A Civil Contract

Oh so long ago to pass a Friday night I picked up A Civil Contract by Georgette Heyer. I thought that I had exhausted the Heyer possibilities at my local library branch, having combed the shelves as well as the paperback carrels several times. But I forgot the large-print section until recently, where I discovered this one.

I don't think this was one that I read in my youth, though I am pretty sure that I would not have cared for it back then. This is a very atypical romance novel. It is not one of those farces where one or both parties are in denial and fail to recognize that love and attraction may be driving their conflicts. It is not the story of two people meeting and falling in love and finally managing to get engaged by the end. show more And unlike most romances, there is never a point where the heroine declares her feelings either to herself or anyone else directly. There are no villains here, but there is a love triangle or quadrangle.

Instead, this is the story of a storybook romance that crashes on the shoals of real world difficulties. Our hero falls in love with the girl of his dreams when he is on leave from the Peninsular campaign to recover from his wounds. She is the epitome of the high society damsel--beautiful, rich, romantic, not very practical, full of feminine accomplishments like playing the piano, and all exquisite sensibility (in modern terms, a drama queen). However, the story opens when he inherits the family estate and, more importantly, deep debts upon the untimely death of his father in a hunting accident. He and his potential father-in-law recognize the impossibility of his marrying and supporting a wife, particularly such a high-maintenance butterfly with no real domestic skills. So he must give up the woman of his dreams and this passionate romance that they both feel.

Out of familial duty, he agrees to marry a rich heiress, daughter of a Cit, to save the family seat and be able to provide for his sisters and mother to some degree. The rich heiress turns out to be a school friend his lost love, who had also met him before during his convalescence (though of course he doesn't remember her). This romance is the story of two people developing a strong relationship through the daily intimacies of marriage and running a household together, as one of them copes with a broken heart. It is also a story about the antiheroine--she is not pretty or accomplished, uncomfortable in Society, awkward in many ways, with an extremely overbearing and vulgar father, however well-meaning he may be.

In some ways, this Heyer novel is a far closer examination of the society of the day than many of her novels. As the hero copes with his father-in-law and his own family and his ex-fiancee, we see just what the expectations of tonnish society are, in terms of things said or done or left unsaid. Likewise, as the antiheroine copes with being thrust into high society and running a lord's house, we see the underlying assumptions and attitudes and behaviors of servants, tenants, and masters, which are usually taken for granted and unexplored in novels where the couple comes from the same class and have the same "breeding" and background. We also see some of the differences between urban and rural society and different moral frameworks between the middle class and high society.

So it was an interesting read, but definitely understated and more sober than her other works. I'd consider buying it. show less

When Captain Adam Deveril returns homes from the Napoleonic Wars, he is shocked to discover that his family fortune has been lost, and that he stands in danger of losing Fontley, his family's ancestral seat. Surrendering his dreams of marrying the woman he loves, the new Viscount Lynton does his duty by his family instead, marrying the far less attractive Miss Jenny Chawleigh, daughter of England's most wealthy merchant...

A Civil Contract has never ranked among my favorite Georgette Heyer novels, owing in large part to the fact that it is somewhat melancholy, and far less romantic than some of her other work. The story of a married couple who start out without love, but eventually achieve a comfortable friendship, it is not designed to show more appeal to younger readers.

That said, I did find myself enjoying it far more than I expected while re-reading it, and think it marvelously well-written. Some of the secondary characters, from the vulgar Joseph Chawleigh to the spirited Lydia Deveril, are truly engaging, and the reader can't help but wonder what will happen next.

It is unfortunate however, that this second reading did nothing to improve my impressions of the hero, whom Heyer presents as a model of forbearance and good manners, but who strikes me as a somewhat dim-witted hypocrite, so blinded by his own class prejudice that he believes that Jenny - the most perceptive and honorable character in the book - lacks the "sensibility" necessary to understand his feelings. She spends the entire novel protecting him from his own weakness, despite knowing that he only married her for her money, and he spends it trying to adjust to the vulgarity of relations he wouldn't have at all if he wasn't more concerned with their money than their "quality."

What can I say? Jenny is worth ten of her "hero." I might have given A Civil Contract 2 stars, had Heyer's excellent writing not saved it... show less

On one hand, I found this novel engaging and fun to read. On the other hand, it strikes me as more troublingly sexist than the other Heyer novels I've read. Which makes it sort of sad in various ways.

It's neat that Heyer messes with romance conventions here, paying attention to a different kind of love and undermining the Passionate Romance / Love at First Sight / Grand Gestures thing. I like the sensible and sturdy Jenny, and also the male lead's super-fun little sister Lydia and Jenny's rough-with-a-soft-heart father. The vulnerability he shows at various points is thoughtfully represented.

But the way Jenny gradually wins her husband's love is by 'making him comfortable,' by being 'a born housewife,' by trying to read his mind and show more blaming herself when she can't, by never ever appearing annoyed or even acknowledging that he was--in fact--late or whatever, by taking on his interests and opinions as her own, and by doing tons of work and causing the household staff to do tons of work to make his world just to his tastes and whims (preferably without him having any idea of the work required)? That's ... problematic, to say the least. show less

Adam Deveril, Viscount Lynton has inherited a nearly bankrupt estate, thanks to his father's profligate ways. To save his family home and settle his family debts, he decides in favour of marrying the gently-reared daughter of a "Cit" to restore his fortunes.

