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The Miremont Trilogy #1
The Second Footman
Nineteen year-old Max is the duchesse de Claireville's second footman, but he does not intend to endure the indignities of service for long. He has a plan – to find an aristocratic patron who will become his unwitting accomplice in an audacious fraud.
It is true that in 1880s' France, despite nearly a century of revolution and social turmoil, the aristocracy is still firmly entrenched in privilege, and the gulf between the salon and the servants' hall is as wide as ever. But Max is handsome, quick to learn and confident of his abilities as a seducer of both men and women.
Whether ladling soup into noble plates beneath crystal chandeliers, or reading biographies of the great generals in his squalid footman's dormitory, he is planning his strategy. He, Max, is the man of the future - ruthless, above morality and sentimental attachments.
Yet, when, after a couple of false starts, he at last acquires his patron, he finds himself ambushed by instinctive longings—for friendship, for affection—that threaten his grand plan.
'Be true to yourself…' the saying goes. But to which self? And what is 'truth'?
It is true that in 1880s' France, despite nearly a century of revolution and social turmoil, the aristocracy is still firmly entrenched in privilege, and the gulf between the salon and the servants' hall is as wide as ever. But Max is handsome, quick to learn and confident of his abilities as a seducer of both men and women.
Whether ladling soup into noble plates beneath crystal chandeliers, or reading biographies of the great generals in his squalid footman's dormitory, he is planning his strategy. He, Max, is the man of the future - ruthless, above morality and sentimental attachments.
Yet, when, after a couple of false starts, he at last acquires his patron, he finds himself ambushed by instinctive longings—for friendship, for affection—that threaten his grand plan.
'Be true to yourself…' the saying goes. But to which self? And what is 'truth'?
488 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 2, 2013
38 people are currently reading
179 people want to read
About the author
Jasper Barry
3 books32 followersBorn: In England, but of mainly Irish parentage.
Education: Cambridge, BA Eng Lit.
Career: Advertising, then journalism.
Loves: Prokoviev, Shostakovitch, Titian, Caravaggio, Catullus.
Hates: Filling in forms and rice pudding.
Addictions: Travel and reading.
Besetting sin: Procrastination.
Lives: With one partner, three hooligan cats and too many books.
Education: Cambridge, BA Eng Lit.
Career: Advertising, then journalism.
Loves: Prokoviev, Shostakovitch, Titian, Caravaggio, Catullus.
Hates: Filling in forms and rice pudding.
Addictions: Travel and reading.
Besetting sin: Procrastination.
Lives: With one partner, three hooligan cats and too many books.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
August 8, 2018
4☆ A Captivating Historical Romance
The Second Footman is the first book in the series. It's a particularly long book but makes for a compelling read.
After reading the blurb for this book I was drawn in, especially as I'm a fan of downtown Abbey and I found it fascinating.
Max is just 19years old and he works as a second footman to Catherine.
But Max is ambitious and wants more from life than to serve others.
So he devises a plan to do exactly that.
As he quickly leans his sexuality is a powerful charm, of seduction and persuasion.
Whilst also exploring his sexuality as he becomes enthralled with Armand de Miremont.
First of all I want to mention how much I love the Cover. It's mesmerising and intriguing.
The Second Footman is a story of ambition and passion, it's a historical gay novel written beautifully, the characters are well developed and thought out. The pace is slower but perfect to showcase the plot that thickens. I'm really looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website:-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/0...
The Second Footman is the first book in the series. It's a particularly long book but makes for a compelling read.
After reading the blurb for this book I was drawn in, especially as I'm a fan of downtown Abbey and I found it fascinating.
Max is just 19years old and he works as a second footman to Catherine.
But Max is ambitious and wants more from life than to serve others.
So he devises a plan to do exactly that.
As he quickly leans his sexuality is a powerful charm, of seduction and persuasion.
Whilst also exploring his sexuality as he becomes enthralled with Armand de Miremont.
First of all I want to mention how much I love the Cover. It's mesmerising and intriguing.
The Second Footman is a story of ambition and passion, it's a historical gay novel written beautifully, the characters are well developed and thought out. The pace is slower but perfect to showcase the plot that thickens. I'm really looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website:-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2018/0...
Read
June 3, 2014I haven’t read a book like this for what feels like a very long time – set in Belle Époque France, it reads like the 19th century French novels I devoured and adored when I was a confused young man. My literary needs have changed somewhat since then and I might have hesitated if I’d known exactly what I was getting into (specifically that what I was getting into was about eighty gazillion pages long and the first book of a goddam trilogy) but I found The Second Footman nostalgia-inducing and pleasurable and intriguing and hard going all at once.
It evokes time, place and cultural context superbly – although I should confess that my sense of historical authenticity basically stops at noticing if characters check their iPhones or turn on light before electricity was invented. On the other hand, I also suspect that historical authenticity is as much to do with how something feels as anything.
Anyway, Max is an ambitious young man with a mysterious past. He manages to first find a position with the duchesse de Claireville, who is known to employ – and sleep with - comely footmen, but when that doesn’t work out for him embarks on an affair with the Marquis de Miremont.
That’s, uh, kind of it. Obviously there’s Themes And Stuff as well, but it’s a slow book, almost a series of intensely detailed character studies, which is simultaneously frustrating and rewarding. Although possibly I’m just shallow. I mean, when I was gripped, I was very gripped, and the intricacy of the character work, the slow reveal of history and motivation, was necessary to show all the subtle ways they affected and influenced each other … but, yeah, sometimes I bogged down. On the other hand, something I found consistently compelling was the generosity afforded to most of the important characters in the text – even the vilest, like Achille de Tarascon are allowed moments that, while they may not redeem them, at least illuminate them.
I also really enjoyed the intersections of the hidden world of servants with the hidden world of same-sex desire, and burgeoning homosexual identity. And, equally, there was something pleasantly normalising in the ‘reality’ of both those worlds – while Armand, the Marquis de Miremont, struggles initially with the morality of his inclinations, Max is an unquestioning, equal opportunities seducer. And the relationship between Max and Armand develops very naturally, both sexually and emotionally. One of the Major Themes TM explores the spaces between truth and falsehood, and constructions of reality, and this - again – filters really effectively through ideas of class, sexuality, and selfhood.
