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The Foundling
“What happens when a many-titled Duke decides to play hookey from his suffocating dignity.…”—Kirkus Reviews
The Duke of Sale is out to prove himself
The shy, young Duke of Sale has never known his parents. Instead, his Grace Adolphus Gillespie Vernon Ware, Gilly for short, has endured twenty-four years of rigorous mollycoddling from his uncle and valet. But his natural diffidence conceals a rebellious spirit.
A mysterious beauty provides the perfect opportunity
When Gilly hears of Belinda, the beautiful foundling who appears to be blackmailing his cousin, he absconds with glee. But he has no sooner entered this new and dangerous world than he is plunged into a frenzy of intrigue, kidnapping, adventure, and surprises at every turn.
The Duke of Sale is out to prove himself
The shy, young Duke of Sale has never known his parents. Instead, his Grace Adolphus Gillespie Vernon Ware, Gilly for short, has endured twenty-four years of rigorous mollycoddling from his uncle and valet. But his natural diffidence conceals a rebellious spirit.
A mysterious beauty provides the perfect opportunity
When Gilly hears of Belinda, the beautiful foundling who appears to be blackmailing his cousin, he absconds with glee. But he has no sooner entered this new and dangerous world than he is plunged into a frenzy of intrigue, kidnapping, adventure, and surprises at every turn.
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First published January 1, 1948
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About the author
Georgette Heyer
256 books5,555 followersGeorgette Heyer was a prolific historical romance and detective fiction novelist. Her writing career began in 1921, when she turned a story for her younger brother into the novel The Black Moth.
In 1925 she married George Ronald Rougier, a mining engineer. Rougier later became a barrister and he often provided basic plot outlines for her thrillers. Beginning in 1932, Heyer released one romance novel and one thriller each year.
Heyer was an intensely private person who remained a best selling author all her life without the aid of publicity. She made no appearances, never gave an interview and only answered fan letters herself if they made an interesting historical point. She wrote one novel using the pseudonym Stella Martin.
Her Georgian and Regencies romances were inspired by Jane Austen. While some critics thought her novels were too detailed, others considered the level of detail to be Heyer's greatest asset.
Heyer remains a popular and much-loved author, known for essentially establishing the historical romance genre and its subgenre Regency romance.
In 1925 she married George Ronald Rougier, a mining engineer. Rougier later became a barrister and he often provided basic plot outlines for her thrillers. Beginning in 1932, Heyer released one romance novel and one thriller each year.
Heyer was an intensely private person who remained a best selling author all her life without the aid of publicity. She made no appearances, never gave an interview and only answered fan letters herself if they made an interesting historical point. She wrote one novel using the pseudonym Stella Martin.
Her Georgian and Regencies romances were inspired by Jane Austen. While some critics thought her novels were too detailed, others considered the level of detail to be Heyer's greatest asset.
Heyer remains a popular and much-loved author, known for essentially establishing the historical romance genre and its subgenre Regency romance.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 700 reviews
January 21, 2021
Maybe one of the lesser lights in the universe of Georgette Heyer novels, but I still found it charming!
Gilly is a 24 year old duke, orphaned at a young age. Raised by his concerned but overbearing uncle and a slew of devoted servants, he’s been coddled and ordered around all his life. Gilly is a kindhearted guy and doesn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, but he’s had enough of it.
When his cousin Matt confides in him that he’s being blackmailed for breach of promise to marry Belinda, a beautiful young girl of no social status (and the foundling of the title), Gilly decides that rescuing Matt from his indiscretions is his chance to be on his own and do something. Or, as Gilly puts it, “to see if I am a man, or only a Duke.” Matt unwisely wrote some incriminating letters to Belinda and Gilly is determined to get the letters back so that Matt can't be blackmailed by Belinda's associates. Crazy adventures ensue.
Belinda is an original character, sweet and easily swayed, but stubbornly fixed on certain specific items. Like, say, getting a purple dress.
I'd still recommend several other Heyer novels over this one (Venetia, Frederica, The Grand Sophy and Devil's Cub are all good places to start), but if you're a Heyer fan this is one that's worth looking for.
Gilly is a 24 year old duke, orphaned at a young age. Raised by his concerned but overbearing uncle and a slew of devoted servants, he’s been coddled and ordered around all his life. Gilly is a kindhearted guy and doesn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, but he’s had enough of it.
When his cousin Matt confides in him that he’s being blackmailed for breach of promise to marry Belinda, a beautiful young girl of no social status (and the foundling of the title), Gilly decides that rescuing Matt from his indiscretions is his chance to be on his own and do something. Or, as Gilly puts it, “to see if I am a man, or only a Duke.” Matt unwisely wrote some incriminating letters to Belinda and Gilly is determined to get the letters back so that Matt can't be blackmailed by Belinda's associates. Crazy adventures ensue.
Belinda is an original character, sweet and easily swayed, but stubbornly fixed on certain specific items. Like, say, getting a purple dress.
The Foundling starts off slow and takes about 1/4 of the book to really get rolling, but I'm glad I stuck with it! It's mostly a coming-of-age story, with lots of adventure, a good amount of farcical humor, and a dollop of romance.
'What in heaven's name am I to do with you?' said the Duke, looking harassed.
Belinda said hopefully: 'You did say that you wished you might give me a purple silk dress.'
He could not help laughing. 'No, no, that is not what I meant.'
She sighed, and the corners of her mouth drooped tragically. 'No one ever gives me a purple silk dress,' she mourned, a sob in her voice.
I'd still recommend several other Heyer novels over this one (Venetia, Frederica, The Grand Sophy and Devil's Cub are all good places to start), but if you're a Heyer fan this is one that's worth looking for.
February 2, 2022
Sometimes rereads are A Very Good Thing.
I was very young when I originally read this & I didn't much care for it. The hero came across as a bit of a wuss & it was far more an adventure than a romance. Also the teenage me found Gideon more appealing than Gilly.
On rereading I now think this is one of GH's best Regencies. The story line is skillfully done & for anyone who feels the romance was perfunctionally done I would say & subtly at the end both the reader & Gilly realise that
The host of minor characters make this a real laugh - Liversedge is one of GH's best villains. & a very satisfying finale.
I often wish Gideon had been given his own romance - but given how poorly some of her characters fared in An Infamous Army, maybe its just as well Gideon has been left to my dreams! :)
Edit 19/6/18; My previous review still stands - this is one incredible book with a large caste of magnificent characters. The scene where is one of the best GH ever wrote.
Edit: 2/2/22 Every time I read this book I love it more. GH turns a lot of romance tropes on their head with this actionpacked novel - for example
I was very young when I originally read this & I didn't much care for it. The hero came across as a bit of a wuss & it was far more an adventure than a romance. Also the teenage me found Gideon more appealing than Gilly.
On rereading I now think this is one of GH's best Regencies. The story line is skillfully done & for anyone who feels the romance was perfunctionally done I would say & subtly at the end both the reader & Gilly realise that
The host of minor characters make this a real laugh - Liversedge is one of GH's best villains. & a very satisfying finale.
I often wish Gideon had been given his own romance - but given how poorly some of her characters fared in An Infamous Army, maybe its just as well Gideon has been left to my dreams! :)
Edit 19/6/18; My previous review still stands - this is one incredible book with a large caste of magnificent characters. The scene where is one of the best GH ever wrote.
Edit: 2/2/22 Every time I read this book I love it more. GH turns a lot of romance tropes on their head with this actionpacked novel - for example
February 6, 2016
4.75 stars, just short of being a top favourite!
Dear friends, readers, and fellow Georgette Heyer lovers,
I am really, really surprised at the low popularity of The Foundling amongst the Heyerites. I don't recall anybody ever featuring this wonderful gem of a book in their top favourite Heyer reads. In fact, I barely recall anyone even recommending it! Perhaps y'all need to go read it again.
"'I am glad you think I have countenance, dear Gilly. I want only to be worthy of you.'
'To be worthy of me!' he said, quite thunderstruck. 'But I am the most commonplace creature! Indeed, I do not know how you can look twice in my direction when you have known my handsome cousin!'"
I loved this story to pieces. It was wonderful, fun, different, and just so entertaining. Although very similar in plot to Sprig Muslin and, I believe, Charity Girl (I haven't read that one, so I can't be sure), The Foundling is definitely a unique read, and I suspect, a deeper, more profound story. I remember enjoying Sprig Muslin a lot for the fun screwball comedy it was, but The Foundling is something more. It's above all the coming-of-age story of the young Duke of Sale, and the book is filled with adventures, cat-and-mouse chases and, naturally, hilarious characters and situations.
If you're looking for a romance, you might be disappointed. I know I was a bit, and couldn't help wishing that the heroine should have been involved in the main plot. But she's not, and only makes a few appearances at the start and at the ending of the story.
Buuuuuuuut.....that means we are left with the hero for the entire thing!! :D :D :D The story is his story, and it is one of the few Heyers told almost exclusively through the hero's point of view. And I'm pretty sure it's the only Heyer of its kind.
The hero, at all events, is definitely one-of-a-kind. I typically tend to fall for the rakes and rogues, the tall-dark-and-handsome hero who's been overdone and overdone, but once in a while I get a major crush on a completely different type of hero. And here in The Foundling, I just happened to find my new literary husband. Ladies and gents, the Most Noble Adolphus Gillespie Vernon Ware, Duke of Sale and Marquis of Ormesby; Earl of Sale; Baron Ware of Thame; Baron Ware of Stoven; and Baron Ware of Rufford.
I know right.
The name is definitely an obstacle at first, but he thankfully goes by Gilly, or, as he likes to call himself, "Mr. Dash of Nowhere in Particular". But I promise you, once you can get over the fact that his first name is Adolphus (no easy task thanks to his cousin Gideon who keeps on insisting in calling him that), you will find yourself growing immensely fond of sweet little Gilly Dash of Nowhere in Particular. Shy, quiet and docile, the young Duke has been forever coddled and pampered on account of his being an orphan, and of his sickly constitution. Neither tall nor particularly handsome, nor a Corinthian, a Pink of the Ton, a debauched rake, a mysterious rogue or even a particularly dashing gentleman, Gilly is probably, at first glance, Heyer's plainest hero yet. But his depths and merits are quickly uncovered as we come to know the gentle, dignified soul that lays beneath his unimpressive exterior, and the more we see of him, the more we love him. Or, I do, at least ;)
There was something particularly endearing to me about the plot of a sweet young man setting out to discover whether he was really a man, or only a Duke. The occasion to exert himself and do something dashing comes along when his young cousin Matthew confides that he is about to be sued for breach of promise. Gilly rises to the occasion, declaring that he will find the Mr. Liversedge who is menacing Matthew, make everything right, be done with it, and come safely back to Sale House before his uncle, valet, porter, major-domo, butler, and footmen have had the time to suspect anything.
Of course, this is a Georgette Heyer novel, so naturally nothing goes according to plan. Mr. Liversedge proves to be a most exasperating, if utterly entertaining, villain, his “niece” the beautiful Belinda is a complete goose-cap, the boy Tom whom Gilly kindly takes under his wing keeps getting into shocking scrapes, landlord and landladies are uncooperative, and above all, Gilly’s relatives and staff are most definitely not okay with Gilly leaving without a word as to his whereabouts.
