Powder and Patch

A short somewhat cold story of country boy Philip Jettan as a young man in regency period - who must win the hand of the woman he loves by becoming something he despises. To please his dame, he must be wigged, powdered and patched like any of the fop gentlemen of 'Polite Society' of his era. ( )

This was a light story under which ran the theme of judging a book by it's cover. Phillip Jettan couldn't be best appreciated by his loved ones with his rustic exterior but once this particular lily was gilded he lost all resemblance to his former self. Or did he? One thing is for sure he was tall at the onset of the story, described as slight midway through and at times toward the end he was called little. ( )

Really this book only deserves 2 1/2 stars... ( )

I read along with a couple other books by Georgette Heyer in Jr High out of boredom and fell in love with historical anything. Well lets say well written historical anything. There is a lot out there that isn't. The book may seem a tad slow moving according modern standards but the plot is full and interesting. The only thing I never quite understood was why he would want the silly twit. And the father and Cleone both getting exactly what they wanted and deserved was quite enjoyable.

It isn't a romance by modern standards. If you want oversexed nitwits look elsewhere. That is Cleone's redeeming factor. She isn't bemoaning every 3 seconds she needs a man, a baby, a relationship or needs desperately to get laid.

It's stayed a favorite for all these years and I have probably read it many more times than 15. I know I wore out the books I had of hers that was my favorite. This was one of them. It simply fell to pieces. Everything I feel as if someone needs to get exactly what they deserve, I pick up the book. ( )

This first appeared in 1923 as a Mills & Boon novel which is hard to believe if you look at their novels today. This requires a much wider vocabulary than is the norm in romances today and a basic knowledge of French, too. ( )