conventional and somewhat prudish was annoying! Perhaps this is a book best read by people who aren't Heyer fans...
@LeslieInfamous Army is not a good place to start for readers who are new to GHs romances. I feel the same about The Black Moth (although I enjoy it !).
Andrea (Catsos Person) wrote: "@LeslieInfamous Army is not a good place to start for readers who are new to GHs romances. I feel the same about The Black Moth (although I enjoy it !)."
But it may be a place for historical fiction fans to start (not for the romance but for the Napoleonic battle).
Leslie wrote: "Andrea (Catsos Person) wrote: "@LeslieBut it may be a place for historical fiction fans to start (not for the romance but for the Napoleonic battle
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I agree.
Here is an article by Jennifer Kloester (Heyer's biographer) identifying some of the research which Georgette Heyer did before writing her first Regency, the first Regency, Regency Buck. I've never yet been able to read every word of the fight scene, but you know she got it absolutely right! http://penguinblog.co.uk/2015/03/18/c...
HJ wrote: "Here is an article by Jennifer Kloester (Heyer's biographer) identifying some of the research which Georgette Heyer did before writing her first Regency, the first Regency, [book:Regency Buck|3111..."Great article!! I have really only recently realized Heyer had written so many books before she started on the Regencys which are her main claim to fame.
I didn't know that was the first - I guess older ones are set before the Regency?
She had also written four contemporary novels, four detective stories, and four historicals (e.g. Simon the Coldheart) but yes, her earlier historical romances were Georgians: The Black Moth, Powder and Patch, These Old Shades, The Masqueraders, Devil's Cub, and The Convenient Marriage.
My favorites of the Georgians are DC and The Masqueraders. Love it at the end of TM when Prudence says she wants to breed pigs! Fun all the way! Don't care much for The Convenient Marriage for some reason.
I've just preordered for my Kindle a book of stories revolving around Waaterloo. I don't recognize the authors bot for 99 cents ...http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00V...
Also received a notice of
Furniture and Draperies in the Era of Jane Austen: Ackermann's Repository of Arts
Jody Gayle
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00U...
Georgette Heyer Fans
Books mentioned in this topic
Regency Buck (other topics)An Infamous Army (other topics)
What do you think about him and Harriet as a couple?