The Talisman Ring

Rating:
Summary: A welcome change!
Review: Although this is not one of my absolute favorite Heyer books, it is up there in the top 10.

The characters are lively and their characterisations are a lot of fun - and true to their ages.

Although the pace falters in some places, and the plot is - at times - frankly outrageous, Georgette Heyer brings it all together with her usual mastery: and makes no apologies at all for the outrageous plot devices.

Not a book for a first time Heyer reader, but definately one for those readers who want to bridge between her Mystery and Regency genres to read.

Rating:
Summary: Infinitely memorable and wildly quotable
Review: Georgette Heyer has an eye for the ridiculous and in this wonderfully hilarious romp she let fly her full range of comic and romantic notions.

Eustacie, a romantically inclined and altogether very young French girl is given in marriage by a death-bed promise to Sir Tristram - mild reluctance turns quickly into distaste for the scheme on both sides - Eustacie is shocked to find that Sir Tristram will neither ride ventre a terre to her deathbed, nor does he find the imaginative vision she conjures up of herself alone, and dressed maybe in white, being drawn in a tumbril to the guillotine, at all affecting.

Realising the cause is hopeless, Eustacie runs away and gets caught up with a gang of smugglers, which happens to include her very wildly irresponsible cousin Ludovic - he promptly gets shot by Excisemen and...... well, writing about it here it all sounds vastly dramatic and far-fetched but Heyer writes with her tongue firmly in her cheek and she lets us in to the joke as well.

She has such a light touch that the most seemingly ridiculous situation is never taken too seriously - you can truly suspend your disbelief and enjoy the story. Indeed, she does that with a great deal of irony for Sir Tristram is the least imaginative hero you might imagine. Were he to live now he would most definitely have belonged to the Skeptics Society.

Events move to a local inn where a we meet the resolute and sparkling Sarah Thane, surely one of the most wonderful heroines Heyer has every created. Along the way we must solve a old crime that will clear Ludovic's name, search an old house for priests hole, escape numerous scrapes and help Sir Tristram mend his broken heart.

A charming, funny, romantic mystery and full of great scenes to remember.

Rating:
Summary: Comedic and romantic Romp in eighteenth century England
Review: Heyer really enjoys herself in this tightly woven tale of comedy, adventure and a touch of mystery thrown in. There are all the main elements of an eighteenth century bodice ripper - only no bodices get ripped and it is much more satisfying. Heyer knows how to play with characters and the elements to get the best out of it all. Her characters are wonderfully light and witty and the whole tale is just so difficult to put down.

First off there is Eustacie who is an escapee from the French Revolution (although well before there was any danger thus breaking her romantic heart that she wasnever a romantic figure going to her death in a Tumbril). She is being set up for an arranged marriage with her cousin Sir Tristram - whose greatest wish is not to marry her at all. To escape this marriage she flees at night (despite terrible tales of the headless horseman which roams the nearby woods). In her flight she comes across a band of smugglers and her 'romantic' cousin Ludovic.

There is the missing 'Talisman Ring' of the title of this book which will release Ludovic from years of exile as an accused (but naturally innocent) murderer.

This book has one of my favourite Heyer heroines, the unshakeably prosaic Sarah Thane who steps in to help Eustacie clear her cousin Ludovic of murder and thus make them able to at last marry. In the meantime Sarah must work around the even more prosaic Sir Tristram.

Heyer manages to turn the most ordinary events into wonderfully farcical situations. She has a coterie of secondary characters to support this - for instance the two sincere but bumbling Bow Street Runners, as well as Nye (the inn owner) and his deaf daughter. There is also a lovely turn by Sarah's self-contained brother who, despite being a stern upholder of the law being a JP, only cares seem to be food and good smuggled wine.

The trouble with writing reviews is it never captures the essence of the humour and it is high in this one - I think Talisman Ring is one of Heyer's best. It was written in 1936 just before Heyer began her obsession with Regency Drawing room comedies - but this has the lightness of touch which her later Regency's such as Frederica, and The Grand Sophy have. It is all light and airy good fun. If you haven't read this one, then add it to the top of your Must Read list.