This story is filled with laughs, witty repartee, entertaining characters, and lots of sweet little moments. I completely loved it, and would have given it a full five had it not been for the few scenes here and there that were a tad too slow, and that often focused on characters I did not overly care about. I mean, I loved everyone, but I wasn’t overly thrilled about having to read about another of Tom’s scrapes, or of Belinda’s escapades. Were I to re-read this book (which I definitely will at some point!), I know I would skip and skim a lot here and there, so that’s usually a sign that I didn’t love absolutely everything about it.
Also, I can’t help wishing that there had been a bit more romance. I didn’t mind so much that the story didn’t focus on that, but by the end I want to feel happy and elated for both H/h, I want to feel how in love they are and how much they deserve their happy ending. In this case it’s not that they didn’t deserve it or anything, but since the heroine wasn’t really involved in the story, it felt like they still had a long way before really being in love and having the blissful ending I love my romances to end in.
Nevertheless the last scene is completely hilarious, and perfectly signature-Heyer-brilliance! I couldn’t stop laughing!
Such a wonderful and heart-warming tale! Heyer never disappoints.
Dear friends, readers, and fellow Georgette Heyer lovers,
I am really, really surprised at the low popularity of The Foundling amongst the Heyerites. I don't recall anybody ever featuring this wonderful gem of a book in their top favourite Heyer reads. In fact, I barely recall anyone even recommending it! Perhaps y'all need to go read it again.
"'I am glad you think I have countenance, dear Gilly. I want only to be worthy of you.'
'To be worthy of me!' he said, quite thunderstruck. 'But I am the most commonplace creature! Indeed, I do not know how you can look twice in my direction when you have known my handsome cousin!'"
I loved this story to pieces. It was wonderful, fun, different, and just so entertaining. Although very similar in plot to Sprig Muslin and, I believe, Charity Girl (I haven't read that one, so I can't be sure), The Foundling is definitely a unique read, and I suspect, a deeper, more profound story. I remember enjoying Sprig Muslin a lot for the fun screwball comedy it was, but The Foundling is something more. It's above all the coming-of-age story of the young Duke of Sale, and the book is filled with adventures, cat-and-mouse chases and, naturally, hilarious characters and situations.
If you're looking for a romance, you might be disappointed. I know I was a bit, and couldn't help wishing that the heroine should have been involved in the main plot. But she's not, and only makes a few appearances at the start and at the ending of the story.
Buuuuuuuut.....that means we are left with the hero for the entire thing!! :D :D :D The story is his story, and it is one of the few Heyers told almost exclusively through the hero's point of view. And I'm pretty sure it's the only Heyer of its kind.
The hero, at all events, is definitely one-of-a-kind. I typically tend to fall for the rakes and rogues, the tall-dark-and-handsome hero who's been overdone and overdone, but once in a while I get a major crush on a completely different type of hero. And here in The Foundling, I just happened to find my new literary husband. Ladies and gents, the Most Noble Adolphus Gillespie Vernon Ware, Duke of Sale and Marquis of Ormesby; Earl of Sale; Baron Ware of Thame; Baron Ware of Stoven; and Baron Ware of Rufford.
I know right.
The name is definitely an obstacle at first, but he thankfully goes by Gilly, or, as he likes to call himself, "Mr. Dash of Nowhere in Particular". But I promise you, once you can get over the fact that his first name is Adolphus (no easy task thanks to his cousin Gideon who keeps on insisting in calling him that), you will find yourself growing immensely fond of sweet little Gilly Dash of Nowhere in Particular. Shy, quiet and docile, the young Duke has been forever coddled and pampered on account of his being an orphan, and of his sickly constitution. Neither tall nor particularly handsome, nor a Corinthian, a Pink of the Ton, a debauched rake, a mysterious rogue or even a particularly dashing gentleman, Gilly is probably, at first glance, Heyer's plainest hero yet. But his depths and merits are quickly uncovered as we come to know the gentle, dignified soul that lays beneath his unimpressive exterior, and the more we see of him, the more we love him. Or, I do, at least ;)
There was something particularly endearing to me about the plot of a sweet young man setting out to discover whether he was really a man, or only a Duke. The occasion to exert himself and do something dashing comes along when his young cousin Matthew confides that he is about to be sued for breach of promise. Gilly rises to the occasion, declaring that he will find the Mr. Liversedge who is menacing Matthew, make everything right, be done with it, and come safely back to Sale House before his uncle, valet, porter, major-domo, butler, and footmen have had the time to suspect anything.
Of course, this is a Georgette Heyer novel, so naturally nothing goes according to plan. Mr. Liversedge proves to be a most exasperating, if utterly entertaining, villain, his “niece” the beautiful Belinda is a complete goose-cap, the boy Tom whom Gilly kindly takes under his wing keeps getting into shocking scrapes, landlord and landladies are uncooperative, and above all, Gilly’s relatives and staff are most definitely not okay with Gilly leaving without a word as to his whereabouts.
This story is filled with laughs, witty repartee, entertaining characters, and lots of sweet little moments. I completely loved it, and would have given it a full five had it not been for the few scenes here and there that were a tad too slow, and that often focused on characters I did not overly care about. I mean, I loved everyone, but I wasn’t overly thrilled about having to read about another of Tom’s scrapes, or of Belinda’s escapades. Were I to re-read this book (which I definitely will at some point!), I know I would skip and skim a lot here and there, so that’s usually a sign that I didn’t love absolutely everything about it.
Also, I can’t help wishing that there had been a bit more romance. I didn’t mind so much that the story didn’t focus on that, but by the end I want to feel happy and elated for both H/h, I want to feel how in love they are and how much they deserve their happy ending. In this case it’s not that they didn’t deserve it or anything, but since the heroine wasn’t really involved in the story, it felt like they still had a long way before really being in love and having the blissful ending I love my romances to end in.
Nevertheless the last scene is completely hilarious, and perfectly signature-Heyer-brilliance! I couldn’t stop laughing!
Such a wonderful and heart-warming tale! Heyer never disappoints.
October 2, 2021
This one is kind of a mess. Seeing Gilly come into his own was enjoyable enough, but the romance is thin and the plot scattered. And the first quarter or so, where it's mostly Gilly being bullied by literally everybody around him frustrated me no-end. The pompous uncle who demands that he start having his own opinions only to override even the mildest suggestions made me feel stabby. Which we're kind of supposed to, I think.
I do like Lady Harriet, for all she's absent for nine-tenths of the story. And her relationship with Gilly is sweet and delightfully layered, despite all the important bits happening pre-story. I suppose we see them falling in love, but only the final spurt where they each do a "you do? Me too!"
But Belinda is beyond tiresome and her following anybody who makes vague promises to her is the outside of enough. And the scoundrel, Liversedge, annoys me. I think he was supposed to be humorous with his unabashed roguery, but I just found him tedious.
Heyer excels at characterization, though, and seeing Gilly grow into himself was engaging enough to keep me going. This is never going to be a favorite, but it's certainly three stars of entertaining.
A note about Chaste: Heyer never does anything beyond kissing. This one has more cuddling than normal, and that was surprisingly gratifying. Still very chaste, obviously.
I do like Lady Harriet, for all she's absent for nine-tenths of the story. And her relationship with Gilly is sweet and delightfully layered, despite all the important bits happening pre-story. I suppose we see them falling in love, but only the final spurt where they each do a "you do? Me too!"
But Belinda is beyond tiresome and her following anybody who makes vague promises to her is the outside of enough. And the scoundrel, Liversedge, annoys me. I think he was supposed to be humorous with his unabashed roguery, but I just found him tedious.
Heyer excels at characterization, though, and seeing Gilly grow into himself was engaging enough to keep me going. This is never going to be a favorite, but it's certainly three stars of entertaining.
A note about Chaste: Heyer never does anything beyond kissing. This one has more cuddling than normal, and that was surprisingly gratifying. Still very chaste, obviously.
June 10, 2019
Esperaba leer una historia romántica, sin embargo, me he encontrado con una comedia de enredos al más puro estilo shakesperiano, pero ambientada en la época de la Regencia. Tenemos un caballero andante, una hermosa doncella boba, un pícaro bribón, y un astuto maleante. Un cóctel explosivo que asegura situaciones hilarantes y complicadas.
La trama se desarrolla en un breve espacio de tiempo, apenas varios días, aunque no es fácil percatarse de ellos dada la cantidad de acontecimientos que se suceden uno tras otro. El principio es algo lento debido a la abundancia de narración y descripción, necesaria para ayudarnos a comprender la causa que desata los diferentes hechos que se suceden.
Al inicio se nos presenta a Gilly, el duque de Sale, un joven de 24 años -por lo tanto aún no ha cumplido la mayoría de edad-, huérfano y a cargo de su tío Lionel, su tutor. Gilly, nuestro protagonista, no es uno de esos duques típicos; no es alto, ni guapo, ni musculoso, ni tiene un carácter arrogante o autosuficiente. Muy al contrario, como desde niño fue siempre muy enfermizo, crece sobreprotegido por todos los que le rodean: su tío, los criados, lacayos y mayordomo. Todos sin excepción se desviven por él y se adelantan a sus deseos, lo que lo ha convertido en una persona un tanto pusilánime que vive según las expectativas de los demás.
Deseoso de escapar a la presión a la que se ve sometida, acepta ayudar a su primo a salir de un enredo en el que se ha metido, e inicia así una aventura en la que se convertirá simplemente en el señor Rufford. Lo que parecía una tarea sencilla, se complica cuando acoge bajo su ala a un adolescente pícaro y a una jovencita muy hermosa pero si un gramo de seso en su preciosa cabecita.
Es interesante ver cómo la aventura exterior vivida por el duque, se convierte también para Gilly en un viaje interior en el que se va descubriendo a sí mismo y conociendo aquello de lo que es capaz. Se demuestra así que no es un completo inútil, y que no necesita de nadie para salir de las situaciones difíciles, lo que lo ayuda a madurar y a convertirse en el hombre que realmente debe ser.
La historia está muy bien escrita, con un estilo fluido y elegante, muy propio de la época. Con una narración divertida y amena, nos adentramos en el mundo de las convenciones sociales del siglo que a veces se convertían más en una carga que en una ayuda.
La recomiendo si alguien quiere una lectura entretenida.
La trama se desarrolla en un breve espacio de tiempo, apenas varios días, aunque no es fácil percatarse de ellos dada la cantidad de acontecimientos que se suceden uno tras otro. El principio es algo lento debido a la abundancia de narración y descripción, necesaria para ayudarnos a comprender la causa que desata los diferentes hechos que se suceden.
Al inicio se nos presenta a Gilly, el duque de Sale, un joven de 24 años -por lo tanto aún no ha cumplido la mayoría de edad-, huérfano y a cargo de su tío Lionel, su tutor. Gilly, nuestro protagonista, no es uno de esos duques típicos; no es alto, ni guapo, ni musculoso, ni tiene un carácter arrogante o autosuficiente. Muy al contrario, como desde niño fue siempre muy enfermizo, crece sobreprotegido por todos los que le rodean: su tío, los criados, lacayos y mayordomo. Todos sin excepción se desviven por él y se adelantan a sus deseos, lo que lo ha convertido en una persona un tanto pusilánime que vive según las expectativas de los demás.
