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Powder and Patch
When Cleone Charteris returns from finishing school, she is determined to attract the attentions of Philip Jettan, her childhood friend...
For her, he would do anything…
Plainspoken country gentleman Philip Jettan won't bother with a powdered wig, high heels, and fashionable lace cuffs, until he discovers that his lovely neighbor is enamored with a sophisticated man-about-town…
But what is it that she really wants?
Cleone Charteris sends her suitor Philip away to get some town polish, and he comes back with powder, patches, and all the manners of a seasoned rake. Does Cleone now have exactly the kind of man she's always wanted, or was her insistence on Philip's remarkable transformation a terrible mistake?
For her, he would do anything…
Plainspoken country gentleman Philip Jettan won't bother with a powdered wig, high heels, and fashionable lace cuffs, until he discovers that his lovely neighbor is enamored with a sophisticated man-about-town…
But what is it that she really wants?
Cleone Charteris sends her suitor Philip away to get some town polish, and he comes back with powder, patches, and all the manners of a seasoned rake. Does Cleone now have exactly the kind of man she's always wanted, or was her insistence on Philip's remarkable transformation a terrible mistake?
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1923
About the author
Georgette Heyer
269 books5,126 followersGeorgette Heyer was a prolific historical romance and detective fiction novelist. Her writing career began in 1921, when she turned a story for her younger brother into the novel The Black Moth.
In 1925 she married George Ronald Rougier, a mining engineer. Rougier later became a barrister and he often provided basic plot outlines for her thrillers. Beginning in 1932, Heyer released one romance novel and one thriller each year.
Heyer was an intensely private person who remained a best selling author all her life without the aid of publicity. She made no appearances, never gave an interview and only answered fan letters herself if they made an interesting historical point. She wrote one novel using the pseudonym Stella Martin.
Her Georgian and Regencies romances were inspired by Jane Austen. While some critics thought her novels were too detailed, others considered the level of detail to be Heyer's greatest asset.
Heyer remains a popular and much-loved author, known for essentially establishing the historical romance genre and its subgenre Regency romance.
In 1925 she married George Ronald Rougier, a mining engineer. Rougier later became a barrister and he often provided basic plot outlines for her thrillers. Beginning in 1932, Heyer released one romance novel and one thriller each year.
Heyer was an intensely private person who remained a best selling author all her life without the aid of publicity. She made no appearances, never gave an interview and only answered fan letters herself if they made an interesting historical point. She wrote one novel using the pseudonym Stella Martin.
Her Georgian and Regencies romances were inspired by Jane Austen. While some critics thought her novels were too detailed, others considered the level of detail to be Heyer's greatest asset.
Heyer remains a popular and much-loved author, known for essentially establishing the historical romance genre and its subgenre Regency romance.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 473 reviews
October 8, 2019
Powder and Patch is ... wait for it ... about guys wearing makeup, not women. This is Georgette Heyer's second-published novel, originally published under the title The Transformation of Philip Jettan in 1923.
Philip, a straightforward, plainly dressed country gentleman, gets totally shot down by Cleone, the girl he loves, for not being sophisticated enough. So he gets in a huff and hares off to Paris to learn how to be a charmer in the Georgian period ... which means white wig, makeup (face powdered, rouge, strategically placed beauty patches on the face), fancy clothes and high heels, and also learning to sweet-talk the ladies.
Ooh la la! It's a Cinderfella type of story, and Philip - once he's finally convinced to go along with the fashions of the time - throws himself into it wholeheartedly. Within six months, he's fluent in French, suave with the ladies, expert with the sword, and the darling of Parisian high society. It's all highly unrealistic but good fun.
But Philip is still nurturing the hope in his heart that Cleone will love him for who he really is. When he meets up with her again in London, he decides to give her his best French dandy mannerisms. Hah! Served her right! Unfortunately it all backfires, and the two of them spend most of the rest of the book at cross purposes, trying to make each other jealous, saying hurtful things they don't really mean, and other types of nonsense like that.
I did like Philip as a main character (except when he got a little too carried away with the high fashion routine) but Cleone was one of those silly heroines who acts like an idiot too often for me. Other than her being lovely, there's really not much to recommend her. She's not memorable in any good way.
Now this novel was written almost 100 years ago, BUT. It still was a jaw dropper for me when Cleone's Aunt Sarah spent about 3 pages lecturing Philip on how to handle Cleone and win her love. A sampling of her good (NOT) advice:
Also, Aunt Sarah has a little black page who speaks with, apparently, a southern drawl, and whose name, it pains me to say, is Sambo. Luckily he only shows up in two extremely brief scenes.
Finally, it's very helpful if you speak French, because there's a lot of it in this book, including a whole poem written by Philip to a French lady's little pearl earring, and Heyer rarely bothers to translate it for the reader.
There were some cute moments in this story, and it's kind of a fun, frothy, silly romp of a romance, but you have to make major allowances for old-time societal norms and values.
A soft 3 stars for me, maybe 2.75.
Bonus content: When this book was originally published, it had a final chapter that Heyer and her publisher decided to drop when they republished it several years later under Heyer's own name. I'm firmly in the camp that the story is better without this last chapter (unusual for me; I typically like epilogues), but it's worth reading to see how Heyer's view of the later lives of Cleone and Philip seems to have changed as she got a little older. You decide which ending you prefer! Here's the lost chapter, from an old copy of the first edition of this book found in the British Library by a diligent Heyer fan and copied by her for our benefit: http://www.shelaghlewins.com/other_st...
Group read with the Georgette Heyer group.
Philip, a straightforward, plainly dressed country gentleman, gets totally shot down by Cleone, the girl he loves, for not being sophisticated enough. So he gets in a huff and hares off to Paris to learn how to be a charmer in the Georgian period ... which means white wig, makeup (face powdered, rouge, strategically placed beauty patches on the face), fancy clothes and high heels, and also learning to sweet-talk the ladies.
Ooh la la! It's a Cinderfella type of story, and Philip - once he's finally convinced to go along with the fashions of the time - throws himself into it wholeheartedly. Within six months, he's fluent in French, suave with the ladies, expert with the sword, and the darling of Parisian high society. It's all highly unrealistic but good fun.
But Philip is still nurturing the hope in his heart that Cleone will love him for who he really is. When he meets up with her again in London, he decides to give her his best French dandy mannerisms. Hah! Served her right! Unfortunately it all backfires, and the two of them spend most of the rest of the book at cross purposes, trying to make each other jealous, saying hurtful things they don't really mean, and other types of nonsense like that.
I did like Philip as a main character (except when he got a little too carried away with the high fashion routine) but Cleone was one of those silly heroines who acts like an idiot too often for me. Other than her being lovely, there's really not much to recommend her. She's not memorable in any good way.
Now this novel was written almost 100 years ago, BUT. It still was a jaw dropper for me when Cleone's Aunt Sarah spent about 3 pages lecturing Philip on how to handle Cleone and win her love. A sampling of her good (NOT) advice:
♥ "You walked off when you should have mastered her. I'll wager my best necklet she was waiting for you to assert yourself. And now she's probably miserable."No. Just no. Even for a hundred years ago, this advice is appalling, especially when it's coming from, and written by, another woman.
♥ "You should know by now that no woman means what she says when it's to a man."
♥ "Women don't reason. That's a man's part. Why, do you suppose that if Cleone thought as you think, and had a brain like a man's you'd be in love with her? Of course you'd not. You'd not be able to feel your superiority over her."
♥ "Take that girl and shake her. Tell her you'll not be flouted. Tell her she's a little fool, and kiss her. And if she protests, go on kissing her."
