The Masqueraders (Historical Romances)

Georgette Heyer is incomparable. Complex characterizations, realistic motivation and flowing dialogue, richly detailed descriptions of period clothing, houses, transportation, sports, the conduct of war, disease, medicine, education, family life, science, agriculture, politics, and social mores all work together to create her stories. The adventures her characters fall into might not stand too close scrutiny, but the tales are woven in a manner that sweeps you into the story and makes the whole believable and desirable.
This book, which is one of Heyer's historical novels rather than Regency works, is not one of my favorites. It sits forlornly pristine among my tattered copies of her other works. I was hoping the audio presentation would bring it to life in a new way for me. It did, but not in a positive way.
The choice of narrator was an unfortunate one. I imagine she could read contemporary fiction quite well, but her unfamiliarity with this genre made listening very difficult for me. The reading has an awkward cadence in many places; uses incorrect accenting of many idiomatic phrases (which made me cringe - my Southern forebears used many of the same phrases into the late 20th century); mispronounces words, some intentionally (e.g. chaise); misses the nuances of the relationships among the characters which would inform their attitudes and vocal inflections, mixes up the voices on occasion (for example, you can't always tell whether Robin or Prudence is speaking), and turned the "Old Gentleman" into nothing more than a melodramatic caricature, something Georgette Heyer NEVER created.
The whole thing feels messed up. I hold out hope that some one will have Cornelius Garrett redo this book. I'm quite sure he would bring the right tone to it.
Meanwhile, there's one good thing about this audio book. I will be taking down the printed copy and re-reading it to erase this awful version from my mind. While I'm at it, maybe I'll even put a rub mark on the spine so the book won't look so different from its fellows.

The story is developed well enough and the characters are lively. I especially like the fact how the authors uses period appropriate words like "ostler", "dueller", or "pelluquiere" etc and with a thought to British words that were said then in salons of the ton. Despite this at first you will find that the story is a bit stiff, and certain words repetitive in their attempts to sound British, "Egads!" "Aleck!" and I do mean like from one sentence to another for several paragraphs however this soon tapers off into a well-constructed story with piquant dialogue. The romance is actually anticlimactic, however the story and mystery in itself is interesting enough if a bit tepid.

I didn't give it 5 stars because it was a trifle disappointing and I have read several historical romances or simply period fiction from various authors that have been written better. In the end I couldn't even force myself to finish reading the book because I was soooo bored. It did have many plot twists but after a while I simply didn't really care about these twists because they seemed overdone.

I listened to this via Audible's Romance Package. I've been putting off listening to this story because I'm not a huge fan of women dressing up as men and vice versa. I knew that the brother and sister who are the main characters dress up as their opposite genders from the blurb but actually in the end it was a very clever plot device used by Ms Heyer. What I didn't like too much was their father's prosing on and on. It might have been easier to read but listening to it was tedious. I know it's meant to be a romp and it was but just not one of my favourites.

"The Masqueraders" is a historical adventure with some romance. I wasn't expecting to like this story due to the deception involved. Yet I ended up feeling like this was one of Heyer's better stories in terms of pacing and how one event set up the next and that led to the next.

The brother and sister think quickly and manage to successfully fool society with their disguises. It wasn't clear--even to them--why they needed to be in London (which was why they required the disguise). The reason finally given was in perfect line with their father's personality, though, and he was the one who ordered them there.

Since each sibling spent most of the book in disguise, there were few traditional "romance scenes" though Anthony and Robin each got to play the hero. I loved Sir Anthony Fanshawe. He had the most awesome "start a fight without anyone realizing it was on purpose" scene. The main characters were full of personality and played off each other well so that this somewhat-serious story was still full of humorous moments.

There was no sex. There was some bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this well-written, humorous adventure novel.