Both Max and Armand are deeply flawed, but recognisable and appealing characters. I liked the way Max’s pride and ambition often pushed him to the point of genuinely immoral behaviour, and the way Armand’s privilege – and instinctive nobility – was both strength and weakness. They spend a lot of time misunderstanding and misreading each other, for quite understandable reason but – honestly - I’ve probably been reading too many romances because I kind of basically spent most of the book wanting those two crazy kids to work it out. So the return of the actual plot, and a reminder of The Themes TM, at literally 99% to completion came as a nasty shock.
The end of the book was, to me, it’s biggest disappointment. After all that slow and careful build, it didn’t actually seem to go anywhere. It wasn’t even a cliff-hanger, just a bald reminder that I’d read eighty gazillion pages, there were Themes and a Plot, thank you, and good night. I pouted. I mean I didn’t necessarily need Max and Armand to run into the sunset, holding hands and giggling, but it was kind of the emotional equivalent of when you think you really need to sneeze, but then you don’t. Also the bit where the book explicitly tells you what the book is about is a bit of a low:
Um, yeah, I know. I’ve just read eighty gazillion pages exploring those very ideas so I kind of noticed them.
This said, I did really enjoy The Second Footman. I appreciated the depth and artfulness of it, and the queering, naturally, which just exists as part of the historical, political and personal tapestry. There isn't enough of that in fiction.
It evokes time, place and cultural context superbly – although I should confess that my sense of historical authenticity basically stops at noticing if characters check their iPhones or turn on light before electricity was invented. On the other hand, I also suspect that historical authenticity is as much to do with how something feels as anything.
Anyway, Max is an ambitious young man with a mysterious past. He manages to first find a position with the duchesse de Claireville, who is known to employ – and sleep with - comely footmen, but when that doesn’t work out for him embarks on an affair with the Marquis de Miremont.
That’s, uh, kind of it. Obviously there’s Themes And Stuff as well, but it’s a slow book, almost a series of intensely detailed character studies, which is simultaneously frustrating and rewarding. Although possibly I’m just shallow. I mean, when I was gripped, I was very gripped, and the intricacy of the character work, the slow reveal of history and motivation, was necessary to show all the subtle ways they affected and influenced each other … but, yeah, sometimes I bogged down. On the other hand, something I found consistently compelling was the generosity afforded to most of the important characters in the text – even the vilest, like Achille de Tarascon are allowed moments that, while they may not redeem them, at least illuminate them.
I also really enjoyed the intersections of the hidden world of servants with the hidden world of same-sex desire, and burgeoning homosexual identity. And, equally, there was something pleasantly normalising in the ‘reality’ of both those worlds – while Armand, the Marquis de Miremont, struggles initially with the morality of his inclinations, Max is an unquestioning, equal opportunities seducer. And the relationship between Max and Armand develops very naturally, both sexually and emotionally. One of the Major Themes TM explores the spaces between truth and falsehood, and constructions of reality, and this - again – filters really effectively through ideas of class, sexuality, and selfhood.
Both Max and Armand are deeply flawed, but recognisable and appealing characters. I liked the way Max’s pride and ambition often pushed him to the point of genuinely immoral behaviour, and the way Armand’s privilege – and instinctive nobility – was both strength and weakness. They spend a lot of time misunderstanding and misreading each other, for quite understandable reason but – honestly - I’ve probably been reading too many romances because I kind of basically spent most of the book wanting those two crazy kids to work it out. So the return of the actual plot, and a reminder of The Themes TM, at literally 99% to completion came as a nasty shock.
The end of the book was, to me, it’s biggest disappointment. After all that slow and careful build, it didn’t actually seem to go anywhere. It wasn’t even a cliff-hanger, just a bald reminder that I’d read eighty gazillion pages, there were Themes and a Plot, thank you, and good night. I pouted. I mean I didn’t necessarily need Max and Armand to run into the sunset, holding hands and giggling, but it was kind of the emotional equivalent of when you think you really need to sneeze, but then you don’t. Also the bit where the book explicitly tells you what the book is about is a bit of a low:
Of course, the old fellow was a throwback, not even to the ancien régime, but to some chivalrous and quite possibly mythical period long before. Whereas he, Max, was the coming man, cool, ruthless, unburdened by God or morality: the future.
Um, yeah, I know. I’ve just read eighty gazillion pages exploring those very ideas so I kind of noticed them.
This said, I did really enjoy The Second Footman. I appreciated the depth and artfulness of it, and the queering, naturally, which just exists as part of the historical, political and personal tapestry. There isn't enough of that in fiction.
May 24, 2020
4.5
This is gay historical fiction not m/m historical romance.
At first seemed a bit long winded but after the first 80 pages I found myself enjoying the story very much. Definitely going to read the next book. I wonder how Miremont relationship with Max is going to change him, will Miremont grow a spine when it comes to his family/servants or in his jealously/insecurity will turn against Max?
This is how imagine our heroes might look
Max Fabien- scoundrel with a heart of gold
Marquis de Miremont. A good man sadly sometimes he is a bit of a doormat.
This is gay historical fiction not m/m historical romance.
At first seemed a bit long winded but after the first 80 pages I found myself enjoying the story very much. Definitely going to read the next book. I wonder how Miremont relationship with Max is going to change him, will Miremont grow a spine when it comes to his family/servants or in his jealously/insecurity will turn against Max?
This is how imagine our heroes might look
Max Fabien- scoundrel with a heart of gold
Marquis de Miremont. A good man sadly sometimes he is a bit of a doormat.
May 15, 2013
Set against the glamorous background of nineteenth century France, and with the capriciousness of the Parisian elite opened up to scrutiny, the story of The Second Footman flutters between the grand salons of the aristocracy, and the squalid intimacy of shared servant accommodation. Nineteen year old Max, is the second footman of Catherine, duchesse de Claireville whose predilection for handsome male servants is widely acknowledged. With no assets other than his charismatic personality, Max devises a plan to help him escape his life of servitude. When he encounters the naive and wealthy Armand de Miremont at the duchesse de Claireville’s summer retreat, Max realises that he has a talent to seduce, and as the first quiver of desire strikes, Armand is powerless to resist.