Also, Aunt Sarah has a little black page who speaks with, apparently, a southern drawl, and whose name, it pains me to say, is Sambo. Luckily he only shows up in two extremely brief scenes.
Finally, it's very helpful if you speak French, because there's a lot of it in this book, including a whole poem written by Philip to a French lady's little pearl earring, and Heyer rarely bothers to translate it for the reader.
There were some cute moments in this story, and it's kind of a fun, frothy, silly romp of a romance, but you have to make major allowances for old-time societal norms and values.
A soft 3 stars for me, maybe 2.75.
Bonus content: When this book was originally published, it had a final chapter that Heyer and her publisher decided to drop when they republished it several years later under Heyer's own name. I'm firmly in the camp that the story is better without this last chapter (unusual for me; I typically like epilogues), but it's worth reading to see how Heyer's view of the later lives of Cleone and Philip seems to have changed as she got a little older. You decide which ending you prefer! Here's the lost chapter, from an old copy of the first edition of this book found in the British Library by a diligent Heyer fan and copied by her for our benefit: http://www.shelaghlewins.com/other_st...
Group read with the Georgette Heyer group.
September 21, 2020
This is the third book GH wrote & she completed it in an incredible three weeks! I've always been all over the place with this novel.There are a lot of things I like about it but the assertion by the author that woman want to be mastered (um, no we don't!) And until I read the (awful)
I thought this was GH's least likeable heroine & that Philip (one of GH's "sweet" heroes) really deserved better.
But I've now been marrieda life time over thirty years to a lovely fellow who takes no interest in his appearance so I do have some sympathy for Cleone's desire for Philip to smarten himself up a bit!
A lot of readers complain about Heyer (born 1902) spraying some of her books with French phrases. I'm reading
and the New Zealand born Mansfield (birth date 1888) uses French phrases through quite a few of her personal letters. Likewise Nancy Mitford (born 1904)in her chatty
Maybe this was a common practice for well educated early 20th century women? Previous readings of both this book & Madam de Pompadour it was never a problem for me, as I took French in High School. Sadly my French is all but forgotten, but I managed to work out all the French except for a few lines of Philip's rondeau. (but I did struggle reading Madame de Pompadour!)
I love the quite beautiful descriptions of the clothing - probably the most detailed description of men's clothing in any of GH's Georgian novels. & I do think Philip's French friends would have been a lot of fun to hang out with.
A member of the Georgette Heyer Fans Group (HJ) found the original ending (an extra chapter) to this book on a blog.
http://www.shelaghlewins.com/other_st...
Without giving too much away, I prefer the 1923 Mills & Boon outcome for such a very young couple. Undoubtedly this is the best Mills & Boon I have ever read! But finishing at Chapter XIX like the 1930 Heineman has it was neater.
Lets call it a draw!
I thought this was GH's least likeable heroine & that Philip (one of GH's "sweet" heroes) really deserved better.But I've now been married
A lot of readers complain about Heyer (born 1902) spraying some of her books with French phrases. I'm reading
and the New Zealand born Mansfield (birth date 1888) uses French phrases through quite a few of her personal letters. Likewise Nancy Mitford (born 1904)in her chatty
Maybe this was a common practice for well educated early 20th century women? Previous readings of both this book & Madam de Pompadour it was never a problem for me, as I took French in High School. Sadly my French is all but forgotten, but I managed to work out all the French except for a few lines of Philip's rondeau. (but I did struggle reading Madame de Pompadour!)I love the quite beautiful descriptions of the clothing - probably the most detailed description of men's clothing in any of GH's Georgian novels. & I do think Philip's French friends would have been a lot of fun to hang out with.
A member of the Georgette Heyer Fans Group (HJ) found the original ending (an extra chapter) to this book on a blog.
http://www.shelaghlewins.com/other_st...
Without giving too much away, I prefer the 1923 Mills & Boon outcome for such a very young couple. Undoubtedly this is the best Mills & Boon I have ever read! But finishing at Chapter XIX like the 1930 Heineman has it was neater.
Lets call it a draw!
October 5, 2011
Totally silly.
If it weren't for the fact that this book clocks in at only 183 pages, I would have consigned this to the "did-not-finish" shelf. However, by the time I got fed up enough with it to actually stop reading, it lacked only a few chapters to finish, so WTH.
I suppose having a good majority of the book in French might possibly have something to do with my dislike of the novel. Don't get me wrong - French is a beautiful language, and long, long ago I even took it in high school. But for the life of me only a few words remain in my vocabulary (and memory), so to have a book dedicate long passages in French (without translation) was frustrating to say the least. Only imagine having to read my review as follows:
Wgent ghth wvlt caqtth, hkqpb ntjfth yhh vdeeo ov vqpp msa fhklhlqq! Agkdhs ghw yww bnhwr't smsqbg yf bbw mvw wovvoa.
You get the idea.
Another thing that really irritated me was the plot of the story -- a sex reversal of "Cinderella" -- in which our young hero Phillip is dissed by his father and the love of his life, Cleone, for being too...masculine. You see, Cleone doesn't want a manly man. She wants an effeminate fop for her lover, so Phillip decides that instead of telling this little snit of a girl to take him or leave him, he gets all upset that he's not girly enough for his, er, girl, and flounces off to Paris to transform himself into the epitome of mid-18th century couture. (I give to you exhibit A, the "Fop"):
I mean, REALLY ? Does this....thing...make the ovaries tingle in any appreciable way? Well, we come to find out that Cleone isn't too jazzed by the new and improved Phillip either (that's Phillipe to those of you in France). In fact, Cleone is so upset that Phillip/Phillipe has actually done as she wanted, that she spurns his attentions and generally acts like a 5 year old drama queen for the rest of the story.
But before you accuse me of just not "digging" the overly-bedazzled, overly-dressed, and overly-fashioned-accessoried man of the past, I present to you exhibit B (well, hello, Callum Blue):
OK, so this picture really has nothing germane to add to my review, but I had to slip it in because....well, because this makes my ovaries tingle, if you must know.
Anyway, your Showtime-enhanced Tudor-era man knew how to stay manly even with all those velvets and jewels and lace (as well as Showtime leather).
But I digress.
Anyway, this particular Heyer just didn't work for me this time around. It was way too silly and incomprehensible for my taste.
If it weren't for the fact that this book clocks in at only 183 pages, I would have consigned this to the "did-not-finish" shelf. However, by the time I got fed up enough with it to actually stop reading, it lacked only a few chapters to finish, so WTH.
I suppose having a good majority of the book in French might possibly have something to do with my dislike of the novel. Don't get me wrong - French is a beautiful language, and long, long ago I even took it in high school. But for the life of me only a few words remain in my vocabulary (and memory), so to have a book dedicate long passages in French (without translation) was frustrating to say the least. Only imagine having to read my review as follows:
Wgent ghth wvlt caqtth, hkqpb ntjfth yhh vdeeo ov vqpp msa fhklhlqq! Agkdhs ghw yww bnhwr't smsqbg yf bbw mvw wovvoa.
You get the idea.
Another thing that really irritated me was the plot of the story -- a sex reversal of "Cinderella" -- in which our young hero Phillip is dissed by his father and the love of his life, Cleone, for being too...masculine. You see, Cleone doesn't want a manly man. She wants an effeminate fop for her lover, so Phillip decides that instead of telling this little snit of a girl to take him or leave him, he gets all upset that he's not girly enough for his, er, girl, and flounces off to Paris to transform himself into the epitome of mid-18th century couture. (I give to you exhibit A, the "Fop"):
I mean, REALLY ? Does this....thing...make the ovaries tingle in any appreciable way? Well, we come to find out that Cleone isn't too jazzed by the new and improved Phillip either (that's Phillipe to those of you in France). In fact, Cleone is so upset that Phillip/Phillipe has actually done as she wanted, that she spurns his attentions and generally acts like a 5 year old drama queen for the rest of the story.
