The Masqueraders

This is one of my all-time favorite historical novels, and I was overdue for a reread. What could be more fun than a pair of escaped Jacobites hiding in plain sight in London? Not just there, but making a splash in Society, with no one suspecting that the charming Miss Kate Merriot is actually Robin Lacey and her sober brother is his sister Prudence?

The story opens with a bang as "Peter" and "Kate" rescue a young lady from an ill-advised elopement. Their quick thinking was impressive, and I laughed out loud at the confusion they rained down on the head of the frustrated suitor. I loved seeing Robin's immediate protectiveness toward young Letty. It isn't long before another rescuer appears in the form of Sir Anthony Fanshawe, a family show more friend. Sir Anthony is a large man with a calm disposition, and it was fun to see his reactions to the Merriots and Letty.

I loved watching the Merriots slip effortlessly in London society. Prudence, as Peter, becomes a popular young buck. He makes friends with others his age and participates in the usual activities of such young men. He has also drawn the attention of Sir Anthony, who feels responsible for his well-being. Robin and Prue initially believe that Tony is too "sleepy" to suspect the truth about them. But the more time Prue spends in his company, the more she suspects he's sharper than they thought. I laughed every time Robin referred to him as the "mountain" or "mammoth," suspecting he was in for quite a surprise. There are some great scenes with Prue and Tony as she struggles to maintain the deception. I loved watching their relationship develop as Tony is drawn into their lives.

Meanwhile, as Kate, Robin befriends young Letty, giving her a more mature companion who will hopefully keep her out of trouble. Letty is naïve and irrepressible in her desire for adventure, and it is all Robin can do to try to redirect her antics. But her unlamented suitor hasn't given up on trying to gain her inheritance. It's left to Robin to rescue her again, this time in a most dramatic fashion. However, there are unintended consequences that create problems for Robin and Prudence.

The Merriots' arrival in London was done at their father's direction, whom they call "the old gentleman." They have traveled Europe with him as he moves from one scheme to another. About halfway through the book, he arrives in London claiming to be Viscount Barham, the long-lost brother to the previous viscount. This is unwelcome news to the distant relative who currently holds the title. Robert Tremaine is flamboyant, charming, and gregarious and is hilarious in his antics as the claimant. He delights in his role as a puppet master, pulling the strings of those around him. Prue and Robin have no idea if he really is the viscount or if it is another one of his scams, and can only watch and wait.

The ending is a delightful romp of rescues and revelations, disappearances and reappearances, and a pair of happy-ever-afters. I would love to see this as a movie. show less

This story of two siblings, Prudence and Robin, who swap genders and masquerade as Peter and Kate Merriot in order to escape detection after participating in the Jacobite rebellions, is one of Georgette Heyer's more improbable tales. Caught up in the whirl of London high society, the pair soon find themselves in love: "Peter" with his friend, Sir Anthony Fanshave, and "Kate" with the lovely Letitia Grayson. But how will they disentangle themselves from their deception, and can two adventurers ever turn respectable?

Like all of Heyer's Georgian romances, The Masqueraders is quite a swashbuckler, complete with all the secret identities, duels, abductions, highwaymen, and long-lost aristocrats that one could wish for. The reader will even show more encounter the proverbial "glove-slap to the face" that must surely precede every duel of note! It's all a little bit silly, and as some have noted, highly implausible. But with its fast-paced narrative, witty dialogue, and appealing characters, it will nevertheless charm. Who, I ask, wants a romance that is at all probable? show less

(Warnings for all the usual caveats about Heyers's work and view of anyone not a WASPY English person)

This is, I believe, considered one of Heyer's lesser works before she found her footing inventing the Regency romance genre, but it's always been one of my favorites. I love the genderbending, the adventure, and the way the four characters come together is so fun and chaotic. The end does feel somewhat forced, but the character work in this book is pure Heyer, and sparkles because of it.

There are very few writers who can say that they weren't influenced by Heyer in some way. Each of her dozens of historical romances laid the foundations of typical romance plotlines today.

THE MASQUERADERS, my favorite of all her titles, is an absolute gem to hold in my hands. The trade paperback sized volume, with new cover artwork, is gorgeous and suits the story well. This is a classic tale of genderbent comedy and misdirection along the same vein as Shakespeare's TWELFTH NIGHT.