Whilst The Second Footman it is a substantial read, the plot never falters or loses focus. The writing is good, and the overall professional quality of the story is reminiscent at times of classic nineteenth century literature. I found that I was beguiled by both Max and Armand; their story of burgeoning homosexuality, with the hint of dark secrets, is expertly controlled within the boundaries of nineteenth century class structure. There is no doubt that the beautiful youth on the cover of the book is quite striking; his enigmatic gaze and grave composure captures not just the beauty of the man, but also highlights the captivating pull of the narrative.
This story of classic ambition, combined with the hedonistic arrogance of youth, and the frailty of hidden desire is perfectly presented. I have no hesitation in recommending The Second Footman as a fascinating and captivating read.
Originally reviewed for the Historical Novel Society Indie Reviews in March 2013.
My thanks to HNS for my review copy of this book.
Whilst The Second Footman it is a substantial read, the plot never falters or loses focus. The writing is good, and the overall professional quality of the story is reminiscent at times of classic nineteenth century literature. I found that I was beguiled by both Max and Armand; their story of burgeoning homosexuality, with the hint of dark secrets, is expertly controlled within the boundaries of nineteenth century class structure. There is no doubt that the beautiful youth on the cover of the book is quite striking; his enigmatic gaze and grave composure captures not just the beauty of the man, but also highlights the captivating pull of the narrative.
This story of classic ambition, combined with the hedonistic arrogance of youth, and the frailty of hidden desire is perfectly presented. I have no hesitation in recommending The Second Footman as a fascinating and captivating read.
Originally reviewed for the Historical Novel Society Indie Reviews in March 2013.
My thanks to HNS for my review copy of this book.
April 5, 2018
I'm intrigued to read more about Max's story but not if it's as long-winded as this installment felt. Took me an awfully long time to get through.
October 20, 2018
An unrelenting portrait of self deception and a nihilistic view of love
This is a well written novel the prose of which overflows with erudition and at times glitters in its intricacies. But if you're looking for a story that offers even a faint hint that healthy, loving relationships are possible this book is not for you. The conceptual depth, historical detail, and sustained emotional intensity, when considered from beginning to end, is breathtaking. Jasper Barry is a talented writer, but in this book her forte is the depiction of people who are either cowardly self deceptive and neurotically recriminating, wreaking havoc around them, or self deceptively grandiose and ultimately distant. The book is long, the writing dense, and the atmosphere emotionally claustrophobic - but it is compelling and, perhaps in a vaguely Ibsen-esque way, will leave a lasting and dreary impression. It compelled me to finish it because it was so well done even though it's not what I hoped; and I'll probably read the next one but not anytime soon. I need to breathe for awhile before I do.
This is a well written novel the prose of which overflows with erudition and at times glitters in its intricacies. But if you're looking for a story that offers even a faint hint that healthy, loving relationships are possible this book is not for you. The conceptual depth, historical detail, and sustained emotional intensity, when considered from beginning to end, is breathtaking. Jasper Barry is a talented writer, but in this book her forte is the depiction of people who are either cowardly self deceptive and neurotically recriminating, wreaking havoc around them, or self deceptively grandiose and ultimately distant. The book is long, the writing dense, and the atmosphere emotionally claustrophobic - but it is compelling and, perhaps in a vaguely Ibsen-esque way, will leave a lasting and dreary impression. It compelled me to finish it because it was so well done even though it's not what I hoped; and I'll probably read the next one but not anytime soon. I need to breathe for awhile before I do.
January 12, 2020
The Second Footman
By Jasper Barry
Published by Matador, 2013
Five stars
Jasper Barry is a brave man (presumably), to write a book such as this, knowing as I do the audience for (1) historical romance and (2) gay historical romance. I gave this five stars because it is superbly written, deeply thoughtful, and complex in a way that echoes the great novels of the 19th century. It is a novel in English that captures the flavor of the language of Balzac, Flaubert, and Stendhal, all of whom I read as a French major in college. It is a remarkable, beautiful book. It will not, however, please everybody.
What is perhaps the most breathtaking feat is that Barry manages to depict something close to the reality of being a “Uranian” in 19th-century France. Not illegal as it was in England, and thus not a danger to life and limb, sexual attraction to your own gender could easily result is social ostracism, especially for aristocrats who lived their lives surrounded by others who watched them closely. Being gay was not a concept; there was no such thing as “pride” in one’s orientation. Physical attraction to your own sex was a curse, a misfortune, something that had to be accommodated or ignored depending on who you were and what you believed.
Somehow, Barry achieves a sense of love triumphant in this very long, very layered book. What makes it all the more startling is that, right to the end, we are never quite sure what love really means, or what its triumph might mean. Barry’s depiction of love is lopsided and weighted with issues of class and wealth. It is not entirely comfortable, and yet it feels somehow accurate.
Armand de Miremont is a marquis (second highest rank in the aristocracy, as in England) with vast wealth and an ancient lineage (dating to Henri II, who was very much on every Frenchman’s mind in this period, as the chateaux of the Loire were being restored by Viollet-le-Duc). Armand manages to make it to forty without realizing that no matter how well he behaves, how carefully he performs all the required tasks of his title and heritage, he will never be as other men are. Armand’s mid-life crisis is to realize that he is attracted to men – and only men. He has a shrewish estranged wife and two daughters to prove that his best efforts to conform have failed.
Maxime Fabian, on the other hand, is a footman in a great household, that of the Duchess of Claireville, a longtime close friend of the Marquis de Miremont. He is at the very bottom of the social ladder, and his own past – revealed in fragments over the course of the book – is mysterious and (from what we see) horrifying. He lives in the demimonde in Paris, befriending immigrant musicians and other servants, desperate to find a patron who will allow him to raise himself out of the gutter and finally find his rightful place in the world. The problem is, we never quite know what this rightful place is, and what we learn from Max is, from the very start, acknowledged to be suspect. He is the unreliable narrator of his own life.
Armand de Miremont is Dickensian in his goodness. He is truly a generous, compassionate, thoughtful, loyal man; and he is often as not despised for it by other aristocrats and by his own servants, who compare him constantly with his father. Unlike Max, Armand remembers his parents with nothing but happiness and love. Born the younger son of a great house, Armand had his whole life planned, until disasters left him as the marquis, emotionally bereft and saddled with the tremendous duties that accompanied his enormous wealth.
