Customer Reviews

My Lord John

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My Lord John was Georgette Heyer's last book. It was supposed to be the first of a 3 part series but she died before completing it. It is the story of John the second son of Henry IV, brother to Henry V and grandson of John of Gault. The book begins in the nursery playroom with three little boys and dances back and forth between the views of their beloved grandfather, their father, their step grandmother, Katherine Swynford, the strange and sometimes insane Richard II and back again to each one of the boys. This is an impressive literary feat. Getting into a character's head and making that character come to life for the reader is hard and Heyer did it beautifully. Their are heroes here and villains, pitiful victims and people who were simply trying to get along. Heyer brought the Middle Ages to life. What a shame that she never got to finnish the series.

MY LORD JOHN by Georgette Heyer is a historical that she had long planned, but never got to complete. Her plans were for a three-part story, but her death precluded her ambition. Outside her mysteries and Regency romances this departure was never more than a work-in-progress that ends in the middle of a sentence.
The early story of John, Duke of Bedford the grandson of John of Gault, second son of Henry IV and nephew to Henry V is a historian's dream for research, but little more than a historical footnote.
This is one volume for which there is little middle ground. It is either enjoyed for its insight into the period of the close of the Plantagenet reign in England or disdain for its obvious incompleteness.
Nash Black, author of SINS OF THE FATHERS and TRAVELERS.

My Lord John - a real disappointment - the book is so steeped in geneological detail on almost every page that it is almost incomprehensible - the main thrust of the story is lost, and the characters become confusing and uninteresting.

Definitely not one of the best of Heyer's work. The book is also unfinished, ending in the moddle of a sentence!

I would NOT recommend this book.

Heyer's books are treasures - filled with witty dialogue and sympathetic characters. Having enjoyed so many of her books, I ordered this one thinking it would be interesting to read something about a different period. While I can't say I was totally disappointed, this is not your usual Heyer story. It is really her version of the history of the period centered around an interesting and quite "noble" character. I missed the usual elements of romance, misunderstandings and reconcilation. Her Georgian stories remain my personal favorites. Not bad - just don't expect her usual approach.