Deseoso de escapar a la presión a la que se ve sometida, acepta ayudar a su primo a salir de un enredo en el que se ha metido, e inicia así una aventura en la que se convertirá simplemente en el señor Rufford. Lo que parecía una tarea sencilla, se complica cuando acoge bajo su ala a un adolescente pícaro y a una jovencita muy hermosa pero si un gramo de seso en su preciosa cabecita.
Es interesante ver cómo la aventura exterior vivida por el duque, se convierte también para Gilly en un viaje interior en el que se va descubriendo a sí mismo y conociendo aquello de lo que es capaz. Se demuestra así que no es un completo inútil, y que no necesita de nadie para salir de las situaciones difíciles, lo que lo ayuda a madurar y a convertirse en el hombre que realmente debe ser.
La historia está muy bien escrita, con un estilo fluido y elegante, muy propio de la época. Con una narración divertida y amena, nos adentramos en el mundo de las convenciones sociales del siglo que a veces se convertían más en una carga que en una ayuda.
La recomiendo si alguien quiere una lectura entretenida.
June 18, 2019
Okay, I'm PRETTY sure I read this back in the day, about 15 or more years ago, when my sister and I first discovered Heyer and went on a binge. I remember Gilly, the Duke of Sale, and the title of the book. But the HILARITY of it all either faded far too soon, or . . . I don't know what! Far and away one of my favorites, the sheer ludicrous awesomeness of a grown man, and a DUKE basically sneaking out of his own house to get away from his well meaning relatives and servants! The entourage he picks up along the way! Pretty and, frankly, simple-minded Belinda following strange men about if they promise her a silk dress! Tom the schoolboy decking his tutor and then getting arrested for attempted highway robbery! And Gilly's beloved cousin Gideon being accused of MURDERING him, and then refusing to confirm or deny! I love them all!
January 30, 2022
”She began to perceive that his adventures had subtly altered him. She had never seen him look so well, or known him to be so gay; and there clung about him an air of assurance he had previously lacked.”
The Foundling is a 1948 Regency novel about a young Duke who is frustrated by his family’s kind but misplaced anxiety over his wellbeing. He wants to be treated like he is neither “child nor a fool!”
When a need arises, Gilly (24), the young Duke of Sale, “sallies forth” on an adventure to extricate his cousin from the grip of an unscrupulous man, Mr. Liversedge. Gilly’s cousin Matthew wrote letters to Belinda, a young, beautiful woman he barely knows, recklessly prosing marriage. With these letters, Matthew is being blackmailed. Gilly aims to purchase them from Mr. Liversedge to avoid a scandal. Gilly travels disguised as a commoner going by the name Mr. Rufford to find this blackmailer.
What ensues is adventure, chases, damsel saving, dragon slaying, match making, and kidnapping. And being away from the comforts of home (or at least his faithful, devoted servants), he gains new perspectives and skills. This story is more of a coming-of-age tale than romance. It is about finding out what one is capable of and the confidence to act.
Gilly is a gentle, plain hero but worthy of admiration. He shows kindness to those in need and less fortunate despite being fond of the opulent surroundings that is his custom. He seems true and faithful to his newly betrothed, Lady Harriet. My only quibble with Gilly is that he’s called by numerous names; I would guess it is the most excessive title list that I have come across in a Heyer novel. Just know that he is often referred to as Gilly, Duke, Grace, Sale, or Adolphus (that his cousin Gideon insists upon).
Unfortunately, my interest in the narrative would falter each time the focus would be on Gilly’s overly protective uncle Lord Lionel or any one of the staff that ‘knew Gilly from the cradle.’ I got the point early on that they coddled and mildly bullied him into abiding their wishes, so I grew tired of the continued dialogue about it. The same for the villain, Mr. Liversedge, although I cannot deny he was somewhat amusing in his never-ending quest to scam someone.
It was Gilly’s adventures that truly caught my interest. I also enjoyed the teen, Tom, that he befriends, who seemed to be more trouble than he was worth, but nonetheless, funny. Even, the foundling (orphan) Belinda, the damsel in need of saving, I found quaint because of her extreme brainless actions. Lady Harriet gets little page time; yet I found her humble, likeable, and a perfect match for Gilly.
In a recent Heyer novel, I became familiar with Thieves’ cant (a jargon used by thieves and rogues) which this book contains quite a bit of; however, I find it hard to figure out what it means merely by textual clues (and I’m too lazy to look it up, so I just skim those parts). This is the first time I’ve come across such frequent use of slang terms (that was common to Heyer’s time) in a book that I found it difficult to understand what was being said. But those issues are minor.
Overall, The Foundling is an enjoyable story that made me laugh aloud at times and annoyed me occasionally. I think this might be a novel that grows on the reader with successive rereads.
The Foundling is a 1948 Regency novel about a young Duke who is frustrated by his family’s kind but misplaced anxiety over his wellbeing. He wants to be treated like he is neither “child nor a fool!”
When a need arises, Gilly (24), the young Duke of Sale, “sallies forth” on an adventure to extricate his cousin from the grip of an unscrupulous man, Mr. Liversedge. Gilly’s cousin Matthew wrote letters to Belinda, a young, beautiful woman he barely knows, recklessly prosing marriage. With these letters, Matthew is being blackmailed. Gilly aims to purchase them from Mr. Liversedge to avoid a scandal. Gilly travels disguised as a commoner going by the name Mr. Rufford to find this blackmailer.
What ensues is adventure, chases, damsel saving, dragon slaying, match making, and kidnapping. And being away from the comforts of home (or at least his faithful, devoted servants), he gains new perspectives and skills. This story is more of a coming-of-age tale than romance. It is about finding out what one is capable of and the confidence to act.
Gilly is a gentle, plain hero but worthy of admiration. He shows kindness to those in need and less fortunate despite being fond of the opulent surroundings that is his custom. He seems true and faithful to his newly betrothed, Lady Harriet. My only quibble with Gilly is that he’s called by numerous names; I would guess it is the most excessive title list that I have come across in a Heyer novel. Just know that he is often referred to as Gilly, Duke, Grace, Sale, or Adolphus (that his cousin Gideon insists upon).
Unfortunately, my interest in the narrative would falter each time the focus would be on Gilly’s overly protective uncle Lord Lionel or any one of the staff that ‘knew Gilly from the cradle.’ I got the point early on that they coddled and mildly bullied him into abiding their wishes, so I grew tired of the continued dialogue about it. The same for the villain, Mr. Liversedge, although I cannot deny he was somewhat amusing in his never-ending quest to scam someone.
It was Gilly’s adventures that truly caught my interest. I also enjoyed the teen, Tom, that he befriends, who seemed to be more trouble than he was worth, but nonetheless, funny. Even, the foundling (orphan) Belinda, the damsel in need of saving, I found quaint because of her extreme brainless actions. Lady Harriet gets little page time; yet I found her humble, likeable, and a perfect match for Gilly.
In a recent Heyer novel, I became familiar with Thieves’ cant (a jargon used by thieves and rogues) which this book contains quite a bit of; however, I find it hard to figure out what it means merely by textual clues (and I’m too lazy to look it up, so I just skim those parts). This is the first time I’ve come across such frequent use of slang terms (that was common to Heyer’s time) in a book that I found it difficult to understand what was being said. But those issues are minor.
Overall, The Foundling is an enjoyable story that made me laugh aloud at times and annoyed me occasionally. I think this might be a novel that grows on the reader with successive rereads.
August 24, 2025
The story got under my skin—in a good way. The setting crept into my dreams as a welcome, uncomplicated space for sweet dreams. 😴
Gillian (Gilly) was an unusual hero. He didn’t look or act like a duke, and was thus henpecked by his guardian uncle and staff. I was instantly rooting for the underdog Duke. 🤗
He set off on a small adventure and became embroiled with exasperating adolescents. One, a precocious male, a consistent character in Heyer’s books. The other, a Gracie Allen wannabe. Gilly was a saint (as only a fictional character can be)!
But wait! There’s more! He also became entangled in unpleasant (even dire!) situations. I loved how he grew as a character.
Honorable mention goes to Gilly’s cousin and best friend, Gideon who had a challenge (the Ring! 😂) or two of his own.
The romance was subtle yet sweet.
***mild spoiler***
The villain did not get what he richly deserved.
🌹My thanks to Gloria for bringing The Foundling to my attention. 🌹
Gillian (Gilly) was an unusual hero. He didn’t look or act like a duke, and was thus henpecked by his guardian uncle and staff. I was instantly rooting for the underdog Duke. 🤗
He set off on a small adventure and became embroiled with exasperating adolescents. One, a precocious male, a consistent character in Heyer’s books. The other, a Gracie Allen wannabe. Gilly was a saint (as only a fictional character can be)!
But wait! There’s more! He also became entangled in unpleasant (even dire!) situations. I loved how he grew as a character.
Honorable mention goes to Gilly’s cousin and best friend, Gideon who had a challenge (the Ring! 😂) or two of his own.
The romance was subtle yet sweet.
***mild spoiler***
The villain did not get what he richly deserved.
🌹My thanks to Gloria for bringing The Foundling to my attention. 🌹
November 25, 2021
This is Heyer at her most tedious and snobbish, and my reading experience was not helped by the fact that my mass market paperback is printed so close to the paper margins that it's hard to read the innermost word without cracking the spine, and I do not crack the spines even of books I do not like. Even having read just 94% of The Foundling (let's say 1/15th was lost to the binding), I feel justified in condemning it to the pile of Heyers that I will never reread.
It's not a romance so much as a coming-of-age of the Duke of Sale (Gilly to his friends), a cossetted 24-year-old completely penned in by overbearing relatives and even household staff. A valet can, of course, make one's life extremely uncomfortable. Gilly seizes an opportunity to escape his caretakers and be an ordinary gentleman while fixing an inconvenient problem of his cousin's, who is being blackmailed for breach of promise with a beautiful foundling. Of course it's not that simple. There are greedy schemers, unexpected trials involving not one but two completely empty-headed teenagers, kidnappings, gossipmongers, and a quite unexpected episode involving a ginger-beer bottle.
There seem to be a lot more of Heyer's lower class characters in this one. Although some are vulgar, some stupid, some greedy, all are extremely tedious and require a lot of Gilly's patience to deal with as a duke who, even in disguise, impresses everyone as Quality. As a plebeian myself, I'm a little offended by these caricatures of ambitious craftsmen and venal fraudsters after four hundred pages of them. Even their names are offensive - Liversedge and Mamble and Mudgley - as if the poor can't even afford names that don't sound like insults. Heyer's snobbery is much more bearable when she's writing stories set exclusively amidst the gentry and minor nobility.
1.5 stars, rounding up because I didn't hate it enough to give it one star, which is reserved for books I want to fling across the room.
