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Powder and Patch
by
Georgette Heyer
historical romance in a Kindle edition that was published by Revelation Press on July 14, 2023 and has 249 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include These Old Shades, Bath Tangle, Lady of Quality, The Black Moth, Venetia, The Spanish Bride, Simon the Coldheart, Beauvallet, A Civil Contract, Regency Buck, An Infamous Army, Frederica, The Unknown Ajax, Black Sheep, Sprig Muslin, Sylvester or the Wicked Uncle, The Grand Sophy, These Old Shades, Arabella, The Reluctant Widow, The Nonesuch
First published in 1923, this standalone historical romance is set in the late seventeenth century. The couple focus is on Philip Jettan and Cleone Charteris.
My Take
It’s a slow introduction providing us with back history on the Jettans, and Sir Maurice’s need to marry, but not to Lucy Farmer, Marianne Tempest (Castlehill’s daughter), or Jane Butterfield. Tthe Jettans only marry for love.
Heyer uses a third person global subjective point-of-view with perspectives from Philip, Sir Maurice, Thomas, Cleone, Aunt Sally, Henry Bancroft, and a few others.
It is a funny story with Sir Maurice and Cleone plotting to force Philip off to get some town polish with others joining in as the story continues. It is amazing how quickly Philip does “polish up” in only six months. Certainly Tom and other friends of the Jettan brothers are having fun.
Only, Sir Maurice and Cleone have begun to regret banishing him. Until they get to London where they find Philip is quite popular. It seems that Cleone thought the grass would be greener, only . . . it’s not what she truly expected. She’s young, so I reckon, maybe, we need to cut her a break when she gets all hypocritical . . .
The negative to Powder and Patch is today’s rejection of the man being masterful and telling the woman what to do, how to feel . . . keep in mind that this idea of masterly was the norm in that time period.
The minor characters are there to fill in around the major ones, who range from fun, decent, caring, and smart to pompous, mean, and mischievous. Their action . . . hmmm . . . it ranges from flirtatious, poetry, duels, gaming, conversation . . . yeah, not much in the way of active action and not one of Heyer’s best, but again, it is funny and an easy read.
The Story
An unpolished cub who is boorish with no interest beyond the countryside is not the man Cleone would marry. She wants someone who pays pretty compliments and dresses well. That man is not Philip, though she loves him well.
It’s a rejection that sends Philip off in a huff. He’ll show her!
The Characters
In Little Fittledean
Philip Jettan is the son of the house, Jettan’s Pride, in Little Fittledean, between Midhurst and Brighthelmstone in Sussex. Sir Maurice is his father. Maria Marchant was Philip’s mother. Thomas is Maurice’s brother who lives in Half Moon Street with Moggat as his valet-footman and Moggat’s wife as cook. Sir Thomas Jettan, Philip’s grandfather, built the house.
Their neighbors include Mr Winton and his two children, James and Jennifer. Mr and Mrs Charteris live in Sharley House with their daughter, the beauteous Cleone. Sir Harold has a painted puppy of a son, Henry Bancroft.
In Paris . . .
. . . Philip is known as Phillipe, le petit anglais. Françoise becomes Philip’s valet. Jacques is his groom and homme à tout faire.
Jean, Le Marquis de Château-Banvau is a family friend. Other friends include Louis, Comte de Saint-Dantin; Jules De Bergeret; De Salmy; Paul de Vangrisse; De Graune; Charles, Vicomte De Ravel; De Farraud; Saint-Clamond; M le Duc de Vally-Martin; De Flaubert; M de Richelieu; and, Henri De Chatelin. Madame de Foli-Martin; La Pompadour; la Salévier; Julie, Mademoiselle de Marcherand; Jeanne de Fontenay; and, Clothilde, Mademoiselle de Chaucheron are some of the French beauties of Society. Duchesse de Maugry. Bancroft’s friends include M de Chambert and Le Vallon. Armand de Sedlamont lost in a duel.
In London
Philip hires Sir Humphrey Grandcourt’s house on Curzon Street. Marie-Guillaume, Françoisecousin, becomes Philip’s cook. Sally, Lady Malmerstoke, is Cleone’s aunt.
Those we encounter in London include the Duchess of Queensberry; Lord Charles Fairfax; Mistress Florence Farmer; Mistress Ann Nutley is one of the beauties of the Season; Sir Derek Brenderby is somewhat ardent; Gregory; and, Lady Dering. Satterwaite is a friend of Sir Harold Bancroft’s.
Harry Besham. Sir Matthew Trelawney wears wonderful, clocked stockings while Frederick King’s coat fits him well. A duel was fought over Dolly, Lady Marchand. Jenkins is a man of business in London.
The Cover and Title
The top inch of the cover is a cream background for the dull burgundy title. Below that is a burgundy band serving as background for the author’s name in white with a white colophon with a speech bubble made up of various sizes of black and gray dots. The remainder of the cover is totally wrong for this tale. Don’t get me wrong, I like Sir Maurice — for it’s an older man slightly off-center, wearing a black hat with what looks like a nest of rags on top. He has gray hair and is wearing a pale gray cravat and white shirt under what appears to be two waistcoats (one in burgundy and the other in a figured gray) with his navy coat (with puffy white shirt cuffs emerging) and frogged brown buttons, and golden yellow pantaloons. He’s holding a cane in his right hand. The background on the left is dark and likely a building wall. On the right is a limewashed house wall with a steeple on its roof and windowboxes of greenery.
The title is what Cleone thinks she wants, a man comfortable with Powder and Patch.
