The Quiet Gentleman (Regency Romances)

Perfect as usual for Georgette Heyer. Great plot depth and clean writing. She can describe and set the setting in a few choice words. Also she has brought her strong female characters out and into the plot. An excellent read!

Have been reading a lot of Georgette Heyer's books this winter and really enjoying the genre. The books are so painstakingly authentic. The language in particular for me is such fun. Really enjoyed this book.

Another of Heyer's triumphs! Though I knew the end from the beginning, the getting there is all the fun. I laughed and smiled all the way to the end. Another winner for those of us that love her way of transporting us into another time and place.

I was bit disappointed in this Heyer's novel. Having been a fan of Georgette Heyer for mor years than I care to remember, this was not among her best. It was a bit over adjectives and unnecessarily wordy.

Honestly, it is a rather boring book. I really had to force myself to get through this one. I didn't really take to the players. There was little character development, so you felt like you were on the outside and not embracing them. Lots of castle description as another reviewer pointed out. I enjoyed Toll Gate and Grand Sophey. This one I could have skipped.

Light-hearted romances ("romance" in the original, literary sense) are sometimes sneered at because they aren't Dostoevsky or Tolstoy, but not every good, readable novel has to be -- or even should aspire to be -- great literature. Heyer was the master of the Regency-period historical (she basically invented the genre) and her books stay in print decade after decade. She always did an excellent job not only in creating characters possessed of individuality but of setting them firmly in the milieu of middle-to-upper-class English society. I've seen complaints by some present-day readers that the early 19th century is just too strange or foreign, they don't understand the slang, they can't picture what people are wearing, and the mores are alien. But restricting oneself to reading only about the familiar and everyday is mentally limiting. And if you feel compelled to pause and look up "curricle" in your dictionary, that's a good thing. Yes, Heyer's view of history is socially selective -- she isn't Dickens -- but the detail she presents is highly accurate.

In this one, Capt. Gervase Frant is serving in France when his father dies and he inherits the earldom of St. Erth. He sells out his commission and returns home (though he takes his time about it) to take up his responsibilities and estates. His mother, unfortunately, had run off with a bounder shortly after Ger's birth and when she died in poverty a few years later, the old man remarried, had another son, and pretty much ignored his heir. The younger half-brother, Martin, now in his early twenties, has been spoiled all his life and both he and the earl's second wife hoped Gervase would do the proper thing and die in battle, thereby making Martin the heir, as he clearly felt he deserved. The new earl is something of a dandy, but a quiet, undemonstrative one. He's also an excellent horseman and a patient master to his underlings -- though dealing with the lazy, egotistical Dowager Countess who plainly resents his existence is certainly a trial. Martin is a pain in the neck, too, but at least there's Theo, Gervase's first cousin, who has managed the St. Erth estates for years and done an excellent job of it. There's also the lovely young Miss Marianne Bolderwood on a neighboring estate, whom Martin considers his personal property; she's a featherbrain but a nice one and the earl pays her close attention. And there's Miss Drusilla Morville, the daughter of two intellectuals and authors; she's not especially attractive and admits she doesn't know how to be romantic, but she's of a very practical turn of mind, pays attention to what's going on around her, knows how to get things done, and even enjoys organizing the earl's welcome-home ball. And she doesn't faint at the sight of blood, which turns out to be useful when a series of accidents seem to zero in on Gervase. All in all, it's a good story, though a bit predictable, and the resolution of the mystery is somewhat telegraphed. Still, there's a reason Heyer's novels have been continually popular for three generations.

My second Heyer book was a bit different because there was a big mystery in it, still it was not one of her true mystery novel. There is romance, mystery and the stillness that is proper manners.

First I was not sure about this one, mostly cos I felt Gervase was going after the wrong woman. Well I feared so. Though that fixes itself because he is a very quiet gentleman. A proper and nice man, a bit too nice actually. But then I do think Heyer seemed to like second chances and being all nice and all.

Back to the story. Gervase comes home. His younger step-brother resents him because he wants to be lord of the manor and get the pretty girl. Soon strange things start to happen. Who wants to kill Gervase? And that is the question. The way she continued to spin things did have me wondering even if I guessed it (ok I did not settle, I had options).