But before you accuse me of just not "digging" the overly-bedazzled, overly-dressed, and overly-fashioned-accessoried man of the past, I present to you exhibit B (well, hello, Callum Blue):
OK, so this picture really has nothing germane to add to my review, but I had to slip it in because....well, because this makes my ovaries tingle, if you must know.
Anyway, your Showtime-enhanced Tudor-era man knew how to stay manly even with all those velvets and jewels and lace (as well as Showtime leather).
But I digress.
Anyway, this particular Heyer just didn't work for me this time around. It was way too silly and incomprehensible for my taste.
July 3, 2016
I started off really liking this book as I'm a huge fan of Georgette Heyer. It's one of her shortest novels and flies along as an easy read. It begins in the countryside with a couple of families.
Cleone is the daughter of one such family. She has no siblings and is almost isolated from all persuits outside of the village she lives in.
Philip is the only son of another of the village. His father was a great dandy in his day and lived life to the full. However, once he married he settled down and after his wife died brought up his son to be a good and honest man.
Philip loves Cleone. And she him. But she wants romance and courting and a bit of excitement. He's the solid down to earth type who loves the land and his home.
Maurice, his father and Cleone goad him, more or less, until he goes to Paris to become the man they both think he should be and that they want.
I'm glad to say it backfires on them both.
How well he played them both. Like a finely tuned harp he plucked their strings and a deep 'twang' was emitted.
Of course he arrived back in London and all was resolved.
Having read the whole book, I feel it's the greatest piece of nonsense I've read in a long time. There were a lot of french phrases in it which I didn't understand and it spoiled the flow of the book for me. While I started off enjoying it, I was thoroughly fed up with it by the time I finished. I find it hard to believe it was written by Heyer. It is not on a par with any of her other books and I doubt I'll ever read it again.
Cleone is the daughter of one such family. She has no siblings and is almost isolated from all persuits outside of the village she lives in.
Philip is the only son of another of the village. His father was a great dandy in his day and lived life to the full. However, once he married he settled down and after his wife died brought up his son to be a good and honest man.
Philip loves Cleone. And she him. But she wants romance and courting and a bit of excitement. He's the solid down to earth type who loves the land and his home.
Maurice, his father and Cleone goad him, more or less, until he goes to Paris to become the man they both think he should be and that they want.
I'm glad to say it backfires on them both.
How well he played them both. Like a finely tuned harp he plucked their strings and a deep 'twang' was emitted.
Of course he arrived back in London and all was resolved.
Having read the whole book, I feel it's the greatest piece of nonsense I've read in a long time. There were a lot of french phrases in it which I didn't understand and it spoiled the flow of the book for me. While I started off enjoying it, I was thoroughly fed up with it by the time I finished. I find it hard to believe it was written by Heyer. It is not on a par with any of her other books and I doubt I'll ever read it again.
November 12, 2014
Hilarious. "Powder and Patch" is simply hilarious! This was my second Heyer novel, after "The Black Moth" and I think I enjoyed it even more! The humour in there is just flagrant; the way Heyer satires the Polite Society and the high classes is simply genially and hilariously done! I enjoyed this novel from beginning to end, loving the hero Philip and wanting to slap Cleone many times. I understand how some people say that the characters are plainly annoying, I guess it all depends on what mood you're in when you read it...You either find them ridiculously annoying or ridiculously funny...I went with funny and thought "Powder and Patch" to be delightful!
June 20, 2015
This is my first Georgette Heyer and I really regretted that I started with this book. I should have heeded the warnings of my friends about this novel, but I already bought it so I just went ahead and read it.
Let's discuss Cleone. I was actually more forgiving of her at the beginning of the book, because to a certain degree, I kind of understood her desire for Philip to be more "polished." I considered it as a product of her society back then. Considering the historical context, I think it was natural or normal to put a lot of importance on appearances and whatnot. In that vein, I don't really fault Cleone; it's what she did halfway through the book that annoyed me. When Philip proposed to her a second time, she got angry at him for being a flirt in Paris. Um, hello? Weren't you blatantly flirting with Henry in front of Philip before? Double-standards, much? Ugh. And then she goes on to get engaged with two gentlemen. What the fuck?
By the end of the book, Cleone managed to convince me that she's nothing but a stupid, silly, and selfish girl who does not deserve Philip's love.
I felt really bad for Philip, James and all of the readers who have to endure Cleone's existence.
Let's discuss Cleone. I was actually more forgiving of her at the beginning of the book, because to a certain degree, I kind of understood her desire for Philip to be more "polished." I considered it as a product of her society back then. Considering the historical context, I think it was natural or normal to put a lot of importance on appearances and whatnot. In that vein, I don't really fault Cleone; it's what she did halfway through the book that annoyed me. When Philip proposed to her a second time, she got angry at him for being a flirt in Paris. Um, hello? Weren't you blatantly flirting with Henry in front of Philip before? Double-standards, much? Ugh. And then she goes on to get engaged with two gentlemen. What the fuck?
By the end of the book, Cleone managed to convince me that she's nothing but a stupid, silly, and selfish girl who does not deserve Philip's love.
I felt really bad for Philip, James and all of the readers who have to endure Cleone's existence.
August 21, 2019
Oh, my gosh, HILARIOUS! Phillip Jettan is a plain-spoken country squire, the despair of his playboy father as well as his childhood sweetheart, who wants to be wooed by an elegantly "powdered and patched" gentleman. So off to Paris with Phillip, where he takes to fashion, dueling, and flirting immediately . . . to the despair of his father and sweetheart! A slim little story, which reminded me so much of the movie-within-the-movie in Singin' in the Rain: The Dueling Cavalier! I rolled my eyes a bit at the whole, "You must be a masterful man, and rule over her, tell her what she wants!" that came around towards the end, but overall enjoyed it. Especially loved how the reader read the delightful Aunt Sally- he sounded a bit like Dame Edna when he did her voice, and nothing could be better!
October 8, 2015
I think the saving grace for this book was that it was a short read. Once again I am addicted to the over the top, melodramatic language of the era and the pleasure it brings me is why I will always come back to the genre! It is what I enjoyed here as well. However, there was something missing from the story, albeit it was better than the first book, The Black Moth. This is the second book by this author and it shows signs of her greatness to come...
August 21, 2014
This Georgian era set novel is one of Georgette Heyer's earliest works published as "The Transformation of Philip Jettan" under the pseudonym Stella Martin. I would not have wanted to attach my name to this work either if I were her. This is possibly her worst novel ever. The writing style is simplistic but peppered with mostly unintelligible French phrases. The plot doesn't flow very smoothly. The relationships don't feel natural or even interesting. It's a classic misunderstanding plot that works fine in short stories. Most of the novel is dedicated to the transformation of Philip and even that is greatly rushed. The heroine is one of the worst sorts who flirts and gets angry at the man she loves for no good reason. The novel finally concludes with some outdated ideas about male/female power and thought process which I did not like at all! Most of Heyer's other heroines are not so awful. There are also brief appearances by a black page named Sambo (the novel was written around 1930) who utters his lines in appalling dialect. I'm surprised this novel has endured for so long. I would not recommend it.
June 17, 2022
An airplane read without much else to recommend it. Probably my least favourite Heyer, and I usually love her books. The characters were unbelievable and the plot was just silly. As usual, Heyer’s clever writing was the star of the show but overall, this was a disappointment.
April 11, 2007
Not one of the first-rate ones.
