regency buck

[cimorene]

Regency Buck is a departure for Heyer - it's got the plot of a thriller pasted on, more or less. Someone's trying to kill the heroine's brother Peregrine, but who? The problem with this plot is that all the "clues" are tiresomely (and artificially) belaboured, while the mystery is nonexistant, since the real answer is painfully obvious despite such strategems as writing from the point of view of the hero, who actually knows the entire truth, while selecting strangely and unnaturally vague word choices and scene cuts to "hide" it from the reader (although, again, it's still painfully obvious and she's not fooling anyone). In short, she clearly wasn't cut out for writing thrillers, or perhaps she needed a great deal more practise at it. But either way, despite all this I still preferred it to the "Oh Noes, Gambling" plots.

• "You credit me with an obscurity of meaning which I'm unaware of having done anything to deserve. It does not amuse me. I mean precisely what I say."



• "The only thing that surprises me is to see him come out of a boxing saloon."
  "I daresay he went only to accompany Col Armstrong."
  "More than likely," agreed Judith, with a contemptuous smile.



• Detailed description of Jackson's Saloon and cockfighting (breeder's end) in this one. A lot of research, eh, Georgette?



• Would read Peregrine/Fitzjohn.



• LOLOL assassination by SNUFF????



• Regency Buck!Beau Brummell is much more charming (and gay - lol Georgette) than the ones who are earnestly admiring of the heroines in others' books. Also, later he reduces Prinny to tears by insulting his coat in order to get revenge on behalf of the Hero (the Earl of Worth, Julian), who appears to be his bff.
  

  Mr Brummell looked him over with that lift of the eyebrow which could always depress pretension. 'Yes, sir, I have visited the Lakes,' he said.
  
  'Ah then, in that case - and which of them do you most admire, sir?'
  
  Mr Brummell drew in his breath. 'I will tell you, sir, if you will accord me a few moments.' Then, turning to address a footman who had come in to make up the fire, he quietly desired the man to send his valet to him. Mr Fox-Matthews stared, but the Beau remained quite imperturbable, and maintained a thoughtful silence until the entrance of a man in a neat black coat, who came anxiously up to him, and bowed.
  
  'Robinson,' said Mr Brummel, 'which of the Lakes do I admire?'
  
  'Windermere, sir,' replied the valet respectfully.
  
  'Ah, Windermere, is it? Thank you, Robinson. Yes, I like Windermere best,' he said, turning politely back to Mr Fox-Matthews.




• "If we are to talk of insults, you will come off very much the worst from that encounter. The insult of informing you that I am not a suitor to your hand is hardly comparable to the insult of ascribng to me jealousy of such a person as Mr Bernard Taverner."



• This novel also features highly detailed descriptions of Brighton and the Regent's Pavilion.