Abductions and Fanciful Falsehoods
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Source: Purchased
TYPE OF NOVEL: Regency Romance
THE PREMISE: Sir Gareth Ludlow is about to offer a marriage of esteem and friendly affection to Lady Hester Theale, as it has been seven years since the death of his first love, Clarissa, and his heart remains untouched. While en route, Sir Gareth comes across a young adventuress named Amanda, whose inexperience and immaturity is about to lead her to some harm. What does Lady Hester think when Sir Gareth shows up to propose to her with the beautiful and unwilling Amanda in tow…
MY THOUGHTS:
The aspects I liked the most about this Heyer novel was Sir Gareth and Lady Hester. Sir Gareth is a most admirable hero – he is stalwart when it comes to doing what is right, possesses a sterling character, and has a very yielding temper. He is constantly rescuing Amanda from herself even though she gives him the most difficult of chases and shows him nothing but contempt and ingratitude. In addition, he has a thoughtful sensitivity towards others as he purposefully chooses not to marry anyone who is expecting grand romance and affection with marriage. And Lady Hester is such a gentle and likable heroine. Since she is surrounded by a horrid family that doesn’t value her and treats her shabbily, she very much put me in mind of Anne Elliot from Persuasion. And like Anne, she thinks for herself when it comes to her future and handles herself well in a crisis.
However, as much as I loved Sir Gareth and Lady Hester, a large portion of this tale is taken over by Amanda. And everyone falls in love with her because of her incredible beauty. But with Amanda’s constant deceptions full of imaginative fabrications, her unapologetic pursuit of her own schemes, and her periods of near-histrionics I must admit I found her character a little challenging to like. However, Amanda does possess some good qualities, and readers get to witness her act and do for someone other than herself towards the end, which was a pleasant change.
And that brings us to my main complaint, there are six chapters (nearly 100 pages – which is one-third of the story) in the middle of the book where there is no mention of Hester at all, and I was beginning to question who is the true heroine of this story. This does seem to be a little off-balanced. Especially with Amanda (and the odious Mr. Theale) comprising a large portion of the story that felt like it moved at such a leisurely pace. And then the last few chapters – which included an abundance of madcap twists and hilarious aggregations of characters – moving at a very brisk and rapid pace. I think I would have enjoyed this book more (and have had a better patience for Amanda’s antics) if the balance and pacing was a little more evenly distributed. And if Lady Hester was given a more comparable amount of page time as Amanda.
Regardless of my quibbles, it is always a pleasure to spend time with Georgette Heyer’s entertaining and dynamic array of characters and her rollicking and diverting storylines. I greatly enjoyed Sprig Muslin, and may perhaps appreciate it more on a second reading.
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For the past eight years I’ve made it a tradition to post a review near/on Georgette Heyer’s birthday (August 16th) in celebration! I’ve read several Heyer novels not during August too, you can find all my reviews below:
Arabella I Black Sheep I Cotillion I Devil’s Cub I Faro’s Daughter
Friday’s Child I Lady of Quality I Sylvester: Or The Wicked Uncle I The Black Moth
The Convenient Marriage I The Grand Sophy I The Masqueraders I These Old Shades I Venetia
Thanks for reviewing another Georgette Heyer’s novel although this story isn’t one of the author’s best books.
And Happy Birthday Meredith! Have a beautiful day, amiga mía!
Thank you so much, my sweet friend! It was still a very enjoyable read, despite it not being one of my favorites!
I’m so glad you chose to read Georgette Heyer. A group on Twitter reviewed this one a few months ago, #GeorgetteHeyerReadAlong. We also lamented the lack of attention to Hester. Amanda is a great character who is the catalyst for bringing the long-suffering hero and heroine together, but YES, her antics are a bit over the top. Thank you for your review! Please also consider The Talisman Ring. Great fun!
Oh! I’m really glad to hear I’m not alone in this! I was thinking my partiality for Hester was greatly impacting my thoughts on this tale as a whole and was worried if I was being unfair or biased. I do agree – Amanda is a wonderful catalyst – but I think she could have been the same with less page time as well.
Thanks for the rec! I own that one, but have not read it yet.
Love Georgette’s books — been reading them forever! Seems to me that Amanda is just being a teenager — which can be an extremely difficult thing for those around her. She does seem to be getting over herself by the end.
Yes! Absolutely – she is very much so a teen and does show growth and maturity at the end. And that is all fine with me, it was just the amount of page time given.
I totally agree Meredith! I love and have reread Georgette Heyer books regularly for many, many years and have a collection of both the romances and the mysteries. This isn’t one of my favourite, favourites although I do like it. I’m looking forward to your review of The Unknown Ajax (although I do understand it may be in a year or two!) I’m also a big fan of False Colours, both these are definitely humorous!
Glad to know I wasn’t alone in not loving this one! I think I would have loved it more if we had more time with the hero and heroine – they were excellent.
And yay! Those are wonderful recommendations – thank you! Both are already in my possession!
According to reviews I have posted on GRs I have read 13 of her novels. I have not read this one and I doubt that I will reading your review. Thanks for sharing your thoughts here. Have a good day, everyone.
Thanks for checking out my review, Sheila! I hope your next GH read is a fantastic one!
Sprig Muslin isn’t one of my favorites either, but I still appreciate all of Georgette Heyer’s Regency romances. Thanks for honoring her on her birthday!
Absolutely! There is still plenty to admire and enjoy in the story!
Not a favourite of mine either but I do like Hester. I too would have liked more time with her in the book.
Wasn’t Hester great? She deserved better!
Amanda got tedious for me, too, but Hester and Gareth were highlights. Great review, Meredith!
Agreed! Too much of one, and not enough of the other. Thank you for checking out my review, Sophia!
It’s been so long since I’ve read Sprig Muslin. And it’s not one I’ve pined away about reading it again, so I think it is exactly for the reason you stated in your fair review. I do remember the annoying teenager being a huge part of the story, but I did love the hero and the heroine. I think I only have somewhat of a soft spot for it because it was the second G.H. I read.
I always look forward to Aug. 16th for your Heyer reviews. Thank you so much Meredith.
I’m so glad you look forward to this tradition – I do too!
Lol! Heyer can write a good annoying teenager, can’t she?! That is special that you remember it being your second Heyer!
Always interesting to look back on her work to see how it holds up. Enjoyed your review.
denise
For sure! I think in this one she illustrates that self-absorbed and obstinate teenagers are timeless.
Thank you for your review! I see your point in missing Lady Hester and Amanda being a bit over the top, but I wanted to add that the reason I reread it from time to time is the humorous aspect. Whenever I read it I almost fall off my seat in laughing (yes, all GH’s books are humorous but this one just sparkles with it!) Sir Gareth dealing with the crazy stories of Amanda by capping them with inventions of his own are so hilarious that whenever this book is mentioned I remember the good laughs.
Yes, you are so right! I love how he had to play along and all the hilarity of him being their uncle and them being cousins! It was such a farce! I think I will be like you and remember the funny parts as well!
I have read it. It’s unmemorable, until reminded by your Lovely review, if that tells you anything. Maybe I need to read it again.
Mmm. Maybe? It might be just me, but I find it a little more challenging to keep my Heyer characters and plots straight sometimes – there are just so many!