This is my second Georgette Heyer book—the first one I read was the fabulous and hilarious The Grand Sophy—and The Masqueraders, narrated by the animated voice of Ruth Stillers, is a delightful, funny, and energetic historical intrigue.
I agreed to review this romance not knowing anything about its plot at all. And, as a result, I have to admit that I was confused as to who was who at first in this story of disguise and mystery. Following the Jacobite Rebellion in 1745, Prudence and Robin Tremaine, devoted and quick-witted sister and brother, have fled France for England disguised respectively as a young man and young woman: Peter and Kate Merriot. They await further instructions from their father, the brazen and supremely confident “Old Gentleman,” (Prue and Robin’s tongue-in-cheek endearment for him) and live their lives on the edge, fearing discovery at every turn. But both are so elegant, refined, and smart that their adventures and mishaps are engrossing to read and make for a pleasing and captivating story.
We’re thrown right into the brash adventures of these witty siblings when they save the very young and high-strung Lady Letitia Grayson from an unwanted elopement with her erstwhile fiancé, the insidious Mr. Markham.* The voice that Ruth Stillers gives Markham is fantastically over-the-top and most appropriate to the villain he is while Letitia’s hapless and helpless maiden is also spot-on and teeters on the farcical, but in a good way. This rescue scene sets the tone for wild madcap fun that infuses the entire story from beginning to end; it’s a joy to listen to.
The frequent descriptions of Sir Anthony Fanshawe, a friend of Letitia’s who comes to her rescue, as a “large gentleman,” almost becomes a running joke between Prue and Robin. Fanshawe is a consummate and observant gentleman who quickly figures out that Peter Merriot is actually a woman. The romance between him and Prudence is sweet, considerate, and mature but I had a hard time believing that the intelligent Robin could fall for the empty-headed Letitia. But perhaps he is simply a man of his time falling for a pretty face, and Letitia is the perfectly innocent and kindhearted young lady.
Ruth Stillers is a new narrator to me and I truly enjoyed her lovely interpretation. Her light and sweet voice lends the perfect sparkle and verve to this lively historical romp with all its theatricality, at times serious, at other times witty, which often made me smile in amusement. This is why I read historical romance. It’s a great tribute to Stillers as an actress to be able to read so many different characters with distinction and great personality, of both sexes, especially the challenging dual character personas of Robin and Prudence as Kate and Peter Merriot.
This audiobook is a real treat for all lovers of Regency historical romance.
*I just finished reading about an entirely different and delightful Markham in Juliana Gray’s How to School Your Scoundrel.
A modified version of this review first appeared on Romantic Historical Reviews.

Born to a father set on having adventures, Prudence and Robin Tremaine have lived a life on the run. They constantly are moving (often fleeing) from one place to another, and often have to do so in disguise. After Robin and his father take part in the failed Jacobite rebellion they split up and flee into the country side. Robin meets up with his sister, who stayed out of it, and they decide to swap genders to thoroughly hide Robin in the last place anyone will ever look - in a set of petticoats - to prevent him from being hanged. Prudence then becomes Mr Peter Marriot and Robin becomes Miss Kate Marriot.

Together they travel to London and hope to meet up with their father there. That's when they meet Sir Anthony and Letitia, Letty is currently attempting to elope with a Mr Markham only to find that he is a brute and not worth marrying, her attempt to change his mind on this score proves dangerous though. With the siblings help (a false swoon by "Kate" and a swift uppercut with the hilt of a sword by "Peter") they rescue Letty and restore her to Sir Anthony, a friend of her father's. In that meeting "Kate", er, Robin falls hopelessly in love with Letty and "Peter", er, Prudence falls hopelessly in love with Sir Anthony. Now, in true Georgette Heyer fashion, the stage is set for a romp unlike any other!

This book was one of her earlier works and that definitely comes across in her writing. Her characters, her plot development, and her dialogue is just not as refined and well done, and that little extra twist of humor seems to be missing here. It is a wonderful book though and if I didn't have her later works to compare it with this book would have been wonderful all on its own.

I loved reading about a female masquerading as a male credibly and showing that a woman can operate and work in the male environment just as smoothly as if she had been born to it if given half a chance. Prudence is admitted to a gentleman's club, smokes, drinks, takes snuff, plays cards, gambles, and gets into a street fight (through no fault of her own). Robin meanwhile is stuck going out on drives with old ladies, visiting with female friends (one in particular), and sits around in petticoats hiding yawns behind a fan. It is soon realized though that they are not managing to hood wink everyone and that's when things really start to take off.

Any fan of historical romance would love this book to pieces. Especially if you enjoy adventures, sword fights, daring rescues and lots of intrigue. Seeing a female in a sword fight, and a male flirting in a dress are just perks to this ridiculously wonderful book. You won't regret reading it.

