The Country Gentleman (Regency Category Romances) [Paperback]

Dinah Dean (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 221 pages
• Publisher: Harlequin (March 1, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373310110
• ISBN-13: 978-0373310111
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #993,665 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another good Regency from Dinah Dean..., May 2, 2002

By 

bookjunkiereviews (India) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Country Gentleman (Regency Category Romances) (Paperback)

THE COUNTRY GENTLEMAN is a stand-alone romance featuring a romance between the very practical vicar's daughter and a mysterious gentleman who has bought a nearby estate. Prudence has loving parents, but her mother is constantly ailing - therefore much of the parish work falls to Prudence who wins hearts by visiting the poor and ill. [This book is also a marvellous indictment of the effects that landlord actions such as enclosure and converting agricultural land to shooting preserves had on the rural population].

Prudence has one big fear - she is not getting any younger, and there are few eligible men around. They do have a large military camp nearby which provides some excitement. In the meantime, the mysterious Mr Harris quietly learns the ways of local society. Prudence discovers much to her astonishment that he is an intimate of one Sir Arthur Wellesley whose visit to the area is to be kept secret. [Why? We learn later].

During the romance, there is a fire in the village, and a good description of rural firefighting methods. During the fire, an official document goes missing. Prudence's suspicions fall on Mr Harris. The real spy is unmasked dramatically.

This book is a pleasant read about village life from the point of view of a conscientious vicar's daughter and a new landowner. The descriptions of the ringing of the bells, the dilapidated estate belonging to a largely absentee landowner, and the general socio-economic condition of rural England circa 1807 are well worth reading. The romance is a bit weaker, but still convincing.

Recommended reading for lovers of traditional Regency romances.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very pleasant read, October 14, 2010

By 

Flower Girl (MN, United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Country Gentleman (Regency Category Romances) (Paperback)

First of all, a minor correction--the name of our heroine here is Lucinda Calvert, not Prudence, as other reviewer mentioned.

I also agree that this was another job well done by Ms. Dean. The author used similar approach here as she did in the "Cockermouth Mail" (which I loved very much), she spent her time to lead us readers gained acquaintance with our hero/heroine, towns folks through their country lifestyle and political and economical situation. In turn, I felt I became one of the town's folk. As the romance goes, it was a smoothly written courtship--just as the Cockermouth Mail, h/h became good friends first, and their love was build on the deep appreciation for each other... I just love this kind of old fashion romance.

Besides Ms. Dean's good writing, she also seemed very knowledgeable with finer details, such as: logistics of fire rescuing, window taxes, and political development. So, this was more than just a romantic read, it was also very educational. Two Thumbs Up! (Maybe not all the way up--only if Ms. Dean could add another page or two about Lucinda and Mr. Harris after they declared for each other, just so we could savor it a bit longer)