These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer was first published in 1926.
The tale begins on a dark night in Paris in the reign of Louis XV. Justin Alastair – the notorious Duke of Avon who also goes by the nickname of Satanas as he’s a bit devilish – is surprised when a small red-headed boy crashes into him. Justin assumes that he is about to be robbed but the boy assures him that he did not intend robbery, he is being chased by his much older brother a publican who is cruel to him. The lad is called Leon and when the older brother arrives the Duke buys Leon from him. Despite the fact that Leon is absolutely filthy and in rags, the Duke can see a strong resemblance to his great enemy the Comte de St Vire. That gives the Duke an idea, but first Leon will have to be cleaned up. Quelle horreur! It turns out that Leon is actually a Leonie, and the plot thickens.
Leonie has been living as a boy for years as she/he had been working in her brother’s pub, it seemed safest to eschew femininity in that atmosphere, but Leonie was loath to give up her breeches for corsets and dresses as the Duke insists. She comes to enjoy the finer things in life though as she’s taken into high society, including Versailles.
This is an adventure tale but of course there’s romance too. That’s the bit that didn’t feel quite right to me although I’m obviously looking at it from a modern stance. There’s also not much in the way of witty dialogue between characters. I think for many people this is one of their favourite Heyers and I’m glad I read it but I found it slow to begin with and it just didn’t hit the spot for me. With the 19 year old female in the romance seeming more like a ten year old to me and the over 20 year age difference in the couple, the male of which keeps calling her baby, infant and child, it seemed a bit sick to me.
I know people really like Georgette Heyer’s books. I’ve only read one and didn’t love it, and These Old Shades doesn’t sound great either. I keep hoping to try another one, though, so maybe you could suggest one that you would give a positive review?
Try Fridays Child. One of her more amusing books.
Nancy Drew,
Yes I enjoyed that one when I read it some years ago.
Paula,
I enjoyed The Toll-Gate, here’s my review. https://piningforthewest.co.uk/2018/06/13/the-toll-gate-by-georgette-heyer/
I’ve also enjoyed her murder mysteries which have the same witty dialogue between characters.
I read this at 13 or 14 and found the romance perfectly convincing, although the sequel, Devil’s Cub is more of a favorite. There is definitely a Galatea aspect to this story but I think it is her willingness to sacrifice herself for him that melts his cold heart. But I agree that to a modern eye the age difference is uncomfortable, not to mention her complete dependence on him. Great secondary characters in this book!
Constance,
I agree about the characters. I suspect that a husband like Justin would be going back to his old ways not long after getting married!
I also remember thinking when I first read it that it was crazy to think someone in his 40s could fall in love! Surely he should be past all that! Now 40 does not seem very old at all . . .
Constance,
LOL – as they say, 40 sounds like a mere stripling nowadays, but now I have one son who is nearer 40 than 30!
I started to read this one last year but got distracted halfway through and didn’t finish it. I do still want to give it another chance as so many Heyer readers include it amongst their favourites. Quite a few of her romances have a big age difference, but it seems worse when the heroine is particularly childlike like Leonie.
Helen,
Yes I read that it was a favourite with many readers, but although I’ve read quite afew of her books now, I wouldn’t put it high up on a list of favourites.