Customer Reviews

Sylvester or the Wicked Uncle

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Sylvester, the Duke of Salford, needs a wife, and is convinced that he only has to ask to be accepted. He compiles a list of suitable candidates, some of whom he has not even met, and is persuaded to meet Phoebe Marlow, his godmother's granddaughter, who is a late addition to the list.

But Phoebe is not at all impressed at being considered for the honour of becoming Salford's wife, and runs away! Part of her problem is that she's just written a gothic novel which is in fact a _roman a clef_ in which Sylvester himself is cast as the villain, though she also found him overly arrogant when she'd met him before.

Then Sylvester finds her after her carriage had overturned, and they're forced to spend several days in each other's company....

As usual, Heyer throws in plenty of witty dialogue, an assortment of hilarious and/or likeable supporting characters, and fast pacing as events begin to spiral out of the control of even the supremely confident Duke.

A wonderful novel, worth reading over and over: as with the best Heyers, there's plenty of subtleties you'll miss the first time and will spot on re-reading.

Firstly, please ignore the above synopsis; it bears little resemblance to the book.

It is no exaggeration to say that Georgette Heyer is one of this century's best writers. She may not write about deep metaphysical issues but her use of the English language is impeccable. Her vocabulary is extensive, Her novels are tightly plotted and her dialogue fast-paced and entertaining. If you read her biography you will find that Georgette Heyer did extensive research but this is never forced down our throats. Authentic background details are casually mentioned but not so they need lengthy explanations. The characters use the slang of the period but not so in such a way as to make it impossible to understand what they mean. Georgette Heyer has had innumerable imitators but sadly no equals. Nearly all of Georgette Heyer's books are excellent but in my personal opinion "Sylvester" is one of the best.

Comparisons to Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" are inevitable. In both novels the hero's pride makes the heroine dislike him. This animosity in turn leads the heroine into difficulties. There is even a very similar marriage proposal scene with the hero explaining how hard he has fought his feelings as the heroine would make an unsuitable wife. However Sylvester, unlike Darcy, is not transformed into a misunderstood hero. Instead Phoebe comes to love him despite his faults, which is much more realistic. In this book Georgette Heyer creates realistic characters who behave in a believable manner but still it makes an entertaining read. If you want long sweaty sex scenes with every grunt and groan detailed this is not the book for you. Instead you will get an intelligent story, realistic characters, witty dialogues, some hilarious scenes (especially involving Edmund and Sir. Nugent) and plenty of romantic tension.

Mrs. N.Pickard

This is a truly brilliant Heyer with an adorable and very real heroine and a hero who is very human! Sparks fly, humour abounds and the lesser charcters are masterfully portrayed. Improves on second and third reading too. A wonderful book.

The combination of Regency Romance Queen Georgette Heyer's classic novel Sylvester and the velvet voiced actor Richard Armitage is irresistable. I dare anyone not to be captivated!

Sylvester, or the Wicked Uncle was originally published in 1957, and is one of Georgette Heyer's more popular Regency novels. The wealthy, arrogant and pragmatic Sylvester Rayne, the Duke of Salford, in his twenty-eight year has taken it upon himself to marry, much to the surprise of his widowed mother, producing a short-list of five suitable debutantes that meet his exacting standards. However, among the list of beautiful and accomplished young women she does not see her first choice, the Hon Phoebe Marlow, granddaughter of his godmother Lady Ingham. Sylvester travels to London to consult Lady Ingham, but he is put off by her inelegant attempt to fix the match solely based on the fact that her daughter, Phoebe's mother, and his mother were best friends. Meanwhile, word reaches Phoebe's spiteful stepmother that the Duke of Salford will shortly make an offer for her hand and commands her to accept. Horrified, Phoebe is also put off by the reasons for the alliance and her memory of the cold, proud Duke of Salford from her London season. When they are formally introduced she is shy and dull, and he is unimpressed. In a panic, Phoebe runs away to London, and the sanctuary of Lady Ingham, escorted by her childhood friend Tom Orde. A carriage accident interrupts their journey happened upon by Sylvester who thinks he has discovered a runaway marriage in progress. When a snow storm traps them all together at the local Inn, Sylvester begins to see that Phoebe is actually quite intelligent and interesting, and not at all the young woman of his first impression. Gallantly, he removes any concerns that she may be harboring on his proposing marriage to her. She in turn, is gratefully relieved sharing that nothing could possibly induce her to marry him!

In typical Heyer fashion her independent heroine and staid hero are the most unlikely couple imaginable. How she will bring them together is a humorous and engaging adventure, filled with pride, prejudice and misunderstandings. In addition, Heyer's cast of secondary characters are predictable, but most welcome: Ianthe the spoilt and impulsive widow of Sylvester's twin brother who thinks he is a villianous brute, Sir Nugent Fotherby her foppish and absurd fiancé, Tom Orde the steady and trusting family friend, and Lady Ingham the meddling but well meaning older relative among others. Heyer excels at bringing out the eccentric and the ridiculous in her characters played against dry humor like few can. The subplot of Phoebe anonymously writing a Gothic novel mirroring the personalities and physical characteristics of her family and friends is brilliant. When Sylvester's signature devilish-looking eyebrows show up on the villain Count Ugolino scandalizing the Ton, she unintentionally admits that she was the authoress resulting in a hillarious fallout. As with all of Heyer's romances, there is a hard wrought happy ending. How all the ill-informed opinions and misconceptions will be resolved, I will leave to the reader to discover.

