Thursday, June 25, 2009

The Talisman Ring by Georgette Heyer



Book description:

"An impetuous young lady and a fugitive nobleman...When spirited Eustacie stumbles into a band of smugglers, she is delighted to be having an adventure at last. Their leader, young heir Ludovic Lavenham, is in hiding, falsely accused of murder. Pursued by the law, Eustacie and Ludovic find refuge at an unassuming country inn.

And the delightfully sensible couple who try to keep them out of trouble...The resourceful Miss Sarah Thane and the clear-thinking Sir Tristram Shield gamely endeavor to prevent Ludovic's arrest and Eustacie's ruin as the four conspire to recover the missing talisman ring that will clear Ludovic's name."


My thoughts:

The Talisman Ring by Georgette Heyer, (known as the Queen
of Regency Romances) is a fun, rollicking read that is part romance, part mystery, and part detective/adventure story. If you enjoy Regency period details, as I do, Heyer is a treat. (You'll especially enjoy her meticulous research on foppish fashions.) If you can get past some of Eustacie's inane comments and impetuous behavior, you will find an enjoyable double romance with a few laughs along the way. You will also enjoy picking up Regency era slang in Georgette Heyer's books; I found this reference guide to Regency slang that might prove to be useful if you want to read more of Heyer's books. Check out the site here.

On a related note, the book was originally printed in 1936. The new paperback editions of Georgette Heyer's work by Sourcebook, Inc. are absolutely beautiful. I am guilty of judging a book by its cover, and I was drawn to the gorgeous covers in the bookstore. I am looking forward to having an opportunity to read more of Heyer's Regency romances, historical fiction, and mysteries now in new editions.

3.5/5

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love old books. I like to see how they relate to today, and I love the beauty of the written word... no matter what age.

Joanne said...

I agree -- I'm so happy that there is a trend to bring back in reprint authors such as Georgette Heyer, Daphne DuMaurier, Victoria Holt/Jean Plaidy, and others so a new generation of readers can discover them.

Favorite Period Dramas

Mount TBR

Joanne's to-read book montage

On a Highland Shore
A Light on the Veranda
Entwined
The Queen's Vow: A Novel Of Isabella Of Castile
The Edwardians
Maisie Dobbs
Howards End
Lady's Maid
Instruments Of Darkness
When Maidens Mourn
Where Shadows Dance
What Remains of Heaven
Where Serpents Sleep
Why Mermaids Sing
When Gods Die
Shadowfever
Before Ever After
The Sugar Queen
Garden Spells
After the Night


Joanne's favorite books »
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