Beauvallet October 2021 Group Read No Spoilers Thread

[Critterbee❇]

Welcome to the October Group read of Beauvallet. This is the NO spoilers thread. Use the spoiler thread or spoiler tags for posting any spoilers.

It has been four years since our last (and only) group read of Beauvallet.

How many times have you read this one? Who is reading this for the first time? What format are you using, and what does your cover look like?

Let's head back for an adventure in the 16th Century...

[Critterbee❇]

I have read this twice before, and will be reading on my kindle this time. My cover:

[Barb in Maryland]

This is one of my all-time favorites by GH. I've lost track of how many times I've read it.
I first read it back in the late '60s--hardback from the library:


Then I bought this edition:

Isn't that wonderfully swashbuckling?

I'll be reading the same e-book version as Critterbee--the Sourcebooks one with the totally wrong dress on the cover.

[Doris]

This will be my first time, and I, too, will be reading the same ebook edition as Critterbee and Barb in Maryland.

[Abigail]

I have a paperback copy from the 1970s. Have never read this one so I’m going to try to fit it in this month. (Of course, I didn’t get far with Royal Escape . . .)

[Susan in NC]

I’ve only read this once, back in 2017 with the group. Not a favorite, I don’t own a copy, I borrowed the ebook from my library last time - I wish there was an audiobook available, but I couldn’t find one. If the ebook is available from the library, I will try to join in. I believe my library ebook has the same cover as Critterbee is showing (yes, that dress doesn’t seem period appropriate, does it?) I’m no fashion historian, but that doesn’t seem right!

[Critterbee❇]

I agree with you all - that dress is not right!

[Abigail]

I’m about five chapters in and am not thrilled. Instalove and bodice-ripper tropes? Not my cuppa. I’ll have to see how much I want to avoid the other book I’m reading . . .

[Barb in Maryland]

Abigail, am I correct in suspecting you did not spend your early teen years devouring Sabatini, Baroness Orczy, and other early 20th century popular writers? I did, and I love this book, in part, because it takes me way back in time, and conjures up a load of happy reading memories.

[Critterbee❇]

I am really enjoying Doña Dominica!

I started reading Dumas when I was in in middle school (age 11-13 I think), but came to Sabatini and Orczy much later. I love a great romantic adventurous romp.

[Abigail]

Have to admit that although I love the 1940s movie of The Scarlet Pimpernel, I’ve never enjoyed the book. And I never had the fun of reading Sabatini.

[Barb in Maryland]

Abigail wrote: "Have to admit that although I love the 1940s movie of The Scarlet Pimpernel, I’ve never enjoyed the book. And I never had the fun of reading Sabatini."

Retro Reads did Sabatini's 'Scaramouche' and "Captain Blood". 'The casual racism in 'Captain Blood' is really a 'gag-choke' to the story. "Scaramouche' has aged much better.

[Abigail]

On the list it goes!

[Susan in Perthshire]

I enjoyed Sabatini and Orczy type stories when I was 12 but I’m afraid Beauvallet was never a story I enjoyed, so I won’t be reading it again - but I will follow the discussions!

[Jackie]

I've read it many times and current read on my kindle with the same cover as Critterbee.
I think I'd better stick to the spoiler thread.

[Abigail]

Well, I’m enjoying it a little more when the heroine is offstage. She’s the sort of female I deplore.

[Critterbee❇]

I am happy that you are sticking with it, Abigail! AND looking forward to discussing Dona Dominica in the spoiler thread after you have finished.

This book is so suspenseful, I am a little nervous to post here!

[Jackie]

I think our introduction to Beauvallet's servent, Joshua Dimmick, makes a lovely contrast to the violence that opens the book. I have to feel sorry for the poor man whose clothes are thrown on the floor when his room is given away.

[Teresa]

I haven't started yet. This will be a first read for me. Not sure if I'll like it or not reading some of the comments here. Still. I'll give it a go. I'll be reading an old paperback that I have.

[Barb in Maryland]

Teresa wrote: "I haven't started yet. This will be a first read for me. Not sure if I'll like it or not reading some of the comments here. Still. I'll give it a go. I'll be reading an old paperback that I have.
..."

This is a swashbuckling adventure with a sweet romance tacked on. If you have a fondness for old Errol Flynn movies (especially The Sea Hawk), you'll probably be fine.
Abandon all ideas of encountering a GH regency comedy of manners, but in a different setting.

[Teresa]

Thanks for the heads up Barb. Errol Flynn!!! My all time favourite actor. Loved the Sea Hawk.

[Sheila (in LA)]

I picked up a copy from the library today. I know I started it once before but never finished it. Looking forward to giving it another go.

[Teresa]

Same here Sheila.

[Jackie]

This is a swashbuckling adventure with a sweet romance tacked on. If you have a fondness for old Errol Flynn movies (especially The Sea Hawk), you'll probably be fine.
Abandon all ideas of encountering a GH regency comedy of manners, but in a different setting.

nicely put, Barb in Maryland, and now I want to watch that movie

[Teresa]

Oh you'll love it Jackie!!

[Sheila (in LA)]

I am about halfway through and still enjoying it. I don't object to Dona Dominica's behavior in the beginning (on board ship) though she is very coquettish. I think she's trying to gain some control over the situation, and I don't blame her!

[Teresa]

Good to know Sheila. Hoping to start it in a day or two.

[Jackie]

responding to Sheila (in LA)

I don't object to Dona Dominica's behavior in the beginning (on board ship) though she is very coquettish. I think she's trying to gain some control over the situation, and I don't blame her!

I don't imagine she had many role models on acting otherwise (view spoiler)[But I wonder if her Caribbean upbringing really was much less restrictive? it was at least some, as stated when she goes to Spain (hide spoiler)]

[Sheila (in LA)]

I think she isn't sure about Nicholas, what kind of man he is, other than that he is very dominant... but she's attracted to him--like I said I think she's trying to control the situation because she doesn't feel like she has much control.

I may be being overly charitable. I do think she behaves better after she gets to know him better and starts to trust him.

[Teresa]

I've started it. I think I would have found it hard going except for Barb's tip. Now I'm picturing Errol Flynn and The Seahawk as I'm reading and it's really helping. In fact the first chapter could have come from that film. Or vice versa!!

[Teresa]

Sheila (in LA) wrote: "I am about halfway through and still enjoying it. I don't object to Dona Dominica's behavior in the beginning (on board ship) though she is very coquettish. I think she's trying to gain some contro..."

I totally agree with you Sheila!

[Jackie]

Teresa wrote: "I've started it. I think I would have found it hard going except for Barb's tip. Now I'm picturing Errol Flynn and The Seahawk as I'm reading and it's really helping. In fact the first chapter coul..."

I think the opening is excellent, and just like a very good swashbuckling movie. I love the contrast between the hand to hand combat to the death and then we see the comedy of Sir Nick's servant, Joshua, throwing another man's clothes on the floor to make room for our Heroine.
Like most of Heyer, the more times I read it the more enjoyment I find.

[Julia]

Susan in NC wrote: "I’ve only read this once, back in 2017 with the group. Not a favorite, I don’t own a copy, I borrowed the ebook from my library last time - I wish there was an audiobook available, but I couldn’t f..."

There is an audiobook on Audible by Penguin, read by Matt Addis:
https://www.audible.ca/pd/Beauvallet-...

I read this earlier than 2014 last.

[Teresa]

I watched The Sea Hawk today and now I'm finding the reading of the book a lot more interesting. I'm putting faces from the film to the book characters. Great fun:)