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Beauvallet November 2017 Group Read Chapters 1-11
I'm sure I must have read this in my teens since I read pretty much all of GH's but I don't recall it. Therefore, I will call this a first read.I have borrowed the book from Open Library - ebook of 2004 Harlequin Books publication.
My very first Heyer -- way back in high school days. It's been many years since I've read it, though, so am looking forward to this discussion.Heyer does love men's fashions, doesn't she! Very descriptive in books set in time periods when men really dressed up. I already feel bad for Master Dangerfield about his fine Venice hosen.
It's definitely a contrast to her Regency books, when less was more for the really well-dressed man, and she makes a point of showing the ridiculousness of the "dandy" as compared to the understated elegance of her heroes.
Elza wrote: "H.eyer does love men's fashions, doesn't she! Very descriptive in books set in time periods when men really dressed u.."It’s because of her that I love
This will be a first time read for me!
This will be my umpteenth read. First read it back in the '60s. Loved it then and still do. It's one of my top 10 GH titles.This time I'm reading the Arrow trade paperback from 2005--the one with the very pre-Raphaelite style brooding lady on the cover. Bad cover illustration choice there, Arrow!
This is my first read, I am reading the Sourcebooks ebook on Scribd.
Barb in Maryland wrote: "This will be my umpteenth read. First read it back in the '60s. Loved it then and still do. It's one of my top 10 GH titles.This time I'm reading the Arrow trade paperback from 2005--the one with ..."
Thats another one where the heroine looks like she is checking out her cell phone! :D
I think this may be my first reading, though back in the 1970s I might have read an older edition of the book than I have now. In those days I had a tendency to fail to finish some of her novels set in earlier eras. My current edition is a Harlequin edition dated 2004, with a cover swimming in mauve and pastels.I see the story is early, originally published 1929. Am expecting some of the stilted sort of language that is found in The Masqueraders.
Abigail wrote: "Am expecting some of the stilted sort of language that is found in The Masqueraders.It's more like Sabatini. I remember it flowing better than Masqueraders.
Carol ♔Type, Oh Queen!♕ wrote: "Abigail wrote: "Am expecting some of the stilted sort of language that is found in The Masqueraders.It's more like Sabatini. I remember it flowing better than Masqueraders."
Oh, it is soooo Sabatini! The valet Joshua Dimmock is a very frequent character type in Sabatini's books.
As for the language--this is GH's version of Elizabethan English speech patterns and word usage; I think it flows nicely. I am biased, as I love the book and think the language quirks add to its charm, God wot.
This is a first read for me. It's a very old version I have. I got it many years ago in a second hand shop. Won't get to it for a few days but looking forward to it.
Not my first time reading this, although I hadn't re-read it in years. I remembered why as soon as I started - too much "forsoothly" language for me! In her later books, she got the balance better; enough obscure language to set the mood and provide a sense of time and place, but not too much for my taste. This time I looked up some of the words - they seemed genuine but obsolete. That's a sign of good research, I suppose. I think the heroine is a bit two dimensional, too.
I've only read this once, about 20 years ago, and I found it very slow and a bit dull.I'm hoping that being older and listening to the audiobook on x3 will give me a different perspective :)
This is my second read, and it will be on my kindle this time. I really like the cover illustration, but not sure now whether it suits the book or not. 
While I still think it flows better than The Masqueraders, the language is more similar to it (& The Black Moth) than I remembered.
This is my first time reading this book—I’ve never actually read any of her historical romances, although I did read The Masqueraders, which I enjoyed quite a bit (the language never bothered me...)That Heinemann edition with the family tree sounds wonderful! I love the old editions
Andrew wrote: "This is my first time reading this book—I’ve never actually read any of her historical romances, although I did read The Masqueraders, which I enjoyed quite a bit (the language never bothered me......"I'll try scanning the family tree later - but it is quite wide. It is a thing of beauty though.
It's my first time reading Beauvallet. A Facebook book club friend sent me a box of books from her sister's collection after the sister's death due to cancer; the box included this Harlequin Historical Romance edition from 2004 with a foreword by romance author Heather Graham.I'm looking forward to diving into it.
What a nice gesture and the fact you're reading it now is thanks in itself. Hope you enjoy it.
This will be my first time, once I get to the library to pick it up. It is on hold, but the library is closed today.
I read the first few chapters at lunch today. I think I'm going to like it (first-time read). I never knew I had a weakness for swashbuckling until I read Simon the Coldheart.I'm reading an old Dutton hardback from the library.
I've read through Chapter 10 and I freely confess this is not what I expected. I'm enjoying it very much; in fact, I can barely put the book down!
I'm going to ask some librarian friends if Simon & Beauvallet should be a series. They don't exactly share a world, but Simon is mentioned in Beauvallet.
That's good to hear, Pamela! I'm a few chapters in and haven't really attached to the story, so you have encouraged me to go on.
Good to know Pamela. I haven't had a chance to start it yet so that's encouraging.
I'm taking it sorta slow this re-read. I'm up to Chapter 6, wherein we met Sir Nicholas's long suffering older brother Gerard and his lovely, but frail wife, Kate. I love Gerard--so staid. He obviously loves his brother even though he doesn't understand him.
Just started! On my iPad. I read this one about 50 years ago and to be honest I cannot remember much at all. However - already impressed by GH’s usual ability to create a scene and characters so speedily and so well that one’s interest is engaged from the onset.Not my favourite historic period but willing to suspend judgement for the moment!
