Foundling

Do you like historical fiction? Romantic comedy? Historical romantic comedic fiction? A wee bit of slapstick with your costume drama?Then mayhaps you should give Georgette Heyer a read. Because DUDE, she has got it going on! In spades! Incidentally, what does that mean? Got it in spades? Is it a card reference?

Ahem. Anyway. Sorry.

So, The Foundling. By Georgette Heyer. Hilarious. So, so, so good. Perhaps my most favorite one yet.

The Foundling features Gilly. Gilly is the Seventh Duke of Sale. And he is extremely young. Like, 24 years young. Gilly’s family are, rather, uh, well overprotective doesn’t seem strong enough. They are obsessed with his safety, his delicacy, his health, mind, weight, heart, hair, and toenails. Well, not THAT obsessed, but you get the idea. They are extremely CONCERNED about Gilly.

One day, Gilly decides he has had enough. He is a MAN, dangnabit, and by God, he is going to prove it!

So he sets out, incognito, on a journey through the countryside. On this journey he meets an intriguing cast of characters including a runaway school boy, a beautiful orphan and an extremely…oh…interesting villain. One review I read calls this villain “one of literature’s most appealing and well-spoken comic villains” (doesn’t that alone make you want to read it?? I mean, come on! Well-spoken AND comic? Be still my wee heart!). Gilly plunges into intrigue after intrigue, one true to Heyer mishap after the other and the result is delightful.

Tis the time of year to give, so give Heyer a chance. Read her and weep with laughter. Snort with glee. And bask in the glow that is a contented read. This is the perfect time to curl up on the couch with your favorite blanket and a nice hot mug of tea and good ole Georgette. Heyer is teh awesome.


This book is fantastic. I liked the fact that the book didn’t focus on the heroine, but upon the hero - Gilly. Gilly grows into his own and comes out from under the thumb of his family. Belinda is a nice secondary character, but a bit light on development. Heyer’s books are ones that can be read over and over while still being enjoyable. THE FOUNDLING will definitely have a place of honor on my bookshelf.

the book girl gives THE FOUNDLING a 5/5


The Duke of Sale, a fragile child, has never known his parents. Instead, his life had mostly been run by his well-meaning uncle and servants, who are convinced that if he deviates from their instructions, disastrous consequences will ensue. Tired of being managed and determined to find out if he’s a man or a mouse, Sale ventures off to prove himself. Conveniently, two young people emerge as needing his protection, and after a variety of hijinks, Sale begins to discover who he is and what he values in his life.

I love Georgette Heyer’s books. This one was, as I expected, just delightful. It is primarily a journey of discovery for the Duke of Sale, who is a charming character. His relatives ignore his wishes and mollycoddle him, annoying him just as much as they annoy us. As a reader, I was thrilled for him when he broke their bonds and went out into the world to see what it was like.

I love how funny Heyer is, too. She’s renowned for writing romances, but this is so much more than that. Sale’s adventures are genuinely entertaining and I read this book with a smile on my face. Tom, a young boy he somewhat rescues, is such a character. He acts just like a boy of that age and even though he annoys everyone around him, he’s so true to life. Belinda, as a contrast, is too silly for words, but even as she is unrealistic, she is also absolutely hilarious. She’s neatly countered by Sale’s fiancee, Harriet, a charming and sensible woman that I wanted Sale to fall in love with as soon as possible. Sale and Harriet are engaged due to an arrangement between their families, but I immediately wanted it to be something more as soon as they encountered one another in the book.

Heyer’s language would probably give someone new to her pause, because it’s quite old-fashioned, but I find it charming. Once I’m reading, I almost don’t want to go back to modern language. After a few pages, I’m sure anyone would get past their qualms and settle in to enjoy the story and characters for themselves.

I definitely recommend The Foundling. This is such an enchanting book. I really can’t wait to read more by Georgette Heyer.


