Customer Reviews: Read 9 more reviews...
 unique setting and heroine- very good Heyer April 13, 2008
I really enjoyed this book. The only downside to it is the slightly odd note the heroine strikes-- she is honorable and intelligent, yet does something very silly!
Overall, a fun romp with a heroine who has a sense of honor, and a hero who makes a great mistake in his evaluation of her. Interesting because the setting and situations are very different than other Heyer books. A satisfying ending.
 Satisfaction guaranteed! February 22, 2008
This is one of the best romantic comedies I've ever read, second only to 'Venetia' and 'Arabella' (both also by Heyer). The clash of wills between the proud, haughty Max Ravenscar and the indomitable Deborah Grantham are sure to delight and entertain even the most jaded reader. There are plenty of varied characters, a story that never slows down, an almost palpable chemistry between the main couple and lots of very funny moments. My only complaint about this book was that it was a bit short for my tastes, but then again, I much rather prefer a book like this than one that goes on and on and doesn't know when to stop. If you're tired by the campy trash that gets published today labelled as 'romantic fiction', or if you're simply enjoy a good book, you can't go wrong with 'Faro's Daughter'. Satisfaction guaranteed!
Another Heyer Comedy of Errors September 30, 2007
Shakespeare is always in her work and this is no exception. Was extremely disapointed when it ended as would like to have kept reading. Instead suffer from Heyer withdrawal. Thank goodness she has a big back log. Read this book when you need a cheerup.
A....R E G E N C Y....B O O K....F O R....F E M I N I S T S ! March 23, 2006
7 out of 9 found this review helpful
ALL OF MS. HEYER'S wonderfully enthralling heroines, are -- though living in the midst of the male-dominated English Regency period -- closet feminists! Or, at least, are those with whom I am acquainted. I have yet, it seems, to read all of her numerous and wonderous books. But I have, however, read FARO'S DAUGHTER, and know, from it and the other of ther novels that I have read, that I have many new treats in store for me, from reading the rest of her work! : ) This closet feminism of her heroines is all the more amazing, since Ms. Heyer wrote her novels in the only-slightly less male-dominated eras of the 1930's through the 1980's. Yet, her heroines do manage, (in spades!), to retain a definite femininity, and, usually, a great deal of charm. The difference between these very feminine, "closet-feminists", and, say, the "sweet little dears" portayed within the novels of Horatio Alger, (heroines who, it appears, did little more than cheer on Mr. Alger's brave male protagonists), is that Ms. Heyer's heroines had minds of their own, (as well as hearts and tender feelings), and, in her novels, it is not only battles with circumstance, and between the genders which is seen....one also sees a battle going on betwixt the heroine's head and her heart. Often, the head prevails...but the heroine's actions -- usually intelligent, well-planned ones, but often leading to hilarious and sometimes unforeseen results -- are always planned, and done, (whether she knows it or not), at the behest of the heroine's heart.
This is amply shown in the delightful "FARO'S DAUGHTER". The heroine, Deborah Gratham, lives with her aunt, a proprietress of
a gaming house. This makes the heroine to be -- despite her wealth, beauty, lineage, (and, yes, brains) -- looked down upon by polite London society of the day. A (very) young aristocratic gentleman, Lord Maplethorpe, frequents the gaming house...and soon decides that he is in love with her...moreover, he is certain that Deborah is in love with him. Enter, (at the behest of Lord Mapelethorp's anguished mother), the young gentleman's uncle, Max Ravenscar...who intends to break up this horrendous affair before it seriously begins. What he doesn't realize is that the affair never began at all: Deborah is NOT in love with the very young Lord Maplethorpe, and is, indeed, at that very moment in the depths of considering how to let the youngster know she is not in love with him, without hurting his youthful, kind feelings. But....Max Ravenscar's bold and arrogant manner, which considers her, conclusively but without evidence, nothing more than a "gaming-house title-hunter", infuriates the proud and independent-minded Ms. Gratham...who vows revenge on the haughty, jumping-to-erroneous-conclusions Ravenscar.
Including a race, a kidnapping, a hilarious dress-up, (and character) deception, and much else besides, this is indeed a most delightful reading romp! Indeed, this novel could well be sub-titled "Pride and Prejudice", (were not that title already the name of a novel written in similar, elegant fashion)...for truth, true love -- and lost stereotypes -- finally do win out, over Deborah's understandable, but at times over-weening pride, and Max Ravenscar's infuriating prejudices. This is the story of two very head-strong, yet very human people, who find themselves at first at odds, then in battle, but finally in love...as they realize their simularities far outweigh, and finally dissapate, any differences they may have.
This is an enjoyable, enthralling book from its beginning to its end. Beneath the petticoats and starched collars, real people emerge...as in all of Heyer's romances. Who says elegance must be dull, or that "X"-rating is needed for excitement? Not I...and I hazard to guess, not other readers either, once they have read this and other Heyer books. You might, indeed, find yourself writing elegantly, after the 18th centry manner, as I have here-in tried to do, after reading it, and other Heyer novels! Of course, realizing (sadly?), that I am,for better or worse, still a person living amidst the hurly-burly of the 21st century, I do find myself so deeply wishing that at least one of Georgette Heyer's elegant and yet truly realistic novels would, someday very soon, be made into a motion picture! And, although I love all of her books, my vote would go for the hilarious, deeply-moving, fast-paced, insightful FARO'S DAUGHTER to be filmed, first!
P.S.: Georgette Heyer's books are NOT for women only! Intelligent, thoughtful gentlemen, who wish to obtain some inkling as to what goes on with-in the feminine mind and mind-set -- today as well as in the past -- would do well to read Ms. Heyer's intelligent, involving, character-as-well-as-plot-driven novels, too!
My favorite Heyer book! March 11, 2006
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
I won't talk about the plot because other reviewers already did, I want to point out that I just love the interactions between the protagonists, if you like your heroine very smart and at the same time very endearing, none of that dumb stubbornness sometimes we found in other authors but a pretty female character, independent (like all other Heyer females!) and very interesting overall. You will have a marvelous time reading this story, it is very good, go ahead and read it!
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