Max, by contrast, is a schemer and an opportunist. He is completely comfortable with his sexuality, and more than willing to accommodate intimacy with women if it furthers his needs of the moment. For Max, love is a tool to get what he wants, and by the early part of this narrative it is clear that he doesn’t really know what love is, other than as something useful to his ambition. Max, too, is emotionally bereft, but for different reasons. His scars, physical and psychological, have damaged him in ways he doesn’t fully recognize.
And that’s where this book shines so richly. Don’t get me wrong, there are many characters who are vividly developed and very entertaining – each of whom help us understand both Armand and Max by their reflected realities. However, it is mostly through Max and Armand’s eyes that we watch this story unfold, and it is from them we learn how the past has shaped them.
The novels of the 19th century were long and layered, not unlike the interiors of the houses of the time. You needed to take your time over them, looking at the details, savoring the colors and textures. Whether it was Nathaniel Hawthorne in the USA, Trollope in England, or Balzac (my favorite) in France, you didn’t rush through these books. It takes time, and patience to read “The Second Footman,” but for me the journey was worth every minute.
I am not sure I like Maxime Fabian. I know I love Armand de Miremont. I also know that the author is not done with them, or with me. I’ve already bought the second book of the trilogy. I hope the long arc of romance tends toward happiness; but I am willing to take the risk.
By Jasper Barry
Published by Matador, 2013
Five stars
Jasper Barry is a brave man (presumably), to write a book such as this, knowing as I do the audience for (1) historical romance and (2) gay historical romance. I gave this five stars because it is superbly written, deeply thoughtful, and complex in a way that echoes the great novels of the 19th century. It is a novel in English that captures the flavor of the language of Balzac, Flaubert, and Stendhal, all of whom I read as a French major in college. It is a remarkable, beautiful book. It will not, however, please everybody.
What is perhaps the most breathtaking feat is that Barry manages to depict something close to the reality of being a “Uranian” in 19th-century France. Not illegal as it was in England, and thus not a danger to life and limb, sexual attraction to your own gender could easily result is social ostracism, especially for aristocrats who lived their lives surrounded by others who watched them closely. Being gay was not a concept; there was no such thing as “pride” in one’s orientation. Physical attraction to your own sex was a curse, a misfortune, something that had to be accommodated or ignored depending on who you were and what you believed.
Somehow, Barry achieves a sense of love triumphant in this very long, very layered book. What makes it all the more startling is that, right to the end, we are never quite sure what love really means, or what its triumph might mean. Barry’s depiction of love is lopsided and weighted with issues of class and wealth. It is not entirely comfortable, and yet it feels somehow accurate.
Armand de Miremont is a marquis (second highest rank in the aristocracy, as in England) with vast wealth and an ancient lineage (dating to Henri II, who was very much on every Frenchman’s mind in this period, as the chateaux of the Loire were being restored by Viollet-le-Duc). Armand manages to make it to forty without realizing that no matter how well he behaves, how carefully he performs all the required tasks of his title and heritage, he will never be as other men are. Armand’s mid-life crisis is to realize that he is attracted to men – and only men. He has a shrewish estranged wife and two daughters to prove that his best efforts to conform have failed.
Maxime Fabian, on the other hand, is a footman in a great household, that of the Duchess of Claireville, a longtime close friend of the Marquis de Miremont. He is at the very bottom of the social ladder, and his own past – revealed in fragments over the course of the book – is mysterious and (from what we see) horrifying. He lives in the demimonde in Paris, befriending immigrant musicians and other servants, desperate to find a patron who will allow him to raise himself out of the gutter and finally find his rightful place in the world. The problem is, we never quite know what this rightful place is, and what we learn from Max is, from the very start, acknowledged to be suspect. He is the unreliable narrator of his own life.
Armand de Miremont is Dickensian in his goodness. He is truly a generous, compassionate, thoughtful, loyal man; and he is often as not despised for it by other aristocrats and by his own servants, who compare him constantly with his father. Unlike Max, Armand remembers his parents with nothing but happiness and love. Born the younger son of a great house, Armand had his whole life planned, until disasters left him as the marquis, emotionally bereft and saddled with the tremendous duties that accompanied his enormous wealth.
Max, by contrast, is a schemer and an opportunist. He is completely comfortable with his sexuality, and more than willing to accommodate intimacy with women if it furthers his needs of the moment. For Max, love is a tool to get what he wants, and by the early part of this narrative it is clear that he doesn’t really know what love is, other than as something useful to his ambition. Max, too, is emotionally bereft, but for different reasons. His scars, physical and psychological, have damaged him in ways he doesn’t fully recognize.
And that’s where this book shines so richly. Don’t get me wrong, there are many characters who are vividly developed and very entertaining – each of whom help us understand both Armand and Max by their reflected realities. However, it is mostly through Max and Armand’s eyes that we watch this story unfold, and it is from them we learn how the past has shaped them.
The novels of the 19th century were long and layered, not unlike the interiors of the houses of the time. You needed to take your time over them, looking at the details, savoring the colors and textures. Whether it was Nathaniel Hawthorne in the USA, Trollope in England, or Balzac (my favorite) in France, you didn’t rush through these books. It takes time, and patience to read “The Second Footman,” but for me the journey was worth every minute.
I am not sure I like Maxime Fabian. I know I love Armand de Miremont. I also know that the author is not done with them, or with me. I’ve already bought the second book of the trilogy. I hope the long arc of romance tends toward happiness; but I am willing to take the risk.
April 25, 2019
My read for the Tome Topple readathon! Tho I was cheating a bit... you're supposed to read books of 500+ pages, and this only has 489. But long enough for me!
I really enjoy Max's trickery and also the fact that even tho he's a manipulative dude he sometimes has sudden twinges of conscience or just massively miscalculates. His past seems mysterious! Miremont is kind of a frustrating dude but he's still fun! Lesage nearly drove me insane lols. And Fabrice is my real fave (in fact, reading him and Max just chatting in the preview is what made me buy the book).
Very literary/historical tone, sometimes goes on and on about what a house looks like or the customs of society but I usually just skipped those pages (...sorry, Barry). I thought it was interesting how the book deals with the MCs keeping their relationship somewhat secret due to societal pressures, but did not make that the center of the plot--the center of the plot being 1) will Miremont and Max's relationship be mildly functional and 2) will Max's plots for deception and greatness succeed? Neither question is really put to rest by the end of the book, which is not exactly a cliffhanger but certainly leaves you wanting more resolution. I want to read the next book right away, but will unfortunately have to wait until I have more time :(
Content warnings: mentions of rape and pedophilia.