Prudence and Robin, fearing for their lives after the failure of the Jacobite Rebellion, decide that the best plan lay in disguising themselves. Taking it one step further, they disguise their genders as well, pretending to be the opposite sex, to doubly fool show more anybody searching out for them. The two of them see this as a lark—they've spent the better part of their lives hiding who they are, thanks to their scapegrace adventurer father, and it's nothing more than a fun game for them.

This novel is filled with historical data pertaining to the aftermath of the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745—the sort of topical information you'd hear in society being discussed because it's still such a new occurrence. I found the exchange between Prudence and Anthony to be the funniest moments, though any time that Prudence is in her male disguise is full of hilarity. She'll often use subtle little quips or witticisms about the fact that she isn't the man they think her to be.

Her brother Robin also made quite a spectacular female. It's unusual to see a guy parading about in petticoats and dresses in historicals—almost all the genderbent romances I've read have involved just the girl becoming a boy—so that's a lovely surprise. At the end, when they're both being confronted by their respective love interests, I found it hilarious that Robin was at pains to reassure his love interest that he was just as charming as a male as he was female! Then also, Anthony's private ruminations over Prudence were also rather amusing.

The only downside to reading a Heyer is that often she'll use speech idioms that aren't used any more, even in modern historical romances. Heyer was very big on keeping things as accurate as she could, and with the speech of Prudence and Robin's time being nearly 260 years out of date, it can be quite confusing at times. Still, if you are new to Georgette Heyer, I recommend reading THE MASQUERADERS first. I still find it to be one of the most amusing, romantic, and entertaining reads yet! show less

What's the fastest way for a brother and sister on the run to shake off pursuit? Why, switch places, of course! Prudence and Robin Tremaine are masters of disguise, and they both need all their wits about them to pull off their most recent masquerade: Prudence as a dashing young man, and Robin as the lovely young sister.

Of course, nothing is ever as easy as it seems, but that's more than half the fun! This was my first experience with Georgette Heyer's work, and it was absolutely delightful. Fascinating characters, intricate plots within plots within plots, and a goodly dash of romance. I have to admit, however, that I wanted to soundly shake the "old gentleman" on more than one occasion. He was far too pleased with himself for it to be show more healthy. show less

The Masqueraders starts off with a young brother and sister, Mr and Miss Merriot, rescuing a young silly heiress in distress (she is halfway to Gretna Green, and the young man she has eloped with turns out to be - shock! horror! - only interested in her money). They hide the silly young heiress and bamboozle the cad (swine! bounder!).

And then proceed to thoroughly bamboozle me. It took a bit of a re-read to work out what was happening, the 18th century slang and wording took some translating before I got into the swing of it, and it's a very dialogue-driven book which wasn't helping me at first. Turns out that Miss Merriot is actually a young man (Robin), and Mr Merriot is actually a young woman (Prue), brother and sister, escaping in show more disguise after being on the wrong side in the recent Jacobite rebellion and on their way to London to take society by storm and await the arrival of their papa, the brains behind this rather wild scheme.

And, boy, do they take London by storm! Never a more charming pair has been set to paper. They flirt, make friends (and some enemies), and play their gender-bending roles to perfection. There is more adventure, frippery, romance, and truly delightful silliness in this than in any other book out there. (Unless that other book also happens to be written by Georgette Heyer.) show less

My second favorite Heyer, another one I've reread a few times. It's very different in tone and atmosphere, and indeed, plot, from her other books.

Prudence and and her brother Robin have spent most of their lives pretending to be other people. They are adventurers, and have participated in many wild schemes dreamed up by their father, the 'Old Gentleman'. Their most recent exploit was participating in the failed attempt to restore King Charles to the throne. In order to escape exposure of Jacobites, Prudence and Robin change not only their identities, but their genders. Prudence becomes Peter and Robin his sister Kate. Peter and Kate become the toast of the town, as they await the arrival of their father...

Cross dressing twins, show more mistaken (and revealed) identities, swindles, intrigue, masked balls...it has everything, including a twist so unexpected that I exclaimed outloud and then spent the entire day explaining it to my family, none of whom really cared.

(Also went around saying things like 'Lud!' and prefencing sentences with 'La', and generally talking like it was the 18th century.)

Lastly, Robin is my favorite forever. show less