Regency Buck: Georgette Heyer Book Club Part 4

[DilysPrice]

In which Judith nearly becomes Queen of England, Bernard is putting something nasty in the snuff, and Peregrine has his cock squeezed.

There are some good bits in this one - I love the race to Brighton and Beau Brummell, and I enjoy the way she integrates the Royal Dukes as full-blown characters in a way she tends not to in later Regency novels. I had an enlightening time on this read going through Clarence's Wikipedia page and belatedly realising that the history of the UK might have been rather different if Judith had accepted him - no Queen Victoria for a start.

To my mind the big weakness it is that everything hinges on the big twist, so that it doesn't really stand up to re-reading - the devices that she uses to misdirect us are so laboured, and become more so on a re-read.

And Worth doesn't quite fly for me as a hero. I think I buy Judith falling in love with him - that's quite convincingly done, but I don't buy him falling for her.

What do you think of Worth? What does happen to Bernard in the end? Do you think this one is enhanced by such a full-on use of historical characters? Would Judith have been a good queen? And what do you reckon to the gender politics? Judith is the first Heyer heroine who is really kicking against the restraints of Regency womanhood in classic style (Leonie's defiance of convention doesn't count, because she's a child, and forrin) but can her marriage really be a partnership of equals?

Compare Judith to Miss Crewe whom we briefly meet at the Belvoir house party. While Worth isn't my personal fave I think he falls in love with Judith because she's so much more her own person than most of the young ladies he meets.

Btw, how naive am I - never thought of the cock squeezing incident in that light before!

I like Charles Audley. And I really enjoy Beau Brummell's scenes.

What happens to Bernard? Social ostracism. I think Worth gives him the cut direct with panache. Judith cuts him and is clearly distressed. Perry cuts him wrathfully, tells the whole story to Fitzjohn, thus it gets whispered around the town. The Admiral leaves town in evident distress.

I never thought about it like that until I picked it up at random and DH was looking over my shoulder.

I do feel that "the cut direct", however brutally applied, is perhaps insufficient punishment for attempted murder.

@ Peregrine squeezing his cock.
(As an irrelevant-ish aside, I was listening to the audio book of Sylvester whilst cooking dinner a few nights ago and DH walked in just as the immortal line Good God! he ejaculated rang out. DH nearly cried laughing at that one. The other GH-ism that makes him laugh is when the hero tosses off a glass of brandy or suchlike. Childish but snigger-worthy!)

I've re-read RB a few times and I know what you mean about the Bernard/Worth twist. This time, I've found myself focusing more on how Worth behaves towards Judith and whether the constant sniping and trying to get one up on her is really the sign of a man trying to hide the fact he's fallen in love with his ward or whether he's just a bit of a shit, to paraphrase Bridget Jones' mum. I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion it's the latter although he does redeem himself slightly at the end when his guardianship of her ends.

I LOVE the part when Judith is at Almacks and mistakenly tells Beau Brummell how much she detests him without realising who he is.

But do you think Worth could bear to put it through Bow Street? And I wasn't saying it was sufficient, but I'm really not sure what else I think they could or would do.

Does anyone else find Judith a tiny bit irritating? I found myself tutting at her a few times during this read.

All that wanting to be different and drawing attention to herself by driving a high-perch phaeton in dashing style round the Park or deliberately starting to take snuff, 'with a snuff box to match every dress' just to stand out from other young ladies and the outright goading of Worth (even though he bested her every time) meant I could have quite cheerfully boxed her ears.

I think where Bernard was concerned, they would not have wanted it to leak out for fear of it reflecting badly on Judith (and therefore Worth once she became the Countess of Worth) because he was her family and her uncle was already looked down on by the ton.

I suspect Worth dealt with him in due course in a very quiet, dastardly way.

I do see what you mean about Judith being annoying Lady D.

I don't mind the high-perch phaeton because she is an excellent whip and really enjoys it. And I love Brummell's advice to her in Brighton that she should have her carriage brought down immediately and insist on driving everywhere to eclipse the shame of her dodgy race down the London road; that's brilliant, and very lifelike. But the thing with the snuff, which she doesn't even like, is so shallow, it's hardly the action of a woman who has real self-respect.

I find Regency Buck a fascinating transitional novel - like Devil's Cub but in a slightly different way. It's the first Heyer novel actually set during the Regency, and it's really interesting to see how she is beginning to set her stamp on the period she later made her own. Worth is a model for the alpha male type hero, like Ivo Rotherham in Bath Tangle and the similar hero in Faro's Daughter whose name I have forgotten.

Lots of period detail - a bit too much at points - and as other people have said a rather silly skulduggery plot typical of early to mid-period Heyer.

But there are lots of funny bits and the celeb walk-ons (many more than in subsequent books) are great. Peregrine is really well drawn and I do like Judith for her spirit... Worth is an arrogant tosser but he gets some excellent lines.

I haven't quite finished the book, should have it done by lunchtime but I did want to jump in on the chorus. I don't like Worth at all, he seems a more than usually controling. Belmanoir, Avon and Vidal might have varied from evil to a bit twisted but they didn't seem to feel that it was okay just because they were them, they were just as arrogant but recognised what they did as evil/wicked/whatever and were up front about it. Worth seems to enjoy tieing Judith in knots and then implying that she's being silly for objecting.

I do like Judith as a character though she isn't someone I'd want to spend time with. I think the whole putting on a show to be noticed fits her well, particilarly after the Milkmaid thing. I can also understand her desire to do the exact opposite of everything Worth tells her to do, if he'd spend less time telling her they'd get on better.