Rating:
Summary: One of my favorites
Review: I have most of the novels of Georgette Heyer, and this is one of my favorites. Heyer stuffs her books with period detail and language, but it's never heavy going -- she writes like a light screwball comedy in hoopskirts. I particularly enjoy the characters and conversations in The Talisman Ring. The ingenues (Eustacie and Ludovic) make for sparkling comic relief with their enthusiasms, but it's the mature lovers (Sarah and Sir Tristram) who shine in their witty courting dance. Adventure, romance, a lost heir and murder most foul -- what more could you ask for?

Rating:
Summary: One of my favorites
Review: I won't recap the plot for you, since several reviewers have already done so. Suffice it say that everything they write about romantic Eustacie (whose primary requirement in a husband is that he ride "ventre a terre" to her deathbed); sardonic, inexcusably sensible Sir Tristam; romantic Ludovic; witty Sarah Thane and the host of supporting characters in this light, lovely farce is true.

In some ways, I like this better than some of her Regencies, which eventually became formulaic, or at least stylized. In those, characters who desire adventure or romance are sometimes mocked. By contrast, The Talisman Ring perfectly balances sympathy for Eugenie with a tongue in cheek treatment of the adventure itself.

My only criticism is the villain. I never feel that villains were Ms. Heyer's strong suit. I'm not sure why. Part of it may be her desire to make them ordinary; the other part may be her preference for associating effeminacy in men with villainy.

That's a minor quibble, however, in a highly enjoyable tale.

Rating:
Summary: Heyer rings the bell
Review: I've read all of Georgette Heyer's more-than-50 books and this is still one of my 2 favorites (the other being Devil's Cub). After numerous reads, I still find myself thinking what a great movie the story would make. It has it all: romance, mystery, adventure, and of course that signature Heyer humour. Every one of the characters are absolutely delightful, from the naive and melodramatic Eustacie to the very down-to-earth Sarah who, despite her good sense, possesses a marvelous appreciation for the absurd; from the lovable rogue Ludovic to the stiff-rumped Sir Tristram, who beneath the prim surface, is a man of wit, humour, and romance; even the minor character of Sarah's absent-minded brother, Sir Hugo is a joy.

The book begins a bit slow, but that's what you would expect from Heyer, because she never skimps when setting the tone and atmosphere of the book. After the first couple of chapters, however, the pace picks up and never slows. The dialogue is immensely witty and ridiculous....pure Heyer! This is a great great book, an absolute joy to read and recommended to anyone looking for a good laugh.

Rating:
Summary: One of Heyer's funniest romps - read it!
Review: The Talisman Ring is one of Georgette Heyer's best novels - funny, fast paced, with wonderfully witty dialog and a few surprises.

Most of the action takes place at a smuggler's inn, with characters like Eustacie (young French girl who escaped the Revolution), Sir Tristam Shield (is he a murderer or love interest?), Sarah Thane (spinster with nerves of steel) and her brother Sir Hugh Thane (justice of the piece or smuggler's friend?), Ludovick Lavenham (smuggler and cheat or wronged gentleman?) and more.

A great introduction to her work for new readers, and a must-read for Regency fans. Three thumbs up!

Rating:
Summary: A brilliant witty romance with superb characters
Review: this is in my opinion georgette heyers best novel. each time i read i enjoy it as much as i did the first time. characters like Ludovic Lavenham and Eustacie de Vauban are young, impetuous and obviously made for each other. Sir Hugh Thane is a great character, amusing and never really knowing or caring what is going on around him. Even though he is a justice of the peace he seems by far more interested at whether Ludovic(a smuggler and also Lord Lavenham) can smuggle him some brandy. then there is of course his sister, Sarah who immediately befriends Eustacie and pledges to help them all she can in the thrilling, funny, romantic adventure that she finds herself caught up in. Of course Ludovics cousin Sir Tristram also becomes irrevocably bound in the fight to clear Ludovics name.

Rating:
Summary: Great Slipped Disk Comfort
Review: This was one of the Heyer's I used to convert my family to her fan club. I read this one to my mother as she lay abed for weeks with 2 slipped disks. Something that can entertain a person in those circumstances is no trifling work! (Note: if you can find a like-minded person, many of Heyer's books are excellent for reading aloud, if you can keep from laughing long enough.)


Rating:
Summary: hmmm
Review: Well, this is not as much fun as "These Old Shades" but it's good fun. It's got all the ingredients.. romance, a dashing hero,, a smart heroine, mystery, suspense and humour. There is a murder, and no one knows who done it. and theres the missing talisman. and somewhere thers the heir being suspected of foul play.