The Quiet Gentleman: Difference between revisions

The Quiet Gentleman
	First edition
Author	Georgette Heyer
Language	English
Genre	Regency, Romance
Publisher	William Heinemann
Publication date	1951
Publication place	United Kingdom
Media type	Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages	320 pp

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The Quiet Gentleman is a Regency novel by Georgette Heyer, published at the start of 1951 by William Heinemann Ltd.^[1] Set in the spring of 1816, after the Battle of Waterloo, it is the story of the return home from the wars of the Seventh Earl of St Erth to claim his inheritance. The novel incorporates elements of the mystery story as well as the classic romance.^[2]

Plot

Gervase Frant, 7th Earl of St Erth, who became estranged from his father as a young boy, was reared by his maternal grandmother and then spent years serving in the military during the Napoleonic wars. On his father's death, he returns to his inheritance, the family seat at Stanyon in Lincolnshire. Also residing there are his stepmother, Gervase's younger half-brother Martin, his cousin Theo and his stepmother's young friend, Drusilla Morville, who is on a long-term visit.

Lady St Erth and Martin make it plain that they are disappointed that Gervase has survived the war, as Martin might have inherited instead. Theo, his cousin and acting steward, is therefore the only person at Stanyon with whom he has had much friendly contact. Gervase goes on to get his own way in the household, not by bluster but by quiet insistence.

Out riding one day, Gervase happens upon an attractive young lady who has fallen off her horse and discovers her to be Marianne, the daughter of another member of the local gentry, Sir Thomas Bolderwood. Since he had successfully made his fortune in India, Sir Thomas is known locally as the Nabob. Gervase, being rather taken with Marianne, finds that Lady St Erth is less impressed with his new acquaintance; while she is fond of Marianne, she has hopes of her making a match with Martin.

Returning from his visit with Marianne's parents, Gervase ends up fencing with Martin, who is not at all his match. During the contest, the button on Martin's foil falls off, but he continues to engage, to Gervase's disquiet.

Having made Marianne's acquaintance, Gervase resolves that there should be a ball, an idea which Martin throws himself into with enthusiasm, although it falls to Drusilla to organize it. Prior to the ball, Gervase is awoken one night by what he believes is an intruder in his room and finds there a handkerchief that belongs to Martin. Shortly thereafter, Gervase nearly crosses a damaged bridge.

"Lucy" (short for Lucius), Lord Ulverston, an old army friend of Gervase's who is heir to the earldom of Wrexham, arrives at Stanyon unexpectedly and is invited to stay for the upcoming ball. Martin's sister and her family arrive as well. The ball is a resounding success; particularly successful is the meeting between "Lucy" and Marianne. This upsets Martin, although Gervase receives it with equanimity. Lord Ulverston and Marianne will later become engaged.

After the ball, disquieting events continue. Someone sets up a tripwire for Gervase's horse and he is stunned by the fall. Later someone shoots Gervase and, although the injury is not fatal, he is laid up for some time with an injured shoulder. Immediately after the incident, Martin disappears and it is assumed that he fled to avoid blame for the shooting. When he reappears, it is with a story of being attacked, tied up and abandoned in a sandpit, of which everyone is sceptical except for Gervase.

As soon as he is fairly well recovered, Gervase rides out to see Theo, but he is hotly pursued by Martin. Martin tells Gervase that he believes Theo is behind the attempts to compromise them both, and Gervase agrees that this is what he always suspected. Rather than risk the scandal of a prosecution without proof, Gervase sends Theo to manage Martin's plantation in the West Indies. Now that the half-brothers are reconciled, Gervase suggests that Martin take over the successful running of the estate in Theo's place.

Drusilla, who is the daughter of a republican philosopher and has won over Gervase with her quiet practicality, has shared his suspicions. In her agitation while the male family members are away from home, she trips on the stairs and breaks her arm in the fall. Her parents arrive to take care of her and, when Gervase's feelings become apparent, both his step-mother and Drusilla's father forbid the match. While those two then engage in a dispute over whose family is the most ancient, Gervase and Drusilla come to a satisfactory understanding.

