tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18955239.post8329203621647324819..comments2024-03-28T12:00:29.857+00:00Comments on Historical and Regency Romance UK: Georgette Heyer: Why I love 'The Quiet Gentleman'Louise Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09895724319451189592noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18955239.post-6504174174311283992017-01-08T11:55:19.575+00:002017-01-08T11:55:19.575+00:00You could well be right, Melinda/Sarah. I confess ...You could well be right, Melinda/Sarah. I confess I've done something similar myself - but only when the person concerned seriously annoyed me. And they never knew. What about you?Elizabeth Hawksleyhttp://www.elizabethhawksley.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18955239.post-43995054795027122572017-01-07T11:43:00.590+00:002017-01-07T11:43:00.590+00:00Discreet editing, Elizabeth? Sacrilege :-) - only...Discreet editing, Elizabeth? Sacrilege :-) - only joking. I wonder if Heyer had someone in mind when she wrote the Dowager's tiresome pronouncement? Perhaps it is her form of revenge upon one of her acquaintances.....Melinda Hammond/Sarah Malloryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10402460212860103804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18955239.post-91854971653522633992017-01-06T17:29:34.673+00:002017-01-06T17:29:34.673+00:00Thank you for your kind words, Melinda. I'm de...Thank you for your kind words, Melinda. I'm delighted you enjoyed my post. Martin's rants don't worry me - I have known young men not unlike him (I am thinking of a couple of friends of my three brothers when teenagers). However, I confess I can get impatient sometimes with the Dowager's pronouncements, hilarious though they often are. It might be heresy to say so but I think a little discreet editing wouldn't have come amiss. Elizabeth Hawksleyhttp://www.elizabethhawksley.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18955239.post-73381158942152155042017-01-06T00:34:10.892+00:002017-01-06T00:34:10.892+00:00Like you, I found the subtle courtship between Ger...Like you, I found the subtle courtship between Gervase and Drusilla to be fun to trace upon my re-reading of the book (over and over). <br /><br />I do wish that the more sensational aspects of the book were toned down, however. Especially the imbecilic rantings of Gervase's half brother. But the very funny and subtle courtship of G and D, along with the other insights into life, gender, and social class, all make for delicious readings of this fine book.<br /><br />Thank you for outlining so well how Heyer showed this "romance" in the most subtle of details.<br /><br />MelindaAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04801250242232046603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18955239.post-35586311001089563792017-01-05T23:07:34.966+00:002017-01-05T23:07:34.966+00:00Thank you for joining the conversation, Beth. It&#...Thank you for joining the conversation, Beth. It's great to meet someone who loves the same bits I do! I love the conversation between Mr and Mrs Morville where she has intuited that Drusilla is in love with the EarL and is anxious to know what her husband thinks of 'this young man'. And he hasn't a clue who she's talking about! Elizabeth Hawksleyhttp://www.elizabethhawksley.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18955239.post-63278624630350660772017-01-05T20:51:19.469+00:002017-01-05T20:51:19.469+00:00A delightful analysis of a story I love. Initially...A delightful analysis of a story I love. Initially it seems that Gervase and Drusilla belong on different planets. I always savour that first encounter where Miss Morville makes the Earl's cheeks redden. And from that moment on, one is alert for each step towards that 'robin' scene, under the gaze of their relatives. The divergent opinions of her parents are hilarious, and add to the enjoyment of a truly satisfactory outcome. Beth Elliotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04291800895744785318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18955239.post-85961742956885118432017-01-05T16:56:30.571+00:002017-01-05T16:56:30.571+00:00I agree with you, Melinda/Sarah. Apart from the co...I agree with you, Melinda/Sarah. Apart from the coincidence of the two Mariannes and the fact that their surnames both have 'Wood' in them, I can't see any significant resemblances. <br /><br />Marianne Bolderwood is very much a foil to Drusilla, a sort of juvenile lead, there to create trouble (unwittingly) between Martin and Lord Ulverston. Marianne Dashwood's character, on the other hand, is fully realized - we know that Princess Charlotte identified strongly with her and doubtless many another young lady felt the same. <br /><br />Drusilla's character is quite distinct from Elinor's. She has strong, independent, left-wing views. She also has a vulnerability which is very different from Elinor's. Elinor never doubts that Edward loves her; Drusilla can't let herself even consider the possibility that Gervase feels anything for her. She sees herself as doomed to being an aunt to her brothers' future children. Elinor has very little money. Drusilla will have a reasonable dowry, I'm sure. Elizabeth Hawksleyhttp://www.elizabethhawksley.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18955239.post-58595197230207844612017-01-05T13:46:03.888+00:002017-01-05T13:46:03.888+00:00Thank you for this, Elizabeth. I had never seen a ...Thank you for this, Elizabeth. I had never seen a comparison between The Quiet Gentleman and Sense & Sensibility. Heyer's characters are completely her own, and I think in this book she decided to turn the notion of romance on its head. I love it.Melinda Hammond/Sarah Malloryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10402460212860103804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18955239.post-76393941533411721292017-01-05T13:03:27.766+00:002017-01-05T13:03:27.766+00:00Thank you, Elizabeth! I feel vindicated! Yes, I lo...Thank you, Elizabeth! I feel vindicated! Yes, I love that conversation between Drusilla and her alter ego, Miss Morville.<br /><br />Re: kisses. Venetia and Damerel exchange several passionate kisses during the course of 'Venetia'. And Lord Worth kisses Judith (thinking that she's a mere country wench)at the beginning of 'Regency Buck' - and gets his face slapped. But I know what you mean. They don't kiss again until the denouement at the end. Elizabeth Hawksleyhttp://www.elizabethhawksley.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18955239.post-16101528204492578162017-01-05T12:49:57.693+00:002017-01-05T12:49:57.693+00:00I could not agree with your more. I love The Quiet...I could not agree with your more. I love The Quiet Gentleman, and the growing attraction is definitely clear for me as the story progresses. The key scene for me in Drusilla's side of things is when she argues with "Miss Morville" about whether she could possibly attract Gervase to the point where it is Miss Morville rather than Drusilla who next meets him. And we know they are in love (not passionately, but quietly and beautifully) when she comes upon him as he is going off to confront Theo. And then when he comes back and she's broken her arm, she looks "worshipfully" up into his face - oh, be still my beating heart! Lovely.<br /><br />And I actually can't think of a single Heyer where there is more than one proper kiss. The kiss is the culmination of the wooing or the discovery of mutual affection.Elizabeth Baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09407958362024218785noreply@blogger.com