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The Third Uncle
He treats me like a child--I'll show him! Nineteen-year-old Gilly was insulted as only a young woman can be. She had come to Marley College to meet her guardian, Oliver Blunt. But he proved to be a domineering man who refused to believe she was a sophisticated woman, and persisted in treating her as a schoolgirl. Gilly vowed revenge. If he treated her like a child, she would act like one! It was only when she began falling in love that she regretted her decision....
- GenresHarlequin Romance
Paperback
First published January 1, 1964
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About the author
Sara Seale
71 books23 followersSara Seale was the pseudonym used by Mary Jane MacPherson (d. 11 March 1974) and/or A.D.L. MacPherson (d. 30 October 1978), a British writing team who published over 45 romance novels from 1932 to 1971. Seale was one of the first Mills & Boon's authors published in Germany and the Netherlands, and reached the pinnacle of her career in the 1940s and 1950s, when they earning over £3,000/year. Many of Seale's novels revisited a theme of an orphaned heroine who finds happiness, and also employed blind or disfigured (but still handsome) heroes as standard characters.
Mary Jane MacPherson began writing at an early age while still in her convent school. Besides being a writer, MacPherson was also a leading authority on Alsatian dogs, and was a judge at Crufts.
Mary Jane MacPherson began writing at an early age while still in her convent school. Besides being a writer, MacPherson was also a leading authority on Alsatian dogs, and was a judge at Crufts.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 8 reviews
February 1, 2018
Not only does 19-year-old Gilly go to stay with a 30-something "uncle" she has never met, she also decides to masquerade as a 14-year-old gymslip-wearing schoolgirl. Written in 1964, you can imagine how this one progresses.
The hero, Oliver "Uncle Noll" Blunt, is a schoolmaster at a minor public school in England.
The heroine, Gilly Flower, is the daughter of a late business tycoon whose capricious (and legally implausible) will requires her to stay with each of three older "uncles" as a condition of inheritance. Her mother is newly-remarried in the US and apparently uninterested in her daughter.
Wrap your head around this frankly absurd set up, and it's a lot of fun with some distinctly borderline overtones - at one point Oliver is even forced to disclaim being a "Humbert Humbert" and Gilly a "budding Lolita". We might manage to accept this if we didn't learn at the start that Gilly is about five foot tall and passes for thirteen without make-up on.
The Other Woman here is Joan Meade/J Meade, an ambitious former schoolmaster's daughter, who wishes to marry Oliver Blunt so she can become a schoolmaster's wife and help him become headmaster. We needn't feel sorry for her, because it turns out she is utterly frigid.
To Oliver:
To Gilly:
I do love these "other women" from vintage romances. They're always far more fun than the main couple.
Overall The Third Uncle is well written, but drags a little in the final quarter. This is an issue in many genre/Mills & Boon/Harlequin Romance novels from the era. I suspect it's a combination of padding to hit a minimum word count, and the dilemma of keeping things chaste while having to hit a "passion moment" somewhere after the half-way point. Authors can't escalate relations, so they have to be wound back, and it then drags.
Great if you like age-gap stories and stuff that's pretty close to the taboo line.
The hero, Oliver "Uncle Noll" Blunt, is a schoolmaster at a minor public school in England.
The heroine, Gilly Flower, is the daughter of a late business tycoon whose capricious (and legally implausible) will requires her to stay with each of three older "uncles" as a condition of inheritance. Her mother is newly-remarried in the US and apparently uninterested in her daughter.
Wrap your head around this frankly absurd set up, and it's a lot of fun with some distinctly borderline overtones - at one point Oliver is even forced to disclaim being a "Humbert Humbert" and Gilly a "budding Lolita". We might manage to accept this if we didn't learn at the start that Gilly is about five foot tall and passes for thirteen without make-up on.
The Other Woman here is Joan Meade/J Meade, an ambitious former schoolmaster's daughter, who wishes to marry Oliver Blunt so she can become a schoolmaster's wife and help him become headmaster. We needn't feel sorry for her, because it turns out she is utterly frigid.
To Oliver:
"I'll admit I'm not interested in the physical side of marriage, but I'm prepared to take the rough with the smooth."
To Gilly:
"I was fond of Oliver, yes, but that was as far as it went. Unlike you, I'm fastidious. If one marries, one has to put up with the coarser side, but perhaps I've discovered in time that Noll, who I thought I knew so well, has different notions. He would, I don't doubt now, not have much respect for woman's finer feelings."
