The Disdainful Marquis and the Abandoned Bride

Rating:
Summary: absolutely brilliant!
Review: Both "The Disdainful Marquis" & "The Abandoned Bride" were published sometime in the 1980s, and both novels are examples as to why Edith Layton is considered by many to be a really good novelist. Riveting, absorbing and totally engaging, both these novels easily stand the test of time, and are as engrossing now as they were when they were first published. They also reminded me of the reason why I became so addicted to Regency romances in the first place: because the heroines that were usually featured in this genre were all mainly strong and resilient. The heroes were not always likable, but the heroines, whether they were beautiful beyond all description, or plain and ordinary, were all usually intelligent, responsible and courageous.

In "The Disdainful Marquis," our young and determined to make-her-own-way-in-the-world heroine, Catherine Robins, is hired by the Dowager Duchess of Crewe, to be her companion. Outwardly, it seems as if Catherine has landed onto a cushy job; for the Duchess doesn't seem to require for Catherine to do anything except wear pretty but daring clothes, look decorative and 'be nice' to her gentleman friends. What Catherine doesn't know is that the Duchess has made herself the byword of society, and is known for hiring beautiful courtesans to act as her companions. It takes a while for Catherine to work out what's going on but by that time everyone assumes that she is a courtesan as well. The Marquess of Bessacarr in particular. And he spend an awful lot of time being cruel and mean to Catherine. And while Catherine loathes and distrusts Bessacarr, she finds, to her distress that she is not as immune to his 'charms' as she would like to be. What is Catherine to do? Give in to Bessacarr's vile advances or remain strong and inviolate no matter how tempted she is by his love making?

In "The Abandoned Bride," Julia Hawkins is kidnapped by her erstwhile husband's uncle, Nicholas Daventry. A few years ago, Julia had eloped with the dashing Robin Marlowe. But for some reason, Robin abandoned her on their wedding night, leaving Julia ruined in the eyes of her little country village. Since then, Julia has been trying to put the whole episode behind her and to live her notoriety down. What Julia doesn't know is that Robin has been spinning a yarn about her cruelty and rejection to Nicholas, using her as the reason why he lives on the Continent, and why he refuses to assume his responsibilities. Nicholas is determined to reunite Julia with Robin in spite of his poor opinion of Julia. Julia, however, is unwilling, and so he kidnaps her. What follows is a tale of how two people who initially despise each other begin to realise that they are ideally suited to each other. However there is the complication of Julia's previous marriage. What will happen when Julia and Robin are finally reunited? And why did Robin leave Julia anyway? (It's easy to guess why and one wonders why Edith Layton made such a heavy going of it, but then it was the '80s.) And will Julia and Nicholas be allowed to find happiness together?

While the men in both stories left a lot to be desired, the women were pure gems. Both Catherine and Julia are the kind of strong, resilient heroines that we all wish we came across more often. And they weren't shrill or peevish either. I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed the competent manner in which both women dealt with the men in their lives, or how much joy I took in the intelligent way in which they told them off either. No hysterics, no tantrums, and no high drama that may have shifted one's sympathies towards the men. Both men behave terribly, and the women are not shy about registering their anger and disapproval.

Both these novel are great reads, and are an excellent showcase for Edith Layton's talent. (Unfortunately, you will not be able to appreciate the original cover art for both books. These older dustjacket illustrations really captured that male aristocratic essence better then than they do now. For some reason the men on the dustjackets nowadays look more like farmers than they do jaded lords). So, if you're looking for two really full bodies heroines (character-wise, not size), look no further. Both Catherine and Julia will definitely engage and endear themselves to you.

Rating:
Summary: absolutely brilliant!
Review: Both "The Disdainful Marquis" & "The Abandoned Bride" were published sometime in the 1980s, and both novels are examples as to why Edith Layton is considered by many to be a really good novelist. Riveting, absorbing and totally engaging, both these novels easily stand the test of time, and are as engrossing now as they were when they were first published. They also reminded me of the reason why I became so addicted to Regency romances in the first place: because the heroines that were usually featured in this genre were all mainly strong and resilient. The heroes were not always likable, but the heroines, whether they were beautiful beyond all description, or plain and ordinary, were all usually intelligent, responsible and courageous.