It's not a romance so much as a coming-of-age of the Duke of Sale (Gilly to his friends), a cossetted 24-year-old completely penned in by overbearing relatives and even household staff. A valet can, of course, make one's life extremely uncomfortable. Gilly seizes an opportunity to escape his caretakers and be an ordinary gentleman while fixing an inconvenient problem of his cousin's, who is being blackmailed for breach of promise with a beautiful foundling. Of course it's not that simple. There are greedy schemers, unexpected trials involving not one but two completely empty-headed teenagers, kidnappings, gossipmongers, and a quite unexpected episode involving a ginger-beer bottle.
There seem to be a lot more of Heyer's lower class characters in this one. Although some are vulgar, some stupid, some greedy, all are extremely tedious and require a lot of Gilly's patience to deal with as a duke who, even in disguise, impresses everyone as Quality. As a plebeian myself, I'm a little offended by these caricatures of ambitious craftsmen and venal fraudsters after four hundred pages of them. Even their names are offensive - Liversedge and Mamble and Mudgley - as if the poor can't even afford names that don't sound like insults. Heyer's snobbery is much more bearable when she's writing stories set exclusively amidst the gentry and minor nobility.
1.5 stars, rounding up because I didn't hate it enough to give it one star, which is reserved for books I want to fling across the room.
April 16, 2025
2025 Review
I've been on a 'Heyer Hiatus' this last year or so, but a recent reading slump had me reaching for whatever would get me to finish a book (which apparently this one did.)
I enjoyed it. Not Heyer's best, a little too rambling and in need of an editor, but full of quirky characters and hijinks. I enjoyed it more than I previously remembered doing.
2018 Review
I dare you to name a more adorable cinnamon role than Gilly. He is so precious!
The main female love interest was fairly dull. She reflects Heyer's more mousy heroines. I do think, however, given a few years married to Gilly, she would make a very interesting heroine in her own right. The reader catches glimpses of it, but not many.
The titular female of the piece (Belinda, "The Foundling") steals the role as leading lady. Sort of. She's about as relevant to the plot as the grubby school boy, or the villain, or even Gilly's cousin Gideon. She also is an incredibly stupid character. It made for amusing moments but did not make her very interesting.
Gilly really is the reason this book enchants. He isn't like Heyer's normal heroes. He is sweet, good natured, and caring. Because of this, everyone bosses him around. Even when he finally runs away, he remains sweet and caring to those around him. It made for a charming contrast with, say, Alverstoke from Frederica who cares for no one but himself until he slowly learns to care for the heroine and her siblings.
I think I would very much like a sequel to this one. It contained solid character change with the promise for more.
Also, while I liked Gilly a good deal, I've got a literary crush on his cousin Gideon. What a fun character!
2015 Review
Loved it. Similar to her other plots (like The Corinthian) but with more emphasis on the hero. Lots of fun! I already can't wait to re-read it
I've been on a 'Heyer Hiatus' this last year or so, but a recent reading slump had me reaching for whatever would get me to finish a book (which apparently this one did.)
I enjoyed it. Not Heyer's best, a little too rambling and in need of an editor, but full of quirky characters and hijinks. I enjoyed it more than I previously remembered doing.
2018 Review
I dare you to name a more adorable cinnamon role than Gilly. He is so precious!
The main female love interest was fairly dull. She reflects Heyer's more mousy heroines. I do think, however, given a few years married to Gilly, she would make a very interesting heroine in her own right. The reader catches glimpses of it, but not many.
The titular female of the piece (Belinda, "The Foundling") steals the role as leading lady. Sort of. She's about as relevant to the plot as the grubby school boy, or the villain, or even Gilly's cousin Gideon. She also is an incredibly stupid character. It made for amusing moments but did not make her very interesting.
Gilly really is the reason this book enchants. He isn't like Heyer's normal heroes. He is sweet, good natured, and caring. Because of this, everyone bosses him around. Even when he finally runs away, he remains sweet and caring to those around him. It made for a charming contrast with, say, Alverstoke from Frederica who cares for no one but himself until he slowly learns to care for the heroine and her siblings.
I think I would very much like a sequel to this one. It contained solid character change with the promise for more.
Also, while I liked Gilly a good deal, I've got a literary crush on his cousin Gideon. What a fun character!
2015 Review
Loved it. Similar to her other plots (like The Corinthian) but with more emphasis on the hero. Lots of fun! I already can't wait to re-read it
February 7, 2017
The very first Georgette Heyer I have read at the coaxing recommendation of my wife who I believe is in some secret underground Georgette Heyer fan club. In a few short words I would say The Foundling is a fast paced, witty, humorous, well written book that I enjoyed very much. Georgette Heyer writes each character of this large cast so they are instantly recognizable. Most of the characters are over the top, but that is the fun of this novel. The unbelievable situations and turns in the plot are believable because of these characters.
December 1, 2011
I'm normally quite chary of stars, and don't award full marks to anything that isn't objectively good. So, in my reviews, four stars and below are subjective, while five stars are reserved for the best of the best. I've made one exception for Frederica, and I find myself forced to make another for The Foundling.
The Foundling tells the story of the Duke of Ware, a shy, retiring boy of twenty-four who has been cosseted and coddled until he could scream. But he's so mild-mannered that he merely submits; he can't bear to hurt the feelings of his faithful retainers. Finally, however, he decides to break free, and the titular foundling is the impetus for much of his adventures.
This book is rather unusual for a Heyer book in that the viewpoint character is male (we do get Harriet's point of view a few times, but Gilly, the Duke, is the viewpoint character for the majority of the book) and the romance is understated. (It's there, though. I can see why some readers would think it's underdeveloped, but the interactions between Gilly and Harriet show a genuine respect and affection for one another.) It's more of a coming of age book than a romance. Also, Gilly isn't a typical Heyer hero. His cousin Gideon is, right down to the saturnine aspect, but Gilly is much more mild-mannered; he's not the usual cynical, assured gentleman who is slap up to the echo in every respect. Gilly is an expert marksman, but otherwise, he doesn't care for the usual pursuits of a Regency gentleman.
In other ways, however, The Foundling has many of the stock attributes of Heyer romances, including the convoluted plot and the grandmother from a decidedly less prim generation who has no patience for missishness. It also features Mr Liversedge, a plausible rogue who kept me in stitches with every appearance, and Tom, an impetuous young boy who gets Gilly mixed up in his adventures. In fact, once the plot really gets going, the whole book is hilarious.
I love this book for the humor and the characters, and I highly recommend it.
The Foundling tells the story of the Duke of Ware, a shy, retiring boy of twenty-four who has been cosseted and coddled until he could scream. But he's so mild-mannered that he merely submits; he can't bear to hurt the feelings of his faithful retainers. Finally, however, he decides to break free, and the titular foundling is the impetus for much of his adventures.
This book is rather unusual for a Heyer book in that the viewpoint character is male (we do get Harriet's point of view a few times, but Gilly, the Duke, is the viewpoint character for the majority of the book) and the romance is understated. (It's there, though. I can see why some readers would think it's underdeveloped, but the interactions between Gilly and Harriet show a genuine respect and affection for one another.) It's more of a coming of age book than a romance. Also, Gilly isn't a typical Heyer hero. His cousin Gideon is, right down to the saturnine aspect, but Gilly is much more mild-mannered; he's not the usual cynical, assured gentleman who is slap up to the echo in every respect. Gilly is an expert marksman, but otherwise, he doesn't care for the usual pursuits of a Regency gentleman.
In other ways, however, The Foundling has many of the stock attributes of Heyer romances, including the convoluted plot and the grandmother from a decidedly less prim generation who has no patience for missishness. It also features Mr Liversedge, a plausible rogue who kept me in stitches with every appearance, and Tom, an impetuous young boy who gets Gilly mixed up in his adventures. In fact, once the plot really gets going, the whole book is hilarious.
I love this book for the humor and the characters, and I highly recommend it.
September 7, 2017
What an adventure! ;-)
This novel was totally Heyer-ish. Witty, enjoyable. It had my attention from the start to the end. Simply splendid. Heyer showed here her best pen, why she was so good writer of amusing and loved books.
There lacked only a romance. The main hero had his heroine, but their interactions were a little at the beginning and then at the end. But I can easily forgive her this lack because the story was so engrossing that a romance wasn't necessary.
I agree with Anne: I typically tend to fall for the rakes and rogues, the tall-dark-and-handsome hero who's been overdone and overdone, but once in a while I get a major crush on a completely different type of hero. And here in The Foundling, I just happened to find my new literary husband. and that Gilly is probably, at first glance, Heyer's plainest hero yet But of course, you need only spend some time with Gilly to change your opinion.
By the by, there was also the tall-dark-and-handsome hero here: the cousin, Gideon. So, you can swoon at the sight of him ;-) So, I agree with Carol ♔Type, Oh Queen!: I often wish Gideon had been given his own romance
Summarizing, I repeat after Gideon: Adolphus, my little one, I salute you!
PS I think it was one of the longest Heyer's novels.
This novel was totally Heyer-ish. Witty, enjoyable. It had my attention from the start to the end. Simply splendid. Heyer showed here her best pen, why she was so good writer of amusing and loved books.
There lacked only a romance. The main hero had his heroine, but their interactions were a little at the beginning and then at the end. But I can easily forgive her this lack because the story was so engrossing that a romance wasn't necessary.
I agree with Anne: I typically tend to fall for the rakes and rogues, the tall-dark-and-handsome hero who's been overdone and overdone, but once in a while I get a major crush on a completely different type of hero. And here in The Foundling, I just happened to find my new literary husband. and that Gilly is probably, at first glance, Heyer's plainest hero yet But of course, you need only spend some time with Gilly to change your opinion.
By the by, there was also the tall-dark-and-handsome hero here: the cousin, Gideon. So, you can swoon at the sight of him ;-) So, I agree with Carol ♔Type, Oh Queen!: I often wish Gideon had been given his own romance
Summarizing, I repeat after Gideon: Adolphus, my little one, I salute you!
PS I think it was one of the longest Heyer's novels.
September 26, 2017
The Foundling is more a coming-of-age story than a romance. The Duke really needed to learn to 'assert himself' and after managing to slip away from all those people who care for him, he does exactly that.
I loved most of it. The moment Harriet hears about Belinda not so much. It was uncomfortable to read. That is the only thing that ruined otherwise a great story for me.
There are too many things that happen here to list them all. Overall, I liked it.
I loved most of it. The moment Harriet hears about Belinda not so much. It was uncomfortable to read. That is the only thing that ruined otherwise a great story for me.
There are too many things that happen here to list them all. Overall, I liked it.
January 27, 2024
4 stars
Reto Popsugar #3: un libro sobre un joven de 24 años.
Esta es una de las pocas veces, o quizás la única, en que encuentro que el título es más apropiado en su traducción al castellano que en el original (The Foundling: la expósito). La perspectiva es del señor Duque de Sale, Adolphus Gillespie Vernon Ware a quien llaman "Gilly", a quien por ser siempre enfermizo desde niño, su tío y tutor a más de un batallón de sirvientes le han cuidado, mimado y sobreprotegido toda su vida. Gilly esta a punto de alcanzar la mayoría de edad, y uno comparte su desaliento cuando no logra hacer valer su opinión en ninguna cosa, pues su carácter es tímido y sumiso. Es un 'pobre niño rico', pero cae muy simpático porque es amable y le apena hacer pasar mal al resto.
