These old shades
Ratings6
Average rating3.8
It is in the best Heyer style, an enchanting lark, but not without it's dark side.
There is a charming quality of redemption in this book, spiritual for the one person and physical salvation for another. Possibly improving character for more than one person, definitely improvement of condition for more than one.
There is a denouement of justice for the unrepentant vile.
One recognizes that truly, at times there is finer stuff inside what seems bad on the outside ~ While at times there is more evil where there pretends to be less surface bad.
Includes the consistency of class distinction and prejudice, but right or wrong, that was the attitude of the day so understandable.
If there is criticism of cultural habit, showing us the faults therein, it is usually done discreetly and gently. The author leaves decisions about those things to the reader.
As always with Heyer, there is some language and certain aspects of objectionable behavior, but then again, that is also often life, isn't it?
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This is not usually a book I would choose to read, I generally steer clear of romances. But that is what is so great about a book club. It introduces you to genres out of your usual reading zone.
I found the beginning of the book rather slow and tedious and there is not much in the way of a plot at all. However, Heyer won me over when I read the chapter “The Indignation of Mr Manvers” and found myself laughing out loud. From that moment on “These Old Shades” was a joy to read with dazzling dialouge and way OTT characters. I am glad I spent the time on this novel.
