After acquiring my new glasses this morning I decided to test them out by finishing Regency Buck this afternoon. Georgette Heyer has written over 50 historical novels dealing in particular with the Regency period.
I usually love books of this type and was really looking forward to reading it but I have to be honest that it took quite a lot of effort not to abandon it before the end. I think this has more to do with it perhaps just not being the right book for me at the moment and it has not put me off reading other Heyer novels.
The book follows the beautiful and wilful Judith Taverner and her brother Peregrine who are left in the care of their guardian Julian St John Audley, the Fifth Earl of Worth after the death of their father. He is what Judith would describe as a 'dandy'- a member of the fashionable Bow-window set and the man that is ultimately in charge of her destiny. The reader follows Judith as she enters the social london scene and its many pitfalls and faux pauxs. It is ultimately a love story and I think that is what encouraged me to keep reading; Heyer is not as predictable as some authors of this nature can be; I was not entirely sure of how events would unfold. When I purchased this book I also bought Arabella and I will definitely read it in the future but I think I may wait until I am really in the mood for a period drama.
Comments
The second time I read RB, I seemed to enjoy it more just knowing that Julian was in love with Judith all along. For some reason that just made the story fun.
I mean here's a man who's so used to being in charge and getting his own way, yet doesn't want some meek little miss but instead falls for a woman who's really quite as strong willed as he is. He's not a wimp (thank god) but still let's Judith get away with quite a bit (given the period) because he loves her. He also drop hints several times about his feelings for her, but because of his guardianship quickly tries to cover up. Yet at the same time, he pursues her without being 'ewww' about it, and actually helps her a lot without her knowledge, eg: I think it was him who had Brummel bring her into fashion when she was being shunned in the beginning by being called 'the milkmaid'.
Anyway, give it another shot one day and like me you might find that just knowing that Julian loves Judith all along makes a huge difference to the whole story.