I really enjoy Max's trickery and also the fact that even tho he's a manipulative dude he sometimes has sudden twinges of conscience or just massively miscalculates. His past seems mysterious! Miremont is kind of a frustrating dude but he's still fun! Lesage nearly drove me insane lols. And Fabrice is my real fave (in fact, reading him and Max just chatting in the preview is what made me buy the book).
Very literary/historical tone, sometimes goes on and on about what a house looks like or the customs of society but I usually just skipped those pages (...sorry, Barry). I thought it was interesting how the book deals with the MCs keeping their relationship somewhat secret due to societal pressures, but did not make that the center of the plot--the center of the plot being 1) will Miremont and Max's relationship be mildly functional and 2) will Max's plots for deception and greatness succeed? Neither question is really put to rest by the end of the book, which is not exactly a cliffhanger but certainly leaves you wanting more resolution. I want to read the next book right away, but will unfortunately have to wait until I have more time :(
Content warnings: mentions of rape and pedophilia.
October 10, 2014
I’ve been fortunate to read some good books recently, but The Second Footman stands out. With his elegant prose and depth of background knowledge, Jasper Barry has presented a novel that reminded this reader of some great 19th C writers. It was seductive from the very first page.
Exploring questions of ethics and morality, he presents a teasing central figure in the person of Max – the second footman of the title. Max, or Jean – or is he really Albert Fabien? – is a young man whose name, like his age and background, is never quite certain.
Max starts out with a grand plan – one that is never spelled out but is clearly dependent upon his ability to pass himself off as someone else. After one failure, he attracts the attention of M de Miramont, an aristocratic but innocent gentleman of considerable wealth. Miramont’s grand home in Paris and country estates are subtly described, while the development of the relationship between Max and M de Miramont makes compelling reading. Through a shared love of art and the Classics, each learns from the other, and the attraction grows.
On glancing down the reviews, I was rather amused to see that one – graced by a solitary star – complained that there was little sex in this story and no romance. Clearly the reviewer just did not ‘get it’. There was no need for explicit detail – Jasper Barry’s writing evoked the heady delight of a passionate affair with all its attendant doubts and uncertainties. Anyone who has ever loved – male or female – can recognise the truth here. Beautiful but self-centred May meets aging September; and naïve though Miramont is, in his struggle to come to terms with himself, he grows as a man. And although the reader fears for him at Max’s mercy, Miramont’s innate goodness gradually changes the boy despite himself. But the biggest change of all is brought about by love.
If I was a little disappointed not to discover the whole truth about Max – or his grand plan – this was certainly offset by his development as a human being. From his friendship with Fabrice – another footman – to a kind of torture by kindness under Miramont’s hand, I felt for Max every step of the way. How strange, I thought, that change should come via the monstrous Lesage, Miramont’s secretary. But as Max turns from hatred to a hard-won understanding, I found myself smiling at his names for Lesage: ‘the Buzzard’, and ‘the old fowl’. ‘Fowl’ – such a delightful play on words – foul he was, and fool too. Yet even this wicked old man was conquered in the end.
With its twists and turns and characters that linger on in the mind, this novel, independently published, has been a delight to read and deserves all its glowing reviews. I shall certainly be looking out for the sequel to Max’s adventures, and his further development along life’s road.
Exploring questions of ethics and morality, he presents a teasing central figure in the person of Max – the second footman of the title. Max, or Jean – or is he really Albert Fabien? – is a young man whose name, like his age and background, is never quite certain.
Max starts out with a grand plan – one that is never spelled out but is clearly dependent upon his ability to pass himself off as someone else. After one failure, he attracts the attention of M de Miramont, an aristocratic but innocent gentleman of considerable wealth. Miramont’s grand home in Paris and country estates are subtly described, while the development of the relationship between Max and M de Miramont makes compelling reading. Through a shared love of art and the Classics, each learns from the other, and the attraction grows.
On glancing down the reviews, I was rather amused to see that one – graced by a solitary star – complained that there was little sex in this story and no romance. Clearly the reviewer just did not ‘get it’. There was no need for explicit detail – Jasper Barry’s writing evoked the heady delight of a passionate affair with all its attendant doubts and uncertainties. Anyone who has ever loved – male or female – can recognise the truth here. Beautiful but self-centred May meets aging September; and naïve though Miramont is, in his struggle to come to terms with himself, he grows as a man. And although the reader fears for him at Max’s mercy, Miramont’s innate goodness gradually changes the boy despite himself. But the biggest change of all is brought about by love.
If I was a little disappointed not to discover the whole truth about Max – or his grand plan – this was certainly offset by his development as a human being. From his friendship with Fabrice – another footman – to a kind of torture by kindness under Miramont’s hand, I felt for Max every step of the way. How strange, I thought, that change should come via the monstrous Lesage, Miramont’s secretary. But as Max turns from hatred to a hard-won understanding, I found myself smiling at his names for Lesage: ‘the Buzzard’, and ‘the old fowl’. ‘Fowl’ – such a delightful play on words – foul he was, and fool too. Yet even this wicked old man was conquered in the end.
With its twists and turns and characters that linger on in the mind, this novel, independently published, has been a delight to read and deserves all its glowing reviews. I shall certainly be looking out for the sequel to Max’s adventures, and his further development along life’s road.
May 4, 2020
The story of a young man with grand ambitions. A little like Maupassant's Bel Ami, but with a more appealing lead character, Max wrestles with the desire to better himself by duplicitous and convoluted means, but finds that his innate goodness often thwarts him.
Max's story is revealed gradually, as we begin to understand how he has ended up as a Second Footman in the household of Catherine de Claireville. The book uses the technique of flashbacks always intentionally obscure so that the story begins to emerge of the possible reasons for his predicament and his own motives. Part of the allure of the book is that we are also partly kept in the dark as to Max's motives, which means that we build sympathy with him, as he is an appealing character, whilst being slightly unsure of his true identity and motive.
The other lead character is Armand Varenne, the Marquis de Miremont, a brilliant mixture of tortured, tender but sternly upright, noble but gentle, on a journey of his own from a failure to understand his own nature to a gradual awakening.
