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Editorial Reviews
Review
"SYLVESTER, OR THE WICKED UNCLE is a Regency romp at its best. Ms. Heyer creates characters that are realistic, lively, and humorous and the secondary characters are just as entertaining. " - Book Lover and Procrastinator
"It oozes with words classically denoting that time period and flashbacks of Austen careens in the background. " - Aisle B
"The heroes are flawed and arrogant but of course we love them anyway. The dialogue is witty and amusing and these make great beach reads." - Book Magic
"Sylvester is a great historical romance and it really shouldn't be missed!" - Once Upon A Chapter
"Sparkling wit and an entertaining banter between hero and heroine like Austen... " - A Work in Progress
"One of the best Heyer romances I've read so far... " - Stiletto Storytime
"By far and away one of the wittiest romances that I have read..." - Seriously Reviewed
"Another sensational ride into Georgette Heyer's historical world." - Historical Hilarity
"It's easy to see why Heyer is still considered a master of the genre even today... " - Debbie's Book Bag
"A sweet regency romance, with truly funny, witty dialogue." - In the Hammock
"A colorful array of her usual characters... if you are a Georgette Heyer fan and haven't read this book yet, you will be well advised to do so now." - Jane Austen's World
"It oozes with words classically denoting that time period and flashbacks of Austen careens in the background. " - Aisle B
"The heroes are flawed and arrogant but of course we love them anyway. The dialogue is witty and amusing and these make great beach reads." - Book Magic
"Sylvester is a great historical romance and it really shouldn't be missed!" - Once Upon A Chapter
"Sparkling wit and an entertaining banter between hero and heroine like Austen... " - A Work in Progress
"One of the best Heyer romances I've read so far... " - Stiletto Storytime
"By far and away one of the wittiest romances that I have read..." - Seriously Reviewed
"Another sensational ride into Georgette Heyer's historical world." - Historical Hilarity
"It's easy to see why Heyer is still considered a master of the genre even today... " - Debbie's Book Bag
"A sweet regency romance, with truly funny, witty dialogue." - In the Hammock
"A colorful array of her usual characters... if you are a Georgette Heyer fan and haven't read this book yet, you will be well advised to do so now." - Jane Austen's World
From the Inside Flap
Endowed with rank, wealth and elegance, Sylvester, Duke of Salford, posts into Wiltshire to see if the Hon. Phoebe Marlowe will meet his exacting requirements for a bride.
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
More About the Author
Author of over fifty books, Georgette Heyer is the best-known and best-loved of all historical novelists, making the Regency period her own. Her first novel, "The Black Moth," published in 1921, was written at the age of fifteen to amuse her convalescent brother; her last was My Lord John. Although most famous for her historical novels, she also wrote eleven detective stories. Georgette Heyer died in 1974 at the age of seventy-one.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
63 of 65 people found the following review helpful
By
A Customer
on July 31, 1997
Format: Paperback
2 Comments
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Firstly, please ignore the above synopsis; it bears little resemblance to the book.
It is no exaggeration to say that Georgette Heyer is one of this century's best writers. She may not write about deep metaphysical issues but her use of the English language is impeccable. Her vocabulary is extensive, Her novels are tightly plotted and her dialogue fast-paced and entertaining. If you read her biography you will find that Georgette Heyer did extensive research but this is never forced down our throats. Authentic background details are casually mentioned but not so they need lengthy explanations. The characters use the slang of the period but not so in such a way as to make it impossible to understand what they mean. Georgette Heyer has had innumerable imitators but sadly no equals. Nearly all of Georgette Heyer's books are excellent but in my personal opinion "Sylvester" is one of the best.
