The Masqueraders

by Georgette Heyer

Such a daring escape…

Their infamous adventurer father has taught Prudence Tremaine and her brother Robin to be masters of disguise. Ending up on the wrong side of the Jacobite rebellion, brother and sister flee to London, Prudence pretending to be a dashing young buck, and Robin a lovely young lady.

Could cost them both their hearts…

Then Prudence meets the elegant Sir Anthony Fanshawe, and Robin becomes the mysterious hero of the charming Letitia Grayson, and in order to have what they truly want, the two masqueraders must find a way to unmask themselves without losing their lives…

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Historical, Fiction, Regency, Classics

338 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1928

About the author

Georgette 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.

Reviews

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ · Rating 4 out of 5]

With just a whiff of Twelfth Night about it, this Georgian era novel by Georgette Heyer is lots of cross-dressing, romantic, swashbuckling fun: hidden identities, love interests - two for the price of one! (also, a little difficult when you’re posing as the opposite sex, but trust love to find a way), a couple of sword fights, an attempted elopement or two, a bit of a mystery, and a master manipulator pulling the strings.

A brother and sister, Peter and Kate Merriot, are traveling to London in the late 1740s, soon after the unsuccessful Jacobite rebellion. They stop at an inn and discover an elopement in process: Letitia Grayson, a lovely and naive young heiress, is running away with Gregory Markham. But Letty has realized that Markham is an unkind brute and is trying to back out. The Merriots decide they need to get involved and help Letty out, to great comic effect.

The villain is successfully sent on a wild goose chase, just before Sir Anthony Fanshawe, a “mountain” of a man (think very large but swift-on-his-feet linebacker type) arrives to whisk Letty back to London. She’s happy to go along once she realizes that Sir Anthony doesn’t have any romantic intentions toward her. But someone else is interested in Sir Anthony: Peter Merriot, who is actually Prudence, while her brother Robin is playing the role of Kate. Prudence and Robin are in hiding because they (especially Robin) got involved on the wrong side of the Jacobite Rebellion. The cross-dressing is supposed to be helping to keep them from being recognized. Just roll with it.

Sir Anthony looks like a big, mentally slow guy (we meet his type occasionally in Heyerville, as in The Toll-Gate and The Unknown Ajax) but Prudence is fairly certain that his sleepy-looking eyes are seeing a lot more than they seem to. Meanwhile, Robin is very interested in Letty, who thinks he’s a girl and her new bestie. And then Prudence and Robin’s father sweeps into town, announcing to all and sundry that he’s the Lost Viscount, an heir to a great estate. Prudence and Robin, who are familiar with their father’s crazy, elaborate schemes, are dubious...

Anyway, it’s loads of fun in a distinctly old-fashioned way (fair enough, this book was written in 1928). You have to be on board with alpha-type guys masterfully taking charge of situations, stealing kisses, and so forth. At the same time, you have this really interesting character in Prudence, who has had to masquerade as a boy or young man so often in life that she's EXTREMELY self-sufficient for a lady of that time, and the book actually deals with that issue, although I don't think it completely comes to grips with the tension between Prudence's independence and her love interest's desire to protect her and take care of things for her.

It was still early days in Heyer’s career but she’s starting to hit her stride here, with some delightful, witty dialogue and memorable characters. I wasn’t really fond of the brilliant but immensely narcissistic father, but he had his amusing moments.

That Sir Anthony, though. He’s a keeper! As is Prudence.

Definitely my two favorite characters!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book so much. I loved it when it started with a pair of siblings chatting about whether they should rescue the young, eloping heiress in the next room from a drunken suitor. I loved it more when it turned out there was crossdressing. I loved it MORE when Prudence got to be awesome while dressed as a man and her suitor loved her not "despite" her pretending to be a guy but because she did so with aplomb and sheer awesomeness.

Plus, once Dad shows up, every scene can be summarized like this.

Lord Tresomethingorother: I'm the long lost Lord of Tresomethingorother!
Pru: Oh, my god. You're going to get us all hanged.
LT: No, for real this time, I really am.
Robin: Yeah, remember when you made us be JACOBITES? Or when you had us crossdress in polite London Society?
LT: I'm SO AWESOME, why are you questioning my AWESOME.
Pru and Robin: *eyeroll*
Tony: I want to take your daughter away and marry her and keep her safe.
LT: PSHAW. You don't need to keep her safe! I'll keep her safe.
Robin: Actually, Pru will keep HERSELF safe. Or I'll take her away to France.
Pru: Tony, I can't marry you! I'm an ADVENTURESS! I'll drag your name into the dirt!
Tony: I don't care!
LT: Why are you DOUBTING MY BRILLIANCE. BECAUSE I"M BRILLIANT. STOP HATING.
Peter: Yeah, I mean, after you having so many scares, why would we question?
LT: HATERS GONNA HATE.
Pru and Peter: *duitifully follow father*
Tony: !!!
Pru: Listen, he always gets us into messes and then gets us out.
Me: *cracking up*

There's a scene where someone tries to blackmail their father and he literally talks him out of it by OUT NICE-ING him.

Blackmailer: I have something very dangerous for you right HERE. *pats chest*
LT: In your heart?
Blackmailer: No! In my pocket!
LT: Oh, an inside pocket! I have to get one of those, how forward thinking of you!
Blackmailer: ...

I am in ecstasy over this book.