Martin the step-brother was very young and rushed into things. Still I never disliked him. Cousin Theo was all nice and managed things around the place. Miss Morville I liked from the start and hoped Gervase would fall for her. Miss Bolderwood was the beauty everyone fell for but yes just too pretty and nice (not the smartest cookie in the jar). Lucy (not a girl, just a nick-name) was Gervase's friend and fell for the local beauty too. But before you think everyone fell for her, I think I can spoil things and say that Gervase did not. It's not really a spoiler since he kind of realizes it at once. It was a full cast of characters who all brought something to the book.

And again, everyone is just so proper and it is fantastic. The style is truly Austen and the language so too. I can't help to giggle when a certain young woman cries that someone tried to make love to her. Oh the phrasing is just wonderful. She meant kiss, nothing more.

Still I did feel it was a bit slow at times, but I enjoyed it none the less.

Conclusion:
Heyer is just fun.

About the book:
Gervase Frant returns home after surviving the Napoleanic Wars. Gervase is now the Earl of St. Erth and is home to claim himself as master of the estate known as Stanyon Manor. His step-mother Lady St.Erth, and step-brother Martin, are both openly unhappy about this. Also staying at Stanyon Castle are Gervase's cousin Theo and Miss Morville who is a guest.
One day while out riding, Gervase stumbles upon a maiden in distress. Miss Marianne Bolderwood has fallen off her horse.
Gervase notices right away how lovely Marianne is and begins, like so many others, to give her his attentions. This makes Martin furious, he thinks that Marianne is his personal property and plans to marry her someday, fueling his hatred of Gervase even more.

With Gervase waking in the middle of the night swearing someone was just in his room, to his being setup to purposely take a tumble off his horse, the new Earl has the distinct feeling that the jealous Martin is behind it all. Miss Morville actually tries to help Gervase figure out who is trying to do him harm and she becomes a good friend to the new Earl.

My thoughts:
Since I first read Heyer's work she has reminded me of Jane Austen.
Heyer brings Regency England to life in her stories, and as I read, I am instantly transported there. She set a Gothic mood in this novel from the start with her description of Stanyon Manor and I really enjoyed that.
Heyer had a knack for creating fun characters and storylines. There was a sweet and unexpected romance in the plot.

Gervase Frant himself is a well thought out character and he is definitely The Quiet Gentleman, never losing his composure and finding clever ways to get through difficult situations. He makes for a great hero.
There's a duel, people wandering the castle at night, a ball, men fighting over a female, witty dialogue and murder attempts. What more could you want in a book?

I giggled as I read, was swept into the storyline and sighed as I turned the last page. Heyer had me guessing until the end and the person behind trying to harm Gervase wasn't who I thought it would be.

"Good God! The fellow's nothing but a curst dandy!"
- p.13

With interesting characters, a Gothic like mansion, a dash of humor and some romance, you have a fun mystery the likes of which only Georgette Heyer can weave.

I have read several Georgette Heyer novels and I don't seem to get bored with her wonderful stories, unique characters and great eye for historical detail. The Quiet Gentleman is a bit different from the other Heyer novels I have read. There isn't so much romance here. Instead, there is a mystery suspense plot. I am not bothered with that. Her characters are as memorable as ever and the backdrop of the Regency period is as authentic-sounding as ever. Gervase Frant, Earl of St. Erth, has returned home after surviving the Napoleonic Wars. To his step-family's disappointment, he has not only survived the last battle, Waterloo, he has come to claim his place as master of the estate. His family is now determined to make his life as unhappy as possible. And there is the matter that someone has tried to kill him since he arrives. He suspects his step-family of doing this of course. After all, his stepbrother has a lot to gain by having him killed. But Gervase takes it all with quiet dignity. He sets his eyes on a couple of young ladies, including one Miss Morville, all of this while watching his back and awaiting the opportunity to catch the people who want him dead. There are some twists throughout the novel.

