Another unbalanced Heyeroine, in the midst of a drawn-out recounting of the Waterloo campaign; grounding Georgette Heyer's Regency romances in battleplans and a biography of Wellington doesn't quite work.

Her dedication to historical accuracy is to be admired, but the descriptions of regiments, manoeuvres and pretty uniforms (from lace trimmings to tasselled boots) take up far too much room, and the excess of detail adds little to the story. A blow-by-blow battle plan of Ligny, Quatre Bras and Waterloo might fascinate cadets at Sandhurst and West Point, but most readers who pick up a Heyer novel are more interested in the characters and the romance.

Speaking of which. Lady Barbara 'Bab' Childe - whose frumpy name, along with those of Judith and Julian, is more proto-Sloane Ranger than Regency moniker - is a typical Heyeroine. She is described, and describes herself, as 'wild' and 'boyish' - 'It's like talking with a man, only more exciting!' - but is actually only spoiled, spiteful, selfish and obnoxious. She behaves like a child(e), saying and doing hurtful things to gain attention, with the claim that it's in her 'curst nature' to do just as she pleases and get what she wants. The only trouble is that the reader is expected to excuse her behaviour and fall for her 'charms' just as the other characters do, Heyer once again lowering women to the standard of men in a cockeyed, 1930s interpretation of gender equality.

As a Heyeroine, 'Bab' is at once scandalous and safe - her reputation is founded on nothing but flirtations and rumours, while she waits for the 'right man' to whom she can finally give her heart. Although it's fairly obvious why Charles Audley falls for Bab - she's beautiful - the mystery is why she suddenly decides that he is the one for her. It's love at first sight between them, across a crowded ballroom (literally), but the only quality to distinguish the Colonel is that he is the Heyeroe. He doesn't even Resist Her Charms, thus making *him* a challenge for her - wholly unbelievable.

The only refreshing change - for Heyer, at least - is that Bab is not 'tamed' outright by Charles. Mentally unstable as she is (swapping laudanum for a husband), Bab sabotages her own engagement, which is the only exciting spot in the story. Only when Charles is physically incapacitated does Bab feel she can safely sacrifice a little of her proud independence to marry him, a la Jane Eyre - as she corrects him, 'You have come back to me, Charles'.

The dialogue also contributes little to the period atmosphere, historically accurate though it most probably is. The men are either 'stiff' or 'excellent', favourite exclamations include 'capital!' and 'infamous!', and Heyer's 'gurgling laughter' and 'twinkling eyes' make an unattractive return. Though far from anachronisms, these phrases put me more in mind of 1930s radio plays rather than Regency romances. There are some sharp retorts from Bab, and thoughtful insights from the sober Judith, but most of the conversations consist of inane exclamations ('Pooh! Nonsense!')

In the author's note, Heyer recognises that her Waterloo epic is similar in content to Thackeray's 'Vanity Fair', but insists that readers should not compare the two - an honest admission of defeat to be commended. Thackeray's 'novel without a hero' is based in history, whereas Heyer was attempting to cram history into a romance novel. Informative but dull, an unfortunate hybrid of fact and fluff. ( )

This was markedly different from all the other Heyers I've read. Though all her Regency novels are very well researched, accurately reflecting the period, An Infamous Army goes infinitely further. There is the expected love story between a brave colonel in Wellington's army and a headstrong widow, but the focal point of this novel isn't the romance at all. More than half of the book deals with the Battle of Waterloo, and Heyer describes Wellington, his preparations for battle, and the battle itself at great length. Though I love history, I found all the Waterloo stuff a bit overwhelming, since all I really knew about it was that Wellington's armies beat Napoleon's. But Heyer clearly knew a lot more: she seems to mention every single commander of a battalion by name, and she even describes the military tactics and maneuvers of the battle. I admire her painstaking research, but I felt like I was reading a history textbook rather than a novel at times. If you're looking for fluff, look elsewhere! But if you like a little romance with your history, this is a good book for you.

For a protracted, chapter-by-chapter review of this book, see my posts on smartbitchestrashybooks.com or judgeabook.blogspot.com. ( )

Modern romance writers just can't compare with Heyer. This book has a bibliography! The reader really is immersed in the time period and the characters belong there, it's not just period window-dressing on an essentially modern tale. The characters struggle with their own flaws and drive the plot as they live through historic events. Heyer does not rely on transparent plot devices (Oh no! The hero and heroine are trapped by a snowstorm together--Mary Balogh uses that one twice. Twice! And my sample size isn't that big.) and she tells the story through dialogue and description, rather than telling us what the characters are thinking and feeling at every moment.

As others have pointed out, this story is set in Brussels before and during the Battle of Waterloo. The description of the Duchess of Richmond's ball on the eve of battle is one of the most haunting. The heroine is driven by inclination and past experiences to badness and troublemaking in ordinary, everyday life, but rises to greatness in adversity. The hero is torn between love and fair-mindedness when his beloved is willfully hurtful. Where do love and forgiveness end? ( )

This is my first read by Georgette Heyer. I’ve heard a lot about her, and I mean a lot, both from the historical fiction and the historical romance readers I know. She is the favorite of many, many readers. I was expecting a lot, and the book didn’t disappoint. It is, in fact, a pleasing mix of romance and historical fiction.

Lady Barbara Childe is the female equivalent of a rake. She flirts with many men, but refuses to get married after her first atrocious attempt. Colonel Charles Audley, however, is determined, patient, understanding, and in love with Barbara. They quickly get engaged, but that isn’t the end of the story, although it had me confused for a bit, wondering where they would go next. On the other hand, there is the lead up to the Battle of Waterloo. As one of the Duke’s personal staff, Charles is bound to go to the fighting and a great deal of the book deals with the looming conflict and the battle itself.

I definitely was immersed in the period while reading this book. The beginning was a little slow because it takes time to get used to a whole different world. Heyer never slips out of it, and while the book was written a good 70 years ago, I still think that’s impressive. The characters surprised me and jumped out of the page; especially Barbara, who is incredibly compelling and understandable by the end, despite the fact that she is about as different from me as possible.

The best part, however, was definitely Waterloo. The book alternates between Charles’ family and the battle itself, giving us two viewpoints. Heyer does a brilliant job getting across the tension, the distress, and the complete alienation from the world that the patient loved ones are feeling. The battle scenes are astounding and even upsetting because the author puts you right into the army’s shoes. This is historical fiction at its best, showing us what the past may have been like.

So now I begin to understand why Georgette Heyer is so popular. I’ve got another of hers waiting in my TBR pile and I’ll be on the lookout for more. Her books are being reissued, so this may not be too difficult. The lovely cover above is the result of this reissue.

http://chikune.com/blog/?p=224 ( )