[Em Lost In Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

Adventurous, humorous, scandalous, and a fantastic story that kept me bound to it until I finished it. I had a little hard time initially for grasping the direction of the story but once I got hang of it, it was a laughing riot.

[Christmas Carol ꧁꧂ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this particular Heyer improves on rereading.

My earlier reads found it confused & confusing. This time I remembered enough of the plot from previous reads to keep up with the fast pace & all the twists & turns. GH has a lot of balls in the air with this one - & she doesn't drop a single one.

I find GH's Georgians a lot more romantic than her Regencies - certainly in their language & declarations of love;

"I am to wait then! You deny me the right to protect you now?"

"You have me at your feet, sir," she said unsteadily,"but I do deny you. I must."

What can one do but swoon!

However, there is still her trademark humour;

Sir Anthony had risen at his entrance, and bowed now. "You stand in no danger from me, sir."

My lord surveyed him haughtily. "I stand in no danger from anyone, my dear Sir Anthony. You have no knowledge of me. You are to be pitied."

"Envied, more like," said his undutiful son.

But as much as I did enjoy this read, this book will never be a 5★ Heyer for me, as there is an important plot point I can't get past. Call me a Female Chauvinist Sow, but I can't enjoy even a secondary male romantic lead in a dress & the scene where Robin is pacing in his skirts makes me want to giggle. I can swallow the idea of a male with a smooth enough chest to wear the low cut dresses of the mid eighteenth century, because my own son at 24 (Robin's probable age) has no chest hair. I find it harder to believe that a male voice & the arms of a physically active male could keep up such a sustained ruse.

But an engaging romp & The Old Gentleman is one of Heyer's great characters. This is one of the Heyer's that is just begging to be filmed. The Old Gentleman's big scene would be awesome on film!

Just be careful reading the descriptions on GR. I've edited a couple of the worst, but quite a few give away plot points I would rather be surprised about if I was a first time reader!

[mark monday · Rating 4 out of 5]

a delightful experience! a fizzy farce full of high spirits. there was also a certain amount of forthright bloodthirstiness present that I haven't seen in her other books. (besides from murderous Leonie of These Old Shades.) but then I've only read a dozen of her books; perhaps there are pockets of bloodthirstiness to be found elsewhere. or maybe she just relegated bloodthirstiness to her Georgian era. also, why I am using the word "bloodthirstiness" so much? someone's got a problem.

the gender swapping was super fun. if I have a critique - and it's a teensy one - it's that I wish more time had been spent with Robin-as-Kate. that moment at the beginning of the book with a surprisingly heavy "Kate" suddenly "fainting" on a dastardly villain to slow him down was awesome.

as a big fan of this splendid author, it was fascinating to see in this early novel the templates that provide the foundation of so many stories that followed. the play with gender, of course; explicitly present here, much less broad in later novels like Cotillion. Anthony Fanshawe as a kind of precursor to Hugo Darracott and John Staple; Prudence Tremaine reminiscent of Nell Stornaway and Anthea Darracott. the book itself was a treat similar in flavor to those two novels starring Hugo/Anthea & John/Nell: The Unknown Ajax and The Toll-Gate. (both top favorites.)

and all that said, I don't think I've come across a character much like "Tremaine of Barham." the complete self-absorption and the overwhelming ego, the charm and wit and charisma, the brazen trickery, those amazing outfits, of course the casual bloodthirstiness... it was all so endearing. I mean really, at one point he reflects on a plot he created that will allow his son to bait and then kill a mutual annoyance, and handwaves that future death aside with the reason he's simply too obnoxious to live in the same world with me. I totally get where he's coming from.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A swashbuckling, gothic, romantic adventure tale that manages to indulge in all the delicious mystery, suspense and dramatics that it wants without ever quite losing its sense of humor about itself. It is a period piece, even earlier than the usual Heyer genre, set just after the '45 Rising, and Heyer adjusts her dialogue, characters, and storytelling to match. 'Tis the tale of a pair of siblings, Prudence and Robin, who indulge in the time-honored literary sibling fun of cross dressing and exchanging genders- they are escaped Jacobites and habitual adventurers, you see. Throw in a swooning, put upon heiress with dreams of romance, an indolent, intelligent "mountain," of a hero, and one of Heyer's most memorable characters- that of the "old gentleman," father of Prudence and Robin (as dazzlingly arrogant as he is dazzlingly capable and stylish), some abductions, seductions, honest-to-God he-smacked-that-guy's-cheek-with-his-glove duel fighting, and you've got an incredibly fun romp of a story that one should blow through smiling and gasping. I wish I had tomatoes to throw and the disposition to faint. It seems only proper with this book. I will revisit this one many times in the future, I'm sure. It is quite out of the common way of your typical Heyer, but don't let that dissuade you. Read it because it is independently wonderful, not because you see the name of "Heyer."

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

2023 Review
I changed things up by listening to this one on audio and it really highlighted the 1928 publishing date. I never realized how many of Prudence's lines sounded straight out of a black and white movie.

2020 Review
The dialogue in this book absolutely rocks. Particularly any dialogue involving Prudence and Robin's father. I wish someone would turn this into a play. It begs to be performed.
Such a delightful story line!

