These Old Shades
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4.6 • 108 Ratings
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- $16.99
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- $16.99
Publisher Description
"Heyer was one of the great protagonists of the historical novel in the post-war golden age…" —Philippa Gregory
Considered the book that launched Gerogette Heyer's career, These Old Shades features two of Heyer's most memorable characters: Justin Alastair, the Duke of Avon, and Leonie, whom he rescues from a life of ignominy and comes to love and marry.
The Duke is known for his coldness of manner, his remarkable omniscience, and his debauched lifestyle. Late one evening, he is accosted by a young person dressed in ragged boy's clothing running away from a brutal rustic guardian. The Duke buys "Leon" and makes the child his page. "Leon" is in fact Leonie, and she serves the Duke with deep devotion. When he uncovers the true story of her birth, he wreaks an unforgettable revenge on her sinister father in a chilling scene of public humiliation.
PRAISE FOR GEORGETTE HEYER:
"Our Georgette Heyer display of the Sourcebooks reprints has been a huge success, not only to those early fans like myself, but to many new readers who appreciate her style and wit."
Nancy Olson, Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh, NC
"Reading Georgette Heyer is the next best thing to reading Jane Austen."
Publishers Weekly
"Wonderful characters, elegant, witty writing, perfect period detail, and rapturously romantic. Georgette Heyer achieves what the rest of us only aspire to."
Katie Fforde
"Absolute monarch of the Regency romance."
Kirkus Reviews
Customer Reviews
These Old Shades
Elegant charming and very witty. This is a romantic adventure with some suspense. G rated and fun.
I hated it then really enjoyed it
I absolutely Hated the first hundred or so pages. I quit reading it once. When I finally started it again, I nearly quit it. Mostly it was the time period - I guess I’m not into guys that wear heels and use fans, etc. I just could not like the Hero for the entire first half - he was cold and calculating- he had earned his nickname the Devil. And the heroine is ridiculously worshipful of the hero - ad nauseam! Plus it’s kind of creepy that he’s twice her age and calls her “infant” “and child” hundreds of times, wants to adopt her as his daughter, then falls in love with her. But I’ve enjoyed Heyer’s books and wanted to like this one too.
The first half of the book is really slow. BUT the second half really picks up! It is very entertaining! Not only is there plenty of the witty banter that Heyer is known for, but there is action and intrigue. Avon and Leonie really come into their own as such unique and fascinating characters- whether you like them or not. And so I am conflicted. I loved and hated this book. I will not read it again, but I cannot say that I am not glad that I stuck with it and finished this book.
Love this book
This was the first Georgette Heyer book I had ever read and I fell in love! I'm hooked on her books and this is one of my favorites!