Powder and Patch (Historical Romances, 6)

Georgette Heyer is in a class all her own with her quirky and witty `romance' novels. Nothing like today's books of the genre, which are over-sexed and rarely authentic, the antiquated cadences and dialect simply cannot be matched by contemporary writers. In Powder and Patch, you will find on the first page the following phrase: Page 1 "...glaring white erection, stark-naked and blatant..." This refers to a building, and I do not think for a moment that it was written with sexual innuendos. It's really very interesting to see the turns of phrase used, even if they sound a little silly to us now. This is perhaps my favorite part of Heyer's writing style, though I enjoy her characters and their unpredictable escapades as well. Page 15 "By God sir, you are a damned dull dog!" Powder and Patch is set in early Georgian England, rather than the Regency era, but the mannerisms are nearly the same, though the dress is slightly different. Our protagonist is a country gentleman named Philip Jettan, who is very anti-dandy. He is in love with one of his neighbors, Miss Cleone and she likes him well enough, but longs for a lover who pays attention to the latest fashions and posses fine French manners. In desperation to win her affection he departs to meet his uncle in London, where they decide to travel to Paris to help Philip gain the very qualities that he himself deplores. "A while back I spoke of three gentlemen...to the tune of one whole chapter." The narration is unique - like the author is sitting by the fire reading aloud and suddenly looks up and inserts comments about her book. I find this style just as charming and entertaining as the lively characters. Because I so enjoyed Powder and Patch (finishing it in one day, nearly one sitting), I have ordered several of Heyer's Regency romances to give much needed breaks between my heftier historical reads. I can't wait to be amused by them!

When I initially read this book many years ago...I think I did not care for it because I don't remember rereading and it is much briefer and less polished than her later Regency romances. Recently, I reread this novel for the 1st time. Despite being a short novel, it start out very slow and the plot does not move along until about one quarter of the way though the novel. In the beginning Philip is happy to be just a country farmer, running his father's estate Tom's Pride. He has been born a gentleman but he does not have the manners of a gentleman. He has always been in love with Cleone Charteris, a neighbor's daughter but he does not woo her. He really takes his relationship with her for granted. Cleone is beautiful but childish and shallow, perhaps because this is a very early effort by Ms. Heyer who has not yet learned to create more complex and interesting heroines. After a humiliating short sword fight over Cleone with Henry Bancroft, another neighbor's foppish and disagreeable son (Henry is rusticating from London), rejection from Cleone, and pressure from his father Sir Maurice, Philip is determined to become the height of the fashionable 18th century gentleman to prove to Cleone and his father that he was more worthy as a country gentleman than as a shallow painted puppy. Philip disappears with his uncle to Paris to be trained by the uncle's aristocratic French friends. Philip is a very fast learner and rapidly becomes the delight of Paris for his exquisite taste in clothing and his sweet, humorous, refreshingly energetic personality. The ladies and gentlemen of Paris are enchanted with le petit Philippe; no party is dull when Philippe attends. Though other reviewers seem to prefer the pre-Paris Philip, I most definitely prefer the light-hearted Paris transformed Philip over the too serious country gentleman farmer. As Philip's uncle in London tells Sir Maurice (before Sir Maurice has met his transformed son), the new Philip is pure joy. Underneath his powder and patch, the old Philip is still there, but now he has acquired creative ways to express himself and no longer takes himself too seriously. Philip really is much more fun. I think a sense of humor is a very attractive trait in a man and Philip's sense humor is definitely improved by his stay in Paris. This novel reads more like a comedic play by Sheridan than a later Heyer Regency romance (which resemble Jane Austen novels).

In reading the reviews of this book, I found I felt a little different than some. I've read a number of Heyer's books and there are very few I can't put down. But this was not one of them. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the characters. It's not quite as good as my favorite, Devil's Cub, but I'd give it a solid 4 1/2 stars and recommend it to anyone that likes Heyer's.

This is one of my favourites, in spite of the fact that it is an early work (circa 1930) and as such lacks some of the polish and more rounded character portrayals we have all come to love and expect from Georgette Heyer. It is also a much shorter novel and is told in a very straightforward manner. However Ms Heyer's effervescent wit and obvious ability to tell a good and humourous story is already evident, thus making "Powder and Patch" an enjoyable and worthwhile read.Much to the chagrin of his father, Maurice Jettan, and his childhood sweetheart, the beautiful Cleone Charteris, Philip Jettan, is perfectly happy being a man of the country. Not for him the perfumed manners of the London drawing rooms! Unfortunately for Philip, Cleone has spent some time in London, where her beauty and grace had been much feted, and in a much more elegant and witty manner than Philip's unvarnished and from the heart declarations. Cleone would like Philip to acquire some city polish. And in this her desires are matched by Philip's father, Maurice. And so together the pair conspire; and the upshot of which is that Philip takes off for Paris in a fit of rage. Have Cleone and Maurice done the right thing? Is a more polished Philip what they really want? Cleone is beginning to wonder if she may have made the mistake of her life in scorning Philip's honest and unvarnished outpourings of love...I'll admit the first time I read this novel, I kept hoping that Philip would meet some nice and sensible young lady in Paris who would make him forget Cleone Charteris. Part of the problem was that I found myself unable to understand exactly what Cleone and Maurice found so wanting in Philip. Philip Jettan was sincere and true, unlike a great many romance heroes who (by comparison) come across as insincere women-haters. Years later I understood that "Powder and Patch" was actually a comedy of manners, written very much in the style of an 18th century play. Understanding this allowed me appreciate Cleone more. The joy to be gleaned from this novel is from "watching" Philip blossom and become more polished, watching him trying to teach Cleone a much needed lesson or two, and watching quick tempered Cleone react to everything that's unfolding before her eyes. So that the happily-ever-after few pages when it (finally) came was tender and satisfyingly well worth the wait. Witty and lighthearted, "Powder and Patch" is a read not to be missed.

This book is one of my favorite Georgette Heyer romances (you simply can't pick one favorite!). Phillip Jettan is a man who disdains the current fashion for powdered wigs and light-hearted flirtation, but he adores his childhood friend Cleone who has tasted the elegance of a London season and isn't content with her crude lover. With the help of his frivolous Uncle Tom he sets off for Paris, and is transformed into "le petit Philippe" who becomes the darling of French society - much to the dismay of Cleone! This story sparkles with witty dialogue, and wonderful descriptions of costumes and festivities of the 1700's. I re-read it at least once a year and I enjoy it as much as the first time, again and again!