2019 Review - 5 stars
I guess 4th times the charm because unlike my earlier reviews, I had no problem understanding what was going on. And I loved every moment of it.
I always fall for Heyer's characters in the end. I love Prudence and Sir Tony and Robin and Leticia. Just love them.
I love the witty banter and filial respect masked behind plenty of complaints.
Everyone wears a mask in this story...from the adventuress who wants to become a normal person to the seemingly law abiding citizen who longs to join her adventures!
I'm feeling very warm and happy as Heyer's books always leave me. I want to go re-read them all but I suppose I should survive finals first.

2018 Review - 3 stars
A lovely re-read but I have to agree with my earlier review. This was a different, fun, but overall baffling Heyer read. She has some truly original characters in here and now on this third-read through I finally appreciate them more. But it takes three reads through to understand what the heck is going on half the time. More often than not I paused to go, 'Who is taking? Which character was that? Whaaaat...?'


2011 Review
Because of his involvement in the Jacobite uprising, young Robin is forced to flee to England, disguised as a girl! Accompanied by his sister Prudence, disguised as a man, "Mr. Peter Merriot" and "Miss Kate Merriot" make their way to London to discover the will of their rather enigmatic Father. Along the way they stumble upon an elopement-turned-abduction and rescue the pretty heiress Letty Grayson. Things are only beginning to get confusing, though, as Robin-disguised-as-Kate falls in love with Miss Grayson, and Prudence-disguised-as-Peter falls for Sir Anthony, Letty's erstwhile beau. Suddenly, the sibling's Father shows up claiming to be the long-lost Viscount and they are plunged once more into the maze of their Father's weaving...

A fun story, rather confusing. It took me to the third chapter to realize the siblings were in disguise, and even then I was bewildered as to who was speaking when. The cross-dressing made this book confusing, but was definitely worth it. Hilarious and enjoyable, particularly all the jibes about Robin's height (and his ability to flirt)
Most unusual of all in this book, though, is Sir Anthony. While most Heyer Heroes are in the tip-top of fashion, he is....fat. Or at least large First described as The Mamoth, then The Mountain, and finally just "that Large Gentelman", it initially quite threw me off. I eventually learned to like Sir Anthony for his weight. It makes him unusual. Like several Heyer Heroes, he faintly resembles Sir Percy Blackney, in this case the lazy languor that hides a brilliant mind. I found his romance rather unlikely, probably what annoyed me the most about this book, and at one point I decided he would make a terrific bad guy, 'cause I was getting kind of sick of him.
Good thing Robin comes through! He's a hilarious character who flirts quite amusingly in his "female garb" yet is a romantic young man. ^.^ Can't say it is very realistic, but hey, fun to read about. Quite the adventurer I like how he told his fiance the truth about himself in the end. I really didn't see that coming. Very noble of him

Overall an amusing, creative read. Not Heyer's best, frequently confusing, and half the romance gave me a headache. But otherwise? Splendid.

[Candi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of adventure, mystery, wit and romance, The Masqueraders is absolutely entertaining! Implicated in the Jacobite rebellion, Robin seeks refuge in London with his sister, Prudence. What better way to disguise oneself in such a pickle than to switch gender roles with your sibling! Introducing themselves into society as Kate and Peter Merriot, brother and sister take on their new performances with much finesse and charm.

What woman could make a prettier and more convincing sight than Robin, dressed as Kate Merriot: "His curtseys were masterpieces of grace; the air with which he held out his hand to young gallants so consummate a piece of artistry that Prudence was shaken with silent laughter. He seemed to know by instinct how to flirt his fan, and how to spread his wide skirts for the curtsey." And, Prudence, now our dear Mr. Merriot, keeps her cool as she is received into the gentleman’s club, a place she surely never before set foot! Card parties, somewhat coarse language, and drunken men are all taken in stride by our admirable heroine. More intrigue ensues when their exceedingly shrewd father appears in town to make claim to his fortune as the long-lost heir, my Lord Barham. We quickly learn this gentleman is the real mastermind behind all this mischief. What a character we find in Lord Barham! He is arrogant and hilarious! Confident of his success, my lord says "I arrange all with wonderful subtlety. You may say that I pull a string here, and a string there, and the puppets move." To be sure, this man is a wonderfully manipulative individual! But, is he really who he claims to be?

Oh, and the romance – that's a load of fun as well! What could be more unpredictable than falling in love when you are masquerading as the opposite sex? Robin falls for the typical damsel in distress while Prudence finds herself smitten with the incomparable Sir Anthony Fanshawe, affectionately known as "the large gentleman" or "the mountain". He is a fantastic and unlikely hero; do not underestimate this guy – he is full of surprises. I have to say, he is my favorite in this book; I adored him. Throw in a duel here, a masked man there, a few twists and turns, and plenty of tongue in cheek humor and the result is a lively and amusing must-read!

[Abigail Bok · Rating 4 out of 5]

Georgette Heyer is of course best known for her historical romances set in the Regency years of 1811 to 1820, but in fact she wrote a good number of romantic novels set in other eras—including The Masqueraders, which takes place in the immediate aftermath of Bonny Prince Charlie’s failed attempt to gain the British crown in 1745.

This story has many of the elements of her Regencies, but nonetheless a very different flavor. We open with a brother and sister on a journey toward London. On putting up at an inn for the night, they discover that the other guests are a pair of runaways headed for Gretna Green—and the female half has turned reluctant. Through a hastily constructed plan that includes improvised deception and some tricky swordplay, they manage to foil the elopement and rescue the young lady before proceeding calmly along their way to London.

