These Old Shades
2 journalers for this copy...
I've had this hardcover (in good shape except for a missing dust jacket) on my keeper shelves for ages, and I think it's time it went traveling.
A charming tale, typical Heyer - that is, you know from page 1 who's going to wind up with whom, you just don't know how they'll manage to get there. This one's a wee bit kinky for Heyer; it starts out with a pretty young boy who gets rescued by a devilish nobleman, the infamous Duke of Avon (nicknamed Satanas), and only after some interesting byplay between the lad, the nobleman, and the Duke's trusty long-time friend Hugh Davenant (who seems unusually shocked at his adoption of the lad - hmmmmm....) do we find out that the boy is a girl. [Oddly enough this does not seem to bother Hugh quite as much as when he thought that "Leon" was a boy. Hmmmm....]
I'd read Devil's Cub before I read this book, so I already knew how this one would turn out [in even more detail than usual {grin}], but it was fun to see the courtship of Avon and Leonie from the beginning. These Old Shades doesn't quite have the sparkle of, say, Cotillion (still my favorite of Heyer's Regency books), but it's an enjoyable story nonetheless.
Now: Heyer fans who were puzzled or disturbed by my previous comments about possible homoerotic subtext in this plot should stop reading here, as I'm going to touch on that further. Those who do not care for fan fiction, and especially for slash, should also stop here. You have been warned!
OK! Even back when I read The Devil's Cub I was picking up some interesting vibes about the relationship between Hugh Davenant and the Duke of Avon - very subtle, nothing that couldn't be explained away, but still there. When I read These Old Shades I was even more certain, and thought it quite charming - and very much in character, as Avon is always described as being utterly without scruple, and would certainly not have hesitated to try any kind of activity that appealed to him. Anyway, I did a web search on a set of keywords that I had never expected to try - Georgette Heyer slash - and I came up with a link to what turned out to be a really well done novella that not only incorporates the characters, events, and style of These Old Shades and Devil's Cub but fills in the gaps in a manner that seems to remain true to the characters as written, yet could explain all those little vibes I was detecting [or imagining - but if the latter, I was not alone!]. The story is called "The Way of Vice," and was written by jat_sapphire; I won't post a link here as those things can change quickly, but if you're interested I'd recommend looking this up. This story begins when the main characters are quite old, and manages to incorporate the reminiscences which provide the bulk of the story with a very sweet denouement for the aging characters. Few romances follow through in this way, and I really enjoyed it. [The flashbacks, of our heroes in their youth, were intriguing, amusing, sometimes painful, and often very steamy. Strongly recommended.]
A charming tale, typical Heyer - that is, you know from page 1 who's going to wind up with whom, you just don't know how they'll manage to get there. This one's a wee bit kinky for Heyer; it starts out with a pretty young boy who gets rescued by a devilish nobleman, the infamous Duke of Avon (nicknamed Satanas), and only after some interesting byplay between the lad, the nobleman, and the Duke's trusty long-time friend Hugh Davenant (who seems unusually shocked at his adoption of the lad - hmmmmm....) do we find out that the boy is a girl. [Oddly enough this does not seem to bother Hugh quite as much as when he thought that "Leon" was a boy. Hmmmm....]
I'd read Devil's Cub before I read this book, so I already knew how this one would turn out [in even more detail than usual {grin}], but it was fun to see the courtship of Avon and Leonie from the beginning. These Old Shades doesn't quite have the sparkle of, say, Cotillion (still my favorite of Heyer's Regency books), but it's an enjoyable story nonetheless.
Now: Heyer fans who were puzzled or disturbed by my previous comments about possible homoerotic subtext in this plot should stop reading here, as I'm going to touch on that further. Those who do not care for fan fiction, and especially for slash, should also stop here. You have been warned!
OK! Even back when I read The Devil's Cub I was picking up some interesting vibes about the relationship between Hugh Davenant and the Duke of Avon - very subtle, nothing that couldn't be explained away, but still there. When I read These Old Shades I was even more certain, and thought it quite charming - and very much in character, as Avon is always described as being utterly without scruple, and would certainly not have hesitated to try any kind of activity that appealed to him. Anyway, I did a web search on a set of keywords that I had never expected to try - Georgette Heyer slash - and I came up with a link to what turned out to be a really well done novella that not only incorporates the characters, events, and style of These Old Shades and Devil's Cub but fills in the gaps in a manner that seems to remain true to the characters as written, yet could explain all those little vibes I was detecting [or imagining - but if the latter, I was not alone!]. The story is called "The Way of Vice," and was written by jat_sapphire; I won't post a link here as those things can change quickly, but if you're interested I'd recommend looking this up. This story begins when the main characters are quite old, and manages to incorporate the reminiscences which provide the bulk of the story with a very sweet denouement for the aging characters. Few romances follow through in this way, and I really enjoyed it. [The flashbacks, of our heroes in their youth, were intriguing, amusing, sometimes painful, and often very steamy. Strongly recommended.]
Journal Entry 2 by 
GoryDetails
at Lake Massabesic in Auburn, New Hampshire USA on Tuesday, May 29, 2018
GoryDetails at Lake Massabesic in Auburn, New Hampshire USA on Tuesday, May 29, 2018
Released 5 yrs ago (5/29/2018 UTC) at Lake Massabesic in Auburn, New Hampshire USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
I left this book on an information board in the parking area off Rt. 28, while enjoying a view of the lake. Hope the finder enjoys the book![See other recent releases in NH here.]
I found this book when I went to Lake Massabesic for a trail jog. The book has travelled with me to Cincinnati (a family trip) and now we are in Chicago (for a conference).
Finished the book on my lunch break here at the Chicago digital marketing conference. It is raining hard today and will be raining tomorrow too, therefore I found a cozy indoor location at McCormick Place. Lake Michigan is a stone’s throw away from here so it seemed appropriate to leave it here as I originally found it at a lake (Massabesic).This book has been read by me in my Manchester NH home, my brother’s home in Batavia OH (a Cincinnati suburb), here in Chicago, and all points in between during flights.
I enjoyed the book even though it is not a genre I have read before. Leonie seems a bit naive for someone who was raised by a tavern keeper, but I suppose that’s part of her charm and this does take place during a very different time and place. I hope the next reader enjoys the experience of finding, reading and releasing this book as I have.
