Customer Reviews

Helen

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

"Helen" is one of Heyer's early contemporary novels, before she became famous for her Regency romances. It is probably her most successful one. The story of "Helen" is appealing and universal because it tells of a coming-of-age of a young woman in England of the early 20th Century. It takes place on the interesting and colorful background of the 1920s, and then drifts into world war I and its aftermath. Helen is depicted as being influenced by all of these varying and different eras, which contributes to strong background to the story. But true to Heyer, the story is always centered on Helen's personal life, and it is said that much of the details of Helen's life is semi-autobiographical and drawn from the life of Heyer herself. While Helen herself is just a little too idealized, and in my opinion sometimes a little too self-satisfied for me to like her, the story itself is a rich, interesting and pleasant read, not as harsh as some of the other contemporary novels by Heyer, but weightier and more realistic than Heyer's later Regency romances. A highly recommended read.

Very well written. A little slow in the middle but still very, very good. This is a different book for Georgette Heyer. More true to life than many of her romances so it has sad moments. But it ends happily and is a beautiful love story. In a lot of ways it's much better literature than most of her romances. Georgette Heyer once again shows her amazing ability to master any genre. Enjoy!

Those who have read some of Heyer's other books may have come to expect only airy, comical novels from her. This book is not funny or lighthearted. It focuses on the growing up of motherless Helen, who is extraordinarily close to her father and loves nothing more than the life they lead at home. This life is turned upside-down with the arrival of world war, and for many years after life continues to be confusing and even turbulent for the engaging heroine. Though she does eventually reach a happy ending, it comes at a heavy price for Helen.
I am a devoted Heyer fan, and though this book was nothing like anything else of hers that I have read, it was truly interesting to see how her style and wit could turn itself to a serious novel like this one.

In this accomplished novel Georgette Heyer displays some of the qualities which she later displayed in her acclaimed Regency stories. She paints the painful transition from pre WWI to post war England with a poignancy which rings exceptionally true, probably because she lived through that period, and yet she manages to bring to life a number of joyous and vibrant characters and to bring the book to a triumphant conclusion.

As usual with Georgette Heyer, the representation of the period (first world war) is very well done, though what is represented is only a small section of society. Supplementary characters are sufficiently realistic.

The main disappointment is in the lack of growth of the heroine - Helen. She starts out as extremely devoted to her father (and protected by him). Goes through a phase of meaningless experimentation - going to wild parties, falling in love with artists etc - all essentially meaningless, because she doesn't learn or grow (she is opposed to self-analysis). Even her war work as a nurse doesn't make an impact.

Once her father dies, she falls into the arms of her patient suitor. Basically the umbilical cord is transferred, and one can imagine Helen transferring it to her son if her husband were to die (say, in the second world war), and her grand son (grand daughter won't do!, it has to be a male).