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Cousin Kate
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$ 11.19
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| Retail Value |
$ 13.99 |
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$ 2.80 (20%) |
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| Item Number |
2124893 |
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Item Description...
Enjoy one of only two Heyer Gothic Regency romances. Kate, in dire circumstances, is surprised to receive an invitation to live with a distant aunt. Her aunt, uncle, and cousin welcome her to their estate, buy her new clothes, and provide all the amenities a Young lady of quality should have. Slowly, however, as strange events unfold, Kate begins to realize that her aunt's apparent benevolence hides an ulterior motive. To assure succession of the title, her aunt intends Kate to marry her cousin Torquil, until his increasingly bizarre behavior culminates in violence and tragedy. A compelling tale exploring mental illness in the Regency period. |
Item Specifications...
Pages 373
Dimensions: Length: 1.25" Width: 5.25" Height: 1.25"
Weight: 1 lbs.
Binding Softcover
Release Date May 5, 2009
ISBN 1402217684
EAN 9781402217685
UPC 760789223488
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Availability 7 units.
Availability accurate as of May 30, 2012 02:57.
Usually ships within one to two business days from Momence, IL.
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Reviews - What do our customers think?
 | Pretty good for my first Heyer Jan 16, 2010 |
I've been seeing Heyer novels brought up on several blogs as her books are being re-released again. I wasn't sure which one to start with but Aarti of Booklust gave me a few recommendations. I wanted to read Cousin Kate as it is a gothic novel, which I love, though Heyer is more known for Regency romances.
Kate Malvern is twenty-four, an orphan, and has just been fired from her position as a governess. She moves in with her former nurse, Sarah and her family. Kate is determinded to find a new position but Sarah thinks that someone in Kate's family should take her in. She writes to Kate's aunt, whom Kate has never met. Minerva Broome shows up to invite Kate back to her estate, Staplewood, which Kate accepts.
At first Kate is thrilled, her aunt is generous and kind, her uncle, though ill is warm and welcoming. Torquil is her cousin, aged nineteen and though he has his moods and delicate constitution, Kate is fond of him.
But then some strange things happen. Kate hears screaming one night but can't investigate as she is locked in her room. Torquil becomes more difficult to handle and uncle's nephew, Philip insinuates that Kate should leave Staplewood. Kate is unsure what to do or where she would go as she has not heard from Sarah since she moved to Staplewood.
my review: I enjoyed this novel quite a bit; Kate is fearless and spunky, Torquil is creepy, and her aunt is mysterious. A perfect setting for a gothic novel. Of course I love this time period and British novels, so that helped. But I did have some trouble with the language. I thought I was almost fluent in British but I encountered many a word or phrase I was unfamiliar with; farrafiddles, skimble-skamble, jarvey,and nab the rust were a few of my favorites.
It did not detract from the story however. The beginning felt a little slow but it picked up and then went quite fast at the end.
I'm not sure I am a Heyer convert but I think I will read one of the books that was more strongly recommended by Aarti, The Talisman's Ring. Also, I'm not a fan of my library's copies as these are books from decades ago, but it seems that many of the Heyer books are now available as ebooks, so I will try that.
my rating 3.5/5 | | |  | Gothic for Spice Nov 9, 2009 |
COUSIN KATE by Georgette Heyer gives the reader a broader evidence of the unique style of this multitalented author who set standards for Regency romances that have seldom been met.
A chance of sponsorship into London society from the influential Lady Minerva Broome is not to be ignored by Kate Malvern. Kate soon discovers Lady Broome has another future for her in mind. Kate is isolated at Staplewood with only her cousin Torquil and his father for company.
Different from many of Heyer's other works, yet an enjoyable venture into another genre for the reader.
Nash Black, author of HAINTS and TRAVELERS. | | | | sobie Nov 3, 2009 |
| While I love Georgette Heyer's work, this is not one of my favorites. It is slow and unexciting. It also lacks the humor her work usually includes. | | |  | Gothic Romance for the Regency fan. May 25, 2009 |
Fate and circumstance have seen fit to place Kate Malvern in such unforseen dire financial straights that she hardly has a place in the world. Having been dismissed from her position as a governess Kate finds herself on the doorstep of Sarah Nidd, the nurse who cared for her during her youth. Fortunate to have the kindness of Mrs. Nidd and her husband, but bound and determined not to impose upon them, she hopes to find a new situation even if it be something as lowly as becoming lady's personal servant. But dear Sarah won't hear of it and upon finding out that Kate does have a well-to-do aunt, however distant their relation, she takes it upon herself to send word to the woman of young Kate's troubles.