No crean que es una novela de romance. Mejor se buscan otra cosa para leer.
Este es un protagonista que escapa al arquetipo de este tipo de novelas, es bajito, pasa desapercibido por su apariencia, no es atlético, no tiene carácter fuerte ni despótico ni se impone a gritos ni trompadas, no destaca en carreras de caballos, ni le gusta jugar a las cartas ni beber. Y le cae muy mal cuando su tío dice que ya le ha elegido novia y es hora de pedirle su mano. No es que no la conozca, ni le caiga mal, no es eso. Es que no le dejan ni elegir corbata, ni dar opinión de negocios, pero eso ya fue la proverbial gota.
Es así cuando su primo le pide ayuda con un problemilla un tanto peliguado con una mocita a quien le pidió matrimonio y ahora es chantajeado por unas cartas, que Gilly decide 'ahora o nunca' y se va a resolver ese problema pues ya que le dicen tanto que es el jefe de la familia ... o como dice a ver si "es Duque u hombre", sueña con ser un Smith cualquiera y vérselas solo.
Lo que sigue es una serie de aventuras, unas cuantas disparatadas y absurdas al mejor estilo de una comedia shakesperiana, con pícaros turbios, una mozuela con cero sesos (que me deja al final hasta con la duda si Belinda es limítrofeo un poco sociópata). Lo que sí se me hace pesadito es el tal Tom con sus cosas disparatadas a que Gilly no pone freno que me sacan de quicio .
Tengo la mala costumbre (ironía) que cuando menos en ficción deseo ver que las malas acciones no sean premiadas, sino que castigadas.
De igual modo, es una novela que se hace corta y bastante entretenida. Bien por Adolphus!
}}}}}}}}}}}}
This is one of the few times, or perhaps the only one, in which I find that the title is more appropriate in its Spanish translation (Su gracia, el duque) than in the original . The perspective is from the Duke of Sale - Adolphus Gillespie Vernon Ware, who is called "Gilly"- and who, because he was always sickly since he was a child, has been cared for, pampered and overprotected by his uncle and guardian and more than a battalion of servants all his life. . Gilly is about to come of age, and one shares his discouragement when he fails to assert his opinion on anything, since his character is timid and submissive. He is a 'poor rich boy', but he is very likable because he is kind and it bothers him to make others feel bad.
Don't think it's a romance novel. Better to find something else to read.
This is a protagonist who escapes the archetype of this type of novels, he is short, goes unnoticed due to his appearance, he is not athletic, he does not have a strong or despotic character nor does he impose himself with shouts or blows, he does not stand out in horse races, nor does he likes to play cards or drink. And he really dislikes when his uncle says that he has already chosen a girlfriend for him and it is time to ask for her hand. It's not that he doesn't know her, or dislike her, it's not that. They don't even let him choose a tie or give a business opinion, but that was the proverbial last straw.
It's like this when his cousin asks him for help with a somewhat tricky little problem with a girl to whom he proposed to marry and now he is blackmailed by some letters, that Gilly decides 'now or never' and is going to solve that problem because as they say so much so that he is the head of the family... or as he says, let's see if "he is a Duke or a man", he dreams of being any Smith fellow and dealing alone.
What follows is a series of adventures, some of them crazy and absurd in the best style of a Shakespearean comedy, with shady rogues, a girl with zero brains (which leaves me in the end even wondering if Belinda is borderlineor a little sociopath). What does bother me is this teenager Tom with his crazy things that Gilly doesn't put a stop to that drives me crazy .
I have a bad habit (irony) that at least in fiction I want to see bad actions not rewarded, but punished.
Likewise, it is a novel that feels short and quite entertaining. Good for Adolphus!
Reto Popsugar #3: un libro sobre un joven de 24 años.
Esta es una de las pocas veces, o quizás la única, en que encuentro que el título es más apropiado en su traducción al castellano que en el original (The Foundling: la expósito). La perspectiva es del señor Duque de Sale, Adolphus Gillespie Vernon Ware a quien llaman "Gilly", a quien por ser siempre enfermizo desde niño, su tío y tutor a más de un batallón de sirvientes le han cuidado, mimado y sobreprotegido toda su vida. Gilly esta a punto de alcanzar la mayoría de edad, y uno comparte su desaliento cuando no logra hacer valer su opinión en ninguna cosa, pues su carácter es tímido y sumiso. Es un 'pobre niño rico', pero cae muy simpático porque es amable y le apena hacer pasar mal al resto.
No crean que es una novela de romance. Mejor se buscan otra cosa para leer.
Este es un protagonista que escapa al arquetipo de este tipo de novelas, es bajito, pasa desapercibido por su apariencia, no es atlético, no tiene carácter fuerte ni despótico ni se impone a gritos ni trompadas, no destaca en carreras de caballos, ni le gusta jugar a las cartas ni beber. Y le cae muy mal cuando su tío dice que ya le ha elegido novia y es hora de pedirle su mano. No es que no la conozca, ni le caiga mal, no es eso. Es que no le dejan ni elegir corbata, ni dar opinión de negocios, pero eso ya fue la proverbial gota.
Es así cuando su primo le pide ayuda con un problemilla un tanto peliguado con una mocita a quien le pidió matrimonio y ahora es chantajeado por unas cartas, que Gilly decide 'ahora o nunca' y se va a resolver ese problema pues ya que le dicen tanto que es el jefe de la familia ... o como dice a ver si "es Duque u hombre", sueña con ser un Smith cualquiera y vérselas solo.
Lo que sigue es una serie de aventuras, unas cuantas disparatadas y absurdas al mejor estilo de una comedia shakesperiana, con pícaros turbios, una mozuela con cero sesos (que me deja al final hasta con la duda si Belinda es limítrofe
Tengo la mala costumbre (ironía) que cuando menos en ficción deseo ver que las malas acciones no sean premiadas, sino que castigadas.
De igual modo, es una novela que se hace corta y bastante entretenida. Bien por Adolphus!
}}}}}}}}}}}}
This is one of the few times, or perhaps the only one, in which I find that the title is more appropriate in its Spanish translation (Su gracia, el duque) than in the original . The perspective is from the Duke of Sale - Adolphus Gillespie Vernon Ware, who is called "Gilly"- and who, because he was always sickly since he was a child, has been cared for, pampered and overprotected by his uncle and guardian and more than a battalion of servants all his life. . Gilly is about to come of age, and one shares his discouragement when he fails to assert his opinion on anything, since his character is timid and submissive. He is a 'poor rich boy', but he is very likable because he is kind and it bothers him to make others feel bad.
Don't think it's a romance novel. Better to find something else to read.
This is a protagonist who escapes the archetype of this type of novels, he is short, goes unnoticed due to his appearance, he is not athletic, he does not have a strong or despotic character nor does he impose himself with shouts or blows, he does not stand out in horse races, nor does he likes to play cards or drink. And he really dislikes when his uncle says that he has already chosen a girlfriend for him and it is time to ask for her hand. It's not that he doesn't know her, or dislike her, it's not that. They don't even let him choose a tie or give a business opinion, but that was the proverbial last straw.
It's like this when his cousin asks him for help with a somewhat tricky little problem with a girl to whom he proposed to marry and now he is blackmailed by some letters, that Gilly decides 'now or never' and is going to solve that problem because as they say so much so that he is the head of the family... or as he says, let's see if "he is a Duke or a man", he dreams of being any Smith fellow and dealing alone.
What follows is a series of adventures, some of them crazy and absurd in the best style of a Shakespearean comedy, with shady rogues, a girl with zero brains (which leaves me in the end even wondering if Belinda is borderline
I have a bad habit (irony) that at least in fiction I want to see bad actions not rewarded, but punished.
Likewise, it is a novel that feels short and quite entertaining. Good for Adolphus!
February 8, 2022
February, 2022 - rereading with Heyer group, I nominated this one because I was ready for a reread, and thought this would be a delightful bright spot of sunshine and humor in this frigid winter! I am rereading slowly, just a couple chapters a day, to make it last.
Just finished my reread and listen, still one of my favorites, I love all the tying up of loose ends in the last several chapters, so much fun and very satisfying!
June, 2018 - Still five stars for me, and still a favorite Heyer! The humor, the characters, the sweet, understated romance that promises very well for the future happiness of Gilly and Harriet, one of Heyer’s most brilliant villains in Liversedge - delightful! I won’t wait so long to reread this one!
July, 2010: My new favorite! Okay, I say that to myself after every new Georgette Heyer novel, but in this case it's true!
Yes, as other reviewers point out, this is more of a coming-of-age saga than a typical Heyer romance; the Duke of Sale, Gilly to his family, friends and extensive, motherly retinue of trusted family retainers, sets out to find out if he is "a man, or just a duke." And what a ride it is! Heyer was in fine form here, piling one silly, hilarious situation on top of another until the whole unsteady house of cards threatens to topple around our shy, retiring hero - he is bowed but never broken, dealing competently with every new challenge as he grows in confidence.
I found Gilly absolutely engaging and adorable, along with his compliant but loving fiancee Lady Harriet; she plays a minor but important role, and I think she's pitch-perfect for our hero. Heyer gave us many wonderful characters in this novel, "types" she's crafted before: the stern but loving guardian; the outspoken, affectionate family retainers; the brash, tart-tongued Grandmama from a previous generation impatient with "missish" Regency airs and quite willing to put everyone to blush with salty tales and gossip, and the ambitious, calculating mamas. But Liversedge, the comic villain of the piece, is truly one of the funniest and most eloquent scoundrels I've ever come across - Heyer really outdid herself! Finally, one of the most delicious twists for me was Heyer sending up the image of the perfect romantic hero (which she herself did a great deal to invent and perpetuate) by making dashing, handsome, commanding Gideon, Gilly's cousin, the sidelined but totally supportive "wingman" to his diminutive relative. Gideon clearly loves Gilly like a brother - indeed, they were raised side-by-side as Gideon's autocratic father, Lord Lionel, is Gilly's guardian - and would lay down his life for him, but sympathizes with the smothering upbringing the sickly young duke has endured for years. Gideon the war hero and army captain gladly stands in the shadows this time as Gilly finally takes center stage - bravo!
Just finished my reread and listen, still one of my favorites, I love all the tying up of loose ends in the last several chapters, so much fun and very satisfying!
June, 2018 - Still five stars for me, and still a favorite Heyer! The humor, the characters, the sweet, understated romance that promises very well for the future happiness of Gilly and Harriet, one of Heyer’s most brilliant villains in Liversedge - delightful! I won’t wait so long to reread this one!
July, 2010: My new favorite! Okay, I say that to myself after every new Georgette Heyer novel, but in this case it's true!
Yes, as other reviewers point out, this is more of a coming-of-age saga than a typical Heyer romance; the Duke of Sale, Gilly to his family, friends and extensive, motherly retinue of trusted family retainers, sets out to find out if he is "a man, or just a duke." And what a ride it is! Heyer was in fine form here, piling one silly, hilarious situation on top of another until the whole unsteady house of cards threatens to topple around our shy, retiring hero - he is bowed but never broken, dealing competently with every new challenge as he grows in confidence.