I do love these "other women" from vintage romances. They're always far more fun than the main couple.
Overall The Third Uncle is well written, but drags a little in the final quarter. This is an issue in many genre/Mills & Boon/Harlequin Romance novels from the era. I suspect it's a combination of padding to hit a minimum word count, and the dilemma of keeping things chaste while having to hit a "passion moment" somewhere after the half-way point. Authors can't escalate relations, so they have to be wound back, and it then drags.
Great if you like age-gap stories and stuff that's pretty close to the taboo line.
January 9, 2022
I think Sara Seale watched that lovely Ginger Rogers/Ray Milland flick "Major and the Minor" and said "hey, that's a neat idea"? I always love Sara Seale's little orphans and the creeps they love.
July 14, 2018
Probably more like 3.5 stars. But comedy in the romance genre is rare. And I always tend to rate these comic romances a tinge higher.
The girl is a semi-orphan, but rich though. No dad, a rather adventurous and philandering mum. So she is left to the temporary care of 3 uncles until she turns adult. As a premise that is silly enough. The uncles are not really close relatives, just trusted men whom her father decides to put in as benefactors in his will !
By the time the story starts, visits to the first 2 uncles are done with. The first one is an oldish , slightly delusional uncle who thinks the girl is his dead wife. The second one quotes Shakespeare at all crazy moments and even managed to propose a marriage to the girl !!!!!! She laughs it all off though.
She anticipates another crazy experience with the third uncle before she can get hold of her trust fund and live independently. But the third uncle is out on tour, and his handsome school master son opens the door. What luck !
Due to some miscommunication, the third uncle (his son rather) is expecting a school kid to turn up. The girl reinforces this misunderstanding by dressing up like a teenage kid and under-quoting her age by 4-5 years.
The hilarious circumstances generated by this charade forms the rest of the story. She mimics the behavior of an immature , bratty teenager. But her inherent maturity and beauty do shine out at odd moments. This throws the hero into royal confusion. Of course, he does find out about the pretense mid-way down the story. Now its his turn to turn the trick back on her !!!
They have great fun at the cost of an up-tight OW, who is desperately trying to win the heroes' affections. And is appalled at losing out to a teenage kid !
Over all an engaging read. Not much romance, that's always the case with Sara Seale. But enough spice and wit to enjoy the read.
The girl is a semi-orphan, but rich though. No dad, a rather adventurous and philandering mum. So she is left to the temporary care of 3 uncles until she turns adult. As a premise that is silly enough. The uncles are not really close relatives, just trusted men whom her father decides to put in as benefactors in his will !
By the time the story starts, visits to the first 2 uncles are done with. The first one is an oldish , slightly delusional uncle who thinks the girl is his dead wife. The second one quotes Shakespeare at all crazy moments and even managed to propose a marriage to the girl !!!!!! She laughs it all off though.
She anticipates another crazy experience with the third uncle before she can get hold of her trust fund and live independently. But the third uncle is out on tour, and his handsome school master son opens the door. What luck !
Due to some miscommunication, the third uncle (his son rather) is expecting a school kid to turn up. The girl reinforces this misunderstanding by dressing up like a teenage kid and under-quoting her age by 4-5 years.
The hilarious circumstances generated by this charade forms the rest of the story. She mimics the behavior of an immature , bratty teenager. But her inherent maturity and beauty do shine out at odd moments. This throws the hero into royal confusion. Of course, he does find out about the pretense mid-way down the story. Now its his turn to turn the trick back on her !!!
They have great fun at the cost of an up-tight OW, who is desperately trying to win the heroes' affections. And is appalled at losing out to a teenage kid !
Over all an engaging read. Not much romance, that's always the case with Sara Seale. But enough spice and wit to enjoy the read.
September 6, 2014
Lovely book!! Loved the heroine!!!
December 7, 2022
This was always one of my favourites and rereading it after 50 years it is still a very good read. Gilly Flower is a delight and Oliver is also a treat.
December 20, 2023
A wonderful book full of humor. Sara seale really knew how to tell a tale. Beautiful English settings a cute lovable h, and a stiff ( in the beginning) school master who in turn tricks her thereby confusing her. The book was finished by me in a single sitting.
January 21, 2025
A really cute read in a time where men were allowed to have jobs in romances (teacher at a public school) and OW weren't slutty (always appreciated). It's rather charming overall, and a real timepiece, which I enjoy. I rather liked her heroine (she was quirky) and the hero (a really nice and down to earth chap) and the HEA was guaranteed.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 8 reviews