Characters in "The Quiet Gentleman"

Lord Gervase Frant, former Viscount Desborough, estranged son of the 6th earl of St Erth and his first wife, brought up by his maternal grandmother, Lady Penniston

Martin Frant - second son of the 6th earl

Theodore Frant - Gervase and Martin's capable cousin

Dowager Countess St Erth - the 6th earl's second wife

Mr Clowne - the family chaplain

Lady Louisa Grampound - half-sister of St Erth, married to Lord Grampound

Miss Drusilla Morville - a neighbour, staying at Stanyon while her parents visit the Lakes.

Barney Warboys - a friend of Martin

Miss Marianne Bolderwood - daughter of Sir Thomas Bolderwood

Sir Thomas Bolderwood - who has succeeded his brother as Master of Wissenhurst

Lady Bolderwood - Sir Thomas's wife

Chard - Gervase's groom and trusted servant

Turvey - Gervase's valet

Viscount Ulverston - heir to the Earl of Wrexham, ex cavalry captain

Abney - the butler at Stanyon

Leek - a Bow Street Runner, posing as Martin's valet

References

^ Goodreads.com
^ Jennifer Kloester, "The Quiet Gentleman – an unexpected heroine"

ISBN 0-373-83684-8

[1] Goodreads.com

[2] Jennifer Kloester, "The Quiet Gentleman – an unexpected heroine"

[1]

[2]