Comparisons to Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" are inevitable. In both novels the hero's pride makes the heroine dislike him. This animosity in turn leads the heroine into difficulties. There is even a very similar marriage proposal scene with the hero explaining how hard he has fought his feelings as the heroine would make an unsuitable wife. However Sylvester, unlike Darcy, is not transformed into a misunderstood hero. Instead Phoebe comes to love him despite his faults, which is much more realistic. In this book Georgette Heyer creates realistic characters who behave in a believable manner but still it makes an entertaining read. If you want long sweaty sex scenes with every grunt and groan detailed this is not the book for you. Instead you will get an intelligent story, realistic characters, witty dialogues, some hilarious scenes (especially involving Edmund and Sir. Nugent) and plenty of romantic tension.
Mrs. N.Pickard
It is no exaggeration to say that Georgette Heyer is one of this century's best writers. She may not write about deep metaphysical issues but her use of the English language is impeccable. Her vocabulary is extensive, Her novels are tightly plotted and her dialogue fast-paced and entertaining. If you read her biography you will find that Georgette Heyer did extensive research but this is never forced down our throats. Authentic background details are casually mentioned but not so they need lengthy explanations. The characters use the slang of the period but not so in such a way as to make it impossible to understand what they mean. Georgette Heyer has had innumerable imitators but sadly no equals. Nearly all of Georgette Heyer's books are excellent but in my personal opinion "Sylvester" is one of the best.
Comparisons to Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" are inevitable. In both novels the hero's pride makes the heroine dislike him. This animosity in turn leads the heroine into difficulties. There is even a very similar marriage proposal scene with the hero explaining how hard he has fought his feelings as the heroine would make an unsuitable wife. However Sylvester, unlike Darcy, is not transformed into a misunderstood hero. Instead Phoebe comes to love him despite his faults, which is much more realistic. In this book Georgette Heyer creates realistic characters who behave in a believable manner but still it makes an entertaining read. If you want long sweaty sex scenes with every grunt and groan detailed this is not the book for you. Instead you will get an intelligent story, realistic characters, witty dialogues, some hilarious scenes (especially involving Edmund and Sir. Nugent) and plenty of romantic tension.
Mrs. N.Pickard
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52 of 53 people found the following review helpful
By
Dr W. Richards
on May 6, 2000
Format: Hardcover
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Sylvester, the Duke of Salford, needs a wife, and is convinced that he only has to ask to be accepted. He compiles a list of suitable candidates, some of whom he has not even met, and is persuaded to meet Phoebe Marlow, his godmother's granddaughter, who is a late addition to the list.
But Phoebe is not at all impressed at being considered for the honour of becoming Salford's wife, and runs away! Part of her problem is that she's just written a gothic novel which is in fact a _roman a clef_ in which Sylvester himself is cast as the villain, though she also found him overly arrogant when she'd met him before.
Then Sylvester finds her after her carriage had overturned, and they're forced to spend several days in each other's company....
As usual, Heyer throws in plenty of witty dialogue, an assortment of hilarious and/or likeable supporting characters, and fast pacing as events begin to spiral out of the control of even the supremely confident Duke.
A wonderful novel, worth reading over and over: as with the best Heyers, there's plenty of subtleties you'll miss the first time and will spot on re-reading.
But Phoebe is not at all impressed at being considered for the honour of becoming Salford's wife, and runs away! Part of her problem is that she's just written a gothic novel which is in fact a _roman a clef_ in which Sylvester himself is cast as the villain, though she also found him overly arrogant when she'd met him before.
Then Sylvester finds her after her carriage had overturned, and they're forced to spend several days in each other's company....
As usual, Heyer throws in plenty of witty dialogue, an assortment of hilarious and/or likeable supporting characters, and fast pacing as events begin to spiral out of the control of even the supremely confident Duke.
A wonderful novel, worth reading over and over: as with the best Heyers, there's plenty of subtleties you'll miss the first time and will spot on re-reading.
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By
Laurel Ann
VINE VOICE on August 16, 2009
Format: Audio CD
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The combination of Regency Romance Queen Georgette Heyer's classic novel Sylvester and the velvet voiced actor Richard Armitage is irresistable. I dare anyone not to be captivated!