When Lady Broome, Kate's aunt Minerva, comes to meet her neice she is most insistent that she come to Staplewood at least for the summer. Unable to successfully turn down her aunt's kind offer Kate finds herself wisked off to the country estate. Here she meets her sickly cousin Torquil and Sir Timothy his ailing father. But the longer she stays at Staplewood the more she finds her aunt's kindness and generosity to be stifling, while Torquil's health and behavior become more disturbing. His paranoia over the presence of Sir Timothy's nephew, Philip, and his obsessive infatuation with Kate seem to be encouraged by his mother. Meanwhile, Kate's letters to Sarah have gone unanswered and she worries she may be trapped at Staplewood but could her aunt Minerva be behind the lack of reply?
Before I say a word on the book's content I must admit that I am not a fan of Regency period fiction. That aside I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was dark and moody, hinting at dangers that never came and weaving a web of suspense that made it hard to put down. If you're familiar with the characteristics of true Gothic literature this novel is a fine example of the genre. Combined with the well plotted Regency romance Heyer is known for the constrasting terror-inducing circumstances that surround Kate, coupled with the heroic presence of Philip are sure to please most Gothic romance lovers.
Kate is truly likable, playing the role of persecuted maiden with a sweetness and naivety that make her an endearing heroine rather than the annoying 'too-stupid-to-live' types we sometimes see in tales of terror. While she certainly does not wish to marry Torquil she sees him as a beautiful, tortured young man whom she must mollify, protect and speak-up-for. The caring relationship she develops with her uncle, Sir Timothy, is especially interesting in contrast to the wary one she has with her aunt. It is the subtle romantic feelings she develops for Philip, however, that bring the story to a climactic head.
Exciting and interesting from harrowing start to dramatic finish, Georgette Heyer's Cousin Kate was a delightfully dark and sinfully satisfying read. | | | | Good in parts, but overall disappointing... May 4, 2009 |
This is the second Heyer novel I've read, after The Nonesuch, and I have to say it was disappointing. The suspense was done really well, but the love story was not. Some of the reviewers have claimed that the hero was boring and others jumped to his defense, but that wasn't really the issue: he just wasn't on the page very much. Neither the heroine nor the reader gets to know him very well by the end, and the whole thing seems very rushed. The timeline was a little hazy, so when the couple gets engaged after - was it three conversations together? - I assumed that they had been interacting off-screen, and wondered why the author didn't choose to show more of them spending time together...until the heroine mentions something about them having only met a week ago. And they're in love. OK...
In addition to this major problem, there are two minor ones. It takes everyone involved, but especially the main character, way too long to figure out that her cousin Creepy McBizarroMoodswings is not right in the head. (I didn't spoiler-alert that because it's in the blurb on the back of the new edition). I mean, I know that they didn't have a very good understanding of mental illness when this takes place, but from day one he's, "Did you know that I'm probably strong enough to strangle you with one hand? - I like you! Let's have a picnic! - YOU'RE ALL OUT TO GET ME, AREN'T YOU?" and it takes her about three quarters of the book before she wonders if he might be mad. Like, what was your first clue honey?
[Also: "Oh yes, we've never allowed my son to go to school, and he can't leave the grounds without his bodyguard, and we don't allow him to have any friends, and we lock him in his own isolated wing of the house at night with his doctor, and keep him sedated most of the time: because of his migraines. Yes, it's totally migraines."]
The other minor issue is that Kate, while likable overall, comes over a bit Mary-Sue in the way everyone seems to love her on sight. I mean, it's partly understandable because she is a very warm and friendly person entering a cold and loveless household, but at times it gets too extreme for even that to explain.
One thing I have to give her, though, is that Minerva is completely terrifying in her ruthlessness. Old-school Disney fairy-tale witches have nothing on this woman... | | | Write your own review about Cousin Kate
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