Very problematic. Pre-makeover Philip is sufficiently sullen and immature that the makeover into a silver-tongued devil isn't very convincing. Cleone never has a single likeable moment; a sensible man would have forgotten her as soon as he met an interesting woman. (You can tell the author senses this, because the preface makes such a big deal of "for us Jettans, there is always only one great love.")
The scene in which Cleone accidentally gets engaged to two men is funny, and Philip's cleaning up after is mildly amusing.
Very problematic. Pre-makeover Philip is sufficiently sullen and immature that the makeover into a silver-tongued devil isn't very convincing. Cleone never has a single likeable moment; a sensible man would have forgotten her as soon as he met an interesting woman. (You can tell the author senses this, because the preface makes such a big deal of "for us Jettans, there is always only one great love.")
The scene in which Cleone accidentally gets engaged to two men is funny, and Philip's cleaning up after is mildly amusing.
February 17, 2010
I’ve only begun reading Heyer’s books as of late last year and can honestly say that so far every single one has been a source of pure delight. No surprise- Powder and Patch followed suit in keeping me well entertained. This book, sweet, short, hilarious, with its oh-so-French flair was completed in one sitting.
The book is about Philip Jettan, son to the extravagant Maurice and nephew of Tom. The latter are both highly fashionable men, who are well known in high society; whereas the good-natured, but somewhat simpleton and rough-on-the-edges Philip, leaves much to be desired.
Philip is, however, the loving flame of Cleone, a neighborhood friend and great beauty. Cleone, along with the rest of Philip’s small family, all agree that the young man should get a make-over to improve his style, fashion sense, etiquette and social skills. Philip is not too keen on this and believes he should be loved for who he is. He makes a strong point- Except that things change dramatically when a certain Bancroft comes to town…
Bankroft is handsome, well-mannered, sophisticated, well-versed, and ever so fashionable. He also has a way with the ladies, and Cleone notices him immediately. She is seemingly swooned by Bancroft who pays gracious attention to her every need. Philip notices this but believes that Cleone is his sweetheart and that no one can ever come between them. Cleone admits that she loves Philip but will not take him as he is…he definitely needs refining. She would love him to be more romantic and worldly.
The decision is taken by both father and uncle- Philip is to go to France to become more civilized and worldly. Philip, enflamed by jealousy, finally agrees, and off he goes to Paris. There, a huge transformation takes place. Elegance to the max, Philip is the center of all attention- no party is worth going if he’s not present. He’s got style, class, fashion…and, a way with words that makes every woman want to be with him.
When he comes back to England, he is a changed man. But Philip wants to know if Cleone really loves the man, or the powder. It is a struggle of wits, suitors for Cleone, love games, jealous rants and more. Cleone is not used to this man who is no longer simple…intriguing to the max, she cannot resist him, yet she will not succumb. What will happen? Do they end up together or will Cleone marry another?
I loved this sweet story filled with old French sayings that I hadn’t heard in years (Salipopette!) the details in fashion and Phillip’s mundane experiences were totally amusing. The characters are also perfectly suited to the story. Heyer brings in Louis XV, la Pompadour and other figures of the times to further immerse us into a world of glamour, extravagance and fun- all precisely intended to highten Phillips magnificent make-over.
The setting, the language, the story; everything about this book makes it an extremely enjoyable read.
The book is about Philip Jettan, son to the extravagant Maurice and nephew of Tom. The latter are both highly fashionable men, who are well known in high society; whereas the good-natured, but somewhat simpleton and rough-on-the-edges Philip, leaves much to be desired.
Philip is, however, the loving flame of Cleone, a neighborhood friend and great beauty. Cleone, along with the rest of Philip’s small family, all agree that the young man should get a make-over to improve his style, fashion sense, etiquette and social skills. Philip is not too keen on this and believes he should be loved for who he is. He makes a strong point- Except that things change dramatically when a certain Bancroft comes to town…
Bankroft is handsome, well-mannered, sophisticated, well-versed, and ever so fashionable. He also has a way with the ladies, and Cleone notices him immediately. She is seemingly swooned by Bancroft who pays gracious attention to her every need. Philip notices this but believes that Cleone is his sweetheart and that no one can ever come between them. Cleone admits that she loves Philip but will not take him as he is…he definitely needs refining. She would love him to be more romantic and worldly.
The decision is taken by both father and uncle- Philip is to go to France to become more civilized and worldly. Philip, enflamed by jealousy, finally agrees, and off he goes to Paris. There, a huge transformation takes place. Elegance to the max, Philip is the center of all attention- no party is worth going if he’s not present. He’s got style, class, fashion…and, a way with words that makes every woman want to be with him.
When he comes back to England, he is a changed man. But Philip wants to know if Cleone really loves the man, or the powder. It is a struggle of wits, suitors for Cleone, love games, jealous rants and more. Cleone is not used to this man who is no longer simple…intriguing to the max, she cannot resist him, yet she will not succumb. What will happen? Do they end up together or will Cleone marry another?
I loved this sweet story filled with old French sayings that I hadn’t heard in years (Salipopette!) the details in fashion and Phillip’s mundane experiences were totally amusing. The characters are also perfectly suited to the story. Heyer brings in Louis XV, la Pompadour and other figures of the times to further immerse us into a world of glamour, extravagance and fun- all precisely intended to highten Phillips magnificent make-over.
The setting, the language, the story; everything about this book makes it an extremely enjoyable read.
November 28, 2011
Powder and Patch is an interesting change from Heyer's other books, and unfortunately, the change isn't entirely positive. Philip Jettan, the main character, is in love with a girl named Cleone, but she tells him she doesn't want him until he learns a bit more address; Philip disdains the frippery of the fashionable world. After a young man who does have the address Philip lacks pays court to Cleone, Philip hies himself to France to learn how to be a fashionable gentleman. He succeeds and eventually wins Cleone's heart.
This is a book where Heyer's rather sexist notions about romance really come to the forefront. I'm most fond of her older heroine novels, such as Black Sheep, precisely because they tend to deviate from those ideas, but even in those cases, the declaration of love almost always seems to require that a previously strong woman bend to a stronger male character. I can usually gloss over that bit, but in Powder and Patch, almost the entire last third of the book involves characters discoursing on how foolish women are and how Philip should use anything but frankness and reason to attempt to gain Cleone's hand in marriage. Granted, Cleone is pretty foolish, but who's to blame for that but the author?
I just can't really connect with the characters. I like Philip before he gains his town-bronze, but not very much after, and I don't like Cleone much at any point of the story. So it's pretty hard to enjoy this book.
(The large sections of untranslated French are also pretty annoying.)
This is a book where Heyer's rather sexist notions about romance really come to the forefront. I'm most fond of her older heroine novels, such as Black Sheep, precisely because they tend to deviate from those ideas, but even in those cases, the declaration of love almost always seems to require that a previously strong woman bend to a stronger male character. I can usually gloss over that bit, but in Powder and Patch, almost the entire last third of the book involves characters discoursing on how foolish women are and how Philip should use anything but frankness and reason to attempt to gain Cleone's hand in marriage. Granted, Cleone is pretty foolish, but who's to blame for that but the author?
I just can't really connect with the characters. I like Philip before he gains his town-bronze, but not very much after, and I don't like Cleone much at any point of the story. So it's pretty hard to enjoy this book.
(The large sections of untranslated French are also pretty annoying.)
October 28, 2017
Imagine The Scarlet Pimpernel minus the French revolution and any sense of adventure. You still have a masterful hero, but the plot doesn't last long.
Phillip Jettan comes from a long line of bad boys. However, he just wants to live and work on the family farm! When his sweetheart spurns him for not having more town polish, he heads to France to learn polish. Upon returning, he presents the perfect gentleman...but is that what his beloved really wanted?