In "The Disdainful Marquis," our young and determined to make-her-own-way-in-the-world heroine, Catherine Robins, is hired by the Dowager Duchess of Crewe, to be her companion. Outwardly, it seems as if Catherine has landed onto a cushy job; for the Duchess doesn't seem to require for Catherine to do anything except wear pretty but daring clothes, look decorative and 'be nice' to her gentleman friends. What Catherine doesn't know is that the Duchess has made herself the byword of society, and is known for hiring beautiful courtesans to act as her companions. It takes a while for Catherine to work out what's going on but by that time everyone assumes that she is a courtesan as well. The Marquess of Bessacarr in particular. And he spend an awful lot of time being cruel and mean to Catherine. And while Catherine loathes and distrusts Bessacarr, she finds, to her distress that she is not as immune to his 'charms' as she would like to be. What is Catherine to do? Give in to Bessacarr's vile advances or remain strong and inviolate no matter how tempted she is by his love making?

In "The Abandoned Bride," Julia Hawkins is kidnapped by her erstwhile husband's uncle, Nicholas Daventry. A few years ago, Julia had eloped with the dashing Robin Marlowe. But for some reason, Robin abandoned her on their wedding night, leaving Julia ruined in the eyes of her little country village. Since then, Julia has been trying to put the whole episode behind her and to live her notoriety down. What Julia doesn't know is that Robin has been spinning a yarn about her cruelty and rejection to Nicholas, using her as the reason why he lives on the Continent, and why he refuses to assume his responsibilities. Nicholas is determined to reunite Julia with Robin in spite of his poor opinion of Julia. Julia, however, is unwilling, and so he kidnaps her. What follows is a tale of how two people who initially despise each other begin to realise that they are ideally suited to each other. However there is the complication of Julia's previous marriage. What will happen when Julia and Robin are finally reunited? And why did Robin leave Julia anyway? (It's easy to guess why and one wonders why Edith Layton made such a heavy going of it, but then it was the '80s.) And will Julia and Nicholas be allowed to find happiness together?

While the men in both stories left a lot to be desired, the women were pure gems. Both Catherine and Julia are the kind of strong, resilient heroines that we all wish we came across more often. And they weren't shrill or peevish either. I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed the competent manner in which both women dealt with the men in their lives, or how much joy I took in the intelligent way in which they told them off either. No hysterics, no tantrums, and no high drama that may have shifted one's sympathies towards the men. Both men behave terribly, and the women are not shy about registering their anger and disapproval.

Both these novel are great reads, and are an excellent showcase for Edith Layton's talent. (Unfortunately, you will not be able to appreciate the original cover art for both books. These older dustjacket illustrations really captured that male aristocratic essence better then than they do now. For some reason the men on the dustjackets nowadays look more like farmers than they do jaded lords). So, if you're looking for two really full bodies heroines (character-wise, not size), look no further. Both Catherine and Julia will definitely engage and endear themselves to you.

Rating:
Summary: 10 Stars for The Abandoned Bride
Review: I just finished The Abandoned Bride - although not this edition but, rather, a first edition from 1985. I have The Disdainful Marquis waiting in the TBR pile for later.

Edith Layton is simply one of the best and she did not let me down. I recently moved house and kept a bag of books easily accessible and to hand for reading until my boxes of books have all been unpacked. I deliberately put in a few Laytons as special treats - and boy, I was not disappointed with this one!

Like Balogh, Layton can be almost elegaic in her writing; often her novels are full of an almost philosophical element of introspection. With her heros, in particular, we become so intimate with their inner thoughts that we seem to know everything that makes them tick.