The most impressive part of The Quiet Gentleman is the humor. Once again, Georgette Heyer has created an amazing romp that had me in stitches in various occasions. The dialogue is so full of subtle sarcasm and undeniable wit and I marveled at the author's ability at coming up with such lines. Again, I have to compare her to Jane Austen. Anyone who has hungered for a Jane Austen read other than the stuff she wrote can feast on Georgette Heyer as the next best thing. Another great thing about this novel is the characterization. I like Gervase because there's a quiet confidence about him that makes him a compelling and enjoyable hero. This is the second Heyer novel I have read that concentrates on the hero more than the heroine (The Unknown Ajax was the other one). Romance isn't the focus on this story, but, as I said earlier, I'm not in the least bit bothered with that. Heyer had established herself as a three-dimensional writer that branches out of the genre and creates stories and endings that are less predictable than most romances. And of course the other thing that I loved about this book is the accurate description of Regency England. Many romance authors resort to anachronisms in order to keep the story interesting because they don't know how to, or perhaps don't want to combine the rules of propriety as things were at the time with a plausible and passionate story. Georgette has done the aforementioned combination beautifully in her novels. Anyway, The Quiet Gentleman is a must read. You will love the quirky characters, the great suspense plot and the incredible wit. I have combined this read with another Regency book by an author called Loretta Chase and I think Heyer must've inspired the aforementioned author because she writes in a similar style and I loved her novel as well. I had so much fun reading the two books. If you are new to Georgette Heyer, this is a great place to start. I recommend this gem. If you get the Harlequin reprint (I found an out-of-print trade paperback at an used bookstore), I suggest you read the story first and then the forewords from romance authors (if there are any) afterwards, for they tend to use spoilers.

"The Quiet Gentleman" is a historical romantic suspense novel set in the Regency Era in England. I liked both of the romances, with one couple seeming so well suited for each other and the other involving the man coming to appreciate the initially overlooked finer qualities that the woman has. The conflict was created by family resentment over Gervase inheriting the title and estates and between the men vying for innocently flirty Marianne.

The mystery involved who was attacking Gervase and how Gervase was going to resolve all the conflict (including dealing with whomever was attacking him). Sometimes Heyer has the prime suspect really be the "whodunit," and sometimes she has it be someone else. I wasn't entirely sure which it was in this story until near the end, so I had two main suspects until then. I enjoyed trying to puzzle this out.

The characters were engaging, interesting, and acted in realistic ways. The setting and historical details brought the story alive in my imagination. There was some explicit bad language. There was no sex. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable novel.

It probably would have been this book: a gentle story of mannerly, upper-class people set in Regency England that is primarily a novel of manners but with a hint of romance and suspense. As in all of Heyer's Regency books (at least the few I have read so far), her command of that era is so masterful that it makes for a strong and unshakeable sense of that time and place. In The Quiet Gentleman, in particular, her writing reads as though it were written during that time, not during the 20th century; except for a slightly more streamlined and modern use of language, The Quiet Gentleman reads almost as though it were written by Ms. Austen herself.

That is this book's biggest strength; that and the occasional flashes of wit and tongue-in-cheek humor. I'm thinking in particular of the few scenes near the end of the book involving Mr. and Mrs. Morville; they were wonderfully drawn characters whose appearances were all too brief. Drusilla Morville, the main heroine, was also a wonderful character; she is level-headed, strong, and ever-so practical, although of only mediocre appearance. And when she realizes that she has fallen in love with Gervase Frant, the main character, she is certain he feels nothing for her and bemoans the fact that she cannot even swoon; after all, if she could only occasionally swoon like any well-bred young lady, that would certainly give her some attraction in Gervase's eyes.

But other than these occasional bright spots, The Quiet Gentleman is an apt title for this book, as I found it overall pretty dull. Gervase Frant is a phlegmatic character who, although quite handsome and quite the fashion plate, expresses very little emotion and certainly never stirs any in the reader. His romance with Drusilla Morville proceeds at a quiet, gentle, gradual pace and comes to a quiet and predictable conclusion, just like a Jane Austen novel. And although there is an element of suspense to the story, it is very mild and very predictable; there are two obvious suspects who have strong motives for wanting Gervase dead, and the culprit does indeed end up being one of the two.