I found Gilly absolutely engaging and adorable, along with his compliant but loving fiancee Lady Harriet; she plays a minor but important role, and I think she's pitch-perfect for our hero. Heyer gave us many wonderful characters in this novel, "types" she's crafted before: the stern but loving guardian; the outspoken, affectionate family retainers; the brash, tart-tongued Grandmama from a previous generation impatient with "missish" Regency airs and quite willing to put everyone to blush with salty tales and gossip, and the ambitious, calculating mamas. But Liversedge, the comic villain of the piece, is truly one of the funniest and most eloquent scoundrels I've ever come across - Heyer really outdid herself! Finally, one of the most delicious twists for me was Heyer sending up the image of the perfect romantic hero (which she herself did a great deal to invent and perpetuate) by making dashing, handsome, commanding Gideon, Gilly's cousin, the sidelined but totally supportive "wingman" to his diminutive relative. Gideon clearly loves Gilly like a brother - indeed, they were raised side-by-side as Gideon's autocratic father, Lord Lionel, is Gilly's guardian - and would lay down his life for him, but sympathizes with the smothering upbringing the sickly young duke has endured for years. Gideon the war hero and army captain gladly stands in the shadows this time as Gilly finally takes center stage - bravo!
January 12, 2025
3.5 stars
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Regency style, with only a bare smidgeon of romance, so don’t read it for that.
Gilly is a small-statured, not handsome 24-year-old duke, orphaned at birth, sickly as a child, completely under the thumb of an assertive but caring uncle who smothers him. He wonders what it would be like to be an ordinary mister from no place in particular, free to go where he wants and do what he wants without the constraints of title or servants or his uncle’s influence.
A chance presents itself and Gilly slips his leash, which begins a series of misadventures and crimes and new acquaintances, including a boy run away from home, blackmailers, kidnappers, and the title character, Belinda No-Last-Name, a foundling who is now almost 17, stunningly beautiful, and dumber than an earthworm. You think you’ve seen TSTL? You ain’t seen nuthin yet.
Started slow, picked up during the kidnapping when it looked like cousin Gideon was going to get blamed for murdering the duke, then lost momentum as Gilly focused on righting the plights of Tom and Belinda, and let the murderous and annoying Liversedge off with a bank draft and a warning.
Gideon stole the book.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Regency style, with only a bare smidgeon of romance, so don’t read it for that.
Gilly is a small-statured, not handsome 24-year-old duke, orphaned at birth, sickly as a child, completely under the thumb of an assertive but caring uncle who smothers him. He wonders what it would be like to be an ordinary mister from no place in particular, free to go where he wants and do what he wants without the constraints of title or servants or his uncle’s influence.
A chance presents itself and Gilly slips his leash, which begins a series of misadventures and crimes and new acquaintances, including a boy run away from home, blackmailers, kidnappers, and the title character, Belinda No-Last-Name, a foundling who is now almost 17, stunningly beautiful, and dumber than an earthworm. You think you’ve seen TSTL? You ain’t seen nuthin yet.
Started slow, picked up during the kidnapping when it looked like cousin Gideon was going to get blamed for murdering the duke, then lost momentum as Gilly focused on righting the plights of Tom and Belinda, and let the murderous and annoying Liversedge off with a bank draft and a warning.
Gideon stole the book.
Read
November 12, 2021I know many love this one, but I have never been able to finish it in the forty years I've been reading Heyers. The conversations are interminable, seeming to exist for the sake of using period slang (especially that made up by Pierce Egan) and not particularly witty to me. The plot meanders, never catching my interest; I just do not like her long-suffering heroine plots.
I wish this idea--the put-upon, mild young duke who runs away and assumes an ordinary identity and promptly finds himself in adventures--had occurred to her decades before, when she was at the top of her game.
I wish this idea--the put-upon, mild young duke who runs away and assumes an ordinary identity and promptly finds himself in adventures--had occurred to her decades before, when she was at the top of her game.
October 1, 2024
This is a fun one to re-read. With every new approach I gain new sympathy for Gilly, and there's always great satisfaction when he grows some ovaries in the end, and stops letting people boss him around so much.
February 26, 2022
The hero of this novel, the Most Noble Adolphus Gillespie Vernon Ware, Duke of Sale and Marquis of Ormesby; Earl of Sale; Baron Ware of Thame; Baron Ware of Stoven; and Baron Ware of Rufford, a sickly orphan, was raised by a host of well-meaning relatives and old family retainers. He's been coddled and cosseted his whole life but now that he's on the verge of coming of full age, his uncle Lionel encourages him to make his own decisions, yet every time Gilly makes a move, he's told he should listen to his olders and betters, including the issue of marriage and Gilly is tired of it all. After doing his duty and proposing marriage to his shy neighbor, Gilly takes himself off to London to mope and complain to his big cousin Gideon. Gideon is sympathetic and encourages Gilly to "shake his leash" yet Gilly is afraid of hurting anyone's feelings and much too timid to break out on his own. When his younger cousin Matthew gets into a scrape, Gilly decides it's time to act like a man and disappears from London without telling anyone where he's going or what he's doing. When Gilly heads to the countryside to rout out the villain who is blackmailing his cousin, he finds an adventure he never dreamed of involving runaway schoolboys, a beautiful empty-headed foundling, kidnappers, blackmailers, would-be murderers and various other people Gilly has never encountered before. Meanwhile, rumors about Gilly's disappearance swirl around London and Gideon is considered the prime suspect! Refusing to divulge his cousin's secrets, yet discovering Gilly is in danger, Gideon races off to rescue his little cousin and learns that Gilly is more than capable of handling anything that comes his way. Gilly learns to stand up for himself and his friends and finally becomes a man.
The plot of this book is a departure from Heyer's usual formula. It's a screwball comedy/coming-of-age story rather than a romance. It also features a hero who is neither a Corinthian or a Buck or a Beau and the hero's closest relatives do not desire his title! The story also centers solely around Gilly and doesn't enter into the mind of a heroine. The plot starts off slow and Gilly seems like an unappealing hero. He is rather boring and acquiesces to the wishes of his uncle far too easily. At first, Gideon seems like a better hero because he's tall and dashing with a crooked smile, but he's relegated to the background and this is only Gilly's story. There are some red herrings in the plot that depart from convention as well. I had a hard time getting into the story until about 3/4 of the way through when the adventure really began. Then I found myself engaged in the story, dying to find out what happened next and laughing out loud at Gilly's young protegee Tom and his destruction of Gilly's reputation. It seems like Heyer was poking fun at conventions and romance novels and created the antihero, anti-romance novel. It's not necessarily bad but I miss the charm and witty dialogue that is the hallmark of her romance novels. If you're looking for something different and well-written, give this a try, but don't expect convention.
_____________________________
Reread February 2022
I enjoyed this so much more this time around so I'm bumping up my rating. It is funny and exciting. I kept skipping ahead to see what was going to happen instead of letting it play out. I couldn't put it down. My detailed thoughts are below- spoilers ahead
The plot of this book is a departure from Heyer's usual formula. It's a screwball comedy/coming-of-age story rather than a romance. It also features a hero who is neither a Corinthian or a Buck or a Beau and the hero's closest relatives do not desire his title! The story also centers solely around Gilly and doesn't enter into the mind of a heroine. The plot starts off slow and Gilly seems like an unappealing hero. He is rather boring and acquiesces to the wishes of his uncle far too easily. At first, Gideon seems like a better hero because he's tall and dashing with a crooked smile, but he's relegated to the background and this is only Gilly's story. There are some red herrings in the plot that depart from convention as well. I had a hard time getting into the story until about 3/4 of the way through when the adventure really began. Then I found myself engaged in the story, dying to find out what happened next and laughing out loud at Gilly's young protegee Tom and his destruction of Gilly's reputation. It seems like Heyer was poking fun at conventions and romance novels and created the antihero, anti-romance novel. It's not necessarily bad but I miss the charm and witty dialogue that is the hallmark of her romance novels. If you're looking for something different and well-written, give this a try, but don't expect convention.
_____________________________
Reread February 2022
I enjoyed this so much more this time around so I'm bumping up my rating. It is funny and exciting. I kept skipping ahead to see what was going to happen instead of letting it play out. I couldn't put it down. My detailed thoughts are below- spoilers ahead
June 10, 2018
This is definitely one of the wittiest of her books that I've read. Gilly, our hero, is a quiet unassuming person but grows in character over the book. There isn't a romance as such. We know he's to be married and to who but we see very little of her in the book until quite near the end. It's a long story and we meet some queer and many characters along the way. This book has lots of cant and I enjoyed it thoroughly.
I'm a big Heyer fan and this one lives up to all expectations.
I'm a big Heyer fan and this one lives up to all expectations.
February 27, 2022
What a delight. Loved this one from start to finish, often reading with a smile.
Gilly is such a sweet, gentle-natured hero, possessed of a natural charm and genuine care for others. Having been a sickly youth, he’s hemmed in by well-meaning family and staff. Eventually he needs to break free from this suffocating net, in order to discover if he is a man or ‘nothing but a duke.’ He’s aided and abetted in this by his cousin Gideon - an army man, the one person who refuses to coddle him and who has no doubt of the answer Gilly seeks. In fact, covering Gilly’s tracks puts Gideon in considerable trouble, but he withstands the fire until the moment he discovers Gilly could genuinely be in danger.
During the course of Gilly’s adventures, with a combination of calm, common sense and, at times, good fortune, he manages to deliver both himself and the two young charges he gathers from a variety of scrapes, of varying degrees of seriousness. He refuses to abandon either of them, although that would certainly have been the easier course. Instead, Gilly shows himself prepared to go to considerable lengths to help them: irrepressible young Tom, who is on the run from a dour and restrictive tutor, and the titular foundling Belinda, who is sweet-natured and beautiful but without an ounce of common sense, prepared to go off with virtually anyone who’ll promise her pretty things, most especially the coveted ‘purple silk dress.’
It takes on an almost farcical element as the pursuers - Gideon, Tom’s father, and various others - all hare across the country trying to track the three of them down. All is eventually resolved, and with plenty of humour - such as Gilly’s reaction when a footman he believed to be disinterested professes loyalty. Gilly is disgusted, when he turns out to be yet another who would dote on him and stay in his service no doubt until one of them died and even beyond, carrying on to work for Gilly’s successor as did some of the existing household staff from his father’s time.
By the end it’s clear how Gilly has grown in the course of his adventures. Everyone, including Gilly himself, must now come to terms with this new persona. I’ll admit to a few qualms when he refused to see his bailiff - the old Gilly needed to grow a backbone, yet I’d have hated him to lose his sweetness and natural courtesy. However, eventually he agrees to see the man, and I think the outcome would have been a salutary lesson to Gilly along these lines.
So, except for the mild annoyance of Belinda being so clueless, this really is a delightful read. I can thoroughly recommend this one.
Gilly is such a sweet, gentle-natured hero, possessed of a natural charm and genuine care for others. Having been a sickly youth, he’s hemmed in by well-meaning family and staff. Eventually he needs to break free from this suffocating net, in order to discover if he is a man or ‘nothing but a duke.’ He’s aided and abetted in this by his cousin Gideon - an army man, the one person who refuses to coddle him and who has no doubt of the answer Gilly seeks. In fact, covering Gilly’s tracks puts Gideon in considerable trouble, but he withstands the fire until the moment he discovers Gilly could genuinely be in danger.