I don't want to resummarise the plot here but would instead like to point to some of the themes that Layton so skilfully develops. We have an abandoned bride from a common background whose parents displayed wholly inappropriate judgement, allowing their daughter to very nearly ruin her life. We have a hero who was badly burnt by an unscrupulous woman who still, thanks to a strong father figure in his life, and a loving family of mother and sisters, loves women and their company. We have a young man who is homosexual and whose dilemmas in life are very accurately portrayed. We have scrupulous evocation of period, landscape, food, politics and conversation that is fantastic between two people who at first loathe and then, finally, adore each other. We have misjudgements and restitution. We have a traitor and we have a host of fantastically interesting peripheral characters, servants, etc.

What we have here, in short, is a story that is carefully crafted and brilliantly realised. Layton truly works magic here. (I forgive her, again (!), stupid mistakes in correct use of titles - she is one of only a very few authors where I can overlook this because it truly, for once, matters not.)

Don't miss this one if you like intelligent, beautifully written, character-driven, introspective novels of people who truly, through love, grow and change - all for the better.

Rating:
Summary: 10 Stars for The Abandoned Bride
Review: I just finished The Abandoned Bride - although not this edition but, rather, a first edition from 1985. I have The Disdainful Marquis waiting in the TBR pile for later.

Edith Layton is simply one of the best and she did not let me down. I recently moved house and kept a bag of books easily accessible and to hand for reading until my boxes of books have all been unpacked. I deliberately put in a few Laytons as special treats - and boy, I was not disappointed with this one!

Like Balogh, Layton can be almost elegaic in her writing; often her novels are full of an almost philosophical element of introspection. With her heros, in particular, we become so intimate with their inner thoughts that we seem to know everything that makes them tick.

I don't want to resummarise the plot here but would instead like to point to some of the themes that Layton so skilfully develops. We have an abandoned bride from a common background whose parents displayed wholly inappropriate judgement, allowing their daughter to very nearly ruin her life. We have a hero who was badly burnt by an unscrupulous woman who still, thanks to a strong father figure in his life, and a loving family of mother and sisters, loves women and their company. We have a young man who is homosexual and whose dilemmas in life are very accurately portrayed. We have scrupulous evocation of period, landscape, food, politics and conversation that is fantastic between two people who at first loathe and then, finally, adore each other. We have misjudgements and restitution. We have a traitor and we have a host of fantastically interesting peripheral characters, servants, etc.

What we have here, in short, is a story that is carefully crafted and brilliantly realised. Layton truly works magic here. (I forgive her, again (!), stupid mistakes in correct use of titles - she is one of only a very few authors where I can overlook this because it truly, for once, matters not.)

Don't miss this one if you like intelligent, beautifully written, character-driven, introspective novels of people who truly, through love, grow and change - all for the better.

Rating:
Summary: yes & no
Review: I picked up this book based a one of Layton's stories in an anthology. I found her writing style intriguing and her plotting interesting. She manages that again in these two books; yet I must disagree with the previous reviewers in some matters.

As I read "The Disdainful Marquis" I kept wondering if the heroine could possibly be THAT naive. Honestly. She eventually handled it all with great aplomb, but I'm still skeptical that she could possibly have been so innocent as to get herself in such a fix. On the bright side, the setting (France on the even of Napoleon's return) was riveting, and the jail scene was perhaps the best in the book. The relationship between the hero and heroine was very well done, and I, for one, liked Sinjin (the Marquis) a great deal. His friend and helper was as excellent secondary character. The Duchess and her friends were seedy characters indeed. Although the beginning of the story seemed to drag, the plot really took off when the heroine had to start running.

"The Abandoned Bride" presents a wonderful heroine with just the right wistfulness and self-doubt. Nick's wariness and then championing of her seemed to his the right notes, but Robin's character left something to be desired. Actually, I'm not sure of Nick's responses near the end. The second chapter was a thing of beauty, but in general, I thought this the weaker of the two books.

In short, both books have things to recommend them, but are not at the top of the list in either characterization or emotional depth. They are mildly entertaining and occasionally exhibit exceptional examples of style. Overall, however, they are middle of the road.