Just starting chapter six, so far I’m liking beauvallet alright and his valet is great fun, but she’s a bit too melodramatic for me, runs hot and cold, but understandable for the time and place (and under her dear padre’s nose). My first read, so weshall see, so far it’s not unput-downable for me - but other reviews on Amazon and GR sound like it picks up! I really like the brother, but I’m already wondering if Nick gets his beloved out of Spain, how will she settle in with his rather staid relations?
& here are some scan's of my copy's family tree. I will confess that I used to create imaginary family trees myself. I was charmed by this.Won't be that clear & it doesn't have the last line - that just shows Nick & his brother & sister. No info about marriages.
Edit: I see Geoffrey & Adele do show on this attempt.
CarolThank you! Even with the fuzzies on the left edge this is quite readable and great fun.
Yes, I enjoyed reading about Simon’s descendants. My copy ( from the 60s) doesn’t have the family tree.
So, a question that often bugs me when reading: how do you pronounce Beauvallet - the French way to rhyme with ballet, or the English way to rhyme with ballot?I've been reading it the French way - what do y'all think?
I think it is pronounced using French pronunciation. I have not read Simon yet. Do you all recommend it?
❇Critterbee wrote: "I think it is pronounced using French pronunciation. I have not read Simon yet. Do you all recommend it?"
I'll answer in the spoiler thread Critterbee. Just in case I say anything spoilerish
...exits to the spoiler thread...
Pamela wrote: "So, a question that often bugs me when reading: how do you pronounce Beauvallet - the French way to rhyme with ballet, or the English way to rhyme with ballot?I've been reading it the French way ..."
This is my first read, I assumed the French way.
Critterbee, I enjoyed Simon the Coldheart. It's one of Heyer's tales of brotherhood, which I think she was so good at. And I have always read Beauvallet the French way, too.
I'm definitely enjoying it more this time. There's something to be said for listening to all that description rather than reading it.It's not my favourite time period for romances, a little too flowery for me, but I can see how it would make a great Error Flynn era film.
I've started it and the first chapter was almost the exact same as the Errol Flynn film The Sea Hawk so now all I can see is Errol Flynn when I'm reading:):) Which is no hardship as he's one of my favorite actors.
The further through I get the more I have Douglas Fairbanks Jr in Sinbad The Sailor in mind... which is to say, he's growing on me ;)
@Teresa at 41 and @Louise Sparrow at 42. Yes, both actors did that hands on hips, arms akimbo, bold laugh with the head thrown back mannerism so well. Heyer could not have seen Flynn or Fairbanks Jr in action before she wrote 'Beauvallet'--their careers come well after the release of the book. However, she certainly could have been familiar with Fairbanks Sr! That dashing star of the silent era was known for swashbuckling roles such as Zorro and Robin Hood.
I’m afraid I’m going to drop out of this read. I just can’t engage with the book. Maybe one day when I don’t feel my reading time is quite so precious!
Barb in Maryland wrote: "@Teresa at 41 and @Louise Sparrow at 42. Yes, both actors did that hands on hips, arms akimbo, bold laugh with the head thrown back mannerism so well. Heyer could not have seen Flynn or Fairbanks J..."Yes, I can see Fairbanks Snr as an inspiration for GH!
More accustomed as we are now to Johnny Depp’s camp Captain Sparrow, it is hard to remember that pirates, buccaneers and privateers were seen as really glamorous and romantic figures by GH’s generation!
Abigail wrote: "I’m afraid I’m going to drop out of this read. I just can’t engage with the book. Maybe one day when I don’t feel my reading time is quite so precious!"I know the feeling Abigail. I dropped out of the GH reads for two months because I felt I was getting nowhere with my other reads. You've gotta do what you've gotta do.
Abigail wrote: "I’m afraid I’m going to drop out of this read. I just can’t engage with the book. Maybe one day when I don’t feel my reading time is quite so precious!"Echoing Teresa here--we will miss you and hope to see you back with us when you can. There are too many books and too little time to read them in--don't waste time on a book that isn't working for you--even if it is one by GH!
Abigail wrote: "I’m afraid I’m going to drop out of this read. I just can’t engage with the book. Maybe one day when I don’t feel my reading time is quite so precious!"I’m with you - my time isn’t that precious, but I can’t seem to get into this one...might give it another chapter. Wish I had the audiobook, I’d listen to it during daily exercises on 2x or 3x, it would fly by.
I was curious about the movie Sinbad the Sailor so I looked it up on Wikipedia. I found this quote interesting:Douglas Fairbanks Jr later said "Errol Flynn told me I'd made a big mistake because nobody was interested in swashbuckling and I had to agree. Receipts were thin."
So when did swashbuckling lose its charm? Maybe after the second World War? Sinbad the Sailor came out in 1947.
Sheila wrote: "I was curious about the movie Sinbad the Sailor so I looked it up on Wikipedia. I found this quote interesting:Douglas Fairbanks Jr later said "Errol Flynn told me I'd made a big mistake because ..."
Post WWII the swashbucklers were indeed thin on the ground (especially those with 'A' list stars)--I'm surprised that 'Sinbad' didn't do well--his co-star was Maureen O'Hara! Tastes changed--well, those of us who are of the Boomer generation have seen a goodly number of movie trends come and go over the years!
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If wanting to post spoilers, please use the spoiler thread or use spoiler tags. We don't want to spoil a first read for anyone.
So - is this anyone's first read?
How many times have you read this title?
What format are you using this time.
I have read this one countless times, but the last time would be more than 30 years ago. I remember it being around a 4★ read.
This time i have a very old Heinemann hardback, which also includes a Beauvallet family tree.
Looking forward to hearing everyone's thoughts. :)