Georgette Heyer is one of the authors who will never become a forgotten author, lost in the archives of old novels. She was one of those magnificent storytellers. I didn't want to finish BEAUVALLET. This novel is full of all sorts of adventures: spying, masqeurades, ships and sea robbers. Is romance an adventure? Yes. In Beauvallet, Sir Nicholas Beauvallet, an Englishman, is in love deeply with Dona Dominica, a Spanish woman. Unfortunately, this is the time when daughters were expected to marry whomever their elders chose for them to marry. Dominica is not meant to marry an Englishman. Her aunt and uncle are determined her marriage is to be one of political maneuvering and not love and romance.
This is one reason I liked the book. I was reminded of the plight of women. Women were used as property, like owned horses. I can't imagine being commanded to marry a man I don't love. How horrible! What should I do with my feelings or should I not feel? That is the question.
I also loved the novel because it is just plain fun. I especially loved Sir Nicholas Beauvallet's masquerade as The Guise, a Frenchman. Oh boy, talk about escape attempts from enemies. Nothing can match the scenes painted by Georgette Heyer. Fabulous, just plain fabulous. I loved being introduced to France, Spain and England, all in one book. I traveled and traveled quickly in coaches topped with plumes, on horses and by climbing over balconies. What else can I write? Well, I can write a Georgette Heyer novel is better than any adventure on tv today. Really, she was a Diva of Romance ahead of her time. BEAUVALLET proves it.
This is one reason I liked the book. I was reminded of the plight of women. Women were used as property, like owned horses. I can't imagine being commanded to marry a man I don't love. How horrible! What should I do with my feelings or should I not feel? That is the question.
I also loved the novel because it is just plain fun. I especially loved Sir Nicholas Beauvallet's masquerade as The Guise, a Frenchman. Oh boy, talk about escape attempts from enemies. Nothing can match the scenes painted by Georgette Heyer. Fabulous, just plain fabulous. I loved being introduced to France, Spain and England, all in one book. I traveled and traveled quickly in coaches topped with plumes, on horses and by climbing over balconies. What else can I write? Well, I can write a Georgette Heyer novel is better than any adventure on tv today. Really, she was a Diva of Romance ahead of her time. BEAUVALLET proves it.
