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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
I had a hard time getting through this book. It's written in the old English style. I struggled through the writing. I also didn't really like the story. It was slow in progressing. The love story was disjointed for me and didn't really develop until the very end even though the book was very long. I didn't find myself attached to any of the characters. I would recommend this book for 12 and up.
3.5 stars? I am nonplussed.
I will tolerate the casual racism typical of Heyer's work as a product of it's time--the excitable French and lazy Spaniards are usually drawn with some affection. But in this book we get an outright Shylockian loan shark, greasily "Semitic", hooked nose and all--which goes several steps beyond too far.
However, here is the conflict: Sophy is one of my favourite heroines. She is tall and brassy and fearless. She sails into an unhappy household and briskly sets about improving everything. She copes with tyrants, engagements, a Spanish Marquessa, Typhus, the aforementioned loan shark, several ducklings and a monkey. The story is a witty tangle of plots and plotting, and I enjoy it very much evey time, except for wincing over Mr. Goldhanger for a few pages in the middle.
I will tolerate the casual racism typical of Heyer's work as a product of it's time--the excitable French and lazy Spaniards are usually drawn with some affection. But in this book we get an outright Shylockian loan shark, greasily "Semitic", hooked nose and all--which goes several steps beyond too far.
However, here is the conflict: Sophy is one of my favourite heroines. She is tall and brassy and fearless. She sails into an unhappy household and briskly sets about improving everything. She copes with tyrants, engagements, a Spanish Marquessa, Typhus, the aforementioned loan shark, several ducklings and a monkey. The story is a witty tangle of plots and plotting, and I enjoy it very much evey time, except for wincing over Mr. Goldhanger for a few pages in the middle.
I enjoyed this Regency fiction more than I had hoped to and will be looking forward to reading more of Georgette Heyer's novels. Sophy was an entertaining and wild character who did just the right amount of meddling in all the lives of her friends and family to keep them and the reader satisfied. I love a rebellious and in charge female character in historical fiction, and Sophy does not disappoint.
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Absolutely delightful, the best Georgette Heyer I've read. There is a romance reminiscent of Colonel Brandon and Marianne's, and the main couple is patterned after Darcy and Elizabeth. And the main character has a penchant for meddling like Emma. The historical elements feel accurate, and the exchanges are witty and endearing. The language throughout is a treat.
Sir Horace is a large, loud widower who is travelling more than he is at home. He has one daughter, Sophy. When he becomes engaged to a woman who does not wish to be seen as Sophy's stepmother, Sir Horace arranges to leave Sophy at the home of his sister, Lady Ombersley, in hopes that she can get Sophy married off.
All is not well at Lady Ombersley's home. Her husband is a gambler who has endangered their home and lifestyle. Her son Charles has come into enough money of his own to take control from his father, but this role has turned him into a stodgy and humorless fellow. His many younger brothers and sisters don't feel they can confide their troubles to him. His oldest sister is determined to marry a dull and clueless poet instead of the fine gentleman who is in love with her, and Charles hasn't the sense to let the romance run its course, instead taking steps that make her all the more determined. Charles is engaged to an intolerable and dreary young woman his family cannot abide.
Sophy arrives at the Ombersley home in all her glory - in a chaise drawn by four horses, with a greyhound, a parrot, and a monkey - and turns the lives of the family upside down. She interferes right and left until all are engaged to the right people and she has found love as well. The action gets pretty ridiculous, but it's enjoyable all the same.
If you are a fan of Jane Austen style romances and haven't read The Grand Sophy, I recommend putting it at the top of your To Read list.
One note: there is an offensive racial stereotype of a money lender that somewhat mars this otherwise delightful novel.
Sir Horace is a large, loud widower who is travelling more than he is at home. He has one daughter, Sophy. When he becomes engaged to a woman who does not wish to be seen as Sophy's stepmother, Sir Horace arranges to leave Sophy at the home of his sister, Lady Ombersley, in hopes that she can get Sophy married off.
All is not well at Lady Ombersley's home. Her husband is a gambler who has endangered their home and lifestyle. Her son Charles has come into enough money of his own to take control from his father, but this role has turned him into a stodgy and humorless fellow. His many younger brothers and sisters don't feel they can confide their troubles to him. His oldest sister is determined to marry a dull and clueless poet instead of the fine gentleman who is in love with her, and Charles hasn't the sense to let the romance run its course, instead taking steps that make her all the more determined. Charles is engaged to an intolerable and dreary young woman his family cannot abide.
Sophy arrives at the Ombersley home in all her glory - in a chaise drawn by four horses, with a greyhound, a parrot, and a monkey - and turns the lives of the family upside down. She interferes right and left until all are engaged to the right people and she has found love as well. The action gets pretty ridiculous, but it's enjoyable all the same.
If you are a fan of Jane Austen style romances and haven't read The Grand Sophy, I recommend putting it at the top of your To Read list.
One note: there is an offensive racial stereotype of a money lender that somewhat mars this otherwise delightful novel.
Georgette Heyer books are definitely my "guilty pleasure." They're just little romances & there's not much to them, but I like the time period & the language so they're pleasing to me.
I really adore this book. The only bad thing is the horribly anti-Semitic scene with the moneylender. Apart from that, however, this remains my favourite Heyer novel. It's so delightful and charming and funny, and simply the perfect comfort read.
This was such a fun book to read! Full of great humor with wonderful characters. Sophy has to be one of my favorite characters ever written. She just wants to help people, but her methods are quite unconventional and very amusing.
Much easier to read than most Georgette Heyer books since the dialogue is easiest to understand, and this one has lots of dialogue and not as many regency era descriptions. A great Heyer novel to start with.
So clever and funny. Loved it!
Much easier to read than most Georgette Heyer books since the dialogue is easiest to understand, and this one has lots of dialogue and not as many regency era descriptions. A great Heyer novel to start with.
So clever and funny. Loved it!