Entertaining and brief, but a bit sexist. I like Phillip. Less enamored with Cleone. Still, an enjoyable, light read.
Phillip Jettan comes from a long line of bad boys. However, he just wants to live and work on the family farm! When his sweetheart spurns him for not having more town polish, he heads to France to learn polish. Upon returning, he presents the perfect gentleman...but is that what his beloved really wanted?
Entertaining and brief, but a bit sexist. I like Phillip. Less enamored with Cleone. Still, an enjoyable, light read.
Read
July 6, 2016This early novel is set in the Georgian period, as Heyer discovers wit and plays around with it. I strongly suspect that she had been reading Pelham as well as a great deal of eighteenth century novels, as she gives us a young country hero whose beloved rejects him because he has no polish. So he sets out to become the most polished of beaux . . . and teach her a lesson.
January 7, 2017
My 17th Georgette Heyer
The question is as old as time: do you want a good guy or the bad boy?
Philip Jettan, a handsome and sturdy but tongue-tied youth, is rejected by his true love because he is a country-bumpkin so he travels to Paris is become an accomplished flirt and a fashion sensation. Upon returning to England, he decides to take a little revenge on his beloved Cleone, but things go awry.
The book overflows with description of clothing, it concerns itself with the games played between courting couples, but there is a prevalent notion that young women need to be mastered by their lovers. This is annoying. There isn't any character growth for either Philip or Cleone, only misunderstandings and duels.
This book was fast paced and well written, but it still feels like a missed opportunity. You also need to know a bit of French in order to enjoy it fully. Or maybe just get the audiobook.
The question is as old as time: do you want a good guy or the bad boy?
Philip Jettan, a handsome and sturdy but tongue-tied youth, is rejected by his true love because he is a country-bumpkin so he travels to Paris is become an accomplished flirt and a fashion sensation. Upon returning to England, he decides to take a little revenge on his beloved Cleone, but things go awry.
The book overflows with description of clothing, it concerns itself with the games played between courting couples, but there is a prevalent notion that young women need to be mastered by their lovers. This is annoying. There isn't any character growth for either Philip or Cleone, only misunderstandings and duels.
This book was fast paced and well written, but it still feels like a missed opportunity. You also need to know a bit of French in order to enjoy it fully. Or maybe just get the audiobook.
March 23, 2017
I loved this cute little book. I really want to bump it up to four stars, so it's technically a rating between three and four.
I could see this as a movie: A guy likes a girl, a girl likes a guy. Girl wants more than what he is, guy wants to change for her. Guy changes but only because he wants to impress her. Girl sees guy and realizes that she always wanted that was right in front of her. Guy pretends to be the guy she wants, girl becomes sad. Throw in a dash of humor and a lol-zy ending and you have this book.
The reason why I'm ranking it down two stars is that it was too darn short and simple. I wanted more.
So, go in expecting a cute but short story and not one of Heyer's normal tales and you have this book.
I could see this as a movie: A guy likes a girl, a girl likes a guy. Girl wants more than what he is, guy wants to change for her. Guy changes but only because he wants to impress her. Girl sees guy and realizes that she always wanted that was right in front of her. Guy pretends to be the guy she wants, girl becomes sad. Throw in a dash of humor and a lol-zy ending and you have this book.
The reason why I'm ranking it down two stars is that it was too darn short and simple. I wanted more.
So, go in expecting a cute but short story and not one of Heyer's normal tales and you have this book.
August 8, 2016
The one star reviews make me a little sad, but I tend to understand them. However, while Cleone is certainly not my favourite Heyer heroine, I did enjoy the book for its sweet lightheartedness, and I also developed a little crush on Philip/Philippe. 5 years of school French under my belt came in handy, or my pleasure would have been crucially dimmed, I'm certain. So even if I usually prefer the Regency ones among Heyer's novels, this is definitely among my personal top ten. As no. 10. ;)
August 18, 2016
"Georgette Heyer and Jamie Glover are an excellent mix!"
Overall *****
Performance *****
Story *****
Jamie Glover does a fantastic job with the voices! Loved it! I was reticent when I began thinking that if this wasn't read well, it would be an extremely dull four hours. But this narrator did excellent, I can't imagine anyone else doing better for this particular Heyer, which is one of my favorites.
It's witty and fast paced, I'll want to listen to this again!
Overall *****
Performance *****
Story *****
Jamie Glover does a fantastic job with the voices! Loved it! I was reticent when I began thinking that if this wasn't read well, it would be an extremely dull four hours. But this narrator did excellent, I can't imagine anyone else doing better for this particular Heyer, which is one of my favorites.
It's witty and fast paced, I'll want to listen to this again!
February 16, 2023
Audiobook Review
In a long ago binge on all the Geogette Heyer stories in publication, I read Powder and Patch and thought it was hilarious. Mostly. I have recently been enjoying my own person Heyer revival by revisiting the books on audio. I came across this title and, reading the blurb, realized it was the same story description as Powder and Patch.
So two titles and same story, but one difference. This one has the original final ending restored that had been removed before publication of Powder and Patch. I had no idea that was done so I was startled when the story kept going and ended in a different setting and gave a different skew to the story end. Still deciding what I think about that. I for sure thought the Powder and Patch ending was cleaner and much more conventional to a historical romance happily ever after. Yet, I wouldn't have missed getting the extra chapter and the alternative ending for worlds because its Heyer.
So, the story. Childhood friends in the country and growing up to have affection and even first love for each other. Philip likes his simple country life and doesn't care a rip about fashion, polish, or the romantic arts that characterize urbane London and dazzling Paris, but he suddenly has to start caring when sweet Cleonie gets her head turned by a powdered, patched, and simpering son of another neighbor who did go to Town for some polishing. Phillip gets rejected and then humiliated by the interloper. His father, who was once quite a fashionable man of his day, pushes him to go to his Uncle and acquire the Town arts- dress, demeanor, swordplay, and all around fashionable mode. Phillip still wants Cleonie so he goes. And, embraces it all without being changed on the inside. He takes Paris by storm and rumors reach pretty little Cleonie's shell-like ear. She regrets her part in pushing Philip to change and to go away and now knows she must live with this frivolous fop who writes poetry to a pearl in a woman's ear and flirts with every female he meets. So, when they meet in London, it is a comedy of errors with both working to convince the other they are moved on.
I thought there were some interesting thought points: man or fop with the whole powder and patch fashions, the country vs. town manners, and the angst of growing into adulthood and figuring out love. But, wowsers there were some of those 'different time-different social attitudes' moments in the story that was written in the 1930's I think. Like Cleony's aunt's little black page boy given the name 'Sambo' and her advice to Philip about how to handle women. I suppose aunt's lectures on women was meant to be funny and I took it as such, but I guess I'm just putting a warning out there so others aren't startled when they come across it.
I had a good time with this one though I did get to the point where Philip and Cleony's antics in town got tedious and I just wanted it to get to the point. I understand Philip's still sore feelings about the way little miss Cleony got her head turned by foppish manners and he wanted to make good and sure that he, the real Philip under all the paint and silk, had her love, but she was also young and naive and figured out that she appreciated genuine and honesty after the fop wooed her and walked away when he got bored for town before she got to London and she wanted to be sure Philip wouldn't ditch her like the other guy.
Anne Hancock was a new to me narrator, but I enjoyed her voice work for the characters and she got her tongue around all the French phrases nicely.
So, a mid-Georgian male Pygmalion type tale woven with a comedy of airs romance was good, but not my favorite Georgette Heyer.
