Frederica Review
Frederica is a story about a woman who is the eldest daughter in her family, and has taken charge in the wake of her parents' death. Her brother is off at university and this leaves her and her younger sister and brothers to fend for themselves more or less. Frederica takes the entire brood to London determined to give her sister a proper London Season, knowing that her sister's extreme beauty will be more than enough to garner her proper suitors and have her situated happily soon enough. While there she calls upon the only relative that she knows of in London. A distant cousin, a bachelor and a Marquis, is surprised by Frederica and her pluck and determination to do for herself with little or no help for anyone and takes them under his wing. Doing so starts a chain of events that finds him in way over his head.
I loved this novel, I could barely put the book down! The characters were colorful, the dialog witty, the repartee was very entertaining, and the story line pulled me in and didn't let me go until the last page was turned. The heroine was engaging, intelligent and had a great sense of humor. I loved how much she worked in the background for others and seemed to honestly believe that nothing should be done for herself. I also enjoyed her counterpart the Marquis, and loved watching both characters grow and change throughout the book, and in a very endearing and believable way. The secondary characters were wonderful too and also offered their own brand of humor and believability to the story, whether it was the youngest brothers, the passersby in the park or even the family dog.
It is so rare that I find a book that I enjoy so much, find so easy to get into and not only that, but also am looking forward to reading again very soon! This was my first Georgette Heyer novel and I am already looking forward to my next one. Modern romance novels have nothing on the tasteful romantic tension, well researched historical content, and the complete and believable characters written by Georgette Heyer.
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Customer Reviews
Lacking something - E. Ries - Europe
Others have described the plot and the characters very well, so I would like to merely add why I don't feel able to give the book more than three stars.
Yes, there is a lot of light-hearted, funny banter. But it all stays on the surface and even though it is witty, for me it lacked profundity. It is entertaining, but won't affect your thinking, the way you see the world, it won't touch you deeply. Another thing I just could not make friends with was the fact that Lord Alverstoke is always bored by everyone except Frederica and even though he does some outwardly very kind things for other people, he does not do so with any love or true concern for them. For example, he sees caring for little Felix when he is ill as a terrible bore and ordeal and worries about the child only because Felix's well-being matters to Frederica. See also this quote "Charis's future was a matter
of indifference to him, except as it affected her sister, so he was content to let the matter drop." - and this is AFTER he is "reformed".
I was hoping that Lord Alverstoke would learn how much more meaningful and less boring life can become when one truly cares about the well-being of others - and not just one person that one sees as superior to all others.
Another thing that really bugged me was Felix's illness: it doesn't make any sense from a medical standpoint. One does not contract rheumatic fever from having been too cold the day before - it's always caused by a bacterial infection contracted 2-3 weeks before the symptoms show. And yet the doctor immediately worries that Felix will come down with it due to having been too cold and so it happens. But this is a minor point that may not bother most readers.
Maybe I'm being so critical because before this book, I read Alcott's Little Women and miss all the abundant heart, compassion and important themes found there. I also can't quite agree that Georgette Heyer's resembles Jane Austen's writing. Yes, the period is the same. But Jane Austen's books a full satirical observations of her own society, full of not only wit but depth as well. Austen also is not afraid of touching on some genuine sadness, on all parts of what it means to be human. Austen's books are peppered with wit and follow romantic plot conventions, yes - but there's also real meat in there, it's not ONLY fluff and a "fun romp". That said - if you feel like being entertained but are not looking for more, Heyer will deliver.
I hope this was helpful!
One of Heyer's top two Regencies - Kristin Belko - Jackson, Wyoming
Heyer's Regencies are all good but Frederica and The Grand Sophie are her best. (The next tier are Reluctant Widow, The Nonesuch, Cotillion, The Tollgate, Bath Tangle, and Unknown Ajax.) Heyer is the most interesting when her heroines are, like Frederica, "young matrons with two or three seasons of experience" and not young girls. Frederica (and her male counterpart) are witty, responsible adults and they provide a marvelous story. The charm of the Regency period with a very modern heroine, bearing family responsibilities with admirable dignity and fun, make this a very special book. *** Read Heyer's detective novels for an understanding of her own period, the 'thirties in upper-class England. While not as erudite as Sayers, Heyer's books are still good fun, well written, and have almost the same sense of a distant time today as Heyer's Regencies.
Not Quite The Grand Sophy - Teresa Thomas Bohannon - Tennessee, USA
I love almost everything written by Georgette Heyer...and the ones I don't love...I like tremendously. Frederica is similar to my favorite--The Grand Sophy, however it is just not quite there. It is a good read however, filled with witty dialogue, fun and scapegrace situations. Overall Frederica is just about perfect for sitting by candle or firelight on a dreary day, or reading in bed just before sleep.
*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 31, 2010 21:13:05
