Powder and Patch Book

This is the third book GH wrote & she completed it in an incredible three weeks! I've always been all over the place with this novel.There are a lot of things I like about it but the assertion by the author that woman want to be mastered (um, no we don't!) And until I read the (awful) I thought this was GH's least likeable heroine & that Philip (one of GH's "sweet" heroes) really deserved better.

But I've now been married a life time over thirty years to a lovely fellow who takes no interest in his appearance so I do have some sympathy for Cleone's desire for Philip to smarten himself up a bit!

A lot of readers complain about Heyer (born 1902) spraying some of her books with French phrases. I'm reading and the New Zealand born Mansfield (birth date 1888) uses French phrases through quite a few of her personal letters. Likewise Nancy Mitford (born 1904)in her chatty Maybe this was a common practice for well educated early 20th century women? Previous readings of both this book & Madam de Pompadour it was never a problem for me, as I took French in High School. Sadly my French is all but forgotten, but I managed to work out all the French except for a few lines of Philip's rondeau. (but I did struggle reading Madame de Pompadour!)

I love the quite beautiful descriptions of the clothing - probably the most detailed description of men's clothing in any of GH's Georgian novels. & I do think Philip's French friends would have been a lot of fun to hang out with.

A member of the Georgette Heyer Fans Group (HJ) found the original ending (an extra chapter) to this book on a blog.




Without giving too much away, I prefer the 1923 Mills & Boon outcome for such a very young couple. Undoubtedly this is the best Mills & Boon I have ever read! But finishing at Chapter XIX like the 1930 Heineman has it was neater.

Lets call it a draw!