Try to imagine the rare delight of thinking you have already consumed all of Georgette Heyer's books and then finding this one waiting for you on the shelf of your local public library. While I'm fond of the historical novels, I have a soft spot for Heyer's romances, and this might be my new favorite, since it is classic Heyer with a Shakespearean twist. Resourceful, indomitable heroine in the form of Prudence Colney pretending to be Peter Merriot, young sprig of fashion; clever, likeable, treasonous brother Robin pretending to be the delectable Kate Merriot; taciturn and seemingly-bored-with-it-all hero who increasingly grows on us as we readers detect that the large man does indeed take in more than we think. The antics with this situation alone would be enough to make for a finely riotous read, but throw in the old gentleman with his pretensions and grandiose ideas, and you have a character only Heyer could write. There's another twist, too, in that this book has a real villain, the detestable Mr Markham, which rackets the tension up a notch; more than drawing room repartee or forays into disreputable parts of town, there are duels, kidnappings, sword fights, frustrated elopements, flights in the night, sudden reveals, and coach robberies--more than one! With the period detail and speech that make her characters spring to life, Heyer has woven a tale of high-spirited antics that gave me several moments of laughter and one or two of bated breath. I'm not the first to say it, but I agree: Heyer is the closest to Austen you'll ever get after Jane herself.

"The Masqueraders" is a Georgian Era novel about an adventurous family of escaped Jacobites. After the failure of the Jacobite Rebellion, Prudence and Robin follow the orders of the their father and travel to London under the guise of Peter and Kate Merriot. The twist is that Prudence is disguised as the youthful buck, Peter Merriot, and Robin is dressed as the flirtatious young beauty, Kate Merriot. Prudence and Robin have had years of experience and practice in the arts of deception and disguise under their father's tutelage and this isn't their first dangerous caper.

Prudence makes a very credible man with her sharp wit and fearless bravery; and since all gentleman at White's willingly accept her into their company, she feels her secret is safe. However, when she is around the respectable Sir Anthony Fanshawe, the big sleepy-eyed man who watches her intently, she feels her secret is anything but safe...

After rescuing a young and romantic heiress, Letitia Grayson, from her abductor and thwarting their elopement, Robin finds himself enamored with this lovely damsel in distress. Unfortunately, because of his masquerade he finds himself in the position of Letita's bosom friend rather than her suitor. How will he ever be able to win Letita's heart when he is dressed as a woman and would she ever forgive him for his cruel deception?

This escapade becomes even more exciting and entertaining when Prudence and Robin's father appears on the scene decked out like a grand gentleman and claiming to be the lost Viscount, Tremaine of Barham. If their father is successful in persuading everyone of this outlandish claim it would mean the end of their masquerade and the start of respectable living, and if he fails it would expose them all as frauds and land them in the gallows. Prudence and Robin are torn between a lack of faith in their father's capability to pull off such a ruse and a desperate desire that he will prevail. Their father, an extremely conceited yet comical character that is constantly amazed by his own genius, promises them: "I shall contrive."

Since "The Masqueraders" is only the second Georgette Heyer novel I have read, I consider myself to be Heyer novice. Nonetheless, I found this novel to be spectacularly entertaining and brimming with clever antics and adventures. At first, it was a little challenging for me to wrap my head around the gender switch and the disguises, but within a chapter or two I found it easy to follow. Included in this book were many beautiful and tender moments shared between the couples, however, being the romantic that I am, I would have enjoyed seeing how and why the characters fell in love being depicted more.

"The Masqueraders was a delightfully amusing read and Georgette Heyer is quite the proficient when it comes to historical fiction and romantic romps. I highly recommend!

Austenesque Reviews

The Masqueraders is a fun tale of adventurers; filled with romance, disguises, swash buckling duels, and highwaymen. I love Georgette Heyer and I usually say that her novels are the next best thing to Jane Austen, but The Masqueraders is not one of her regency novels. This novel is set just after the Jacobite rebellion in 1740's England.

Prudence and Robin Tremaine had a unique upbringing by their adventurer father, where disguise and good fashion sense were key. After participating in the failed Jacobite rebellion, the brother and sister journey to England, only with Prudence disguised as Peter Merriot and Robin disguised as Miss Kate Merriot. The two start off their adventures by rescuing a damsel in distress and then become the toast of London society. Complications ensue when both find themselves falling in love. How will they be able to express their love when they are disguised? Their adventurer father also comes to town with a new plot in hand.

While I was a bit confused at the beginning of this novel, I soon found myself swallowed up by the fun. I was unable to put the book down as I really wanted to see how it would all come together at the end. The action sequences of the novel were great with rescues, duels, etc. I could see this book as a great movie. The swashbuckling adventures reminded me strongly of The Scarlet Pimpernel.