I think what I love most about Georgette Heyer’s novels is the knowledge that in the end everything is going to work out for the best. No matter how villainous the villains may be, no matter how topsy turvy the heroine’s path to love or fulfillment Georgette Heyer’s world is one that comes with a happy ending. Life may not always be filled with happy endings, but there’s really something to be said for being able to find them in literature when you need them most. I think a criticism that has been leveled against Heyer’s novels is their sameness. I expect some of them may well be formulaic, but it seems from the variety I have read each has actually had its own very distinct and unique storyline. The Foundling is a good example.

The Foundling is really quite different than the usual Heyer Regency fare. It’s more of a coming of age story and a story of deep friendship between two close cousins. There is a romance at the core of the story, how could there not be with a Heyer, but it is secondary to the rest of the action. This is much more an adventure tale and a romp with the hero getting caught in all sorts of scrapes and awkward situations. And he’s a very likable young man. As a matter of fact nearly all the characters are likable, one or two in an exasperating way, even the villains.

Belinda is the foundling in this story and she’s the impetus of all the action. As characters go, she’s a silly young girl who wants only gold rings and other trinkets and especially a purple silk dress and is willing to go off with any handsome young man who is willing to provide such gifts. She’s also drop dead gorgeous, though I’m afraid her head’s on the empty side, filled only with lovely little gewgaws rather than anything of a practical nature. It’s her "adopted uncle" Mr Liversedge who tries to look after her. Unfortunately he’s as dishonest as the day is long. When a young man promises her marriage but later thinks better of it, Uncle Swithin will make sure she (and he, too) isn’t left high and dry.

When Gilly, otherwise known as his Grace Adolphus Gillespie Vernon Ware, discovers that a young cousin has gotten himself into a mess over the lovely Belinda and is now being blackmailed for his indiscretions he believes this is just the adventure he has been longing for. Soon to come into a fortune, Gilly, is the only son of the late Duke of Sale. Raised by an uncle after the deaths of the parents he never knew in the most cautious and restrained of households Gilly feels oppressed and bored. Educated at home by a tutor for as a child he was so sickly, Gilly hates being a Duke. Everyone down to the servants handles him with kid gloves and cossets him. He yearns to know what its like to be anonymous—plain Mr Dash of Nowhere in Particular. Dealing with blackmailers is just what he needs to find out whether he’s "a man or only a Duke".

Taking only his very good friend and cousin, Captain Ware, into his confidence he leaves behind all his royal trappings including his ring and calling cards—the only things to truly identify him—and sets out by common conveyance only to find life among the rabble is perhaps not as exciting as he thought. As a matter of fact he finds he’s very much a "Johnny Raw". The story becomes a comedy of errors as his entourage begins to grow, first with a runaway schoolboy in tow and then Belinda. Both cause him more problems than he originally set out to fix. Although he slips through the clutches of blackmailers and kidnappers, his disappearance causes quite a stir. He gets himself into far more trouble than be bargained for especially with the help of his two young friends. When rumors begin flying amongst the ton that he’s disappeared and perhaps has even been murdered, maybe even by his own cousin Gideon, who’s in possession of the royal ring, Gideon sets out to put things aright.

Although I think I like Heyer’s Regency romances a tad bit more, I really enjoyed this story of two close friends. Poor Gilly is undersized and not really of the countenance of a Duke, but he sets out to prove himself. Gideon is a nice foil and a humorous counterpart, but Gilly will show himself quite well as someone who really can manage his own affairs and will discover love in an unlikely corner. As always, this was a fun, light-hearted read. Although this came compliments of Sourcebooks, I have a pile of my own Heyer’s on hand that mostly have come as recommendations from other readers including her mysteries, which I’m looking forward to picking up when the mood arises. Next up, though, is These Old Shades, which features a "red-headed urchin" who isn’t all what he appears (yes, another story of a girl dressed as a boy). I’m already looking forward to it!


Another lovely reading experience, brought to you by Georgette Heyer. I think that this one is my favorite so far by her. It had all of the components of her other historical romances, but this one managed to pull them all off flawlessly. It is a slightly different story than seems typical for her books, but maybe that’s why I liked it so much.