The two men collide and their story, interwoven with the theme of truth and honesty, to oneself and to others, builds into a complicated series of misunderstandings, questionable motives and a search for some sense of self. I particularly liked both leads, so different in their notions of honour and truth, which kept the clash between them but also the attraction, real and believable.
The story is beautifully written, a gorgeous, immersive drop into another world. The setting of 19th Century Paris and the pastoral idyll of Beauvalon and La Boissiere, give a delicious sense of a slice of another era of grand European life. Some consider the pace slow, but I loved the length, pace and structure of this. It's not a quick read and it's not meant to be. It's satisfying and fascinating, a great combination.
Class, wealth, the divisions forced by positions in society, all play a part in the story, which is both a love story but also a questioning of the morality of wealth, society's structure, validation and responsibility, but really above all, not just the attempt to be true to oneself but to connect with another.
I adored this book and have read the second part of the trilogy That Deplorable Boy, also excellent. Awaiting the final part!
Max's story is revealed gradually, as we begin to understand how he has ended up as a Second Footman in the household of Catherine de Claireville. The book uses the technique of flashbacks always intentionally obscure so that the story begins to emerge of the possible reasons for his predicament and his own motives. Part of the allure of the book is that we are also partly kept in the dark as to Max's motives, which means that we build sympathy with him, as he is an appealing character, whilst being slightly unsure of his true identity and motive.
The other lead character is Armand Varenne, the Marquis de Miremont, a brilliant mixture of tortured, tender but sternly upright, noble but gentle, on a journey of his own from a failure to understand his own nature to a gradual awakening.
The two men collide and their story, interwoven with the theme of truth and honesty, to oneself and to others, builds into a complicated series of misunderstandings, questionable motives and a search for some sense of self. I particularly liked both leads, so different in their notions of honour and truth, which kept the clash between them but also the attraction, real and believable.
The story is beautifully written, a gorgeous, immersive drop into another world. The setting of 19th Century Paris and the pastoral idyll of Beauvalon and La Boissiere, give a delicious sense of a slice of another era of grand European life. Some consider the pace slow, but I loved the length, pace and structure of this. It's not a quick read and it's not meant to be. It's satisfying and fascinating, a great combination.
Class, wealth, the divisions forced by positions in society, all play a part in the story, which is both a love story but also a questioning of the morality of wealth, society's structure, validation and responsibility, but really above all, not just the attempt to be true to oneself but to connect with another.
I adored this book and have read the second part of the trilogy That Deplorable Boy, also excellent. Awaiting the final part!
August 1, 2018
The Second Footman is a historical gay novel. A definite change of pace and contrast to the M/M historical romances I've previously read.
Post-French Revolution, the aristocracy of nineteenth-century France are still thriving and complacent, we follow Max Fabien and Armand de Miremont...their personal and private struggles and of course their relationship.
With much emphasis on character profiles, the author weaves these amongst the narrative, painting an elaborate picture of the lives of the protagonists. It's dissimilar to what I'm used to reading and it took a while to get used to the author's literary style. I am, however, happy to have persevered and spent the time appreciating Mr Barry's eloquent style even though it is a long, wordy tome to wade through.
Evocative and thought-provoking, I was captivated and addicted to the narrative. Not knowing anything of significance about the time or place of the setting, I enjoyed the insight of life in France during this period. However, it was Max's story that intrigued me the most as we follow his journey, beginning as a footman to Catherine, duchesse de Claireville...the anecdotes of life and the goings on of the aristocracy and their servants. With flashbacks from his past and his meeting Armand, Marquis de Miremont his antics are laced with deception and are a stark contrast to the Marquis' apathetic and dull personality.
It's compelling reading despite times where an over-abundance of details and names lead to confusion and loss of my focus...something I struggle with...a personal reading flaw. Somehow though, despite my struggle to absorb every minute detail, I soldiered on and I'm so glad I did.
One thing I learned too late was the fact The Second Footman is the first book in a trilogy and it ends, leaving the reader questioning what Max will do next? Thankfully, I savoured this first novel sufficiently to continue and read the remaining instalments.
***arc generously received courtesy of the publisher***
Post-French Revolution, the aristocracy of nineteenth-century France are still thriving and complacent, we follow Max Fabien and Armand de Miremont...their personal and private struggles and of course their relationship.
With much emphasis on character profiles, the author weaves these amongst the narrative, painting an elaborate picture of the lives of the protagonists. It's dissimilar to what I'm used to reading and it took a while to get used to the author's literary style. I am, however, happy to have persevered and spent the time appreciating Mr Barry's eloquent style even though it is a long, wordy tome to wade through.
Evocative and thought-provoking, I was captivated and addicted to the narrative. Not knowing anything of significance about the time or place of the setting, I enjoyed the insight of life in France during this period. However, it was Max's story that intrigued me the most as we follow his journey, beginning as a footman to Catherine, duchesse de Claireville...the anecdotes of life and the goings on of the aristocracy and their servants. With flashbacks from his past and his meeting Armand, Marquis de Miremont his antics are laced with deception and are a stark contrast to the Marquis' apathetic and dull personality.
It's compelling reading despite times where an over-abundance of details and names lead to confusion and loss of my focus...something I struggle with...a personal reading flaw. Somehow though, despite my struggle to absorb every minute detail, I soldiered on and I'm so glad I did.
One thing I learned too late was the fact The Second Footman is the first book in a trilogy and it ends, leaving the reader questioning what Max will do next? Thankfully, I savoured this first novel sufficiently to continue and read the remaining instalments.
***arc generously received courtesy of the publisher***
August 14, 2018
This book pulled me in from the very start…from the rich dialogue, interesting characters and fantastic setting, I loved every page that I read. It was deep and beautiful in the way that it was written and I adored the aristocratic feel. Everything about the text was interesting and enthralling. I enjoyed reading about the mysterious Max; delving deeper into his personality as I read further; and I especially love the deep connection he develops with the ‘older’ gentleman, Armand de Miremont
The love scenes between these characters were delicately done and came across quite sweet as the two characters tried to keep their feelings for one another under wraps. A romance between two gentleman in this era was not unheard of but was most definitely frowned upon and this book touched on the subject with sensitivity. I felt and believed the connection that they had and enjoyed the deep dialogue that was swapped between them both.
