BBC Audiobooks WW
Georgette Heyer, narrated by Clifford Norgate
2006
Unabridged
Product Description-Rich and handsome, the hope of ambitious mothers and despair of his sisters, the Marquis of Alverstoke sees no reason to put himself out for anyone. But when a distant connection applies to him for help, he finds himself far from bored.
I have been feeding my other addiction lately, audio books, with the works of Georgette Heyer, a tremendously prolific British writer most active in the 1930s and 40s. I had read some of her mysteries years ago and found them interesting period pieces and not much more. As I was in my book snob phase at the time I turned my nose up at the label "regency romance" and never read any of her other work. Was I ever wrong! One day I was checking on Audible and noticed that her titles had glowing reviews for both the stories and the narrators. Her books are better described as comedies of manners reminiscent of Jane Austen, full of wit and charm and yes, romance. I have listened to several, but Frederica is my favorite.
The Marquis of Alverstoke, rich and easily bored, is not known for his benevolence. When he is approached by a distant relation, Frederica, and asked to sponsor her beautiful sister, Caris, in a London season, he decides to comply. This is no kindly impulse on his part-he simply wants to annoy his sisters who also have daughters to launch into the matrimonial pool. He finds Caris to be a beautiful "ninnyhammer" but to his own surprise becomes more and more involved with Frederica and her brothers, Jessamy and Felix. Having never had a happy family life, he is enchanted by the family and Frederica in particular, the one woman who never bores him.
Frederica is full of humor with many laugh out loud moments and a wonderful "happy ever after" ending. The evolution of the Marquis from a cold, selfish man to a loving one is a pleasure not to be missed, ably narrated by Clifford Norgate.
Rating- 5 Well-tied Cravats
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