The only weaknesses in the book, other than its overall dullness, are the occasional lapses into farce. For instance, when Gervase Frant returns home unscathed from the Napoleonic Wars to claim his title and his inheritance, his step-mother and half-brother are quite open and unabashed in expressing their disappointment that he wasn't killed in battle. I am certain that no decent person, even in the ill-mannered 21st century much less the gently-mannered 19th, would express such an opinion so plainly and openly. And then it was made worse when they inevitably followed up their comments by telling Gervase that it was really ok, because he was a decent fellow and they really didn't wish him ill.

Others have commented that this is one of their favorite Heyers; in fact, Karen Hawkins, in her very nice introduction to this edition, says that. However, I found it overall too dull and nondescript to be a favorite; I still have several Heyers in my to-be-read pile and am certain there must be some more engaging stories among them. But admittedly, I am not a fan of Jane Austen; so to those of you who are, The Quiet Gentleman might very well be a favorite.

STORY BRIEF:
Gervase (Ger) is the heir. His mother ran off with a lover which caused Ger's father to hate Ger. The father remarried and had a second son Martin. Ger has been away for a long time. The Earl died. Ger now returns to his inherited entailed estate. Martin inherited everything else. Ger's cousin Theo is living there and has been an excellent manager of the estates in Ger's absence. Ger's friend Lucius (Lucy) visits. Martin's mother the Dowager also lives there. She is haughty and boring. She asked Drusilla to stay with her to keep her company while Drusilla's parents were traveling. Drusilla is plain looking, perceptive, very smart, and has a lot of common sense. Ger was in the military and is a highly skilled swordsman. He is handsome, intelligent, calm, quiet, and amazingly courteous to Martin and the Dowager who are rude and dislike him.

Ger's life is in danger. There are several attempts to hurt/kill him. Martin is the obvious suspect because he is very open about his hatred of Ger. His other motive is inheriting the estate.

A secondary story involves beautiful Marianne. Almost every man who sees her wants her including Martin, Ger, and Lucy. In order to spend time with her, Ger hosts a party.

REVIEWER'S OPINION:
As an audiobook, this was a pleasant way to spend time. The best parts were the characters. The author is so good at pulling different types of people (whom I've probably known and forgotten about) into the story. Although Martin is kind of a bad guy, toward the end of the book I was enjoying his character - maybe because he was so open and never tried to hide his thoughts or feelings. He couldn't control his emotions and acted without thinking. He was angry blaming Ger for everything in his life that went wrong. Ger told someone that Martin never sees beyond his nose. Martin probably had some smarts, but they weren't visible through his immature rants and rages. I was chuckling over Martin. He was fun to read about.

The main story is a mystery - who is trying to kill Ger? It was good. I didn't feel like we are slowly unraveling clues at the author's whim. It's not a traditional mystery of someone dead, and the rest of the story is figuring out who did it. This is a series of harmful occurrences that we are living through.

There is a bit of romance at the end, but there is no developing romance during the story. It's more of a respectful friendship. That was ok, but I would have liked more emotional something.

The narrator Cornelius Garrett is one of my favorites. He's good.

DATA:
Unabridged audiobook length: 10 hours. Narrator: Cornelius Garrett. Swearing language: none. Sexual content: none. Setting: 1816 England. Book Published: 1951. Genre: regency mystery.

Quite different from the other Heyer books I have read. The character of each castle member revealed itself through the course of the story, slowly. Even Martin and the Dowager, who appeared fully exposed at the beginning of the book, revealed additional sides to them. Quite fun to see the evolution of each character as the story progressed.

The only other Georgette Heyer work that I have read before is Cotillion when I was a teenager. I loved it, but somehow, missed out on reading more of her work as I grew up. I found the Arrow reprints on a book shelf in a shop in Cardiff, Wales. and brought them home to read.

It is warm, filled with laughter and brightness. Innocence is wonderfully cherished in this book and the characters are sparkling with humour and wit like diamonds. It is a remarkable book, light read for anyone who likes romance and it also something that picks you up from pits of depression if you are likely to encounter those in your life.

