The Foundling [Paperback]

Georgette Heyer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2009

One of readers', librarians' and booksellers' most frequently requested Heyers, The Foundling features Gilly, the seventh Duke of Sale.

A diffident young man of 24 years, easily pushed around by his overprotective uncle and the retinue of devoted family retainers who won't let him lift a finger for himself, the Duke sometimes wishes he could be a commoner. One day he decides to set out to discover whether he is "a man, or only a Duke."

Beginning with an incognito journey into the countryside to confront a blackmailer, he encounters a runaway school boy, a beautiful but airheaded orphan, one of literature's most appealing and well-spoken comic villains, and a series of alarming and even life threatening events from which he can extricate himself only with the help of his shy and lovely fiancé…

PRAISE FOR GEORGETTE HEYER:

"Our Georgette Heyer display of the Sourcebooks reprints has been a huge success, not only to those early fans like myself, but to many new readers who appreciate her style and wit."
Nancy Olson, Quail Ridge Books, Raleigh, NC

"Reading Georgette Heyer is the next best thing to reading Jane Austen."
Publishers Weekly

"Wonderful characters, elegant, witty writing, perfect period detail, and rapturously romantic. Georgette Heyer achieves what the rest of us only aspire to."
Katie Fforde

"Absolute monarch of the Regency romance."
Kirkus Reviews

(20091118)

Editorial Reviews

Review

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. A Night Owl Romance TOP PICK, November 2009 (Danya Night Owl Romance 20091123)

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.
(Anna Horner Bookfoolery and Babble 20091124)

Anyone who appreciates romance and mystery will enjoy The Foundling. (Gabrielle Pantera GoshTV,net 20091124)

Witty, unexpected, and great fun. (Gaby Lupus Starting Fresh 20091130)

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. (Kay James Romance Reader at Heart 20091130)

Fantastic... The Foundling will definitely have a place of honor on my bookshelf. (Carrie Zimmerman The Book Girl 20091130)

Delightful... I love how funny Heyer is! (Meghan Kawka Medieval Bookworm 20091130)

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. (Danielle Torres A Work in Progress 20091130)

Another lovely reading experience, brought to you by Georgette Heyer. I think that this one is my favorite so far by her. (Jessica West The Curious Reader 20091203)

Heyer's social commentary add a different dimension to a novel already filled to brimming with relevant historical details! (Megan Snider Write Meg! )

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. (Fargis Heather Capricious Reader )

About the Author

The late Georgette Heyer was a very private woman. Her historical novels have charmed and delighted millions of readers for decades, though she rarely reached out to the public to discuss her works or private life. It is known that she was born in Wimbledon in August 1902, and her first novel, The Black Moth, was published in 1921.

Heyer published 56 books over the next 53 years, until her death from lung cancer in 1974. Heyer's large volume of works included Regency romances, mysteries and historical fiction. Known also as the Queen of Regency romance, Heyer was legendary for her research, historical accuracy and her extraordinary plots and characterizations. Her last book, My Lord John, was published posthumously in 1975. She was married to George Ronald Rougier, a mining engineer, and they had one son together, Richard.

Product Details

• Paperback: 439 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (September 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402219482
• ISBN-13: 978-1402219481
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #129,316 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Author of over fifty books, Georgette Heyer is the best-known and best-loved of all historical novelists, making the Regency period her own. Her first novel, "The Black Moth," published in 1921, was written at the age of fifteen to amuse her convalescent brother; her last was My Lord John. Although most famous for her historical novels, she also wrote eleven detective stories. Georgette Heyer died in 1974 at the age of seventy-one.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Different from her usual novels, August 16, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Foundling (Mass Market Paperback)

This is a more subtle story than most of GH's romances. On the first reading, I liked it but wasn't 'in love' with it, after the handsome, dashing heroes of 'These Old Shades', 'Venetia', 'Frederica' et.al.

But upon re-reading it, I've started to enjoy it more. It hasn't actually got much romance -- the comments about the lack of character in the hero's fiancee, Henrietta, are pretty accurate. She's a timid and rather dull portraiture.

What struck me upon re-reading it was the deeply affectionate relationship between Gilly and his cousin Gideon. Gideon is in fact the perfect Regency hero -- dark, tall, handsome, dashing -- but although he races off to Gilly's rescue when he learns his little cousin is in danger, his help turns out not to be needed as Gilly rescues himself, growing up considerably in the process.

In fact, this is the only Heyer novel that shows such an openly caring relationship between two men raised as brothers. It's actually a nice change from the usual romance formula, watching Gilly gain confidence during his adventures after suffering for so long under the well-meaning tyranny of his guardian and the old family retainers.

Most of Heyer's novels tend to have better-drawn female characters than male characters, so it's an interesting change to read one of her books where the male characters are much more vivid and active than the females.

A great book? No. But a very charming one, and I re-read it more often than I first thought I would. I like Gilly a lot -- all those incredibly handsome, dashing heroes get a bit wearisome after a while! He's very believable, and engages one's sympathies in being burdened with wealth, responsibility and titles that he isn't sure he can live up to.

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Foundling, August 30, 2000

By 

tregatt (Portland, Oregon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Foundling (Hardcover)

Another Heyer gem!

Adolphus Gillespie Vernon Ware, the Duke of
Sale, is tired of all the pompous trappings of his position. A mild
mannered and kindly young man, he's also tired of being treated like a
semi-invalid child by his family and retainers alike. Longing for an
adventure, he leaps at the chance to help a young realtive who has
written some unwise love letters to an unsuitable young lady, and who
is now being sued for breach of promise. What follows is a series of
adventures, some hilarious, a few somewhat dangerous, as the young
duke comes into his own.

A truly excellent book. The young Duke of
Sale is exactly the kind of romantic hero one wishes one read more of
instead of the autocratic-almost-a-rapist "hero" one comes
across more often in regency romances today.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars More Coming of Age than Boy Meets Girl, February 7, 2005

By 

Meredith Allady "author and respectful Jane A... - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Foundling (Mass Market Paperback)

This is one of Heyer's least 'romance-driven' Regencies, but it's one of my favorites. I really like the mild-mannered Gilly and his dashing cousin, and The Villain of the Piece is hilarious. The dialogue, descriptions, and historical inter-weavings are all top-notch, as usual. This ranks right up there with The Unknown Ajax, The Talisman Ring, and Sprig Muslin (none of which pay overwhelming attention to the romance part of the plot,and all of which are enormously entertaining).