I don’t want to give too much away about this book, even though I want to. Lets just say that even though on first sight this appears to be a very long book, then I found I wanted more once I turned the last page. The next of these books will definitely be added to my TBR list! I look forward to seeing how these characters progress.
This was a very beautiful, creative and interesting read. It was heartfelt in its approach and I loved the storyline. I would very much recommend this book.
The love scenes between these characters were delicately done and came across quite sweet as the two characters tried to keep their feelings for one another under wraps. A romance between two gentleman in this era was not unheard of but was most definitely frowned upon and this book touched on the subject with sensitivity. I felt and believed the connection that they had and enjoyed the deep dialogue that was swapped between them both.
I don’t want to give too much away about this book, even though I want to. Lets just say that even though on first sight this appears to be a very long book, then I found I wanted more once I turned the last page. The next of these books will definitely be added to my TBR list! I look forward to seeing how these characters progress.
This was a very beautiful, creative and interesting read. It was heartfelt in its approach and I loved the storyline. I would very much recommend this book.
February 12, 2015
One of the most enjoyable reads I've come across in a long while. Mr. Barry writes with a literary style that is both intelligent and thought-provoking. While I'm a big fan of historical fiction with gay sub-themes, especially when graphic descriptions of sex are left out of the narrative (I do have an imagination, after all), it's even more rewarding when I encounter a work with authoritative references to classical literature or to historic events.
Mr. Barry's manner can be a little choppy in places with occasional awkward segues, but it's pretty clear that he's relying on the intelligence of the reader to follow along. Somewhat more mystifying are unresolved references to our protagonist's early childhood, especially with regards to a companion referred to only as "The Other", which I never did figure out. Was "The Other" a figment of imagination, or some abandoned person in the distant past. I'm going to have to re-read this book to see if I missed something, and to see if I can sort out some remaining questions. Fortunately, this is a book that I will want to read again, looking for small, but carefully constructed details that I glossed over or just plain missed in my first go through.
Beyond that, I'm definitely looking forward to further offerings from this gifted and erudite author.
Mr. Barry's manner can be a little choppy in places with occasional awkward segues, but it's pretty clear that he's relying on the intelligence of the reader to follow along. Somewhat more mystifying are unresolved references to our protagonist's early childhood, especially with regards to a companion referred to only as "The Other", which I never did figure out. Was "The Other" a figment of imagination, or some abandoned person in the distant past. I'm going to have to re-read this book to see if I missed something, and to see if I can sort out some remaining questions. Fortunately, this is a book that I will want to read again, looking for small, but carefully constructed details that I glossed over or just plain missed in my first go through.
Beyond that, I'm definitely looking forward to further offerings from this gifted and erudite author.
July 10, 2018
Ooh wow, that's a great historical and homosexual novel!! It REALLY is a historical novel. I have read a lot of books which were supposed to be "historical" but they never really succeed in capturing the atmosphere and the vibes of the times they're supposed to depict. The Second Footman is a historical immersion into the France of the late 19th century. And the author manages to describe the psychological evolution of his characters with a lot of subtlety. Moreover the author really tries and succeeds in making his characters thinks and acts like characters from this time. There's one time where Max compares himself to a character from Balzac's novel and it's true that there's some similitudes: like Rastignac, he is the cliché of the ambitious young man who is ready to use his wits and charm to achieve his goals. But he's also more than that, by the end of the novel he has really grown up and shows he's capable of being generous and compassionate. I love this novel and I can't wait to read the second one!
February 22, 2019
This is a well written book. The book is long, the writing and atmosphere is dense.I wanted to finish it because it was so well written. There are characters that have no need in being there. Not sure will read the next one. Reminded me of Tolstoy , that goes on forever.
March 9, 2018
Set between the luxurious salons of late 19th century French aristocracy's grand estates and the squalid servants' quarters of those who toil to keep said estates running, The Second Footman introduces a young man named Max, currently in the service of the duchesse de Claireville, whose ambitions reach far beyond remaining in service. To improve his position, he needs a patron, and has found a potential candidate in the marquis de Miremont with whom he begins an affair under the duchesse's roof. Of course, the marquis is nothing but a means to an end, and there can be no question of an actual attachment forming... or so Max tells himself as he pursues his lofty goals.
Beautifully written, evocative, subtle and intriguing, though it did occasionally seem to drag a little too much for my liking. I'm not an overly big fan of the rather ambiguous ending, though I quite enjoyed the journey to get there.
Beautifully written, evocative, subtle and intriguing, though it did occasionally seem to drag a little too much for my liking. I'm not an overly big fan of the rather ambiguous ending, though I quite enjoyed the journey to get there.
January 12, 2018
A rather unusual love story. Set in post revolutionary France where there are still vestiges of imperial power and very clear class demarcations. Max, has been serving as a footman in one of the regal households hoping to one day rise above his station on the belief that he was one of the elite from a remote part of Germany and robbed of his birth right as a child. While serving his mistress at a country estate he meets M de Miremont. The two fall into an unlikely but intense relationship. Max is eventually taken into the Miremont household where the two find a way to work around the prying eyes of society, but does Max love his master or is he simply using him to get ahead? An interesting read with a rather ambiguous conclusion.
June 6, 2018
Max’s cunning plan to enrich himself with passion!
Max Fabien was the second footman working at the Duchess de Claireville’s estate in France during the 1880s. He met an aristocratic man named Armand de Miremont to become an accomplice in a fraud. Max was also called Jean because the Duchess was confused with the ranking of footmen’s names. For example, Michel was the first footman and Jean (Max) was the second footman etc.
Max was fluent in Latin and recited poems. He and de Miremont fell in love with each other. Max was very tall and handsome. De Miremont sometimes lost his temper and then apologised to some people.
I enjoyed this steaming gay romance novel and thank Jasper Barry for it!
Caesar 13
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
Max Fabien was the second footman working at the Duchess de Claireville’s estate in France during the 1880s. He met an aristocratic man named Armand de Miremont to become an accomplice in a fraud. Max was also called Jean because the Duchess was confused with the ranking of footmen’s names. For example, Michel was the first footman and Jean (Max) was the second footman etc.
Max was fluent in Latin and recited poems. He and de Miremont fell in love with each other. Max was very tall and handsome. De Miremont sometimes lost his temper and then apologised to some people.
