~The Grand Sophy~

by Georgette Heyer

      Heroine:   statuesque

       A confused Lady Ombersley somehow finds herself agreeing to take in her poor motherless niece at the behest of her brother, who is leaving shortly for an overseas journey and whose intended refuses the responsibility of puffing his daughter Sophy off on the marriage market.

     Expecting a sweet, timorous young girl, kindhearted Lady O is shocked when a vibrant, competent (if a little heedless), tall young woman arrives on her doorstep.  It isn't long, however, before Sophy makes herself invaluable to the family by saving one member after another from various sad scrapes, despite the interference of her ogre-like eldest cousin Charles and his propriety-obsessed betrothed.

        If only Sophy could sort her own life out so neatly, and put the mean-spirited, meddlesome Charles in his place at the same time!

      What worked for me:

        Sophy is the quintessential "modern" woman who shines among the wilted wallflowers of her day. 

         I enjoyed the myriad of amusing contretemps and tempests in teapots which kept me laughing; and the climax of the story was just priceless!

       Size-wise Sophy was tall, shapely, and well-pleased with her sturdiness since she enjoyed a life of athleticism unlike most of the ladies of her class.

       What didn't work for me:

     Oddly enough, I enjoyed this book more as a literary work along the lines of "Pride and Prejudice" rather than as a romance.  There were several love stories to enjoy throughout the novel, of course, but I never quite got into the main one, partly because (despite its historical accuracy) I just couldn't quite bring myself to root for a match between two first cousins. 

Overall:

      A wonderful, witty read for fans of sweet, traditional Regencies!

If you liked "The Grand Sophy" you might also enjoy "A Civil Contract", "The Toll-Gate", and "Pride and Prejudice".

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