Overall, The Masqueraders is an adventure not to be missed! It is a fun filled adventure with unique characters. I also love Georgette Heyer's style of writing, and like seeing a slightly different setting for this work.

The Masqueraders may be my all-time favorite Heyer novel. The story is one long adventure and quite enjoyable. The line I remember best is "Thank God fasting," advice given to Sir Anthony Fanshawe unless I am mistaken. It took me some time to puzzle out the meaning, and it makes me laugh every time I re-read the book. The novel is a delight.

This rather short book had all the right elements to make it work. A likable hero and heroine who were meant for each other, gender bending comedy, high risk adventure, and a bit of a mystery to unravel.

The hero is very serious (yet not dull, thankfully) and so is the heroine and you know right off that they are perfect for one another. That said, she is masquerading as a man and her brother as a woman. Needless to say, falling in love for both of them proves both problematic and amusing. They have lived a life as wandering adventurers with their father --- following questionable causes (thus the disguises) and masquerading as anything but what they really are. The plot point being, they aren't really sure what they are. When their father tries to claim his rightful place in English society, even his own children aren't sure what is a lie and what is truth.

What keeps the hero and her brother likable is that despite their almost con artist life, they are genuinely good people and a tight knit family. Conversely, having scruples also gets in the way of true love for our heroine which our hero is more than capable of handling.

One my favorite GH stories and highly recommended.

Published in 1928 and one of Georgette Heyer's earlier novels, The Masqueraders introduces us to the incomparable brother and sister pair known as Prudence and Robin Merriot.

The book opens late one evening, with Prudence and Robin escaping the weather at an inn in the middle of nowhere. They overhear a young girl pleading with an aggressive suitor. It quickly becomes apparent while the young heiress may have willingly chosen to run off with the young man, Letty Grayson has had a change of heart. The suitor is enamored of her beautiful looks and large fortune and does not intend to let her go. Prudence and Robin quickly devise and execute a daring rescue plan. When Miss Grayson's rescuer Sir Tony Fanshawe arrives on the scene shortly thereafter, Prudence and Robin have the situation well in hand.

Letty Grayson considers Tony to be the man her father would choose for her and dismisses him as staid and respectable. But the astute Prudence sees something special in Sir Tony Fanshawe. And Letty Grayson finds a mysterious hero in Robin. While Robin and Prudence decide to spend some time in London with their new friends, they are constrained by their past adventures. As their father's mistakes and their escapades threaten to expose them, Prudence and Tony are aware that this time the stakes are painfully high and they are both in danger of losing their hearts.

With Prudence dressing as a young boy and Robin dressing as a young girl, the many costume changes, the small deceptions, the abductions, and the threat of exposure, this is a fun escape. Georgette Heyer's The Masqueraders is the sort of lighthearted comedy that I thoroughly enjoy.

ISBN-10: 1402219504
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca; Reprint edition (December 1, 2009), 336 pages.
Review copy provided by the publisher.

This is one of the last Georgette Heyer novels that I got round to reading - it seemed hard to get hold of at local libraries. Having now read it, I can't understand why it is not more popular as I believe it's one of Heyer's better books. Although in some ways it bears similarity to Powder & Patch in terms of language (and I wasn't too keen on that book), the plot is far more enjoyable and twisted.

It helps to know that the two characters we meet at the beginning, Mr Peter Merriott and Miss Kate Merriott, are actually sister and brother in disguise. "Peter" is actually Miss Prudence and her brother, who was involved in the Jacobite rebellion and is therefore in some danger, disguises himself as a woman. Heyer gives us a few clues as to how this is successful - Robin (the brother) is unusually short for a man, it's the era when women painted their faces, he wears tight corsets, but overall this is a slight weakness in the plot, as is the thought that a woman dressed in man's clothes would pass for a man over a period of several weeks. One just glosses over it, however, and enjoys the fun of the masquerade as Prudence, dressed up as Peter Merriott, gets involved in London society and visits Gentlemen's clubs, challenges a man to a duel and finds herself in love with a very tall man who has befriended her - as Peter. Her brother Robin also falls in love with a young lady he rescued and it's the tortuous ways in which the young couple perform their masquerade which adds to the fun. Their father appears who is the mastermind behind their plans, and claims that he is a Viscount; there is much humour in the scenes with him as he is such an egocentric character.

