Customer Reviews

The Great Roxhythe

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

 

 

Georgette Heyer is known more for her regency romances than for her historical novels. I was therefore surprised that the book that I consider the best Heyer story I read- along with her contemporary novel "Pastel" and her Regency novel "Cotillion"- was a non-Regency historical novel. "The Great Roxhythe" is the best of the Heyer books I read. It veers away from the usual light-hearted, unrealistic romances and plunges into the politics and intrigue of the age of Charles the II, and it deals with the relationships between men and women in a less sentimental (and more realistic) manner. Slow, complex and mature, it's a definite read for people who like a "mature" Heyer story.

Suppressed by the author for decades, who did not like the results, this unusual tale will not be a favorite for the "typical" Regency fan.

Set in the time of Charles II, the "Great" Roxhythe is a fictional character drawn, according to Jane Aiken Hodge, (author of the definitive biography of Heyer, "The Private World of Georgette Heyer"), from actual characters that surrounded the "Merry Monarch," Charles II in the Restoration Era of England.

I first found this tale in a library and have never forgotten it. It is not easy to get into, and one must enjoy the lone, devoted and maybe not-quite-moral hero as he is. There is no romance as such, except the romance of the era and of Roxhythe himself. Serious Heyer fans may detect some ghostly foreshadowing (as in "The Black Moth") of the later (and the most definitive Heyer "rake") character Justin Alastair, Duke of Avon from "These Old Shades".

If you love a serious story set in an amazing era written by a top historical novelist, try this one. I never understood why this one was suppressed (along with two very early and not very good novels that are now in print). But Heyer was her own worst critic. I loved it and love it still.

If you're expecting one of Heyer's usual light-hearted regencies, you'll be extremely disappointed in THE GREAT ROXHYTHE. In fact, I would recommend you skip this one entirely. I found it as dull as ditch water and the characters one-dimensional; definitely not up to the author's usual standards. However, if you've read and enjoyed any of Heyer's other historical novels (ROYAL ESCAPE, THE CONQUEROR, MY LORD JOHN, and SIMON THE COLDHEART), you'll probably enjoy this one too.

It's fairly clear why the author suppressed this book, the writing is not as mature nor are the characters as fully developed as in Heyer's later works; she nevertheless did herself a disservice by the suppression. Or might have done herself a greater service by using the honed skills of her craft to re-write the story later in life. Too much of the story is exposition; the characters only come to life when she gives them more to do than sit around the room plotting and politicking. Roxhythe is at his liveliest and his wittiest in the first part of the book, acting as a secret courier for King Charles II. Yet the more Roxhythe becomes involved in Charles's schemes to obtain money or thwart his enemies, the less interesting he becomes. Even within its limitations though, the book does create a Roxhythe so great in stature, in loyalty, and in love, that we are left heartbroken at story's end. And with that, Roxhythe is still but a pale foreshadowing of a more fascinating character Heyer would create later, Justin Alastair, Duke of Avon, and also he is perhaps but lightly tinged with the better qualities of the real Lord Rochester. The overall story covers a greater span of time than the author (or perhaps the publisher) allowed for within the alloted pages. Heyer needed more elbow room to develop this into the epic of a great man; this book serves as more of a sketch or synopsis, and leaves me wanting the full story of Roxhythe and his contemporaries. But you know what? A minor work by Heyer is still better reading than some of the finest works on the bestseller lists today.

If you are a die-hard Heyer fan like I am, and have read everything she has ever writen, you have to read this book.

This is a book that Heyer herself considered sub-standard. She refused to have it reprinted in her lifetime. For a long time it was unavailable. I bought an original edition for a lot of money. It is on my valuable and rare book shelf.

I found it a very interesting read. It is not one of her lighthearted Regency romances, but I dreamed of Roxhythe after I read the book. I found him a compelling, tragic figure. I actually found the book more interesting than some of her other historical novels (not the Regencies). Don't read it if you want to be entertained. Read it if you want to see another side of Heyer.

Georgette Heyer is, in my opinion, the cream of the crop of romance writers. She started the Regency genre of romance novels. But some of her works, like the Great Roxhythe, were written early in her life & she "suppressed" the book, not allowing it to be re-published after its first publication. The book is the story of Roxhythe, a close friend of King Charles in 17th century England. Publicly, Roxhythe was a courtier in the king's court. Secretly, Roxhythe was a skilled negotiator for his King. The work is more a character study of Roxhythe & his relationships with the Court & his King than it is a romance. The character of Roxhythe made enough of an impression on me so that even though it's been awhile since I've read the book, I remember him well.

It was wonderful to replace an old favorite. I am reliving romantic dreams personified in the Regency romances of Georgette Heyer. I find that even after the passage of thirty years the enjoyment of Regency England romantic fantasies has not diminished. Thanks Amazon for making these reprints available.

Great book, it has haunted me for years I love it so much.