Through this encounter they meet a deceptively sleepy gentleman, Sir Anthony Fanshawe, and attract enemies—the frustrated eloper and his crony, Viscount Barham, who is having his title challenged by someone claiming to be a long-lost brother of the previous viscount. Through the kind offices of an old friend, they slip easily into the highest echelons of London society. And so the action is set.

It very rapidly becomes clear, however, that this sibling pair are not what they appear to be. Just as we start to become attached to them, we learn that they are foisting a deception upon the ton. And I shall say no more about the plot so you can enjoy the surprises that come thick and fast through most of the tale.

Heyer wrote this novel when she was quite young, but although in some ways it betrays her youth it also reveals her promise. The most central characters are psychologically believable even though they’re in a preposterous situation, and more minor players, while types, are extremely entertaining types. The yarn is so twisty that I willingly surrendered to the fantasy (and a very pleasing fantasy it is, complete with a hero who is strong but respectful of his lady’s autonomy—be still, my beating heart!).

Many readers have disparaged the language used in this story, full of anachronistic phrasings and sometimes stilted. Words like egad and withal abound. But the ye olde vocabulary weaves a mood over the tale and suits a kind of stylization in the way the heroine’s point of view is presented. I rarely found it awkward, and ultimately accepted it as part of the spirit of the whole.

This is not one of Heyer’s most masterful novels, but for me it is among the most emotionally satisfying.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in love with this book. Completely. This has surpassed ANYTHING I could have imagined Heyer could do. "The Masqueraders" is simply amazing. It is a novel of pure genius. Lord Barham IS a genius! I loved him so much! He was completely hilarious with his proud and conceited attitude, but the fact of the matter is that he WAS right! He wasn't even boasting for nothing, he was actually awesome!!! And Prudence and Robin!!! How I loved them too!!! They were perfect! Robin made me laugh so much when he was acting Miss Merriot!! Hahahaah! Flirting with Sir Anthony!! And that habit of his of calling the latter "the mammoth" or "the mountain"!!!! It made me laugh every time; it was just too funny!!! Sir Anthony was an amazing character as well, I loved his personality and the way he kept pretending to be bored and lazy. Prudence was the best heroine ever; she wasn't one of those silly chit who just sit there doing nothing, waiting for a guy to sweep her off her feet (like Letitia!). No. She was down-to-earth, brave, courageous, generous, playing along with the masquerade in an honourable way and never betraying fear. She was awesome. This book was awesome. It's definitely going on the to-read-again list. I loved the way the siblings kept calling themselves "child" it was so cute!!! Prudence and Robin had one of the strongest brother/sister bond I had ever read about.
And those little expressions like "Lud!" and "Egad!" were awesome! It definitely added some nice touches to the language.
One of the best books ever. Recommended, over and over again!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book! It was everything that I needed during a difficult time: extraordinarily silly, lavishly descriptive, full of adventure, and very romantic. It features a whole lot of crossdressing, with dashes of dueling and flirting in between. It's very good fun, and it may be one of my favorite Heyer books so far.

This book veers away from Heyer's usual Regency fare to the end of the Jacobite rebellion. Siblings Kate and Peter Merriot are adventurers trying to escape their Jacobite pasts. It turns out that "Kate" and "Peter" may not be all that they seem, though they're able to play their parts admirably in London society. Matters become even more mixed up once their father, a consummate con man, arrives in town - though the current con may actually be the truth.

I absolutely loved the central romances of this book. Heyer produces tall heroines at an astonishing rate, which is all I really want. (I just searched "Georgette Heyer height?" and IMDb tells me that she was 5'10". I have no idea how IMDb would know that, but it's now part of my personal canon.) Peter - aka Prudence - Merriot is a tall woman who passes as a slight man, and enters into a friendship with a man even larger than she is (continually referred to as "the large gentleman"). I really loved Prue and Sir Anthony, particularly because the jig is up 50% of the way through the book, which means the romance deepens through the last half! Kate - aka Robin - Merriot is a slight man whose embrace of the feminine wiles is only surpassed by his excellent dueling. He falls for Letty Grayson, who knows him both as Kate Merriot and a mysterious masked gentleman who saves her from an elopement gone wrong. What I liked about both the romances is how nonchalant everyone is about the gender-bending elements. Upon reveal, Letty is mostly worried that she said something damaging to "Kate," and it's clear that Sir Anthony loves Prue because she is so coolheaded and self-sufficient. Aside from the romances, I particularly loved Lord Barham, who made me laugh out loud multiple times. I need to channel his confident energy into my daily life.

All the usual wonderful parts of Heyer appear in this book too, including long passages describing outlandish outfits. I really can't emphasize enough how much I needed to read about froths of Mechlin lace. This is a perfect comfort read.

[Mela · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second read (e.a. without surprise plot twists) was still pure joy.

This time I saw it more as a personality study. I was fascinated by "old gentleman", yet also sympathetic for Robin and Prue.

By the way, it is amazing how Georgette Heyer created romances. Her stories are mostly without typical romantic meetings, but one scene (in this case when Prue was caught by Sir Anthony) can give a romantic soul (like me) wonderful pleasure, bigger than many "swoony scenes" in other romances.

----- The review after first reading -----

The mysteries, fights, intrigues, even blood and violence. I haven't known such kind of Heyer. Of course, there are these scenes from time to time in her books that I know (I haven't read her mystery books yet). But here. There are so many plot twists. I have constantly wondered what will be next.