The Duke of Sale, known as Gilly to most people (his full name and titles are amusingly very long), is an orphan, raised by his uncle until he reaches his majority at age 25. We meet him at 24, and see in him a man who has been so sheltered and cared for all of his life, that he practically cannot stand up for himself. He wants to speak for himself, and live his own life, but he knows that those responsible for his extreme disconnection from the world, his uncle and servants, only treat him so because they love him so much. And he does not have the heart to cause strife among his household. However, we see that this "mollycoddling" has begun to be simply too much for him, and he begins to show signs of breaking free. When his cousin finds himself in some trouble, Gilly volunteers to solve the problem. His first step? Tricking his servants and informing absolutely no one, not even his closest friend Gideon (another cousin), of his intentions, he sets out to have himself an adventure, to prove to himself whether he is "a man, or only a duke."

Gilly is a fantastic character, one whose strength the reader can see through all of the sheltering he has grown up with. The other male characters are equally well-drawn; I especially love Gideon, and his attitude towards Gilly, who he insists on calling Adolphus (his true first name). The two main female characters are also likeable, and Heyer does a terrific job of making us love the foundling Belinda, while being just as annoyed with her as the rest of the cast of characters most of the time. The romance in this book is more subtle than in the others, but I found it perhaps even more satisfying. Like I said, this is my favorite of the Heyer books I have read so far, and I would definitely recommend it to fans of historical fiction and romance.

A lush life filled with doting servants, meddling relatives and life on a grand estate hasn’t been quite so joyous for the Duke of Sale. After the death of his parents at a very young age, Adolphus — called Gilly — was taken under the wing of Lord Lionel, his uncle, and placed under constant care. Gilly was a sickly child, held constantly under the care of his many caretakers and always under someone’s surveillance.

Gilly’s life becomes a steady stream of boredom, particularly after his cousin and good friend Gideon is no longer nearby. Left alone with his meddlesome uncle, Gilly longs for a world with less restrictions and more adventure. His daydreams frequently turn to the life of “Mr. Dash of Nowhere In Particular,” a gentleman who is free to roam about the countryside and do as he pleases with no one waiting up for him and demanding to know his whereabouts. Now in his mid-twenties, Gilly simply longs to be free.

After his cousin Matthew finds himself in a very precarious situation in regard to the attentions of a young lady, Gilly decides his life could use a little more autonomy — and sets about dealing with a man who is trying to blackmail his family and their good name. It’s on this journey away from London that he encounters Tom, a young man who’s run away from home, and he suddenly finds himself someone else’s caretaker for the first time in his life. After young Belinda — the titular “foundling” – turns their traveling party into three, Gilly must provide for the teenagers and try to take care of himself — particularly after a certain unsavory character gets on his trail . . .

Georgette Heyer’s The Foundling is, at its heart, a coming-of-age story revolving around the oppressive nature of the English upperclasses and the young duke who decided to walk away from it. While things don’t quite work out the way Gilly would have guessed, they certainly take him on an interesting journey.

From the beginning, I felt for the duke and could feel my own annoyance at the bevy of people constantly bombarding him with questions — all seemingly to do with ensuring his own happiness and comfort. But the fact that they couldn’t understand how annoying it was to be picked at, prodded and questioned constantly was frustrating! I also wished they could begin to understand that Gilly had, before their own eyes, grown into a man — and was a man capable of making his own decisions. Lord Lionel constantly undermined his nephew’s authority, though he didn’t see it that way. Surely anyone in that situation would long to step out of his skin and become “Mr. Dash of Nowhere In Particular.”

What fell flat for me was my lack of emotional connection to anyone other than Gilly. I likedd his cousin Gideon, Captain Ware, but didn’t feel particularly attached to him — other than when I desperately wanted him to swoop in and save his cousin from trouble. The novel lacked an impetus for me to keep reading, as I knew that surely nothing tragic would befall the characters . . . and what I really, really wanted here was a love story. We do meet Lady Harriet, the young woman to whom Gilly awkwardly proposes marriage, but I wanted to see much more of a dynamic between them.