The highlight of the book for me is the interaction between Prudence, disguised as Mr Peter Merriott, and Sir Anthony Fanshawe, with whom she falls in love. These two characters are well-portrayed and come across as well-suited when the final unmasking takes place.

I heartily recommend this book for a great fun read with interesting characters set in a fascinating period of English history.

Another one of my favourite Georgette Heyer romance novels -- though truth to tell I have so many favourite Georgette Heyer novels that I've begun to think that it may be actually more enlightening to list the ones that I believe only merit 3 1/2 stars! But, with a plot can (successfully) boast of possessing the elements of romance, adventure and intrigue, "The Masqueraders" definitely does merit a 5 star rating.
Prudence Merriot and her brother, Robin, are back in England again because their father (affectionately dubbed by his children as "the old gentleman") has a plan to restore their fortunes. Used to a life on the run (the Merriots, or rather Robin, were involved in the most recent Jacobin uprising) and of adventure, both Prudence and Robin are beginning to find such a life chafing, esp now that they've met the elegant Sir Anthony Fanshawe and the enchanting Miss Letty Grayson. Both Sir Anthony and Letty are members of the ton, and would look for utter respectability from their potential spouses. Would either ever contemplate tying themselves to Prudence or Robin with their shady pasts and their rascally father? And on top of it all there is a further complication: Prudence is masquerading as a man, and Robin as a woman! How on earth can the Merriot siblings hope to woo and be wooed when they're both pretending to be something that they are not!
What I rather liked about "The Masqueraders," aside from the cleverly done cross dressing subplot, was that Ms Heyer showed us that a hero and heroine could be sensible, quietish and pleasantly good looking and still be the kind of hero and heroine that most readers would thrill to -- heroes and heroines didn't always have to be devastatingly good looking or rakish. Prudence and Sir Anthony are (both) my type of hero and heroine, and are the perfect foils for Letty and Robin -- the better looking and more dramatic couple. And really liking both the hero and heroine, I've found, can go a long way to making a novel a lot more enjoyable. So that, even though the language was at times a bit dated, my whole hearted liking of Prudence, Sir Anthony, Robin and Letty, together with a very swiftly paced and exciting storyline, made "The Masqueraders" a thoroughly fun reread.

The delightful romp is set earlier than Heyer's Regency romances, just after the Jacobite rebellion. It has its share of drama, even death, yet I find its greatest charm in the characters - Prue, Robin, Sir Anthony and My Lord Barham as they negotiate their masquerade in high society. There is less social satire and a touch of Heyer's mysteries as we, with polite society, wait to learn the outcome of My Lord's claim, as Prue and Robin 'walk the maze' of their father's making. It is unique in Heyer's writings, I believe, and the deft world creation, the lightness of touch does not hide the fears and uncertainties of a nation recovering from a failed Rebellion. I have read this book many times, and it never fails to please.

I enjoyed it tremendously, adorable from start to finish. Full of sword fights, romance, and fun. As always well written with detailed character development. It will be a sad day when I run out of Georgette Heyer books to read for the second time. Maybe I will get Alzheimer’s and be able to enjoy reading them again.

Georgette Heyer has been my favorite non-classical writer since I was introduced to her Regency romances about five years ago. These are witty, engaging stories set in carefully and fully described historical settings. No heaving bosoms at all, much less anything sexual other than the occasional heart-felt kiss. Instead, while the vast majority of romances are over-heated and forgettable, most Heyer aficionados keep and reread her books, and buy them for presents for friends.

This was a nice atypical romance story, having not one but two characters disguised as the opposite sex. While the whole book was interesting with the Old Gentleman's arrogant self-confidence that's supported by his crafty ways, and Robin's playing the part of romantic hero despite being disguised as a woman most of the time, the way the characters of Prudence and Sir Anthony develop is what makes this book a very good and unique read as neither character would be a likely heroine or hero in most novels. Overall, a nice romp with a lot of adventure and some enjoyable comic moments.

Although Georgette Heyer is best known for her Regency novels, The Masqueraders is one of her occasional books set in some other time and/or place. Although the year is never referenced, judging by the description of clothing and the fact that it is set shortly after one of the failed Jacobite rebellions in England, I would place it in the mid-1700s.