I enjoyed this steaming gay romance novel and thank Jasper Barry for it!
Caesar 13
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
February 12, 2025
I’m stealing someone else’s review from Amazon which I saw and completely agreed with. I barely got 2 chapters in a could not handle it anymore and had to close the book ..’ I don't know the author's dates, but his writing style seems to hark back to a much earlier era, when authors were paid by the word. The style is verbose and tedious, like slogging through a sea of mud. Much verbiage, but little exposition. I kept wanting to say "GET ON WITH IT ALREADY!" It wasn't even that there was too much description of time and place, it was just that the author said in fifteen sentences what could have been said in five, and yet, for all the words, there was little forward movement.’ This persons explanation sums it up perfectly. Tell the story. I don’t need all this song and dance.
April 24, 2019
It's difficult not to become super attached to the characters - each is complex and masterfully crafted. My favourite character was Catherine de Claireville. Max was captivating too. I'd say the extraordinary characters are the novel's strength, along with the well-researched period detail and beautiful language. However, I enjoyed the first half more than the second half; the whole Lesage ordeal went on too long and I didn't find it as interesting. Despite that, the romance was amazing and I thoroughly enjoyed it as a book overall.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2020
The Second Footman By Jasper Barry
A historical romance set in 19th Century Paris. Focusing on Max Fabien a young man with a mysterious past who takes a role as a Second Footman in the household of Duchesse de Claireville.
And the romance that begins to build between Max and Marquis de Miremont.
Shades of Downton Abbey and Upstairs Downstairs are ripe in this novel. Barry goes into an incredible amount of detail describing the upper echelons of Paris society and the ins and out of etiquette. It’s a novel that is almost two halves and feels like it could have been two separate books.
Nevertheless this Historical romance was an interesting break from my usual YA fair.
A historical romance set in 19th Century Paris. Focusing on Max Fabien a young man with a mysterious past who takes a role as a Second Footman in the household of Duchesse de Claireville.
And the romance that begins to build between Max and Marquis de Miremont.
Shades of Downton Abbey and Upstairs Downstairs are ripe in this novel. Barry goes into an incredible amount of detail describing the upper echelons of Paris society and the ins and out of etiquette. It’s a novel that is almost two halves and feels like it could have been two separate books.
Nevertheless this Historical romance was an interesting break from my usual YA fair.
October 7, 2018
Could not finish. I tried for about a month, but it frustrated me to read (and reading should be my happy place). There is a LOT of detail and description, a lot of names, a lot going on, but the plot just didn't come fast enough. If you like that sort of thing, this might be a good book for you, but I just couldn't handle it. Maybe someday I'll give it another go.
October 28, 2018
A bit of a slog
This is an uninteresting bland novel. Some of the characters are uninteresting undeveloped. and boring. Even the sex was boring. Not sure if I will read the rest of the trilogy.
This is an uninteresting bland novel. Some of the characters are uninteresting undeveloped. and boring. Even the sex was boring. Not sure if I will read the rest of the trilogy.
September 8, 2018
Didn'trs get past the firs two chapte
December 9, 2018
Leisure alluring tale
Beautifully conceived and executed, a tale that takes its time in the telling but satisfies in its nuanced understanding of humanity.
Beautifully conceived and executed, a tale that takes its time in the telling but satisfies in its nuanced understanding of humanity.
Read
August 16, 2021DNF
October 15, 2019
There is a lot of this story that felt unnecessary to me. The first 8 or so chapters felt like filler. Also the jumping around in the time line was very distracting.
December 3, 2019
Beautifully written, a real pleasure to read. Excellent use of language.
On the downside, not an awful lot happens and it is long.
Because the novel is set in France the character French names confused me somewhat, at times I lost track of who certain characters were and how they related to the plot.
Four stars.
On the downside, not an awful lot happens and it is long.
Because the novel is set in France the character French names confused me somewhat, at times I lost track of who certain characters were and how they related to the plot.
Four stars.
March 18, 2016
What a find this book was. Cheap as chips on Amazon uk but I'd have paid a lot more for it in hindsight. If you're looking for a book within the M/M genre that is intelligent, insightful, complex and treats the reader like a grown up, do read The Second Footman. It's beautifully written. A nuanced and flowing prose style, cognisant with the era the story is set. There are no anachronisms here. This story, set in the latter part of the 19th century, in France, is perfectly attuned to the social mores and expectations of the times. The two central characters have their own complexities, often not fully explained and I have no problem at all with this. Firstly, the author is clearly thinking of at least one sequel, and secondly, because this book treats the reader like an adult, we can form our own views on the hidden aspects of the characters, particularly Max. I liked Max, admired him, and grew to respect him as he progressed through challenging circumstances, clear on his intent yet not taking into account the goodness within him. Miremont is a rare gem, stolid in his decency, beset by a range of emotions that hinder him from expressing the range of his personality. He is also impeded by the society within which he lives, and the class he was born into, with all its expectations and demands. Nevertheless, like Max, we see Miremont's character develop and grow, sometimes very movingly. If there is any annoyance expressed at Miremont's actions or words, it's useful to remember that one of the strengths of the book is how wonderfully the writing aligns with the era the story is set.
I cannot wait for a hoped for sequel.
I cannot wait for a hoped for sequel.
September 7, 2019
When I saw this book and its sequel online, I hit buy faster than a sneeze. As an ardent "Team Downstairs" fan of Downton Abbey, I was excited to find a book that not only featured the staff of a big house, but one that was also gay. Unfortunately, I'm struggling to get through it. Even though it sort of picks up about a quarter of the way through, I find most of the prose is long-winded yet vague. It's written fine enough, but most of the word count seems to be used on high-brow references instead of direct storytelling. The subplot of Max's history lacks any framework, as does a lot of his motivation. Meanwhile, M Miremont proves more interesting, yet still spends most of his time worrying in circles in a way that starts to feel repetitive. Most of the side characters lack a personality beyond a name and a social station. I wish Max's friend Fabrice got a little more than just sassy insertions every now an then. I'll probably finish this, but maybe in between another book.
UPDATE: I didn't finish it. Reading shouldn't feel like a chore. I've since completed two other books in the time it's taken me to read 100 pages of this one.
UPDATE: I didn't finish it. Reading shouldn't feel like a chore. I've since completed two other books in the time it's taken me to read 100 pages of this one.
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