Sylvester, or the Wicked Uncle was originally published in 1957, and is one of Georgette Heyer's more popular Regency novels. The wealthy, arrogant and pragmatic Sylvester Rayne, the Duke of Salford, in his twenty-eight year has taken it upon himself to marry, much to the surprise of his widowed mother, producing a short-list of five suitable debutantes that meet his exacting standards. However, among the list of beautiful and accomplished young women she does not see her first choice, the Hon Phoebe Marlow, granddaughter of his godmother Lady Ingham. Sylvester travels to London to consult Lady Ingham, but he is put off by her inelegant attempt to fix the match solely based on the fact that her daughter, Phoebe's mother, and his mother were best friends. Meanwhile, word reaches Phoebe's spiteful stepmother that the Duke of Salford will shortly make an offer for her hand and commands her to accept. Horrified, Phoebe is also put off by the reasons for the alliance and her memory of the cold, proud Duke of Salford from her London season. When they are formally introduced she is shy and dull, and he is unimpressed. In a panic, Phoebe runs away to London, and the sanctuary of Lady Ingham, escorted by her childhood friend Tom Orde. A carriage accident interrupts their journey happened upon by Sylvester who thinks he has discovered a runaway marriage in progress. When a snow storm traps them all together at the local Inn, Sylvester begins to see that Phoebe is actually quite intelligent and interesting, and not at all the young woman of his first impression.Read more ›
Sylvester, or the Wicked Uncle was originally published in 1957, and is one of Georgette Heyer's more popular Regency novels. The wealthy, arrogant and pragmatic Sylvester Rayne, the Duke of Salford, in his twenty-eight year has taken it upon himself to marry, much to the surprise of his widowed mother, producing a short-list of five suitable debutantes that meet his exacting standards. However, among the list of beautiful and accomplished young women she does not see her first choice, the Hon Phoebe Marlow, granddaughter of his godmother Lady Ingham. Sylvester travels to London to consult Lady Ingham, but he is put off by her inelegant attempt to fix the match solely based on the fact that her daughter, Phoebe's mother, and his mother were best friends. Meanwhile, word reaches Phoebe's spiteful stepmother that the Duke of Salford will shortly make an offer for her hand and commands her to accept. Horrified, Phoebe is also put off by the reasons for the alliance and her memory of the cold, proud Duke of Salford from her London season. When they are formally introduced she is shy and dull, and he is unimpressed. In a panic, Phoebe runs away to London, and the sanctuary of Lady Ingham, escorted by her childhood friend Tom Orde. A carriage accident interrupts their journey happened upon by Sylvester who thinks he has discovered a runaway marriage in progress. When a snow storm traps them all together at the local Inn, Sylvester begins to see that Phoebe is actually quite intelligent and interesting, and not at all the young woman of his first impression.Read more ›
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21 of 23 people found the following review helpful
By
Emily
on June 29, 2001
Format: Paperback
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This is a truly brilliant Heyer with an adorable and very real heroine and a hero who is very human! Sparks fly, humour abounds and the lesser charcters are masterfully portrayed. Improves on second and third reading too. A wonderful book.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By
A Customer
on August 15, 1999
Format: Audio Cassette
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It's difficult to choose a favorite Heyer novel--but Sylvester would certainly be in the Top 5. The plot centers on the heroine Phoebe and the gradual humanizing of the dashing, but proud, Sylvetser, a Duke with wicked eyebrows. This story has it all : an elopement (with the wrong suitor), a roman a clef, a cynical London Season, and a hilarious abduction. When the wicked uncle's nephew cries for his "Button" I cried--with laughter. And of course, Heyer doesn't forget the romance. When Sylvester finally admits his love for Phoebe to his mother (no, this isn't a spoiler--it's a Georgette Heyer Regency Romance, after all) the romantic thrill is all any reader could want.
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