These characters, heroes! I love them. Even old gentleman or should I say especially the old gentleman.

This book is a masterpiece of the genre.

I only regret that there is not enough of romance between Robin and Letitia. It was so a great opportunity for brilliant dialogues. It could be more complicated. But still, it is a masterwork.

And I add one quote to show great Heyer in this book (those who know her will understand):

"Positively you overwhelm me!’ my lord said. ‘You oppress me with kindness, sir"

[Tweety · Rating 5 out of 5]

On my rereading its still a Five. This will remain one of my favorite Georgian Heyer's, right up there with The Convenient Marriage and These Old Shades.

Prudence and Robin have had to change their identities because of their father's involvement in the Jacobite Rebellion. Since Prudence is tall for a lady and on the thin side she takes on the identity of Mr. Peter Merriot, who is, as Sir Anthony thinks, rather sharp at cards for a man so young. Robin has is blessed/cursed with being much shorter that a young man likes to be, so he is dubbed Miss Kate Merriot.

It turns out to be the masquerade of their lives, and may cost them more then they ever bargained for. But they bargained without Sir Anthony, and he has a trick or two up his sleeve.

"The Mammoth" or "Mountain" as Sir Anthony is called because of his great bulk, reminds me of The Scarlet Pimpernel's lazy manner that hides a man who misses nothing. Prudence, is charming as "Mr. Merriot" and her brother Robin makes a darling "Kate Merrior". I think this facade can be likened to The Count of Monte Cristo just because of the masquerade going on.

I love Robin's cheeky tongue, Prudence's quiet wit and Sir Anthony's lazy humor, his stubborn will and last but not least how he not only knew what he wanted, but was willing to wait for it no matter what. I cannot recommend this book enough, if the first chapters bog you down keep going, it is so worth it in the end! I admit that I have reread those first chapter about fifty times, and even though I now know who is who it is still very confusing.

G rating, drinking, gambling and sword fighting. There is a murder, in cold blood. But not messy and I frankly wasn't terribly sorry for the victim.

[ꕥ Ange_Lives_To_Read ꕥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

What it's about: Because their adventurer father has involved them in some intrigue regarding the Jacobite Uprising, two siblings head to London under assumed names, intending to lay low until things cool off. Each is also in disguise as the opposite sex: Prudence takes on the persona of Peter Merriot and Robin transforms into Madam Kate Merriot. But things don't go exactly according to plan, as they each fall in love while conducting their masquerade.

What I thought: I almost gave up on this one, because the first 60 or so pages are basically incomprehensible. The language is so stylized, and the multiple identities are presented in such a confusing manner, that it's really hard to understand what was going on or who was who.

But I'm glad I persevered, because once I became clear on these points, this turned out to be one of my favorite Georgette Heyer novels to date. It's funny, full of adventure, and much more romantic than GH tends to write. I would give it five stars except for that mess of an opening chapter.

[Tijana]

Nekad knjige ne ispune očekivanja iako su očekivanja dosta skromna. Očekivala sam duhovit i lepršav istorijski ljubić o bratu i sestri koji se maskiraju u sestru i brata (dobro ste pročitali) i tako haraju visokim londonskim društvom i lome srca i spasavaju lepe djeve i zavode dokonu ali zapravo smelu debelu gospodu. I jesam to i dobila - ali naprosto nije mi bio ni dovoljno duhovit ni dovoljno lepršav niti mi se zapravo svideo iko od likova dovoljno da onako svesrdno navijam da se uzmu na kraju. A bez toga nema svrhe ni čitati ljubić.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A swashbuckling ‘powder and patch’ early Georgian Era romantic adventure for two vivacious siblings who evaded the purge of Jacobites after Culloden and hide in plain sight amongst London High Society in a sparkling and witty gender bender.

Georgette Heyer is most known for her sparkling, light Regency Romance. However, she did not limit herself to one era and proved she could carry that engaging dialogue and wit into early historical eras like this mid-eighteenth century charmer. What could be more fun than a brother and sister who have adventured with their father ‘the old gentleman’ all over Europe and lastly with the devastating lost Scottish cause and the Highland defeat at Culloden. Being a Jacobite- or at least being thought to be- is dangerous in those times so Prudence and Robin choose impenetrable disguises as a brother and sister, but Prue takes the part of young Mr. Merriot and Robin as the coquettish Miss Merriot who rescue a damsel, anger a rogue, fall in with the phlegmatic Sir Anthony, and take up residence with the charming and French lady leader of society all the while wondering what scheme their eccentric parent will cook up next.

There is romance for both siblings, but yes, it’s somewhat complicated with their chosen disguises and the fact that they aren’t exactly what the English high society would consider respectable. But, they navigate these ticklish issues along with the old gentleman’s maddest scheme of all. Pru falls for formidable and deceptively quick-witted Sir Anthony who she must constantly stay one step ahead of while Robin falls for a sweet, dreamy poppet of a girl. I enjoyed them both and their love interests, but their father Robert, Lord Barham stole the show with his outlandish conceit and prowess to scheme and best everyone. The villains are the types one cheers when they get their just desserts, but the focus was very much on how the family of adventurers find their way through their difficulties.

The narrator, Ruth Siller, was new to me. I had to adjust to her voice which was wonderful for Terese’s French and the variants in class. However, the nasal way she did all the male voices except Robin’s and particularly, Sir Anthony’s voice I found the most distracting since he is a huge ‘mountain’ of a man so I expected a low, resonating voice for him. But, as to her storytelling, that was entertaining and I had no trouble enjoying that.