Richard Armitage's reading of this Heyer classic was a delight. My only disappoint, and he is certainly not at fault, is in the abridgement of this novel. Not only does the reader deserve all of Georgette Heyer's witty dialogue and opulent descriptions of Regency finery, furnishing, and social machinations, but every sumptuous and simmeringly seductive word uttered by Richard Armitage possible. Like the narrator who so wisely advised us in Mansfield Park, "Nobody minds having what is too good for them."

Laurel Ann, Austenprose

It's difficult to choose a favorite Heyer novel--but Sylvester would certainly be in the Top 5. The plot centers on the heroine Phoebe and the gradual humanizing of the dashing, but proud, Sylvetser, a Duke with wicked eyebrows. This story has it all : an elopement (with the wrong suitor), a roman a clef, a cynical London Season, and a hilarious abduction. When the wicked uncle's nephew cries for his "Button" I cried--with laughter. And of course, Heyer doesn't forget the romance. When Sylvester finally admits his love for Phoebe to his mother (no, this isn't a spoiler--it's a Georgette Heyer Regency Romance, after all) the romantic thrill is all any reader could want.

I have read nearly all Heyer's books and Sylvester has always been one of my favorites. Having become a fan of British actor Richard Armitage in recent years, thanks to BBC productions of North and South and Robin Hood, I was happy to find that he would be reading one of my favorite Heyer books and was wonderfully delighted. Those who only know his work from such television shows as mentioned above will be delighted at his gifts in characterizations and voices - his old ladies are especially wonderful. Except during the narrative portions of the work in which an RA fan hears his wonderful, dark, chocolately, warm, baritone, it was very easy to forget that he was reading and believe in his Phoebe, his Tom and his other characterizations from the book, and never did he waver in his voice work - it was superb and consistent throughout. Heyer fans will enjoy this reading and for those who are Armitage fans who have never picked up a Heyer novel, they will be entertained thoroughly by his performances of all the characters in the book. Once again proving that Armitage is far more than a 'pretty face' and is a marvelous voice/character actor as well.

Thoroughly entertaining. I intended to have it playing as "background" but found myself captivated, eagerly listening for every next word in Heyer's wonderful story. The narration is brilliant; Richard Armitage lends each of the characters such animation and individuality. And what a voice. He could read the telephone book and it would sound gorgeous.

One of the things I appreciate most about Heyer's works is how carefully she sketches her characters. Of the seven books I have read so far this one is the most complete in it's development of the main protagonists. Sylvester is a most flawed hero but I sympathized with him. Heyer barely touches on the personal tragedy that helped shape him into the politely cold Duke but it was enough to captivate me. He does not wear his heart on his sleeve but the author still manages to allow the reader a glimpse of his soul. Sylvester is one of her most skillful creations.

There are some fine comedic moments in this story. Nugent and his Hessians had me howling.

This book is definitely one I will read again.

Sylvester appears to be one of Georgette Heyer's more popular book, but I'm afraid it's not one of mine. The witty repartee that is rampant through many of her books is one my favorite things about them, but it is mostly absent in this book and replaced by the trouble that Phoebe manages to constantly get herself into.

I found the romance less convincing in this book as well. Phoebe and Sylvester get to the point of being convincingly intrigued with one another, have a falling out, and then I discover that they are both quite in love with each other. It just felt to me like that was more declared than developed. And, I didn't enjoy the secondary characters as much in this one either. Phoebe's childhood friend just seemed relatively one-dimensional to me, as did many of the others. There is a neat twist in the plot, that the heroine is an authoress with her villian modeled after our hero! However, it's not enough to redeem an otherwise flat plot, and I don't even think that it was played as well as it could have been.

One plus of Georgette Heyer's books is that there is nothing more steamy than a one-sentence reference to a kiss, usually at the very end of the book. Definitely appreciated by me! And in the other books I've read, the romance was still very convincing.

You may want to still get this book if you're a Georgette Heyer fan and haven't read it, but I think she has better books out there. This one just seemed a bit flat to me by comparison. Try A Civil Contract, The Nonesuch, or The Foundling.

I didn't expect to like this- but I loved it! Sylvester might remind you a bit of Mr. Darcy, a bit too aware of what is due to his consequence, and therefore high in the instep- though HE doesn't think so. It is just too funny when he makes a list of the qualities he's looking for in his future wife- and then falls for someone who has not one of those qualities! The young heroine would fit beautifully into our modern day, and he has no idea what to do with her! This is very fun and the characters are hilarious and believable. You will enjoy this one a great deal! I also highly recommend The Masqueraders.