The Grand Sophy - Book Review

[desertvixen]

 Lest anyone think I have spent my whole day off looking at the Internet, I also finished The Grand Sophy this morning.  It's not one of my absolute favorite Heyer books - it has to get in line behind Cotillion, The Nonesuch, and The Unknown Ajax - but it is high up on the list. 

The heroine, Sophia Stanton-Lacy, is nothing short of a force of nature.  She reminds me somewhat of Cordelia Vorkosigan - not exactly, mind you - but they both seem to share that quality of convincing people that their idea is the right one, at least while they're talking to you.

The hero, the Honourable Charles Rivenhall, is one of the people who takes care of everyone else, even if his methods aren't always the most appreciated.  He's a little stern, a little bent on doing things his way, and he intends to shoulder the load on his own.

The thing I most enjoy about the book is that it really characterizes one of Heyer's strengths, which is making heros and heroines who go together.  Charles and Sophy will do fine together, because both of them have that need to take care of other people's problems.  She'll keep him from getting too distant and stuffy - he'll keep her from going too far.

The best "romantic scene" in the book is not the rather enthusiastic kiss at the end, but the scene in the sick room where you can feel the change between them. 

The book features two rather "managing" female characters - Sophy, the heroine, and Eugenia, who is initially engaged to Charles - and nicely contrasts the difference between them.  Eugenia is cast as a moralizing, judgemental woman who wants everyone to be the way she thinks is right.  Sophy's managing is more pragmatic - her plan to deal with her cousin Cecelia's infatuation with the unsuitable and unreliable poet Augustus is to let Cecelia spend more time with him, knowing that it will give Cecelia a chance to realize that he's not suitable husband material - or to decide that she really does love him.  if she really does love him, Sophy doesn't want to ostracize Cecelia, but to find a suitable position for him to support a wife.  In short, Eugenia wants everyone to be proper.  Sophy wants people to be happy.

There is a section of the book that has been criticized in some places, and that is the Jewish moneylender, Goldhanger, who is portrayed as somewhat of a collection of negative stereotypes.  For the curious, apparently in some editions of The Grand Sophy, including I believe the last last Harlequin mass-market paperback (which I have at home, and how I first read the book), the reference to Goldhanger's "semitic nose" was omitted.  I'm not sure that really changes anything about the portrayal, since just before that, Hubert explains that he was "forced to go to the Jews".  I didn't notice it when I originally read the book, about five years ago.  This time, I knew it was coming, but I can't say it destroys my pleasure in the rest of the book.  It does fit with the period the book was written about, and doesn't bother me in a way something more contemporary would.  Georgette Heyer didn't make up the anti-Jewish prejudice, it was something that was very real in history, and would remain very real until well into the Victorian era.

 DV

Comments

[filkferengi]

It's been several years since reading it, but _Regency Buck_ left me cold, too. I haven't read _Spanish Bride_ or _Infamous Army_ yet.

Freddy & Hugo rock!

_Masqueraders_ is definitely Georgian & a fun romp.

_Foundling_ is one of my favorites. I don't want to spoil it for you, but will look forward to your review with great anticipation.

Have you read _Reluctant Widow_ yet? It's not top-, but is solid second- or third-tier.