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A review by sophiarose1816
The Quiet Gentleman by Georgette Heyer
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
After a history of being apart from his family, Gervaise Frant, the new Earl of St. Erth, returns to Stanyon Castle to claim his place as head of the family. If he expected a warm welcome, he is sadly mistaken because his widowed step mother, the Dowager, and younger half brother are put out of sorts that he survived the war and returned home to take his place.
Gervaise is a winning, handsome man with quiet genteel ways and this earns him respect in the neighborhood, among the servants, and, unfortunately, the bubbly young woman his brother set his heart on.
If that were not trouble enough, freak accidents of a deadly nature begin occurring to Gervaise and he is troubled, among others including sensible house guest Miss Morvelle and his hardworking cousin Theo, with the suspicion landing solidly on his hot-head brother who has already hurled hatred and threats at his head. Gervaise is luckier than most for surviving the war campaigns he was in and he needs all that luck now.
We think first of Heyer's sparkling Regency Romcoms and then maybe her later period detective stories. But, it is fun to note that she had a couple Regencies where she combined her romance with a spot of suspense and The Quiet Gentleman is one of them. There is a plot against Gervaise to unhorse him from the newly acquired earldom and there are good family and belowstairs dynamics with a subtle romance occurring in the background for the most part. I loved the combo of elements and this, one of her more understated stories is thoroughly engaging and one I will gladly revisit.
Gervaise is open in some ways, but kept enigmatic in others. His friends and family are easier to read than this quietly capable hero who doesn't put himself forward, but still has a commanding presence when he wishes to exert it. He is something of a dandy, but also a Corinthian, humble about his war record and place in a family that pushed him out because he happens to look like his late mother and came first in the line of secession. He doesn't resent his brother for being his father's favorite or that his father willed away plenty of property and wealth to his younger brother even though Martin was something of a spoiled brat much of the story.
As to Drusilla Morville, she is Gervaise's match though she is plain featured, plain speaking, and loaded with common sense and no romantic notions. Her parents are plenty eccentric which maybe explains her choosing not to be. Like Gervaise, she is capable and doesn't feel the need to put herself forward or resent a pretty spoilt girl from the neighborhood or the crotchety autocratic Dowager who bosses her around. She stands loyal though she thinks she doesn't stand a chance with Gervaise.
As to the narration work, Cornelius Garret was already familiar from voicing other Heyer books. I do enjoy the way he engages in voice acting and the emotions of the moment while presenting an easily distinguished cast of both genders, all ages, and the class structure both above and below stairs.
All in all, this was splendid and I was glad to revisit a story I hadn't picked up in years. It stood the test of time and re-reading.
Gervaise is a winning, handsome man with quiet genteel ways and this earns him respect in the neighborhood, among the servants, and, unfortunately, the bubbly young woman his brother set his heart on.
If that were not trouble enough, freak accidents of a deadly nature begin occurring to Gervaise and he is troubled, among others including sensible house guest Miss Morvelle and his hardworking cousin Theo, with the suspicion landing solidly on his hot-head brother who has already hurled hatred and threats at his head. Gervaise is luckier than most for surviving the war campaigns he was in and he needs all that luck now.
We think first of Heyer's sparkling Regency Romcoms and then maybe her later period detective stories. But, it is fun to note that she had a couple Regencies where she combined her romance with a spot of suspense and The Quiet Gentleman is one of them. There is a plot against Gervaise to unhorse him from the newly acquired earldom and there are good family and belowstairs dynamics with a subtle romance occurring in the background for the most part. I loved the combo of elements and this, one of her more understated stories is thoroughly engaging and one I will gladly revisit.
Gervaise is open in some ways, but kept enigmatic in others. His friends and family are easier to read than this quietly capable hero who doesn't put himself forward, but still has a commanding presence when he wishes to exert it. He is something of a dandy, but also a Corinthian, humble about his war record and place in a family that pushed him out because he happens to look like his late mother and came first in the line of secession. He doesn't resent his brother for being his father's favorite or that his father willed away plenty of property and wealth to his younger brother even though Martin was something of a spoiled brat much of the story.
As to Drusilla Morville, she is Gervaise's match though she is plain featured, plain speaking, and loaded with common sense and no romantic notions. Her parents are plenty eccentric which maybe explains her choosing not to be. Like Gervaise, she is capable and doesn't feel the need to put herself forward or resent a pretty spoilt girl from the neighborhood or the crotchety autocratic Dowager who bosses her around. She stands loyal though she thinks she doesn't stand a chance with Gervaise.
As to the narration work, Cornelius Garret was already familiar from voicing other Heyer books. I do enjoy the way he engages in voice acting and the emotions of the moment while presenting an easily distinguished cast of both genders, all ages, and the class structure both above and below stairs.
All in all, this was splendid and I was glad to revisit a story I hadn't picked up in years. It stood the test of time and re-reading.