In The Masqueraders we meet Mr. and Miss Merriott, a young brother and sister on their way to London. Shortly into the story -- in chapter 3 -- the reader discovers that Mr. Peter Merriott is actually Miss Prudence Colney and Miss Merriott is actually her brother Robin (the way Heyer reveals this is a bit cryptic; had I not read the blurb on the back cover I think I might have had some difficulty in making sense of it). Having participated to some degree in the late Jacobite uprising, they are wanted fugitives: hence their elaborate masquerade. They are to stay in London with a family friend who knows their true identities, there to await the arrival of their father, an adventurer (translation: con artist) who has led his children through numerous escapades all over Europe their entire young lives.

The plan is that Prudence and Robin will keep a low profile; however, starting with the opening scene when they rescue a pretty young miss from the brutish man who is attempting to abduct her, they do anything but. They soon find themselves in more entanglements than they ever bargained for. And then to top it off, their father arrives with a huge splash on the London scene, claiming to be the long-lost Viscount Tremaine. In the meantime, both Robin and Prudence have fallen in love, and it appears that at least one of their love interests has figured out that they are not who they are pretending to be. Will they ever be able disengage themselves from this elaborate masquerade and settle down to a respectable life of true happiness?

To enjoy this book, I think the reader first has to suspend all expectation of realism; it is impossible to believe that a young man, in particular, could have passed himself off convincingly in drag in 18th century England, and Heyer fails to convince, skipping over many details as she does. However, if you just accept that this is a fun and fanciful adventure, if not a realistic one, then you should enjoy the ride. Heyer's old-fashioned style (this was written early in her career, in the 1920s) as well as her command of the details of dress, manner, and speech of society at that time, give the book a strong sense of the time and place (one of Heyer's trademarks). In typical Heyer style the hero and heroine (Prudence and Robin) were immensely likeable, and their conceited, egocentric, controlling father immensely insufferable (it seems to be a Heyer trait to make one of her MC's parents insufferable). In particular, I liked the inconclusive way she ended the book. I don't want to spoil anything for those who have not yet read it, so I will just say that I was not sure what the truth really was......

I didn't enjoy this as much as some of her others (particularly The Conqueror and A Civil Contract), but it was a fun, frolicsome adventure with a strong flavor of 18th century England.

Brother and sister trying to evade the authorities (they're Jacobites) by switching identities and genders, but they get caught up in the beau monde by coming to the rescue of an eloping heiress with second thoughts. Always a tom-boy, I loved the heroine's strength and non-conformism. The hero is placid and intelligent with surprising depths of humor. As usual, her secondary characters are brilliant, with the heroine's father stealing the show.
If you haven't read Heyer this is a great start. If you have, and missed this one, you'll be thrilled.

what can one say? this is a masterpiece.
filled with romance, adventures, danger, intrigue and wild, crystal laughter! the girl masquerades as a boy and the boy as a girl, while their father is trying to make them rich and titled, by uncovering secrets of the past. or are they lies?
meanwhile, the brother and sister are involved in romances that threaten to expose them or make them lose their chance of happiness forever.
i have read this book about a million times. or maybe more......

While this strains credulity more then some, the characters are charming and the situations are alternately amusing and suspenseful. As amusing as when I read it as a teenager – perhaps more so now that I can better appreciate the style. The father character was working up to the Duke of Avon, I believe.

"~The Masqueraders was the first Heyer novel I ever read, and it hooked me right away. Georgette Heyer takes the most unlikely characters, situations, and dialogue, and turns them into an effervescent treat. Nothing that happens is believable, but she tells it with such conviction that you don't care! man-mountain with perspicacity, midnight swordfights, masquerades-within-masquerades, and the most high-handed foppish audacity possible embedded in one old gentleman, this book makes for extremely entertaining reading.

THE MASQUERADERS by Georgette Heyer is worth a reread at anytime. Robin and Prudence, who do not know their own name, need to hide. Where! But right in the middle of Regency society as they trade places and identities. Prudence becomes the boom companion of Sir Anthony Fanshawe and all goes well until she is challenged to a duel.
A pure delight of a historical romance.
Nash Black, author of SINS OF THE FATHERS and TRAVELERS.

An enjoyable read, though a bit of a stretch that only one main character could see through the masquerader's disguises. Not my top favorite Georgette Heyer novel, but would recommend it a one of her better ones.

An enjoyable read, though a bit of a stretch that only one main character could see through the masquerader's disguises. Not my top favorite Georgette Heyer novel, but would recommend it a one of her better ones.