Did anyone get any feeling that he respected her at all? Even Belmanoir acknowleded Dianna's bravery, I get the feeling that Worth wants Judith as a rather nice ornament even with the flash of humanity in the Brighton Pavillion.

I agree that the secondary characters really make the book, I'd much rather spend time with Brummell and Audley even Mrs Scattergood than Worth and Judith. I've a lurking fondness for Fitzjohn as well.

Peregrine seems to exist merely to be a poisoned, dueled and kidnapped and is otherwise uninteresting.

Bernard is too slimy for words. But, when I first read this at about 13 I really wasn't sure who the bad guy was untill the reveal, so I don't know how effective that twist would be to an adult reader.

Like I said, I've got a few chapters to go and I did read this one a bit quickly as it's not my favorite so I'm sure I've missed some nuances.

I totally agree Judith lacks the humour that enlivens later heroines. Re the wanting to be noticed thing, though, what other ambitions are open to her?

Yes, I agree, Worth probably smashed Bernard to a pulp and then put him aboard a ship to the West Indies like Theo in the Quiet Gentleman.

I love her drawing of Brummell and Clarence. Anyone else read 'Mrs Jordan's Profession'?
Still snurking about Perry's squeezed cock.
Like Wyrd Mother, I first read this as a young teen and wasn't sure who the baddie was for a while. Confused because I already knew the rules about early kisses in romances - that whoever it was was going to turn out to be our hero - but Worth really was coming over as an arrogant shit. And never stops either.
I'm afraid I'm making an utter mess of the reading schedule btw. I finished RB over two weeks ago and have since reread Arabella which MIL lent me so I had to read it fast so I could give it back. (I've given in and ordered it on eBay now). Also not one, not two but three Pride and Prejudice 'what if's', one of which was really rather good, another not brilliant for story line but had some splendidly 21st century sex bits, and the third was Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, which only really has one joke but has a lot of fun with it...
Need to get back on track - what should I be reading this weekend?

Next on the list is An Infamous Army, in which Vidal and Mary's granddaughter entwines with Peregrine Tavener, Judith Tavener (errm, Countess of Worth?) and Charles Audley at Waterloo.

After that I guess we go back to Powder and Patch and fill in the gaps from there (we still haven't decided definitively whether we're doing the detective novels).

Do we think 2 weeks will be long enough for Infamous Army?

I had to force myself to reread Regency Buck, it's one I've never liked. I htink Judith does't appeal as a character, as someone else said, she's not drawn with enough humour to counteract the almost brattish "I'll do what I want".

Didn't fancy Worth at all (is that a good enough reason not to like the book?), but did enough the Beau Brummell first meeting.

You can see how she's developing as a writer by reading the books in order which is quite interesting.

Regency Buck is okaaay. Not one of my favourites. Just seems like Judith is trying too hard at all times and constantly coming off worst. I can see why Worth finds her an amusing verbal sparring partner but not why he loves her - and vice versa really. Unless, as the book implies, sparring partners were so thin on the ground back then that someone with a bit of bite was unusual.

Anyone know why he calls her Clorinda? who is Clorinda?

I've never read an Infamous Army. Is it worth it?

Oh and I have buggered things up by (re)reading Powder and Patch a couple of weeks ago - I actually rather like it, but know I'm in the minority there!

Infamous Army is not so easy a read as the fluffier Regency novels, but IMO it's absolutely brilliant, possibly her best work. Do read it, yes.

Ooh ok

I could knock off Infamous Army in two days never mind two weeks, but I appreciate others do not have my cavalier attitude to housework, supervision of homework, cooking proper meals or anything else that interferes with a good wallow with a favourite book.

jubilucket, I'm the same - and as my GP has recommended I take things very easy for the next week as I'm on heavy duty ABs for a "very nasty" chest infection, I'll maybe be able to rush ahead on the reading list. Might even force myself to reread Powder and Patch (are we not ignoring that one as it's Not Very Good?)

Oh I love The Masqueraders, I think it's an absolute cracker.

Clorinda was a picture by Thomas Guest on display at the Royal Academy in the year RB is set. I can't find an image of it unfortunately, but I'm guessing Heyer might have found it when researching - he also painted the classic portrait of Jem Belcher.

Oooo midnight I had the 'massive chest infection stay on the sofa with antibiotics for the next week' thing back last autumn. Managed a novel and a half a day, thank you dp, mum and sister for completely taking over my maternal duties.
Mind you the agonising pain in my ribs/diaphragm every time I coughed (which was every few minutes day and night) was appalling. Hope you feel better soon.
I'm being very good, I'm NOT reading any other GH's until next weekend. Or having a second glass of wine after dinner or even thinking about a cigarette or eating chocolate or - oh look a flying pig!

Another fan of her Beau Brummell... think this was such a great characterisation of him that's it has stuck with me throughout life and is my template for a mild-mannered hero .

Ancilllary Beau Brummell reading suggestion if anyone is keen - Ian Kelly (bit of a renaissance man himself, he plays Hermione's dad in the Harry Potter films!) wrote a fab biography of Brummell, really loved this book; it fleshed him out beautifully (and added bonus I now know enough about the care and maintenance of a sparkling pair of hessians that I could do a champagne boot polish if needed although would rather drink it )

Leonie thank you for the tip to skip the battle scenes in Infamous Army... have never managed to finish it before