In a long ago binge on all the Geogette Heyer stories in publication, I read Powder and Patch and thought it was hilarious. Mostly. I have recently been enjoying my own person Heyer revival by revisiting the books on audio. I came across this title and, reading the blurb, realized it was the same story description as Powder and Patch.
So two titles and same story, but one difference. This one has the original final ending restored that had been removed before publication of Powder and Patch. I had no idea that was done so I was startled when the story kept going and ended in a different setting and gave a different skew to the story end. Still deciding what I think about that. I for sure thought the Powder and Patch ending was cleaner and much more conventional to a historical romance happily ever after. Yet, I wouldn't have missed getting the extra chapter and the alternative ending for worlds because its Heyer.
So, the story. Childhood friends in the country and growing up to have affection and even first love for each other. Philip likes his simple country life and doesn't care a rip about fashion, polish, or the romantic arts that characterize urbane London and dazzling Paris, but he suddenly has to start caring when sweet Cleonie gets her head turned by a powdered, patched, and simpering son of another neighbor who did go to Town for some polishing. Phillip gets rejected and then humiliated by the interloper. His father, who was once quite a fashionable man of his day, pushes him to go to his Uncle and acquire the Town arts- dress, demeanor, swordplay, and all around fashionable mode. Phillip still wants Cleonie so he goes. And, embraces it all without being changed on the inside. He takes Paris by storm and rumors reach pretty little Cleonie's shell-like ear. She regrets her part in pushing Philip to change and to go away and now knows she must live with this frivolous fop who writes poetry to a pearl in a woman's ear and flirts with every female he meets. So, when they meet in London, it is a comedy of errors with both working to convince the other they are moved on.
I thought there were some interesting thought points: man or fop with the whole powder and patch fashions, the country vs. town manners, and the angst of growing into adulthood and figuring out love. But, wowsers there were some of those 'different time-different social attitudes' moments in the story that was written in the 1930's I think. Like Cleony's aunt's little black page boy given the name 'Sambo' and her advice to Philip about how to handle women. I suppose aunt's lectures on women was meant to be funny and I took it as such, but I guess I'm just putting a warning out there so others aren't startled when they come across it.
I had a good time with this one though I did get to the point where Philip and Cleony's antics in town got tedious and I just wanted it to get to the point. I understand Philip's still sore feelings about the way little miss Cleony got her head turned by foppish manners and he wanted to make good and sure that he, the real Philip under all the paint and silk, had her love, but she was also young and naive and figured out that she appreciated genuine and honesty after the fop wooed her and walked away when he got bored for town before she got to London and she wanted to be sure Philip wouldn't ditch her like the other guy.
Anne Hancock was a new to me narrator, but I enjoyed her voice work for the characters and she got her tongue around all the French phrases nicely.
So, a mid-Georgian male Pygmalion type tale woven with a comedy of airs romance was good, but not my favorite Georgette Heyer.
March 16, 2023
This book is also published under the title The Transformation of Philip Jettan. It’s witty and lighthearted, like most of Heyer’s romances. This is set in the Georgian era when the height of fashion for men in England and France was all about wearing makeup, wigs and applying patches. Cleone, the beautiful girl next door, spurns Philip’s attention because he doesn’t where wigs or paint his face, and doesn’t flatter her with pretty speeches. His father, Sir Maurice sends him to France to acquire town polish. When he returns no one can believe his transformation and Cleone begins to wish he had never left. It’s a fun story but not on my list of favorite Heyer novels.
January 25, 2011
A farce trying to be humorous but it wasn’t. I was not entertained.
STORY BRIEF:
Phillip is happy with his simple life as a country farmer. He doesn’t wear fine clothes. He has no desire for the social life. Phillip and Cleone love each other. Henry comes to town and flirts with Cleone. Cleone is impressed that Henry is well dressed. Cleone tells Phillip she wants him to gain polish and to dress better. Phillip goes to Paris to transform himself. He learns French and how to fence, dress, and be entertaining. He wears wigs, powder, rouge, and jewels. When he sees Cleone again, she believes untrue gossip about him which causes problems.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
There were many French phrases, and I did not understand any of them. I guess that was ok, since most of that conversation was silly and meant to be like party chit- chat. When Phillip goes to Paris we don’t see the transformation process which I would have liked. Instead we are quickly taken to six months later where he is an excellent swordsman and fun party-goer. When he returns to England, the plot with Cleone was farcical. Conflicts were based on silly misunderstandings with neither party communicating in a reasonable manner. For example, he loves her but he acts like he doesn’t – because he wants to test her or teach her a lesson.
Cleone was finicky, scatterbrained, stupid, shallow, and irritating. The intent was humor, but I didn’t find it funny. There was also an odd issue. Apparently Cleone could believe two opposing ideas and wanted Phillip to “master her” into the right decisions. Apparently she had no logic or decision making ability.
This was one of Heyer’s early works. It’s about half the length of most of her books. I consider it an experiment on her part and not worth buying unless you are a rabid Heyer fan and want to read everything she does. The narrator was fine. I enjoyed hearing him speak the French phrases.
DATA:
Unabridged audiobook length: 5 hours 5 minutes. Narrator: Jamie Glover. Swearing language: none. Sexual content: none. Setting: 1753 Paris, France, Little Fittledean and London, England. Copyright: 1930. Genre: historical romance.
STORY BRIEF:
Phillip is happy with his simple life as a country farmer. He doesn’t wear fine clothes. He has no desire for the social life. Phillip and Cleone love each other. Henry comes to town and flirts with Cleone. Cleone is impressed that Henry is well dressed. Cleone tells Phillip she wants him to gain polish and to dress better. Phillip goes to Paris to transform himself. He learns French and how to fence, dress, and be entertaining. He wears wigs, powder, rouge, and jewels. When he sees Cleone again, she believes untrue gossip about him which causes problems.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
There were many French phrases, and I did not understand any of them. I guess that was ok, since most of that conversation was silly and meant to be like party chit- chat. When Phillip goes to Paris we don’t see the transformation process which I would have liked. Instead we are quickly taken to six months later where he is an excellent swordsman and fun party-goer. When he returns to England, the plot with Cleone was farcical. Conflicts were based on silly misunderstandings with neither party communicating in a reasonable manner. For example, he loves her but he acts like he doesn’t – because he wants to test her or teach her a lesson.
Cleone was finicky, scatterbrained, stupid, shallow, and irritating. The intent was humor, but I didn’t find it funny. There was also an odd issue. Apparently Cleone could believe two opposing ideas and wanted Phillip to “master her” into the right decisions. Apparently she had no logic or decision making ability.
This was one of Heyer’s early works. It’s about half the length of most of her books. I consider it an experiment on her part and not worth buying unless you are a rabid Heyer fan and want to read everything she does. The narrator was fine. I enjoyed hearing him speak the French phrases.
DATA:
Unabridged audiobook length: 5 hours 5 minutes. Narrator: Jamie Glover. Swearing language: none. Sexual content: none. Setting: 1753 Paris, France, Little Fittledean and London, England. Copyright: 1930. Genre: historical romance.
July 3, 2016
3.5 stars for my first reading of this charming, fast read; read this with the Heyer fan club group here on Goodreads, and as always learn as much from our discussions as from the book itself- a very smart group and a joy to read with!
I have to say this was one of the shortest Heyers we have read and kind of hard to categorize- I would say it's a coming-of-age story with a romance at its heart. Our hero Philip Jettan is a down-to-earth, honorable, manly country squire type who has no patience for the fuss and fribbles expected of a man-about-town; he loves his neighbor and childhood playmate Cleone and is deeply hurt when he realizes she won't have him until he acquires some town bronze. His father, the dashing Sir Maurice, wants him to wed Cleone and agrees he must change to win her heart - a double betrayal of the two people Philip loves most!
