If you love Bridgerton, you'll love Georgette Heyer!
'The greatest writer who ever lived' ANTONIA FRASER
'A rollicking good read that will be of particular joy to Bridgerton viewers ... the permanent glister of scandal [...] ties the whole thing together' INDEPENDENT
'My generation's Julia Quinn' ADJOA ANDOH, star of Bridgerton
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When Lady Hester Theale learns Sir Gareth Ludlow is planning to propose to her, she knows she cannot accept.
Hester senses that his heart lies elsewhere - so when Sir Gareth arrives at her home with beautiful Amanda Smith in tow, it seems to confirm her worst fears.
Yet all is not as it seems - Amanda is in fact a runaway; Gareth's mission is to get her home safely. However, Amanda's startlingly lively imagination proves to be more than he had bargained for . . .
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'One of my perennial comfort authors. Heyer's books are as incisively witty and quietly subversive as any of Jane Austen's' JOANNE HARRIS
'Elegant, witty and rapturously romantic' KATIE FFORDE
'Utterly delightful' GUARDIAN
'Absolutely delicious tales of Regency heroes. . . Utter, immersive escapism' SOPHIE KINSELLA
'Georgette Heyer's Regency romances brim with elegance, wit and historical accuracy, and this is one of her finest and most entertaining ... Escapism of the highest order' DAILY MAIL
'If you haven't read Georgette Heyer yet, what a treat you have in store!' HARRIET EVANS
'Georgette Heyer is unbeatable.' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
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Readers love Sprig Muslin ...
***** 'A hilarious Regency romance, an absolute riot of laughter.'
***** 'One of Heyer's very best.'
***** 'I never get tired of reading her books!'
***** 'Perfect for a rainy Sunday afternoon, recommended.'
***** 'Decidedly a delightful read!'
- ISBN10 0099476355
- ISBN13 9780099476351
- Publish Date 2 June 2005 (first published 16 March 1950)
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Cornerstone
- Imprint Arrow Books Ltd
- Format Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
- Pages 272
- Language English
Reviews
MurderByDeath
I'm being kind with 3 stars.
I totally get why people love this Heyer book so much; I do. But I really disliked it. It's beautifully written and the narrator of this version did a fantastic job (although her Mr. Theele kept making Peter Sellers' Sidney Wang character pop into my head; I couldn't shake the feeling that when she read it she had a rictus-like smile on her face. But I digress.)
So what didn't I like? Amanda. Dear God in heaven; at her best-behaved I'd have left her on the side of the road, taken Joseph with me, and buried her in the carriage's dust. At her worst I wanted to slap her stupid. I very nearly didn't finish the book.
I know I was supposed to find her and her antics a hilariously entraining romp, and I have no problem understanding why most people do, but she's just such a spoiled rotten brat and I was stuck listening to her ridiculous tantrums and schemes for 2/3 of the book.
Why didn't I just dnf it? Because everyone I know and trust loved it, and I really liked Lady Hester and Sir Gareth. I'd have loved this book if it had more of them and less of that little idiot Amanda.
But after saying all of that, this is a personal thing; the book is superbly written and flows beautifully. I hated the predominant character but that's not because she's badly written; likely the opposite. If you can laugh at the antics of a teenager scheming to get her own way with careless but cheerful disregard for others, I highly recommend you put this Heyer at the top of your list. If you're disinclined to find charm in spoiled teens, you might want to stick with Heyer's other titles.
N.B. - notwithstanding the rictus-smile narration of one of the characters, I'd totally listen to this narrator's work again; she did an excellent job.