10+ "The Masqueraders" is an excellent Georgette Heyer historical romance. No author has come remotely close to the elegence, style, and knowledge Georgette Heyer brought to her characters and the period. She is the standard to which all historical romance writers aspire-or should.
I have been re-reading "The Masqueraders" and her other books for over 20 years. If you could but see my poor, beat-up, yellow-paged, cover-torn paperback edition for which I originally paid 75 cents!
In an age where sex scenes are "de riguer" (as Miss Heyer would write), it is a true testimonial that I unerringly return to my favorite writer of all time year after year. Nothing steamier than a kiss, but oh, how she entices you with her words!
Frankly, I wouldn't go near a deserted island without my Georgette Heyer's!

All the gender bending got a bit confusing, but what a hoot. My first Hyer book despite hearing of her since I was a teen. A good way to start. I'll be dipping into her backlist for a while, I'm sure.

I love Georgette Heyer books and this is my personal favourite. I also discoverd a superb book with a similar feel and flavour called The Adventurers by Michelle Martin. If you loved this then I gaurantee you will also love that. Link below...

The Adventurers

THIS INGENIOUS STORY OF MS. HEYER'S COULD MAKE AN OUTSTANDING MINI-SERIES THAT WOULD RIVAL A&E TELE- VISIONS "PRIDE & PREJUDICE" AND "TOM JONES"!! I TRUELY HOPE THAT ONE DAY WORD OF THIS INCREDIBLE TALE REACHES THE EARS OF A&E AND THE BBC AND IS BROUGHT TO LIFE FOR ALL TO ENJOY!!!

This is a charming romp by Georgette Heyer. Highly recommended!

However, if you must buy THIS (Harlequin) edition, I suggest that you find an older edition of the book at your local library - and then go through and revise all the typos in your NEW edition. Otherwise, you'll find yourself confused and mentally thrown out of the story whenever the text makes no sense. Sadly, this happens with depressing frequency. Note that I've given this book only four stars because of this annoying problem.

I think around chapter three, New bags are introduced and I thought there was some kind of mix up and two books had been mixed or that I was reading some kind of flashback. There is also a lot of foreign words and special phrases, but it you can navigate through it all, you'll get a great read.

Never as popular as Georgette Heyer's classics "Regency Buck" and "These Old Shades," "Masqueraders is nevertheless one of Heyer's best. Wrapped in a frothy tangle of gender-bending siblings, highway robbery and frivolous court intrigue, this Regency romp is a triumph in the high style fans of the genre prize most. The tender center of the farce is the romance of Prudence, who must hide her woman's form and heart to protect her family, and the one man who could be worthy of her love....if he only would stop calling her "boy."

This is my very favorite Georgette Heyer Novel... and I do not make that judgement lightly! I've read them ALL and I think Masqueraders is at the pinnacle of Ms. Heyers style and grace! I continually re-read my favorite books, and I re-read this one, at least, once a year

Of course, no Georgian ne Jacobean period piece would be complete without sword fights. When one of the fencers is a lady fencing to keep up her disguise as a gentleman, well! And things just get better. Of course, her brother is disguised as . . . . My favorite hero rescues the damsel in distress/disguise and fishes her brother out of hot water. It's all in a day's work from one of my favorite authors. I wore the cover out on this one almost 40 years ago. Believe me, Ms Heyer stands the test of time!

A great read, leaves you guessing to the end. As usual, Heyer brings her characters to life. Her books contain my favorite escape worlds. Masqueraders is one of her best. Chock full of swordplay too! She always casts strong female characters, this one even more so. You will read it more than once.

Of course, no Georgian ne Jacobean period piece would be complete without sword fights. When one of the fencers is a lady fencing to keep up her disguise as a gentleman, well! And things just get better. Of course, her brother is disguised as . . . . My favorite hero rescues the damsel in distress/disguise and fishes her brother out of hot water. It's all in a day's work from one of my favorite authors. I wore the cover out on this one almost 40 years ago. Believe me, Ms Heyer stands the test of time!

I was extremely suprized by this Georgette Heyer book. It is way different than Fridays Child, The Nonesuch, or Cotillion. I have read many of her books, but this one was more of a mystery laced with romance. Initally the first several chapters in this book were hard to understand, there is a very involved plot, and it was hard to figure out what was going on. So after my intial read, I re-read it and I loved it! Filled with dangerous plots, mystery, a brave heroine, and romance. This book will keep you at the edge of your seat!!!