All in all, this was another fun classic Heyer romp and I can recommend it for those who enjoy witty dialogue, light and sparkling plot with fabulous historical description and setting.

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this one very slow to get into even though I'm a huge GH fan. The language wasn't very appealing either. The way they kept calling each other child wore thin very quickly. The masquerade itself was well done. The book was really centered around 'the old gentleman' and while he was annoying there would not have been much of a story without him.
I liked Sir Anthony. A lot. He was placid and 'sleepy' but nothing got by him. Once I got into it I enjoyed the story but it will never be a favourite. In fact I don't think I'll read it again!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of Heyer's more fantastical stories, with layers of intrigue and plotting, and a couple of unusual surprises! I also cannot get over the "large gentleman" aka The Mammoth aka The Mountain. The fact that he has to ride larger horses even! I die!

[Namera [The Literary Invertebrate] · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was actually my first ever Heyer, a few years ago. On a reread I was sadly disappointed. I find both romances to be boring, Sir Anthony Fanshawe irritatingly domineering, and I was actually so bored that I skipped the last few chapters.

Lord Barham is essentially the only reason this book gets 3 stars. That, and the fact that 1745/6 is a fabulous setting which Heyer executed flawlessly as ever.

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[Andrea]

Set a little earlier than most of Heyer's stories, this is a concoction of duels and hidden identities, and the two children of a long-time confidence trickster (very similar to the rogue in The Foundling, except this time not an antagonist).

Pru and Robin (each dressed as the opposite gender) start out with a display of their skill - neatly rescuing a reluctant elopee, before settling in to wait on their father, and meantimes embroil themselves in romantic entanglements.

There's a lot of fun to be had with this book, though I must admit that neither of the romances quite work for me. Robin and Letitia's is interesting only for Robin's impostiture and his romantic rescues. Letitia herself seems to have won Robin's heart simply by being pretty and innocent and, well, there.

Pru and Tony have more foundation as a couple, but their relationship also falls into the trap that so many 'competent women' romances do. Pru, in her mid-twenties, has been dissembling all her life, and is very competent at many things (yet her brother is more competent at everything, even being a woman), and her romantic match is better than Pru at everything except the cross-dressing. Tony quickly sees through her disguise, repeatedly gets to rescue her, and shows a tendency to try to prevent her from making her own decisions, or live the life she has long been living.

Pru definitely wants to live a more normal life, and is even pleased about the prospect of being an obedient wife. But...it felt like she became less competent whenever Tony was in the picture. He read to me as very controlling, even when he thought Pru was male.

[It's interesting to read the first half of this book as a m/m and f/f romance. It totally reads that way, particularly the bit where Sir Tony briefly 'withdraws his protection' from his young protegee.]

[Bibliothecat · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Be a man, my Peter, I implore you."
"Alack!" sighed Mr Merriot, "I feel all a woman.”

The Masqueraders fell into my hands at a second-hand bookstore before I knew anything about Georgette Heyer. She has since been recommended to me numerous times and I've actually picked up quite a few more of her books - I'm almost amazed by how often her works are found in second-hand book stores! Now I've finally taken the time to actually read one of her works and thought it would only be right to start with the first I found.

While I must confess that I enjoyed The Masqueraders a little less than I thought I might, it is safe to say that I enjoyed the style and am most certain that I will enjoy her other works as well, if not even more. I suppose my issues with this particular book are more related to characters and the setup.

To begin with, the main characters' genders are a little confusing. We are introduced to the siblings Peter and Kate Merriot, who are in truth Prudence and Robin in reversed roles. It is easy enough to get your head around, but the early chapters aren't all that clear and there is a frequent swapping around between he's and she's - so, it wasn't always easy to follow! To keep things more simple, let's just stick to Prudence and Robin.

I enjoyed both characters a lot. Both have their wits and are skilled individuals, yet they are quite different. Prudence is the more rational and calm thinker of the two whereas I'm tempted to call Robin a bit of a mischief loving trickster. They both play their gender-swapped roles well which allows for an entertaining plot. What I don't quite understand is why they chose to swap genders in the first place. It is understood that they were involved in the Jacobite rebellion and are now forced to lay low - stay undercover. What I fail to see is why crossdressing was the natural path to follow - I mean, it delivers a fun story, but I see no logical sense behind it. In that regard, I felt that I needed to throw away my disbelief to actually enjoy this plot.

Next to our two main characters, there are plenty of other characters to enjoy. I particularly liked the tall Sir Anthony - even more so with Robin's teasing nicknames for him such as the mammoth and mountain. I love Anthony's interactions with both of the siblings and he's definitely got a classic hero vibe going for him. Letty is a bit of a weak, and perhaps somewhat dense, character to start off with, but I quite like having the more lady-like damsel in distress on board - after all, Prudence wouldn't be much of a novel character if every other female were running around with swords and pistols. In any case, Letty turns out to be quite a charming character whose heart is in the right spot who just wants to be whisked off on a romantic adventure to escape her mundane life.

