These Old Shades

These Old Shades Synopsis

Georgette Heyer's celebrated Regency romance of wit, intrigue, and improbable transformation.

First published in 1926, These Old Shades introduces the enigmatic Duke of Avon-known to society as "Satanas"-whose cultivated cynicism is unsettled when he encounters a spirited young waif in the back streets of Paris. What begins as a gesture of curiosity develops into a drama of identity, revenge, and unexpected devotion, set against the elegance and corruption of eighteenth-century French high society.

Heyer's narrative combines meticulous period detail with sparkling dialogue and carefully structured intrigue. Beneath its romantic surface lies a study of pride, disguise, and moral awakening. The novel helped establish the tone and conventions of the modern historical romance, balancing irony with emotional intensity.

As one of Heyer's most enduring works, These Old Shades remains a cornerstone of Regency fiction, admired for its wit, theatrical flair, and disciplined command of historical atmosphere.

A delightful change of station novel that Shakespeare and Dickens would have approved of. Léonie has been disguised as a boy all of her life. When a great lord shows up at her brother's tavern and buys her to train as his page her life is forever changed.