This is a re-read for me and I am still entertained by the story. Good characterisation of the new Lady Lynton and the family she marries into, plus a realistic look at a common-sense solution to insolvency. This theme makes an interesting story departure compared to many of Heyer's Regency novels. The developing relationship was beautifully conveyed, and never descended into unrealistic romanticism with a saccharine ending ~ certainly a most enjoyable piece of writing.

I’ve owned most of Georgette Heyer’s Regency romances in paper form for many years now, and they’re something of a comfort read for me. I’m slowly collecting the Kindle editions as they appear in various deals. They’re light and undemanding, and as Heyer was something of an expert on Regency England the plots and the dialogue ring true unlike many so-called historical romances which read more like 20th century women in fancy dress (quite apart from the gratuitous sex). This one is one of my favourites.

Set in 1814 & 1815, Adam Deverill has to return urgently to England from the Peninsular following the sudden death of his father, Vicount Lynton, in a hunting accident. The family are in dire financial straits, and Adam has to show more try and ensure his sisters don’t suffer. He is in love with Julia Oversly, the daughter of a neighbour, but in truth he cannot support a wife - it’s likely he will have to sell the family estates. However, a different course is proposed to him: marry Jenny Chawleigh, the only child of a very vulgar but fabulously wealthy Cit and he can keep his estates and provide for his sisters in the bargain.

The story covers about 18 months, and ends just after Waterloo. Adam and Jenny must come to understand each other, deal with Mr Chawleigh who is inclined to ride rough-shod over everyone, and deal with Adam’s family. An arranged marriage matures into contentment and love, if not the passion Adam felt for Julia.

Recommended. show less

A Civil Contract by Georgette Heyer is a Regency Romance about a bankrupted Viscount who enters a marriage of convenience to a wealthy merchant’s daughter. This is a far different story than her usual humorous adventure style, having more depth and insight that her whirlwind romances tend to have. Adam Deveril, coming into his inheritance is shocked to find out the scale of the debts his father left. Although tentatively promised to another he ends that relationship feeling like he has just said goodbye to the love of his life. His new bride isn’t a beauty but in exchange for the estate's debts and mortgages being settled he promises to be a good husband and treat Jenny with kindness and respect. As the story goes on we find that show more Adam and Jenny are, in fact, very well matched.

Along with the main characters to root along, Heyer has given us a number of other characters to follow. Both Adam’s sisters and their respective admirers are interesting. As for Adam’s ex-love, we soon see that she is rather self-centered and immature and she and Adam would not have been a good match. Heyer also delves into the politics of the day and the Battle of Waterloo plays a key part in the plot.

I enjoyed the story and grew to really like both Adam and Jenny and rank A Civil Contract as another winner from Georgette Heyer. show less

A Civil Contract by Georgette Heyer is not one of that author's very best, but it certainly kept me reading. It tells the story of Captain Adam Deveril, who upon his father's death is facing ruin of the most ignominious kind. Even the beloved family estate of Fontley will have to be sold to pay the debts, unless... unless Adam can be persuaded to marry for money. Though his heart is already given to an acknowledged beauty of the ton, Julia Oversley, he will not marry her even if her father would allow it, because of his poverty. So with that sacrifice already settled in his mind, can it be so much worse to marry a respectable Cit's daughter and restore the family fortunes?

Enter Jonathan Chawleigh. He is the very essence of the self-made show more man, rich as Croesus but inestimably vulgar to the tastes of the ton. It is his greatest desire to see his only daughter, Jenny, ascend to the heights of society and he hopes to achieve this aim by marrying her to a title. Jenny herself is not terribly ambitious for social distinction, but she is used to giving way to her father's overwhelming personality. She and Adam are soon married and begin their lives with comparative tranquility — but storms are looming ahead. For Adam, though always kind and gentle to Jenny, does not love his slightly stout, undistinguished-looking wife, and comes to resent the garish, lavish presents his father-in-law is always bestowing. Jenny, for her part, loves her handsome, pleasant husband but fears that he looks down upon her. To top it off, she and his old flame Julia Oversley were school friends, and Julia's excessive sensibility leads her to display her broken heart for all the gossips to observe. It seems an inescapable muddle.

This is all very predictable, but also very fun. You know in the end that Adam will begin to value the wife he married over the one he originally wished for; it's seeing how it comes about that is the real interest of the story. I appreciate how he is committed to Jenny and takes his marriage vows seriously, even though his heart inclines him otherwise. What a model of self-discipline! And from the control he exercises over his behavior even when his emotions aren't in it, his feelings and inner thoughts begin to follow the lead of his actions. He does come to love Jenny, not with the adoring worship he gave Julia, but with a sturdier, more practical love that will last.

I enjoyed Heyer's characterizations, as usual. The one that stood out to me in particular was Julia. She is not a thorough-going villain by any means, petulant and selfish and lazy like Adam's mother. Nor is she simply a tragic figure, whose first love was crushed by the cruel circumstance of finance. No, she is something of both, loving to be worshiped and but also generous with giving other girls the spotlight (but, as Heyer observes, only when she gives it, not when the other girl is already occupying that throne of attention without any help from Julia... then it's a different story, oh yes). Shallow is probably the best single word to describe her, and yet it doesn't quite do her justice. If Adam had married her, they would have been deliriously happy for a time, but ultimately the dissimilarity between their interests would have given them their own marital difficulties. Several characters hint that Adam had a lucky escape, even.

Though I knew how this was all going to end, it speaks of the sheer pleasure of reading Heyer that I propped open my eyelids and consumed it to the last page after a tiring day. I just didn't want to put it down. For readers new to Heyer, I would recommend reading Friday's Child first as Heyer's better effort at this basic plot. But there's much to enjoy in A Civil Contract as well. show less