This was a terrific book! It took a little to get into, because we first meet Lady Ombersley and her brother, Sir Horace, and both are caricatures of the proper lord and lady of their day. But once Sophia arrives on the scene, the fun begins. Sophia, Sophy to her friends, is an amiable, kindhearted, irreverent female who would have made an excellent man, with how well she can handle the ribbons and being such a capital whip. Or to quote Heyer, “From being a female sunk below reproach Sophy became rapidly an unconventional girl whose unaffected manners were refreshing in an age of simpers and high flights” (and mothers given to nerves, spells and vapors.)
Sophy’s time on the Continent with her diplomat father, hobnobbing with its aristocracies and power players, has given her prolific insight into the human condition and the ways people work, and, blessedly, she uses that knowledge for the betterment of others, rather than herself. She sees the good in people and does not take offense when they behave badly. Generous of spirit, she is someone easy to befriend and she is also more than a match for the Ombersley clan’s ruling overlord: its eldest son, Charles Rivenhall. Charles isn’t a bad sort, just strong-willed and of strong character. Lord Ombersley is befuddled often by his brood and spends most of his time at White’s. This, combined with the shocking debts his inattention has wrought, has led Charles to be uptight and dictatorial, and until Sophy arrives, there has been no one able to stand up to him. When Cecilia relates her woeful tale of Charles opposing her alliance with an unemployed, aristocratic poet, Sophy can’t believe they have let Charles grow into such a tyrant. She would never permit Sir Horace (she only refers to her father as Papa when she is vexed) to “become so dictatorial, which is a thing the best of men will do, if the females of their families are so foolish as to encourage them!” Sophy is not at the house but a few hours before she deduces that everyone is miserable and sets to work setting things to rights.
One of the things I love about Sophy is how she never puts more weight on things that they’re due. The main trying of her felicitous manner is the odious Miss Wraxton, Charles’s bluestocking puss of a fiancée. Miss Wraxton is a proper miss, skilled at backhanded comments, but Sophy isn’t offended or hurt and constantly outwits the woman who is vastly responsible for everyone’s misery. This isn’t to say that Miss Wraxton is a villain; she’s not. She’s just a woman of oppressive social propriety who is mortified at the undignified behavior of others, who feels it is her Christian duty to save others from themselves. Sophy acts indeed better than I would behave, if I had had to deal with Miss Wraxton‘a maneuverings. Sophy is more than up to handling to nosy fusspot, with delicious results.
This clean read is resplendent with clever turns of phrase and a flippant, tongue-in-cheek narrator. It is so much fun to read! I did cringe at the descriptions of the loan shark, but given that this was written in 1950, they fall in line with some of the attitudes prevalent in England, at the time of the story and in the time the story was written. The audiobook seamlessly skips the references. The audiobook was quite good, particularly giving us the perfect hauteur of the ton of the time. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and will reread! 5/5 stars.
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Reviews with images
This print version is terrible and is abridged.
That page is one of many. Also, many, many typos and words left out. Not worth the price. Not to mention that the illustration is from the wrong time period. Don’t waste your money. Get a good paperback instead.
Top reviews from other countries
Ed Baines
A great light and fluffy read when you are feeling down.
Reviewed in Spain on July 3, 2023
Jenna Reynolds
Georgette Heyer is movie worthy
Reviewed in Australia on March 23, 2022