Overall, I think maybe my expectations were set too high for this work of historical fiction — after reading Heyer’s The Grand Sophy a few months back, I was expecting more of a romance than I found in The Foundling (pun intended!). But that’s my own fault — and there is definitely plenty to love about Heyer’s work. Lovers of Regency England and historical fiction will find plenty to enjoy in this novel; her witty dialogue, impeccable descriptions and well-drawn characters are what keep me engaged as a reader. And like my beloved Jane Austen, Heyer’s social commentary add a different dimension to a novel already filled to brimming with relevant historical details!


Sourcebooks has reprinted many of the classic Georgette Heyer novels, introducing them to a whole new generation. My mother has read her novels for years and introduced me to them years ago. I was very excited to receive a review copy of The Foundling, one of my mother’s favorites and a novel new to me. My mother was quite excited as well since her copy of the book was published in 1977, has much smaller font, and is dog-eared from being read so often.

The blurb:
The Duke of Sale is out to prove himself. The shy, young Duke of Sale has never known his parents. Instead, his Grace Adolphus Gillespie Vernon Ware, Gilly for short, has endured twenty-four years of rigorous mollycoddling from his uncle and his valet. But his natural diffidence conceals a rebellious spirit.

A mysterious beauty provides the perfect opportunity. When Gilly learns of Belinda, the beautiful foundling who appears to be blackmailing his cousin, he absconds with glee. But he has no sooner entered into this new and dangerous world than he is plunged into a frenzy of intrigue, kidnapping and adventure, and surprises at every turn.

Review:
For avid Georgette Heyer fans, The Foundling will be an interesting and satisfying departure from the romance novels. The Foundling focuses on the Duke of Sale and his adventures as he goes "undercover" as a regular man. Gilly is a sympathetic and interesting leading character trying to overcome years of being overprotected. Gilly encounters all sorts of personalities while trying to end his cousin’s entanglement, fortunately, Gilly reacts to the unexpected with kindness, a gentle manner and considerable common sense. The Foundling is w

Fans of Georgette Heyer will appreciate seeing all the things they love best about the author—her writing style, spirited dialogue, and attention to detail—on display in THE FOUNDLING. It is a tale of rebellion, and even though the one rebelling does so in far gentler tones than I would want him to do, it is still a story of one man’s journey toward self-fulfillment and independence.

The Duke of Sale has been spoon-fed his entire life. At the book’s opening, he cannot even saddle his own horse. He seems ridiculously inept at almost everything. Just when I thought him hopeless, he finds his spine and things begin to heat up. I must admit, I spent most of the book wishing Gilly would find more backbone, and in a much more expedient manner, than he did. His story muddles along in slow speed but, because I suspected things would eventually turn out well for him, I didn’t give up and toss the book down.

This is not one of my favorite of Ms. Heyer’s books, but it is still filled with classic imagery, interesting characters and enough of her signature fabulous writing for me to be glad I read it.


Almost every time I read a book by Georgette Heyer, I find myself saying, "Ooooh, this is my new favorite!" and it’s happened, again.

The Foundling tells the story of the cosseted Duke of Sale, who is tired of having loads of people attend to his needs and decides to sneak off to help his cousin out of a fix, in part so he can see what it’s like to be "Mr. Dash, of Nowhere in Particular". First, though, he asks his childhood friend Harriet for her hand in marriage because it’s expected of him. He doesn’t think it will be the most exciting marriage, but he likes her and has been told marriage isn’t supposed to be thrilling . . . and that he can always find himself a mistress.

The Duke calls himself "Mr. Rufford" (one of his titles is Baron Ware of Rufford) when he goes off to extract cousin Matthew from a breach of promise claim and then ends up with Matthew’s former crush — a stunningly beautiful airhead named Belinda (a "foundling", or orphan) — and a teenage boy, who plans to sneak off to London for similar reasons to the Duke’s, tagging along. The Duke gets into all sorts of tangles and has to eventually ask Harriet to help him deal with Belinda. In the process, the Duke realizes his own inner strength and resources are not lacking and discovers there’s more to Harriet than meets the eye.

