The Nabob's Widow

Today is my day for wallowing in the past and checking out a few things I read far too many years ago. I see that a second-hand copy of this book now costs an extortionate amount! Well, mine will stay on the keeper shelf, thank you! I started reading Elsie Lee in high school and think I have every book she wrote carefully packed away. But, without doubt (with a nod to Second Season), this one was my favourite of her regency stories. Her contemporary novels were vaguely "suspense" stories but, in my opinion, she really hit her forte with her regency-set novels.Elsie Lee will always be remembered by me for witty writing and crisp, clever dialogue. This is the story of a handsome and witty marquess who returns to London to find his uncle's 20 year old widow, siamese cats and various servants ensconced in his townhouse having just returned from India. The action takes place over Christmas (always a favourite time frame for me) and brings in a large and well-drawn extended family.Faith Baldwin was quoted on the back cover my my copy as saying "an enchanting book ... it has wit, humor, marvelous characterisations and atmosphere". Indeed it does. Would I pay to replace my copy? Yes!

This is one of the best regency novels ever written, on a par with Georgette Heyer's best. Unusally written from the hero's point of view, from where his uncle's "little dab" of a young widow comes into his life with her ladies companion, hindu servants, talking bird, mongoose and two siamese cats (oh, those cats!), it abounds with wit and humor. The change in this lord's life, from ennui to awareness of his own desires, and the machinations of the Nabob's Widow with his family and friends, are a pure joy to read.