During the course of Gilly’s adventures, with a combination of calm, common sense and, at times, good fortune, he manages to deliver both himself and the two young charges he gathers from a variety of scrapes, of varying degrees of seriousness. He refuses to abandon either of them, although that would certainly have been the easier course. Instead, Gilly shows himself prepared to go to considerable lengths to help them: irrepressible young Tom, who is on the run from a dour and restrictive tutor, and the titular foundling Belinda, who is sweet-natured and beautiful but without an ounce of common sense, prepared to go off with virtually anyone who’ll promise her pretty things, most especially the coveted ‘purple silk dress.’
It takes on an almost farcical element as the pursuers - Gideon, Tom’s father, and various others - all hare across the country trying to track the three of them down. All is eventually resolved, and with plenty of humour - such as Gilly’s reaction when a footman he believed to be disinterested professes loyalty. Gilly is disgusted, when he turns out to be yet another who would dote on him and stay in his service no doubt until one of them died and even beyond, carrying on to work for Gilly’s successor as did some of the existing household staff from his father’s time.
By the end it’s clear how Gilly has grown in the course of his adventures. Everyone, including Gilly himself, must now come to terms with this new persona. I’ll admit to a few qualms when he refused to see his bailiff - the old Gilly needed to grow a backbone, yet I’d have hated him to lose his sweetness and natural courtesy. However, eventually he agrees to see the man, and I think the outcome would have been a salutary lesson to Gilly along these lines.
So, except for the mild annoyance of Belinda being so clueless, this really is a delightful read. I can thoroughly recommend this one.
December 6, 2014
The Foundling ranks among my top ten favorite Georgette Heyer novels. It’s a bit out of the ordinary, as the romantic heroine has a very small role in the book. The reader isn’t breathlessly following the vagaries of her emotions as she interacts with the world and the hero. This is much more the hero’s journey—and what a journey it is! A sheltered, pampered duke escapes his cocoon to throw himself into the world of everyday small-town Englishmen in the Regency period, with results that are equally disastrous and hilarious.
Gilly, the hero, is one of Georgette Heyer’s “beta” heroes, a modest, gentle young man. If your tastes run to Heathcliffs, you’ll be underwhelmed. But in his quiet way he proves to be a resourceful, courageous, and very ethical person. And the secondary characters are some of Heyer’s best, from his favorite cousin Gideon (wish he’d gotten his own novel) to one of the great rogues of all time, Swithin Liversedge. Chaos, mayhem, suspense, and delightful misunderstandings ensue.
One of the things I like best about this story is how most of the plot developments emerge organically from the characters just being themselves. Very little seems forced or contrived (except maybe Liversedge’s initial interest in Gilly). Some have objected that the story takes a long time to get going, but the first hundred pages, while light on action, give us a deep sympathy and understanding for the hero. And the rest of the book makes up for it in the action department!
The Foundling gives us a vivid picture of ordinary life outside the metropolis, and the story has many complicated dilemmas that the hero must sort out in order to win through to happiness in the end. This is not a traditional romance, where the focus is all on the developing relationship of two people, but it is a fascinating and absorbing tale.
Gilly, the hero, is one of Georgette Heyer’s “beta” heroes, a modest, gentle young man. If your tastes run to Heathcliffs, you’ll be underwhelmed. But in his quiet way he proves to be a resourceful, courageous, and very ethical person. And the secondary characters are some of Heyer’s best, from his favorite cousin Gideon (wish he’d gotten his own novel) to one of the great rogues of all time, Swithin Liversedge. Chaos, mayhem, suspense, and delightful misunderstandings ensue.
One of the things I like best about this story is how most of the plot developments emerge organically from the characters just being themselves. Very little seems forced or contrived (except maybe Liversedge’s initial interest in Gilly). Some have objected that the story takes a long time to get going, but the first hundred pages, while light on action, give us a deep sympathy and understanding for the hero. And the rest of the book makes up for it in the action department!
The Foundling gives us a vivid picture of ordinary life outside the metropolis, and the story has many complicated dilemmas that the hero must sort out in order to win through to happiness in the end. This is not a traditional romance, where the focus is all on the developing relationship of two people, but it is a fascinating and absorbing tale.
May 12, 2020
This is a romance only in the sense that the hero is happily settled with his lady at the end of the book; really it is an adventure and, I suppose, a journey of self-discovery, although I'm sure Georgette Heyer would never use (or approve of) such a navel-gazing term.
In his travels, Gilly encounters Tom, a magnet for mischief of all kinds, Belinda, a beautiful, empty-headed girl whose virtue is teetering on a knife-edge, a brace of villains, and a host of citizens of all stripes that, as a Duke, he had never had to deal with before.
I love sweet-tempered Gilly, another of Heyer's non-standard heroes, his friendship with his cousin Gideon, and his irascible Uncle Lionel. And, as usual with Heyer, the language is delightful.
The first course:
Lord Lionel being an advocate of what he considered a neat, plain dinner, only two courses were served at Sale Park when the family dined alone. The first of these consisted of a tureen of turtle, removed with fish, which was in its turn removed with a haunch of venison. Several side-dishes, such as pork cutlets with Rober sauce, larded fillets of beef, tenderones of veal and truffles, and a braised ham, graced the board...
The Duke to his retinue:
"I daresay I could have been tolerably comfortable without a Chief Confectioner."
Everyone realized that the Duke had uttered a witticism, so those whose social status permitted them to laugh, did so, in a discreet way; and Mr. Scriven said that he hoped his Grace would not find his house to be quite so ill-prepared as that.
Gilly's valet and Gideon's manservant:
"You looby, if you don't stand out of my way you'll get one in the bread basket as'll send you to grass!" said Nettlebed fiercely.
"Ho!" retorted Wragby, "Ho, I will, will I?" If it's a bit of home-brewed you're wanting, you herring-gutted, blubber-headed chinch, put up your mawleys!"
Sir Timothy:
"I do feel that a little openess in dear Gideon--a little less reserve--would be wise at this delicate moment! He has not been--how shall I put it?--precisely conciliating, one feels."
In his travels, Gilly encounters Tom, a magnet for mischief of all kinds, Belinda, a beautiful, empty-headed girl whose virtue is teetering on a knife-edge, a brace of villains, and a host of citizens of all stripes that, as a Duke, he had never had to deal with before.
I love sweet-tempered Gilly, another of Heyer's non-standard heroes, his friendship with his cousin Gideon, and his irascible Uncle Lionel. And, as usual with Heyer, the language is delightful.
The first course:
Lord Lionel being an advocate of what he considered a neat, plain dinner, only two courses were served at Sale Park when the family dined alone. The first of these consisted of a tureen of turtle, removed with fish, which was in its turn removed with a haunch of venison. Several side-dishes, such as pork cutlets with Rober sauce, larded fillets of beef, tenderones of veal and truffles, and a braised ham, graced the board...
The Duke to his retinue:
"I daresay I could have been tolerably comfortable without a Chief Confectioner."
Everyone realized that the Duke had uttered a witticism, so those whose social status permitted them to laugh, did so, in a discreet way; and Mr. Scriven said that he hoped his Grace would not find his house to be quite so ill-prepared as that.
Gilly's valet and Gideon's manservant:
"You looby, if you don't stand out of my way you'll get one in the bread basket as'll send you to grass!" said Nettlebed fiercely.
"Ho!" retorted Wragby, "Ho, I will, will I?" If it's a bit of home-brewed you're wanting, you herring-gutted, blubber-headed chinch, put up your mawleys!"
Sir Timothy:
"I do feel that a little openess in dear Gideon--a little less reserve--would be wise at this delicate moment! He has not been--how shall I put it?--precisely conciliating, one feels."
September 17, 2008
I have a fondness for "Mr. Dash of Nowhere in Particular." Something about the description of the meek young duke, ruled over by his strong-willed, crotchety relations and servants spoke to me. I cheered for his coming-of-age transition to a man, and his adventures out in the world, his experiments at doing everything for himself. I do think the romance in this book seemed like something of an afterthought, put in at the end only because Heyer's readers are used to seeing a pat happy ending. I didnt' think it needed it. It could have ended just as well with our realization that he has grown up. Its a case of Heyer limiting herself to the genre.
April 24, 2013
This is really more a coming of age novel than a romance; there is a romance, of course, but it takes a distant second place to Heyer's account of how her hero, Gilly, Duke of Sale, goes adventuring, in a smartly paced plot, and frees himself from the confinement of his family and his title. The romance wasn't much (and I actually found Gilly's romantic interest rather dull), but the friendship between Gilly and his dashing cousin, Gideon, was a highlight of the book. I don't think I've read a Heyer before in which a friendship between two men was such a focus, and I liked it quite a bit.
February 11, 2022
Haven’t read this for some years. Decided to read this before The Nonesuch, the novel after this. (Interesting reference on Jennifer Kloester’s blog https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...)
Gilly, Duke of Sale is wonderful as are the menagerie of characters he manages to gather around him. Belinda is just too silly to be believed, guiness and clueless except in her desire for the famed purple dress.
Gilly, Duke of Sale is wonderful as are the menagerie of characters he manages to gather around him. Belinda is just too silly to be believed, guiness and clueless except in her desire for the famed purple dress.
October 18, 2018
Ever read a book then something like 7 to 10 years later you reread that same book? On purpose? Yeah, me neither. Until now. Okay, interesting opening, not true, but . . whatever… I did have a point in asking the question. So let’s try that again, eh?
Ever read a book, love it, put it in a pile of possible rereads, and finally get around to rereading it something like 7 years later and . . . not recognize the book at all? If the author hadn’t been dead since 1974, I’d seriously consider the possibility that they had completely rewritten the book some time between my first and second reading. But they were, still, dead during those years and so, makes me wonder, did I really read this book before?
I’ve occasionally seen mention of people wanting Heyer books to be turned into films. Some of the books might make interesting rom-coms (do they still actually make romantic comedies?), but this one? Nooo, not a good candidate for a romantic comedy. I say that with one breath while with the next note that this is one of the first times I’ve felt that a Heyer book needed to be made into a film. What gives, eh? Well, Heyer did write something like 18 books that were not romances, is this one of those? Nope, this one falls squarely inside the 24 Regency romances Heyer wrote. So, again, what gives? Simple enough: I’d loved to have seen certain actors play with the role, with the lead male role – it’d need the right actor in the lead (and the right ones in the supporting roles), and with that in hand, this would have made a great straight up comedy film. But not a romantic comedy. The lead female? Well, which one is that? Normally that’d be the romantic love interest, but there really isn’t one in this book, sure, there’s the woman the Duke is expected to marry, and has even proposed to, but that’s an arranged marriage, not a love marriage (there are some words that attempt to change that that get expressed, but no foundation was given to have those words be real, to be true, they just seemed there to keep this book from falling outside the romance category). Beyond the woman he asked to marry him, a Lady Harriet, there’s also the stunningly gorgeous Belinda who spends a good bit of time in the Duke’s company. She also has the intelligence of a butterfly, and the attention span of a ferret on sugar . . . and she also isn’t a love interest (or even a sexual interest) of the led male character. But enough of that.