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+{{Short description|1951 novel by Georgette Heyer}}
-{{orphan|date=August 2010}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
-{{infobox Book | <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Novels or Wikipedia:WikiProject_Books -->
+{{infobox book | <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Novels or Wikipedia:WikiProject_Books -->
 | name         = The Quiet Gentleman
 | title_orig   =
 | translator   =
-| image        = <!--prefer 1st edition-->
+| image        = File:TheQuietGentleman.jpg
+| caption      = First edition
 | author       = [[Georgette Heyer]]
 | cover_artist =
-| country      = [[United Kingdom]]
+| country      = United Kingdom
-| language     = [[English language|English]]
+| language     = English
 | series       =
 | genre        = [[English Regency|Regency]], [[Romance novel|Romance]]
@@ Line 16: / Line 17: @@
 | media_type   = Print ([[Hardcover|Hardback]] & [[Paperback]])
 | pages        = 320 pp
-| isbn         = NA <!-- made before ISBN's -->
 | preceded_by  =
 | followed_by  =
 }}
-'''The Quiet Gentleman''' is a [[Regency novel]] by [[Georgette Heyer]]. Set in the spring of 1816<ref>See http://www.georgette-heyer.com/chron.html</ref>, after the [[Battle of Waterloo]], it is the story of the return home of the Seventh Earl of St Erth, who is returning home from his service in the British army to claim his inheritance.
+'''''The Quiet Gentleman''''' is a [[Regency novel]] by [[Georgette Heyer]], published at the start of 1951 by [[William Heinemann Ltd]].<ref>[https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22602850-the-quiet-gentleman Goodreads.com]</ref> Set in the spring of 1816, after the [[Battle of Waterloo]], it is the story of the return home from the wars of the Seventh Earl of St Erth to claim his inheritance. The novel incorporates elements of the [[Mystery fiction|mystery]] story as well as the classic [[romance novel|romance]].<ref>Jennifer Kloester, [https://jenniferkloester.com/the-quiet-gentleman-an-unusual-heroine "The Quiet Gentleman – an unexpected heroine"]</ref>
+==Plot==
-This is an unusual Heyer novel in that the main character is a hero rather than a heroine. It is also one of the Regency novels which incorporates elements of the [[Mystery fiction|mystery]] story as well as the classic [[romance novel|romance]].
+Gervase Frant, 7th Earl of St Erth, who became estranged from his father as a young boy, was reared by his maternal grandmother and then spent years serving in the military during the Napoleonic wars. On his father's death, he returns to his inheritance, the family seat at Stanyon in Lincolnshire. Also residing there are his stepmother, Gervase's younger half-brother Martin, his cousin Theo and his stepmother's young friend, Drusilla Morville, who is on a long-term visit.
+Lady St Erth and Martin make it plain that they are disappointed that Gervase has survived the war, as Martin might have inherited instead. Theo, his cousin and acting steward, is therefore the only person at Stanyon with whom he has had much friendly contact. Gervase goes on to get his own way in the household, not by bluster but by quiet insistence.
-==Plot summary==
+Out riding one day, Gervase happens upon an attractive young lady who has fallen off her horse and discovers her to be Marianne, the daughter of another member of the local gentry, Sir Thomas Bolderwood. Since he had successfully made his fortune in India, Sir Thomas is known locally as the Nabob. Gervase, being rather taken with Marianne, finds that Lady St Erth is less impressed with his new acquaintance; while she is fond of Marianne, she has hopes of her making a match with Martin.
-Gervase Frant, 7th [[Earl]] of St Erth, returns to his family seat at Stanyon, having inherited from his father while abroad with the army against [[Napoleon I of France|Napoleon]].
+Returning from his visit with Marianne's parents, Gervase ends up fencing with Martin, who is not at all his match. During the contest, the button on Martin's foil falls off, but he continues to engage, to Gervase's disquiet.
-Also residing at Stanyon are his stepmother are the [[Dowager]] Lady St Erth, Gervase's younger half-brother Martin, his cousin Theo and his stepmother's young friend, Drusilla, who is on a long-term visit.
+Having made Marianne's acquaintance, Gervase resolves that there should be a [[ball (dance)|ball]], an idea which Martin throws himself into with enthusiasm, although it falls to Drusilla to organize it. Prior to the ball, Gervase is awoken one night by what he believes is an intruder in his room and finds there a handkerchief that belongs to Martin. Shortly thereafter, Gervase nearly crosses a damaged bridge.
-Lady St Erth and Martin rapidly make plain to Gervase, in ways verging on the highly anti-social, that they are rather disappointed to see him home. They had expected him to die, as the officer death rate was high, and had wanted him to die, as Martin would have inherited instead.
+"Lucy" (short for Lucius), Lord Ulverston, an old army friend of Gervase's who is heir to the earldom of Wrexham, arrives at Stanyon unexpectedly and is invited to stay for the upcoming ball. Martin's sister and her family arrive as well. The ball is a resounding success; particularly successful is the meeting between "Lucy" and Marianne. This upsets Martin, although Gervase receives it with equanimity. Lord Ulverston and Marianne will later become engaged.
-Gervase had not spent much time at Stanyon as a child; his maternal grandmother had taken him in instead; Theo, his cousin and the steward, is therefore the only person at Stanyon with whom he has had much contact. The two are good friends.