He reluctantly heads off to London and then Paris, to endure what would be a comical movie montage nowadays of fittings, fencing and French lessons; it is funny, but a bit drawn out with a great deal of untranslated French thrown in which kind of breaks up the flow a bit.
Of course he eventually heads home to London to show up Cleone and his father and it is satisfying, funny and charming in parts, but pretty predictable. I really liked Philip and enjoyed several other characters - Uncle Tom, Lady Sally and Francois - and I didn't necessarily want to smack Cleone but she could be annoying! She was sweet-natured and not swept away by her own beauty which was refreshing, and I sympathized with her feelings when Philip returned from Paris - typical misunderstanding that could have been cleared up with one conversation, but then, of course, we'd have an even shorter novella...
It was a sweet ending, but I couldn't help being bothered throughout by the feeling that I personally could NEVER be attracted to a powdered, patched, drawling man in high heels. I know times and fashions change, of course, but I kept picturing all of these mincing, made-up men and thinking, ugh...
I have to say this was one of the shortest Heyers we have read and kind of hard to categorize- I would say it's a coming-of-age story with a romance at its heart. Our hero Philip Jettan is a down-to-earth, honorable, manly country squire type who has no patience for the fuss and fribbles expected of a man-about-town; he loves his neighbor and childhood playmate Cleone and is deeply hurt when he realizes she won't have him until he acquires some town bronze. His father, the dashing Sir Maurice, wants him to wed Cleone and agrees he must change to win her heart - a double betrayal of the two people Philip loves most!
He reluctantly heads off to London and then Paris, to endure what would be a comical movie montage nowadays of fittings, fencing and French lessons; it is funny, but a bit drawn out with a great deal of untranslated French thrown in which kind of breaks up the flow a bit.
Of course he eventually heads home to London to show up Cleone and his father and it is satisfying, funny and charming in parts, but pretty predictable. I really liked Philip and enjoyed several other characters - Uncle Tom, Lady Sally and Francois - and I didn't necessarily want to smack Cleone but she could be annoying! She was sweet-natured and not swept away by her own beauty which was refreshing, and I sympathized with her feelings when Philip returned from Paris - typical misunderstanding that could have been cleared up with one conversation, but then, of course, we'd have an even shorter novella...
It was a sweet ending, but I couldn't help being bothered throughout by the feeling that I personally could NEVER be attracted to a powdered, patched, drawling man in high heels. I know times and fashions change, of course, but I kept picturing all of these mincing, made-up men and thinking, ugh...
Shelved as 'dnf-dnr-wnr'
August 5, 2013Chronological order was definitely not the best choice for my 2012 Georgette Heyer Reading Challenge.
I made it through The Black Moth relatively painlessly, but this one really went downhill halfway through - which, ironically, was the point at which the plot kicked in.
While Phillip's dandifying was the premise of the book, the constant and nearly impenetrable Regency slang following his transformation just wasn't worth the effort needed to decipher it.
I'm a big proponent of historical accuracy, but Heyer must have confused quantity with quality at this early point in her writing. The use of historic slang was also a big part of April Lady*, but in the 34 years between the two novels (1923, 1957), Heyer obviously learned to use it much more subtly and effectively.
I'm determined to finish the last half of this by the end of the year, but only to say that I've read every Heyer book.
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* yeah, I read out of order, my hold at the library came through much earlier than expected, so whatever
I made it through The Black Moth relatively painlessly, but this one really went downhill halfway through - which, ironically, was the point at which the plot kicked in.
While Phillip's dandifying was the premise of the book, the constant and nearly impenetrable Regency slang following his transformation just wasn't worth the effort needed to decipher it.
I'm a big proponent of historical accuracy, but Heyer must have confused quantity with quality at this early point in her writing. The use of historic slang was also a big part of April Lady*, but in the 34 years between the two novels (1923, 1957), Heyer obviously learned to use it much more subtly and effectively.
I'm determined to finish the last half of this by the end of the year, but only to say that I've read every Heyer book.
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* yeah, I read out of order, my hold at the library came through much earlier than expected, so whatever
July 4, 2024
This is a frothy charming book in which a young man puts on a blue satin coat and red high heels and falls in love with drag.
And he gets to do it in the mid 18th century, when you could be in drag with wigs and makeup and do your brows and go pose at balls and say witty things to your friends and also carry a sword everywhere and fight in reasonably low risk duels because everyone understood and followed the rules and you could do all this and still be considered a manly man. Sure, some men might say you weren't a real man but they were in the minority because the majority of men in power were in drag.
Good drag is time consuming and expensive and amazing when combined with good taste and a unique sense of style. When Philip is rejected by Cleone and his father calls him a bumpkin he's motivated to become what he thinks they want to see, but his transformation is not into something he hates, something he's compelled to shed when he wins Cleone. The missing final chapter makes it clear that he loves drag, loves the world he's found in Paris, and loves that he gets to experience that now with the woman he loves.
So yes, I'm reading this through a particular lens and I am a basic person with little knowledge and my read isn't the only construction.
The other is that Cleone needed a lesson to look beyond the superficiality of what she admired in men like Bancroft, but at the same time: she wanted to live in society and she and Philip would have very speedily fallen out of love if they'd married and stayed in the country.
Of course it's also a bit more complex because men's dress demonstrated their wealth which showed their power, and Heyer's fantasy historical world isn't without misogyny. What it also has is the concept that while there are some bad eggs in the upper classes, the gentry and nobility are born with qualities of true nobility that set them apart and justify their place at the top.
And I've devoured fiction with that message all my life and its insidious, so I'd much prefer to see this book as a nice story about a man in drag than another observation on how displays of wealth are used to demonstrate membership of an elite that not only wields an incredible amount of power over the masses, but also expects the masses to adore them and believe they deserve to be in top.
And he gets to do it in the mid 18th century, when you could be in drag with wigs and makeup and do your brows and go pose at balls and say witty things to your friends and also carry a sword everywhere and fight in reasonably low risk duels because everyone understood and followed the rules and you could do all this and still be considered a manly man. Sure, some men might say you weren't a real man but they were in the minority because the majority of men in power were in drag.
Good drag is time consuming and expensive and amazing when combined with good taste and a unique sense of style. When Philip is rejected by Cleone and his father calls him a bumpkin he's motivated to become what he thinks they want to see, but his transformation is not into something he hates, something he's compelled to shed when he wins Cleone. The missing final chapter makes it clear that he loves drag, loves the world he's found in Paris, and loves that he gets to experience that now with the woman he loves.
So yes, I'm reading this through a particular lens and I am a basic person with little knowledge and my read isn't the only construction.
The other is that Cleone needed a lesson to look beyond the superficiality of what she admired in men like Bancroft, but at the same time: she wanted to live in society and she and Philip would have very speedily fallen out of love if they'd married and stayed in the country.
Of course it's also a bit more complex because men's dress demonstrated their wealth which showed their power, and Heyer's fantasy historical world isn't without misogyny. What it also has is the concept that while there are some bad eggs in the upper classes, the gentry and nobility are born with qualities of true nobility that set them apart and justify their place at the top.
And I've devoured fiction with that message all my life and its insidious, so I'd much prefer to see this book as a nice story about a man in drag than another observation on how displays of wealth are used to demonstrate membership of an elite that not only wields an incredible amount of power over the masses, but also expects the masses to adore them and believe they deserve to be in top.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 11, 2010
Powder and Patch by Georgette Heyer is an exceptional story of the purity of the Regency period that we love so dearly. If you are a fan of Jane Austen and haven't read Miss Heyer yet then what are you waiting for.