Back in the days they were making a bunch of ballroom films, when was that, the 1980s? Well, I’m thinking of a specific period of time and know they made some before then and after then, but this would have made a great film in around that period of time. Slipped in amongst the others. With trappings of the others, but being in something of its own little genre. Harder to make the film today, though. Various reasons.
Right, so the story – for 24 years the Duke of Sale has lived and breathed as the Duke. From birth, for, you see, his father died before he was born (though, as was needed, after the good previous Duke had impregnated the current Duke’s mother), and the mother died in childbirth. So the fella was born a duke and without parents. He had a lot of servants, though, and several guardians. The main one being Lord Lionel, who is/was the former Duke’s brother. Lord Lionel is a bit conservative, and set in his ways, but has done everything possible to raise the baby Sale right. Though the Duke, who is not yet fully into his own power (the age of 25 is some magical number which will free Sale from all constraints and give him all of his money and wealth, which have, up to now, been safe-guarded for him) feels stifled and smothered. And very much wishes he was someone other than the Duke. Someone wealthy enough, say, not someone in one of the leaky roofed houses some of his tenants live in, but definitely someone other than the Duke.
There’s a reason, by the way, for why the Duke had been so smothered by attention, constrained in his pursuits – he was a very sickly child, and to the point that it was uncertain he’d live to see his first birthday. Even at the point of ‘now’ in the book, when the Duke is 24, he is still a rather weak looking, small, unhealthy looking man. Though he hasn’t been seriously ill in years.
Right, so, leaving a lot out to move on to: the Duke is given the opportunity to do two things at once, express himself as head of the family (which various people, including his guardian, that Lord Lionel guy, keep telling him he is (or will become? No, is)), and test the waters of being ‘a nobody from nowhere in particular.’ A family member, you see, has gotten himself into a bit of a mix-up and is being blackmailed. As head of the family, the Duke decides to go ‘make things right’, but there’s no need for him to go as himself, and many reasons not to do so (including ‘if they find out I’m a Duke, they’ll capture me and attempt to ransom me’). So the Duke sets off on a journey of self-discovery, acting as a Mr. Rufford (one of his many titles involves a ‘Rufford’) as he wanders the country side doing stuff.
The Foundling by the way? The name of the book? Well, it is true that the lead male character had both parents die pre-birth, or shortly thereafter, it is also true that he still had a large family, and is not really a ‘foundling’ by the definition being used in this specific book. No, the Foundling is actually that Belinda person I’ve previously mentioned. While she plays a big role in the book, there’s no inherent reason for the book to be named after her. Considering how much the book is mostly about the Duke, it should probably have been called something like ‘Mr. Rufford, the Duke’ (which is long, so maybe just ‘Rufford’).
Right, book good. I enjoyed it. Do not go into it expecting a romance, do go into it expecting a good bit of humor, though.
Rating: 4.89
October 17 2018
Ever read a book, love it, put it in a pile of possible rereads, and finally get around to rereading it something like 7 years later and . . . not recognize the book at all? If the author hadn’t been dead since 1974, I’d seriously consider the possibility that they had completely rewritten the book some time between my first and second reading. But they were, still, dead during those years and so, makes me wonder, did I really read this book before?
I’ve occasionally seen mention of people wanting Heyer books to be turned into films. Some of the books might make interesting rom-coms (do they still actually make romantic comedies?), but this one? Nooo, not a good candidate for a romantic comedy. I say that with one breath while with the next note that this is one of the first times I’ve felt that a Heyer book needed to be made into a film. What gives, eh? Well, Heyer did write something like 18 books that were not romances, is this one of those? Nope, this one falls squarely inside the 24 Regency romances Heyer wrote. So, again, what gives? Simple enough: I’d loved to have seen certain actors play with the role, with the lead male role – it’d need the right actor in the lead (and the right ones in the supporting roles), and with that in hand, this would have made a great straight up comedy film. But not a romantic comedy. The lead female? Well, which one is that? Normally that’d be the romantic love interest, but there really isn’t one in this book, sure, there’s the woman the Duke is expected to marry, and has even proposed to, but that’s an arranged marriage, not a love marriage (there are some words that attempt to change that that get expressed, but no foundation was given to have those words be real, to be true, they just seemed there to keep this book from falling outside the romance category). Beyond the woman he asked to marry him, a Lady Harriet, there’s also the stunningly gorgeous Belinda who spends a good bit of time in the Duke’s company. She also has the intelligence of a butterfly, and the attention span of a ferret on sugar . . . and she also isn’t a love interest (or even a sexual interest) of the led male character. But enough of that.
Back in the days they were making a bunch of ballroom films, when was that, the 1980s? Well, I’m thinking of a specific period of time and know they made some before then and after then, but this would have made a great film in around that period of time. Slipped in amongst the others. With trappings of the others, but being in something of its own little genre. Harder to make the film today, though. Various reasons.
Right, so the story – for 24 years the Duke of Sale has lived and breathed as the Duke. From birth, for, you see, his father died before he was born (though, as was needed, after the good previous Duke had impregnated the current Duke’s mother), and the mother died in childbirth. So the fella was born a duke and without parents. He had a lot of servants, though, and several guardians. The main one being Lord Lionel, who is/was the former Duke’s brother. Lord Lionel is a bit conservative, and set in his ways, but has done everything possible to raise the baby Sale right. Though the Duke, who is not yet fully into his own power (the age of 25 is some magical number which will free Sale from all constraints and give him all of his money and wealth, which have, up to now, been safe-guarded for him) feels stifled and smothered. And very much wishes he was someone other than the Duke. Someone wealthy enough, say, not someone in one of the leaky roofed houses some of his tenants live in, but definitely someone other than the Duke.
There’s a reason, by the way, for why the Duke had been so smothered by attention, constrained in his pursuits – he was a very sickly child, and to the point that it was uncertain he’d live to see his first birthday. Even at the point of ‘now’ in the book, when the Duke is 24, he is still a rather weak looking, small, unhealthy looking man. Though he hasn’t been seriously ill in years.
Right, so, leaving a lot out to move on to: the Duke is given the opportunity to do two things at once, express himself as head of the family (which various people, including his guardian, that Lord Lionel guy, keep telling him he is (or will become? No, is)), and test the waters of being ‘a nobody from nowhere in particular.’ A family member, you see, has gotten himself into a bit of a mix-up and is being blackmailed. As head of the family, the Duke decides to go ‘make things right’, but there’s no need for him to go as himself, and many reasons not to do so (including ‘if they find out I’m a Duke, they’ll capture me and attempt to ransom me’). So the Duke sets off on a journey of self-discovery, acting as a Mr. Rufford (one of his many titles involves a ‘Rufford’) as he wanders the country side doing stuff.
The Foundling by the way? The name of the book? Well, it is true that the lead male character had both parents die pre-birth, or shortly thereafter, it is also true that he still had a large family, and is not really a ‘foundling’ by the definition being used in this specific book. No, the Foundling is actually that Belinda person I’ve previously mentioned. While she plays a big role in the book, there’s no inherent reason for the book to be named after her. Considering how much the book is mostly about the Duke, it should probably have been called something like ‘Mr. Rufford, the Duke’ (which is long, so maybe just ‘Rufford’).
Right, book good. I enjoyed it. Do not go into it expecting a romance, do go into it expecting a good bit of humor, though.
Rating: 4.89
October 17 2018
October 27, 2014
4 ½ stars. Wonderful story. Problem with audiobook narrator’s breaths.
I think my favorite trope is seeing a character change - like this. Gilly was small, skinny, shy, quiet, and obedient - doing whatever his overbearing uncle and others told him to do. Even with marriage the uncle says it’s time you get engaged to Harriet, so he does. He’s 24. Gilly decides to go on a journey alone without his valet or other hired help. On that journey things happen that allow Gilly to act differently and to see himself differently than he had before. I was delighted and surprised. And there were humorous parts. It’s a little slow to start. But the last third was fulfilling.
This is not typical romance, but it has a happy romantic ending. This is primarily Gilly’s coming of age story. The heroine has a small role.
A minor complaint for the author. She called characters by different names, sometimes the first name, sometimes the last name. I was confused about the two Wares and then Gideon and Gaywood sounding similar. Gideon Ware (the son of Lord Lionel) was also called Captain Gideon or Captain Ware. Mathew Ware (the son of Lord Henry Ware). Charles Presteigne (Harriet’s brother) was called Charles, Charlie, and Gaywood. Now that I’ve looked them up after reading the book, they don’t seem as confusing. But at the time I was confused.
AUDIOBOOK NARRATOR - Phyllida Nash.
Her breaths were annoying and distracting. When talking to someone in person one does not hear breaths. Parts of the story were ok, but several times I was thinking when is the next breath going to come? They interrupted the story. Narrators: PLEASE listen to the recording of yourself and if you hear your breaths, use a different microphone - or stand farther away from it.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Unabridged audiobook length: 14 hrs and 26 mins. Swearing language: none. Sexual content: none. Setting: 1818 England. Book copyright: 1948. Genre: historical fiction with romance.
OTHER BOOKS by Georgette Heyer:
My favorite books are: These Old Shades, Cotillion, and Friday’s Child. My second favorites: Devil’s Cub, Lady of Quality, The Convenient Marriage, and A Civil Contract.
I think my favorite trope is seeing a character change - like this. Gilly was small, skinny, shy, quiet, and obedient - doing whatever his overbearing uncle and others told him to do. Even with marriage the uncle says it’s time you get engaged to Harriet, so he does. He’s 24. Gilly decides to go on a journey alone without his valet or other hired help. On that journey things happen that allow Gilly to act differently and to see himself differently than he had before. I was delighted and surprised. And there were humorous parts. It’s a little slow to start. But the last third was fulfilling.
This is not typical romance, but it has a happy romantic ending. This is primarily Gilly’s coming of age story. The heroine has a small role.
A minor complaint for the author. She called characters by different names, sometimes the first name, sometimes the last name. I was confused about the two Wares and then Gideon and Gaywood sounding similar. Gideon Ware (the son of Lord Lionel) was also called Captain Gideon or Captain Ware. Mathew Ware (the son of Lord Henry Ware). Charles Presteigne (Harriet’s brother) was called Charles, Charlie, and Gaywood. Now that I’ve looked them up after reading the book, they don’t seem as confusing. But at the time I was confused.
AUDIOBOOK NARRATOR - Phyllida Nash.
Her breaths were annoying and distracting. When talking to someone in person one does not hear breaths. Parts of the story were ok, but several times I was thinking when is the next breath going to come? They interrupted the story. Narrators: PLEASE listen to the recording of yourself and if you hear your breaths, use a different microphone - or stand farther away from it.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Unabridged audiobook length: 14 hrs and 26 mins. Swearing language: none. Sexual content: none. Setting: 1818 England. Book copyright: 1948. Genre: historical fiction with romance.
OTHER BOOKS by Georgette Heyer:
My favorite books are: These Old Shades, Cotillion, and Friday’s Child. My second favorites: Devil’s Cub, Lady of Quality, The Convenient Marriage, and A Civil Contract.
October 15, 2012
Wherein the ingenue is a duke.
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