The Grand Sophy

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It was the awkward, shabby and unskilled way in which the character was used, and that it highlighted everything else that was flawed in my opinion. the door was slowly opened to reveal a thin, swarthy individual, with long greasy curls, a semitic nose, and an ingratiating leer…. The setting is Regency England, and the Grand Sophy is a well-born young English woman who happens to be a British spy; her father is also a British spy; they are wealthy and fashionable and dashing; and their task is to help defeat Napoleon, the second time around. A shame you marked it so low just because of Goldhanger’s bit, which doesn’t take up an awful lot of the book. I also, at the end of the book, found myself wondering what it would be like to have to live with Sophy for a prolonged period of time.

When Sophy arrives at the Ombersley doorstep complete with dog, parrot and monkey, she instantly creates a sensation. Right now these delicious elements are concentrated near the beginning and end of the story, but as you will see, they can easily and delightfully be worked in throughout the movie, and should be, I think. just because I didn’t like it doesn’t mean I think less of anyone who thinks this book is awesome and isn’t as bothered by the scenes as I am. I knew exactly what she was going to do when she takes off one glove and lets it fly over to the ground. Even though this was published in 1950, Regency England's prejudices toward Jews and Europeans were on full display.During the period that her father is away in South America, Sophy attracts to herself several would-be suitors: the fortune-hunting Sir Vincent Talgarth, the mollycoddled Lord Bromford and, seemingly, Lord Charlbury himself. The characterisation and story are fantastic and while on first reading it I was disturbed by the seeming lack of chemistry between the main couple, upon re-reading this book for the third time, I absolutely appreciate their unconventional relationship. Among the 500 guests Sophy meets the dashing Lord Charlbury and Ceci makes a startling announcement. Although, those who’ve read COLD COMFORT would know that Flora would never own a parrot or monkey as ‘nature mustn’t be allowed to make things untidy’. Selina, who repeated this remark to me, is not fond of horses, however and she -” He broke off, seeing how absurd it was to argue on such a head.

What characters say and how they behave must capture all aspects of early 1800s English society faultlessly. Sophy is one of Heyer's sparky, outrageous heroines with a cheeky sense of humour, and runs rings around everyone, not least her handsome cousin, Charles.PBS' "Sanditon" has just concluded its second season, and I'm now receptive to reading Georgette Heyer, who has been compared with Jane Austen. Books like Huckleberry Finn serve as a teaching moment, but it is routinely on the annual list of books people try to ban from libraries. Though most of the Ombersley household take to Sophy, her autocratic cousin, Charles Rivenhall, is wary of the change she represents. Amidst the Twilight craze and the culturally endorsed Barbie-doll look, Sophy proves to be an unusual and refreshing change.

Sadly, a lot of things are only seen as ‘in poor taste’ if they are about the author, the editor, or someone they care about.he is a) greasy, b) dirty, c) has a large hooked nose, d) has small dark eyes, e) has dark curly hair, and f) wants to get his filthy hands on nice, clean, Christian girls. All the same, at her best, Heyer’s novels offer fantastic plots, a perfectly-realized Regency world, heroes you can fall in love with and delightful heroines. I won’t rule out trying to read her again in the future, if only because of her influence on the genre – but I will probably be very careful in choosing what to read (and how much, if at all, to spend on it). Mind you, I do love a bit of romance fluff every now and again and this was light and churlish and sometimes even devious, but it is also pure popcorn fiction.