Sadly, there was a prominent character who I managed to dislike immensely. Prudence and Robin's father - the old gentleman, Lord Braham or Tremaine or whatever he may want to call himself - is so irritating to me that it has greatly decreased my enjoyment of this novel. I imagine he is meant to be a likeable character, but he was so detestably arrogant and full of himself, I could not stand to read about him praising himself to no end. There is nothing wrong with appreciating one's talents or successes, but gracious me, that man had no bounds. He talked of himself as some god-like figure, disregarded any other person's success and practically looked down on all. The way he toyed with all the characters, including his own children, seemed more villainous and outrageous than the actual villains' actions. I also did not feel that he added to the plot at all - take him out and you'd still have a fun plot, just without that meddlesome self-obsessed thing of a character.

The bottom line is, I really enjoyed Georgette Heyer's style and look forward to reading more of her books - just please, let there be no more old gentleman characters, I'm not sure I could take it.

[Trin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first Heyer, and a wonderful introduction it was. Such a romp! The central premise involves cross-dressing—a brother and sister essentially swapping roles to prevent the brother, who took part in the Jacobite Rebellion, being arrested—but there's also their conman father, and lots of duels, and a conniving gentleman who keeps trying to get an innocent young heiress to elope with him. It's terrific fun, and I really liked the characters, especially practical Prudence, who does very well in her adopted role of an 18th Century gentleman. The two romances—Prudence and the sleepy-eyed Sir Anthony, who actually sees more than he lets on, and her brother Robin-goes-by-Kate and the flighty young heiress—are both very enjoyable, the maturity of the former making up for the silliness of the latter. Though I do worry for Prudence, and the validity of her happy ending. To experience the freedom of living as a man and to then have to go back to being "a lady"—well, that would suck, in my opinion. But *waves hands* I shall try not to impose too much of my modern sensibility on this book, because it really was a blast to read.

[Susan in NC · Rating 3 out of 5]

6/2021: third reread with Heyer group, borrowed audiobook from library this time. As with past rereads, it’s fairly entertaining while listening, but really doesn’t draw me back - not a favorite. One of our members pointed out the affected dialogue, I would agree; siblings constantly referring to each other as “child” like some old nanny was annoying. Still 2-1/2 to 3 stars for me.

2009: This was my first time reading this Heyer, and I must confess the premise wore thin for me; I skipped over several chapters at the end to read the ending once I saw where it was headed. I truly enjoyed Prue and Tony, but found the "Old Gentleman" a narcissistic jerk and horrible father - sorry to those who love this book! It will never be a favorite of mine, although I could see where Heyer would grow into a wonderful author.

[Jane Jago · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is it allowable to review a re-read?

I don't know, but I do know that this book is full of surprises, is beautifully written and is like a warm hug and a cup of frothy hot chocolate.

If you want to have your soul scraped this won't do it. But if you want clever entertainment....

[Olga Godim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of Heyer’s earlier novels and it reflects the author’s limited experience and still developing skills. The writing is a bit stilted, the dialogs formal, without the verbal panache that defined her more mature works, but all the distinctive marks of Heyer’s later stories are already there. The plot is inventive, the heroes charming and original, and the humor of the situations inescapable.
The action takes place before Regency, before the Napoleonic wars, soon after Culloden. I didn’t plan to read this novel (a re-read, actually) in the footsteps of the Scottish referendum. I didn’t remember the book’s timing, it just happened, but the echoes between that tragic battle, Heyer’s opinions, and the current events were strange.
There are three leading characters in this novel: a father and his two adult children, the daughter Prudence and the son Robin, all three adventurers of the first order. Their ethnic origins are murky, and the story mentions them living all over Europe before they set their first steps into the pages of this novel. The father and the son participated in the battle of Culloden, not because they cared for Scottish independence but for some other, rather unclear but definitely unromantic, reasons. Money probably – why else would reckless adventurers put their necks into such a dangerous bind. Afterwards, they fled.
A few months later, as the novel starts, the brother and sister reappear in London, masquerading as someone else and waiting for their father and his next con. They don’t care about Scotland anymore: not about the plight of their former comrades, nor about the king’s brutal politics there. The heroes’ only concern is to keep safe and escape recognition. And most of the British aristocracy doesn’t care either, at least according to Heyer. Culloden for her characters seems as far as the moon. Only occasional mentioning of the executions reminds the readers of the era and its vagaries.
At first, the protagonists rejoice in their masquerade. Their dashing escapades in London are imaginative and funny, but soon their disguises start interfering with their love affairs. Both Prue and Robin chafe under their masks. They long to take them off but they’re afraid that if they do, someone might recognize Robin and haul him off to jail or worse. Of course, along the way, Robin saves a young and naïve but pretty heiress, while Prue falls for a big gentleman with sleepy eyes and keen mind.
There is also their father to consider, the master masquerader with delusions of grandeur. His scam is so outrageous it brings to mind Napoleon himself. The father is as convinced of his own genius and invincibility as the French emperor was later on, but unlike Napoleon, the father seems to deceive everyone among the London ton and triumph over all his adversaries.
The pace is fast, the villains sufficiently evil if not very clever, and love wins the day in the end. A satisfying conclusion for any romance lover. I enjoyed this novel despite its flaws and tried not to think about Culloden and all its victims.

[Algernon (Darth Anyan) · Rating 3 out of 5]

[7/10]
Their infamous adventurer father has taught Prudence Tremaine and her brother Robin to be masters of disguise. Ending up on the wrong side of the Jacobite Rebellion, brother and sister flee to London, Prudence pretending to be a dashing young buck, and Robin a lovely young lady. Could cost them both their hearts ...