+After the ball, disquieting events continue. Someone sets up a tripwire for Gervase's horse and he is stunned by the fall. Later someone shoots Gervase and, although the injury is not fatal, he is laid up for some time with an injured shoulder. Immediately after the incident, Martin disappears and it is assumed that he fled to avoid blame for the shooting. When he reappears, it is with a story of being attacked, tied up and abandoned in a sandpit, of which everyone is sceptical except for Gervase.
-Out riding one day, Gervase happens upon an extremely beautiful young lady who has fallen off her horse, and discovers her to be Marianne, the daughter of another member of the local gentry, Sir Thomas. Sir Thomas is a [[Baronet]] who inherited unexpectedly from his older brother; he had been sent to [[India]] to seek his fortune and achieved success. Consequently he is called in the area the [[Nawab|Nabob]]. Gervase being rather taken with Marianne finds that Lady St Erth is less impressed with his new acquaintance; while she is extremely fond of Marianne in her self-centred way, she had hopes of her making a match with Martin.
+As soon as he is fairly well recovered, Gervase rides out to see Theo, but he is hotly pursued by Martin. Martin tells Gervase that he believes Theo is behind the attempts to compromise them both, and Gervase agrees that this is what he always suspected. Rather than risk the scandal of a prosecution without proof, Gervase sends Theo to manage Martin's plantation in the West Indies. Now that the half-brothers are reconciled, Gervase suggests that Martin take over the successful running of the estate in Theo's place.
-Having made Marianne's acquaintance, Gervase resolves that there should be a [[Ball (dance)|Ball]], an idea which Martin throws himself into with enthusiasm, although it is to Theo and Drusilla who must organize it.
+Drusilla, who is the daughter of a republican philosopher and has won over Gervase with her quiet practicality, has shared his suspicions. In her agitation while the male family members are away from home, she trips on the stairs and breaks her arm in the fall. Her parents arrive to take care of her and, when Gervase's feelings become apparent, both his step-mother and Drusilla's father forbid the match. While those two then engage in a dispute over whose family is the most ancient, Gervase and Drusilla come to a satisfactory understanding.
+==Characters in "The Quiet Gentleman"==
-Martin's sister arrives with her husband and two children, to attend Gervase's first big function at Stanyon; so too does "Lucy" (short for Lucian), an old Army friend of Gervase's who is the heir to a fairly rich peerage.
+'''Lord Gervase Frant''', former [[Viscount]] Desborough, estranged son of the 6th earl of St Erth and his first wife, brought up by his maternal grandmother, Lady Penniston
+'''Martin Frant''' - second son of the 6th earl
-The ball is a resounding success; particularly successful is the meeting between Lucian and Marianne. This upsets Martin, although Gervase receives it with more equanimity; his passion for Marianne was short-lived, despite her charm and beauty.
+'''Theodore Frant''' - Gervase and Martin's capable cousin
-After the Ball and as life settles back into a routine, however, some alarming things begin to happen. Gervase, who sleeps in the [[Panelling|panelled]] and ancient [[master bedroom]] at Stanyon wakes thinking someone is in his room. Someone appears to have sabotaged a bridge he is about to cross which has been damaged by flooding, someone sets up a tripwire for his horse. The person who is behind all these incidents appears to be Martin, whose handkerchief is found after Gervase wakes up, and who also attempted to fight Gervase without a button on his [[foil (fencing)|fencing foil]]. Later someone shoots him.
+'''Dowager Countess St Erth''' - the 6th earl's second wife
+'''Mr Clowne''' - the family chaplain
+'''Lady Louisa Grampound''' - half-sister of St Erth, married to Lord Grampound
+'''Miss Drusilla Morville''' - a neighbour, staying at Stanyon while her parents visit the Lakes.
+'''Barney Warboys''' - a friend of Martin
-The injury proves not fatal, but dramatic, and Gervase is ill for some time. Meanwhile, Martin disappears, and people assume he fled to avoid the shooting. When he reappears, he does so with a fishy story about being attacked and tied up in a ditch. Everyone is sceptical about this story except for Gervase.
+'''Miss Marianne Bolderwood''' - daughter of Sir Thomas Bolderwood
+'''Sir Thomas Bolderwood''' - who has succeeded his brother as Master of Wissenhurst
+'''Lady Bolderwood''' - Sir Thomas's wife
+'''Chard''' - Gervase's groom and trusted servant
-As soon as he is fairly well recovered, Gervase rides out to see Theo, and he is hotly pursued by Martin. Before the police can arrive, Martin is able to tell Gervase that he believes Theo is behind the attempts on both their lives, and Gervase agrees with him. Theo finally admits it, and Gervase gives him control of a plantation in the [[West Indies]] rather than firing him and causing a scandal. All ends happily as the unromantic, practical Drusilla and Gervase are engaged.
+'''Turvey''' - Gervase's valet
+'''Viscount Ulverston''' - heir to the Earl of Wrexham, ex cavalry captain
+'''Abney''' - the butler at Stanyon
+'''Leek''' - a [[Bow Street Runners|Bow Street Runner]], posing as Martin's valet
-==Characters in "The Quiet Gentleman"==
-*Gervase Frant &ndash; 7th Earl of St Erth, protagonist
 ==References==
 {{Reflist}}
-{{Expand-section|date=June 2008}}
+{{Expand section|date=June 2008}}
-ISBN 0-373-83684-8
+{{ISBN|0-373-83684-8}}
+{{Georgette Heyer}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Quiet Gentleman, The}}
 [[Category:Novels by Georgette Heyer]]
-[[Category:1951 novels]]
+[[Category:1951 British novels]]
 [[Category:Historical novels]]
+[[Category:Fiction set in 1816]]
+[[Category:Heinemann (publisher) books]]
-{{1950s-novel-stub}}