5/5 - A wonderful book. It’s funny, adventurous and, toward the end, romantic in a tender and touching way that falls short of being gushy.


Re-release of Georgette Heyer novel perfect to curl up with over the holidays **** 4 Stars
By Gabrielle Pantera

Georgette Heyer The Foundling, light-hearted adventure
HOLLYWOOD, CA (Gosh!TV) 11/20/2009 – For more then a quarter century, Georgette Heyer’s historical novels have delighted millions of readers. Heyer published 56 books over 53 years. Sourcebooks is re-releasing The Foundling and many other Heyer books..

In The Foundling, Gilly, the Duke of Sale, is a young man of 24 who’s been protected since birth by well-meaning family members. His overprotective uncle, his guardian, will relinquish all to Gilly on his twenty-fifth birthday. A staff of devoted family retainers won’t let Gilly do anything for himself. They coddle him as though he’s a child. Gilly decides to go on an adventure, to discover if he’s “a man, or only a Duke.” Gilly sets out, incognito, to get back some embarrassing letters his younger cousin wrote.

In this light-hearted adventure, Gilly realizes his strengths and abilities. Gilly is a thinking hero, not the typical swashbuckling hero. The story is subtle, yet Gilly has moments of action.

Georgette Heyer, born August 16th, 1902, was a private woman. There are few quotes from her. One of the few is about another of her novels, Friday’s Child. “I think myself I ought to be shot for writing such nonsense,” said Heyer. “But, it’s unquestionably good escapist literature. I think I should rather like it if I were sitting in an air-raid shelter or recovering from flu.”

Named after her father, George Heyer, Georgette Heyer was the eldest. Her brothers George Boris, known as Boris, and Frank were four and nine years younger than she. At age 17, Heyer wrote a serial to amuse her brother Boris, who suffered from a form of hemophilia. That book, The Black Moth, is about the adventures of a young man who took responsibility for his brother’s card-cheating. Her father asked her to prepare the serial for publication, and it was released in 1921.

Heyer’s Regencies were inspired by Jane Austen. Thanks to Heyer we have the historical romance genre and its subgenre, Regency romance. That her writing is great escapist entertainment has made it endure. Heyer’s writing covers more then Regency novels, although that’s what she’s best know for.

Heyer, a smoker, died of lung cancer in 1974. Her last book, My Lord John, was published posthumously in 1975.

The Foundling examines the bonds between men, how they can be family and friends. There’s not much romance in the novel, but there’s affection between Gilly and shy fiancé, Harriet. Gilly is a believable and likable hero. Anyone who appreciates romance and mystery will enjoy The Foundling. It’s perfect for curling up with and reading over Thanksgiving.


A Night Owl Romance TOP PICK
Adolphus Gillespie Vernon Ware, Duke of Sale, is less than a year from his majority, but the uncle and family retainers that have raised him still him a child. After being led into a betrothal with Lady Harriet, Gillie is glad for an excuse to strike out on his own when a cousin is threatened with trifling with a young girl’s heart. Circumstances conspire against Gillie at every turn, landing him with a young boy on the run from his father and tutor, a beautiful but empty-headed foundling, and an adventure that will make him a man, if he survives.

Georgette Heyer is the undisputable queen of the Regency romance, with her deft use of dialogue and creative characters, intertwined with a wonderful use of Regency cant and whimiscal romance, all combined into one of Heyer’s best books. The Foundling is more humorous than romantic but still is a sweet and tender read, when not out and out hilarious. With every character richly developed and numerous storylines all weaving throughout the book, Georgette Heyer is just as enjoyable for the tenth time as the first, proving a delight to all readers. These new releases with beautiful cover artwork are a welcome addition to any regency romance lover’s bookshelf.

Format: Paperback

Dimensions
Length: 8 in
Width: 5.25 in
Weight: 17.00 oz
Page Count: 448 pages