The Quiet Gentleman is the third Heyer book I have read and the most enjoyable. It is about an Earl who returns from war only to find he is not welcome by his Stepbrother or Stepmother both of whom who wished he had died in the war. Once home he is beset by "accidents" and that is where the mystery comes in. The Sense comes in with Miss Morville who seems to know the common sense approach to any problem. I really liked her because she wasn't some silly female who swoons she actually is helpful in the midst of a mystery. I also liked her because is not a size 2 and gorgeous. She is plumb and ok looking. And yet she is the one of the love interests in the story not just a side charecter. This is a good book give it a try.

I really enjoyed this story all the way through. It is a very well-done book. There's humor a la Jane Austen, suspense, and light romance. Very light. You love the protagonists, but it takes a LONG time to find out that they love each other. I don't think it necessarily sprang up out of the blue, but it is hard to see. Great book, and if you don't mind that the romance doesn't really figure in too much until the end, go for it!!

Mystery and romance. Very entertaining with plenty of twists and turns. I figured it out early on (natch) but for a while she kept me guessing esp regarding who the hero would end up with. I really liked Gervace the hero - smart, gentlemanly, brave and of course quietly keeping his thoughts close to the vest.

This review applies to the BBC unabridged audio version--

This is more mature Heyer, I think, with slightly more realistically drawn characters and a mystery, in addition to the great regency detail,humor,and romance, of course. Heyer's dialogue gives stage veteran Cornelius Garrett a perfect vehicle to showcase his great theatrical range, deftly serving up a wide range of characters and propelling the story along very smartly, with exuberance and just the right "tone." A conscientious and talented reader with a great ear and "excellent understanding" makes all the difference in these audio editions. Please, could we have some more Heyer audio??

Gervase Frant, Lord St. Erth, heir to broad acres and an ancient and variegated pile known as Stanyon, returns from the Napoleonic Wars to find he is something less than welcome in the ancestral bosom. His widowed stepmother would greatly have preferred his glorious death in battle on the Continent. She has no desire to relinquish her position, and she has hoped that her own son Martin would inherit.
The Earl, in his quiet way, quickly makes a conquest of two eligible young ladies on the scene, but it becomes almost immediately apparent that someone at Stanyon would prefer to have him die by a means more sudden than old age.
Georgette Heyer's comical genius never fails to deliver delight. Much better than anything Jane Austen ever wrote!!!

An unwanted heir has returned to his ancestral home after a prolonged absence as a military man. His step-family secretly wish he'd either died at Waterloo or failed to return home. He had extended his absence by nearly two years.
Only Drusilla Morville has kind thoughts for the young Earl of St. Erth, but can she save him from the clutches of Marianne Bolderwood who wishes to become his duchess.
The great style of Georgette Heyer is evident in THE QUITE GENTLEMAN.
Nash Black, author of SINS OF THE FATHERS and HAINTS.

This is Georgette Heyer at her best! She fills the story with extraordinary characters, wonderful suspense, and all the great style of the Regency period. It seems to be well researched, which I believe Ms. Heyer is famous for, and is beautifully written. It is one of those classic books I want to keep and read again and again. I loved the quirky characters, the suspense, and the witty interaction. Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca for my review copy.

An indifferent Heyer novel, however, is worth three books by a lesser author.

My problems with this book are that I found it difficult to like the protagonist (I didn't dislike him, either; I simply found him uninteresting), I found the plot very easy to predict, and the romance seemed to me to spring up out of the blue. Most of Heyer's novels are much better than this, with beautifully-drawn characters and believable romances.

If this were by anyone else, I probably would have given it 4 stars, but it's only an average Heyer novel and not an outstanding one.

As always, Georgette Heyer's humor is the driving force in this wonderful story! Her ability to see the satirical in all social situations make her books an enchanting read. The Quiet Gentleman includes a murderous plot, with the usual mix of gentle romance. A thoroughly enjoyable romp through Regency English society!

Excellent example of a Heyer romp through 19th century mores and period dress, barely concealing that SHE is indeed the basis for all of her romantic female leading characters...check her bio, this is not a history.