Then Prudence meets the elegant Sir Anthony Fanshawe, and Robin becomes the mysterious hero of the charming Letitia Grayson, and in order to have what they truly want, the two masqueraders must find a way to unmask themselves without losing their lives ...

A delightful romp through the elite saloons and clubs of London around 1745. Georgette Heyer really shines at capturing the manners and the language affectations of the period. I struggled a bit with the style for a chapter or two, but then I was conquered by the youthfull exuberance of the protagonists and by their subversive attacks on the less adventurous members of society. The main plot device, of switching identities and gendre between brothers is not really new (I think Shakespeare was very fond of it), but Heyer makes it seem fresh and the laughs keep coming. Prudence and Robin are seconded well by the rest of the cast: rogue father, lively widow friend, the love interest forf each sibling, the faithfull older servant, assorted fopish young bucks interested only in booze and gambling. I find it extraordinary how wild and careless this Regency generation comes off the page, compared to the straightlaced Victorians.

My reason for the lower rating has to do less with Heyer and more to my other British humour reads this year: Jane Austen, P. G. Wodehouse, Oscar Wilde, Elizabeth Peters. While Georgette Heyer is every bit as entertaining as the other names I dropped, she falls behind them in my list of favorites, and frankly, I've read better novels by her (The Grand Sophie, Venetia).

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as a group read with the Georgette Heyer group. I haven't read it for quite a few years, and I'd forgotten almost all of it, so it was almost like a new read.

Well, I haven't changed my original three stars. I liked, but didn't love it. Not my fav Heyer, and I don't know whether I'll ever bother to read it again.

This is a very early example of Ms Heyer's writing, and I didn't really like the formal and old-fashioned flavour of the writing itself. The language use seemed too flowery. The plot itself is complicated and slightly ridiculous, and it's meant to be lots of fun. But by about half way through it was starting to fizzle out for me, and it was even getting a bit tedious. (Sacrilege, I know!)

I did like some of the MCs - Sir Anthony Fanshawe and his Prue are delightful together. But Prue and Robin's father, the 'Old Gentleman' as they call him (I think he's late forties LOL) was pretty painful. I found his self-centred arrogance, and his manipulation of his children and his faithful servant John, to be pretty questionable. Truly egocentric. My kids would say he's 'a legend in his own lunchtime'.

But, as I made myself read on, the story did pick up again, and the plot resolved itself neatly, which is one of Ms Heyer's great skills. Still, not my fav Heyer......

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Witty, funny, a great farce with wonderful characters of Prudence alias Peter and Robin alias Mss Merriot with man mountain Sir Anthony Fanshawe. The Old Gentleman with his very high opinion of himself with intrigue and misdirection. The Masqueraders is aptly named.

The setting of London shortly after the putting down of the Jacobite rebellion was great to give a sense of danger and intrigue. The dastardly Markham with his nefarious intentions towards the heiress Lettica with elopement to Gretna Green are hilarious. Especially the first one. I too was mislead in the first few chapters of who was who. Well done GH.

The duels are exciting. However, what stood out for me was the witty banter and humor of the story.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

An absurd farce. Romantic and adventurous, with captivating characters.

“Have you limitations, my lord?" asked Sir Anthony.
My lord looked at him seriously. "I do not know," he said, with a revealing simplicity. "I have never yet discovered them.”

[Pamela Shropshire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once upon a time, there was a brother and a sister. Their names were Robert and Prudence. Their surname – well, even they are not sure what their surname is. You see, their father was an adventurous and even feckless sort; he rather took Shakespeare's

All the worlds a stage/And all the men and women merely players

quite literally. His most recent escapade was to support Bonnie Prince Charlie in his bid for the English crown, and as a result, he had to flee to France.

Robin and Prudence are on their way to London, with the intention of lying low with Lady Lowestoft, a great friend of their father’s. They are masquerading as Mr. Peter and Miss Kate Merriott, but with a twist -- Robin is Miss Kate and Prudence is Mr. Peter.

On the way to London, they rescue a damsel in distress, Letty Grayson, a rather silly young girl who thought it would be romantic to elope to Gretna Green; too bad she chose to run away with the villain. Robin falls for her right away. They also meet Sir Anthony Fanshawe, a friend of Letty's father. He is described as a large, sleepy gentleman; Robin nicknames him "the mountain."

Well, they reach London but their plans to lie low are circumvented by Lady Lowestoft. Soon Mr. and Miss Merriott take the ton by storm. Peter aka Prudence becomes a member of White's and becomes great friends with Mr. Belfont and his set, whilst Kate aka Robin is besties with Letty. Sir Anthony Fanshawe takes Peter/Prudence as a sort of protege.

And then their father arrives and makes a claim to the Viscountcy of Barham.

I like Prudence very much. She's courageous and intelligent. She's definitely the sensible one in the family. I love Sir Anthony of the sleepy eyes that see all.

I like Robin and Letty, but their romance plays second fiddle. I like that Letty had learned some life lessons and wasn't so silly by the end of the book. On the down side, Robin is more like his father. And speaking of their father, I don't like him at all. He's arrogant and has an inflated sense of his own importance. In fact, as we discussed in the GH group, today he'd be diagnosed with Narcissistic Personality Disorder.

Sometimes, I can overlook an unpleasant secondary character. Not so this one. He ruins the book for me.

Pru & Tony get 4 stars but the Old Gentleman gets 1.5 taken off. I'll round it up to 3.