Cleone Charteris is a young lady of fine manners and undeniable beauty. As with most young ladies of this time however, she is also a bit of spoiled snob. She is of marriageable age and the young man who would give his life in order to protect hers is much to plain and common in his appearance for her.
Philip Jettan is a hard working man but one without polish. He is strong, honest and so sure that his dear love Cleone will accept him as he is that upon his asking for her hand in marriage he is devastated when she refuses because he is a plain country bumpkin instead of a painted popinjay.
Our author writes her stories with a purity of heart and soul that is nothing short of a breath of fresh air. She takes our plain country bumpkin and makes him into a finely polished gem that sparkles brighter than the stars in the heavens. A hero that is much sot after in the world of paint, powder and power that anyone who knew of him before said transition is utterly astonished at the remarkable transformation that has come about so quickly.
The hundred dollar question is though, will Philip remember his roots and his love for Cleone after all he has done and gone through? Will the lust of power and the challenge of the game of the upstairs society lure him towards total refinement or will his past have enough of a life line to him to keep him in check with who he truly is under all the Powder and Patch?
Cleone Charteris is a young lady of fine manners and undeniable beauty. As with most young ladies of this time however, she is also a bit of spoiled snob. She is of marriageable age and the young man who would give his life in order to protect hers is much to plain and common in his appearance for her.
Philip Jettan is a hard working man but one without polish. He is strong, honest and so sure that his dear love Cleone will accept him as he is that upon his asking for her hand in marriage he is devastated when she refuses because he is a plain country bumpkin instead of a painted popinjay.
Our author writes her stories with a purity of heart and soul that is nothing short of a breath of fresh air. She takes our plain country bumpkin and makes him into a finely polished gem that sparkles brighter than the stars in the heavens. A hero that is much sot after in the world of paint, powder and power that anyone who knew of him before said transition is utterly astonished at the remarkable transformation that has come about so quickly.
The hundred dollar question is though, will Philip remember his roots and his love for Cleone after all he has done and gone through? Will the lust of power and the challenge of the game of the upstairs society lure him towards total refinement or will his past have enough of a life line to him to keep him in check with who he truly is under all the Powder and Patch?
October 11, 2019
A country gentleman with no pretension towards fashion, young Philip Jettan finds himself faced with an ultimatum when his lady love, Mistress Cleone Charteris, informs him that she will have none of him, unless he gains a little "town polish." With wounded feelings he sets off to obey, and succeeds beyond anyone's wildest imagination. But will the newly exquisite "petite Philippe" still have time for Cleone when he returns?
Originally published in 1923 under the title The Transformation of Philip Jettan, and then reprinted as Powder and Patch in 1930, this was one of Georgette Heyer's earliest novels, and it shows. There is little narrative tension here, as the reader can be in no doubt as to the outcome of the tale, and the self-conscious manner in which the author addresses her readers feels somewhat awkward and forced.
There were, moreover, some passages in Powder and Patch that should offend any right-thinking woman, as when Lady Malmerstoke informs Philip that "Women don't reason. That's a man's part." The subsequent passages, in which the lady informs our hero that women really want to be "mastered," were enough to set my teeth on edge, and Heyer's famously polished prose - normally a compensation for moments such as these - did not yet seem to be fully developed.
All in all, this is not a novel I would recommend to a general readership, and I think its primary interest must lie in what it reveals about the evolution of its author's skills as a writer.
Originally published in 1923 under the title The Transformation of Philip Jettan, and then reprinted as Powder and Patch in 1930, this was one of Georgette Heyer's earliest novels, and it shows. There is little narrative tension here, as the reader can be in no doubt as to the outcome of the tale, and the self-conscious manner in which the author addresses her readers feels somewhat awkward and forced.
There were, moreover, some passages in Powder and Patch that should offend any right-thinking woman, as when Lady Malmerstoke informs Philip that "Women don't reason. That's a man's part." The subsequent passages, in which the lady informs our hero that women really want to be "mastered," were enough to set my teeth on edge, and Heyer's famously polished prose - normally a compensation for moments such as these - did not yet seem to be fully developed.
All in all, this is not a novel I would recommend to a general readership, and I think its primary interest must lie in what it reveals about the evolution of its author's skills as a writer.
November 30, 2011
Powder and Patch is a lighter piece of fluff for Georgette Heyer, and much shorter in length than the majority of her novels. The book centralizes on two characters, Philip and Cleone. Here is the synopsis:
The charm of Powder and Patch, as with many of Heyer's other novels, is her discourse on the social customs of the time, revealed through character exchanges and descriptions of dress and mannerisms for both ladies and gentleman. There is certainly a lot of great description of the clothing and accoutrement from the Georgian period in Power and Patch. Of course, what constitutes a gentleman has changed from era to era, in the Georgian period gentlemen must have great "love making" technique, have a certain air and posture, be a wonderful dancer, have a sly wit and, of course, must have great swordsmanship for all those duels to defend "my lady's" honour. Anyhoo, Powder and Patch is a fun read. I highly recommend for fans of Georgette Heyer but would recommend The Grand Sophy, The Nonesuch or Arabella instead for Heyer first timers.
My Rating: 3.5
http://myobsessionwithbooks.blogspot....
The charm of Powder and Patch, as with many of Heyer's other novels, is her discourse on the social customs of the time, revealed through character exchanges and descriptions of dress and mannerisms for both ladies and gentleman. There is certainly a lot of great description of the clothing and accoutrement from the Georgian period in Power and Patch. Of course, what constitutes a gentleman has changed from era to era, in the Georgian period gentlemen must have great "love making" technique, have a certain air and posture, be a wonderful dancer, have a sly wit and, of course, must have great swordsmanship for all those duels to defend "my lady's" honour. Anyhoo, Powder and Patch is a fun read. I highly recommend for fans of Georgette Heyer but would recommend The Grand Sophy, The Nonesuch or Arabella instead for Heyer first timers.
My Rating: 3.5
http://myobsessionwithbooks.blogspot....
January 14, 2012
This book was better than Georgette Heyer's first book The Black Moth. In here, she does concentrate on both the heroine and the hero. Phillip Jettan prefers the backwater of his life. He is also enamored of a neighbor's daughter, Cleon Charteris. Then Cleon meets man about town, Sir Henry Bancroft. Now Phillip looks uncouth to her. She demands he learns the correct manner of address and dressing. Hurt, after a mock duel in which he is bested, Phillip retreats to Paris. Meeting Cleon some times later with him painted and patched, she barely recognizes him. Now she is not so sure she likes this new version.
Cleone is not so perfect herself and gets herself into a fine compromising situation!
This is a quick, easy fun read. Very enjoyable.
Cleone is not so perfect herself and gets herself into a fine compromising situation!
This is a quick, easy fun read. Very enjoyable.
April 26, 2012
Well written, of coarse it's Georgette Heyer. I strongly disliked Cleone, the love interest of the main character Philip. I found her insipid, stupid, self centered and boring. I hate it when the object of a man's affections has nothing to recommend her except her beauty. Not all women can or should be like Jane Eyre, but they should be something more than just nice to look at, she could at least have been kind.
I liked Philip better before he changed, he was much more manly and attractive sounding. I feel very sorry for women of this time period, it has to have been the most unattractive time for men. Wigs, powder, rouge, tights do not belong on any straight hetero. man. ugh. I will try again with Georgette Heyer, maybe the next one will have more likable characters.
I liked Philip better before he changed, he was much more manly and attractive sounding. I feel very sorry for women of this time period, it has to have been the most unattractive time for men. Wigs, powder, rouge, tights do not belong on any straight hetero. man. ugh. I will try again with Georgette Heyer, maybe the next one will have more likable characters.
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