Venetia
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Review
British actor Richard Armitage's reading one of Georgette Heyer s best classic regency romances, combined with Naxos technical expertise and most appropriate musical interludes is absolute heaven. Fans of Armitage having recently watched his cool, aloof, calculating Lucas North on the British television series Spooks (MI5 in the US) or his villainous role in Robin Hood and pining for more a romantic Armitage as he was as John Thornton in the BBC production of Gaskell's North and South will find his performance here breathtakingly satisfying, honoring and respecting Heyer's words, characters and setting as he does so perfectly. Armitage's fully-voiced performance is simply amazing and listeners will only regret that he did not read the entire text instead of an abridgment, albeit, an excellent abridgment. From 25-year-old Venetia, through middle aged and dowager women, to the youthful Aubrey, to Venetia's annoying suitors, to Demerel, chameleon Armitage captures them all; and it is difficult to believe that one man is playing all these characters so flawlessly. Occasionally, clearly intended by Heyer's words, some of these women's voices are ridiculous and amusing and Armitage captures that as well. Listeners will smile as some sound, deliberately, almost Monty Pythonesque. Listeners will also agree that Armitage should play Lord Demerel if a film is made. The Naxos package includes a most useful booklet that provides enlightening historical and author background information by Caroline Waight, lists chapter details for each CD, and provides music sources, also available from Naxos in full. Listeners might also want to check out the excellent Naxos audiobooks website for the charming article 'Swooning over Sylvester' about Armitage's recording of Sylvester also by Georgette Heyer (reviewed in SoundCommentary, August, 2009). Venetia deserves 5 stars. Editor's Pick of the Month (May 2010) Truly Outstanding Audio! --Sue Rosenzweig, SoundCommentary.com
Heyer's elegant story of a country girl who falls for a rakish peer of the realm will enchant listeners. Venetia's chance meeting with Damerel turns into a romantic dilemma as she tries to convince him their relationship won't turn her into a social outcast. Richard Armitage's voice aptly conveys the attraction between Venetia and Damerel, making the most of the novel's rich dialogue and clever turns of phrase. Armitage manages to express all of Heyer's opinions about her characters with a subtle sense of the ridiculous. Exchanges between Venetia and Damerel emerge as especially intimate and wonderful. ...the abridgment is gracefully handled... --C.A., AudioFile --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.
Heyer's elegant story of a country girl who falls for a rakish peer of the realm will enchant listeners. Venetia's chance meeting with Damerel turns into a romantic dilemma as she tries to convince him their relationship won't turn her into a social outcast. Richard Armitage's voice aptly conveys the attraction between Venetia and Damerel, making the most of the novel's rich dialogue and clever turns of phrase. Armitage manages to express all of Heyer's opinions about her characters with a subtle sense of the ridiculous. Exchanges between Venetia and Damerel emerge as especially intimate and wonderful. ...the abridgment is gracefully handled... --C.A., AudioFile --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.
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One of best-known and most beloved historical novelists will capture a whole new audience in a stunning repackage.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
35 of 35 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Georgette Heyer fans who have not yet read Venetia must rectify this situation immediately! Venetia is one of her most likeable heroines: she is mature, beautiful in face and manner, lovingly protective towards her dog Flurry and brother Aubrey .. and has never been in love. So her friends in the neighbourhood are understandably concerned when Damerel, a notorious rake, decides to visit his property and puts a new smile into Venetia's eyes. Not being the cliched type of heroine who seeks to reform her rake, Venetia offers him the kind of friendship and understanding that the worthy members of society had denied him. But then Damerel's chivalreous motives get in the way and he decides to end the autumn romance. It is left up to Ventia to look into her past to find how to determine her future. Thoroughly enjoyable and heart-warming.
30 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
VENETIA has the distinction of being the last Georgette Heyer I read before I had to settle for rereads. And while it is a novel that has all the Heyer trademarks of quality -- a good story, memorable and well developed characters, and a truly sparkling and witty prose style -- it is also somewhat different from most of her other novels, in that, as another reviewer on Amazon.com (bookjunkiereviews) has put it, in that the novel's heroine, Venetia Lanyon, has a rather realistic yet sunny approach to life.
The storyline for VENETIA is simplicity itself: the very beautiful, intelligent and sunny natured Venetia Lanyon had long resigned to herself to spinsterhood -- afterall here she was, at the ripe age of twenty-five, living in the country, running her brother Conway's estate, while he was off playing at being a soldier, keeping house for her sickly but brilliant younger brother, Aubrey, and with two improbable country swains as suitors. Enter the roguish Lord Dameral: neighbour of the Lanyons, this rakish and jaded aristocrat is surely the very last person anyone would expect sheltered and virtuous Venetia to become good friends with. But this is exactly what happens much to the consternation of those who love Venetia...
This is a very "grown-up" kind of novel, about the relationship between two adults of very different upbringings and two very different temperaments, from friendship and a sincere admiration to something more (in fact as several other reviewers have already mentioned, the attraction between Venetia and Demeral fairly sizzles and yet there is not one sexually explicit scene! goodness!!). Georgette Heyer does a fantastic job of charting this blossoming relationship from its incipience to the painful parting to the satisfying and triumphant end. And while I'm ashamed to own that I didn't enjoy this charming novel as it so fully deserved all those years ago, I'm happy to relate that I have enjoyed VENETIA, more and more with each subsequent read, ever since. I've read a great many romance novels, but I don't think that I've ever read anything quite so romantically satisfying as VENETIA.
The storyline for VENETIA is simplicity itself: the very beautiful, intelligent and sunny natured Venetia Lanyon had long resigned to herself to spinsterhood -- afterall here she was, at the ripe age of twenty-five, living in the country, running her brother Conway's estate, while he was off playing at being a soldier, keeping house for her sickly but brilliant younger brother, Aubrey, and with two improbable country swains as suitors. Enter the roguish Lord Dameral: neighbour of the Lanyons, this rakish and jaded aristocrat is surely the very last person anyone would expect sheltered and virtuous Venetia to become good friends with. But this is exactly what happens much to the consternation of those who love Venetia...
This is a very "grown-up" kind of novel, about the relationship between two adults of very different upbringings and two very different temperaments, from friendship and a sincere admiration to something more (in fact as several other reviewers have already mentioned, the attraction between Venetia and Demeral fairly sizzles and yet there is not one sexually explicit scene! goodness!!). Georgette Heyer does a fantastic job of charting this blossoming relationship from its incipience to the painful parting to the satisfying and triumphant end. And while I'm ashamed to own that I didn't enjoy this charming novel as it so fully deserved all those years ago, I'm happy to relate that I have enjoyed VENETIA, more and more with each subsequent read, ever since. I've read a great many romance novels, but I don't think that I've ever read anything quite so romantically satisfying as VENETIA.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Heyer is absolutely the Queen of Regency romances, and Venetia is, as far as I'm concerned, her best. An independent woman determined to resist her two insistent suitors and take good care of her younger borther; she meets her new neighbour, Damerel, the most notorious rake in England. At first he is tempted to seduce her, but later becomes protective towards her. Then, when her older brother marries and she is forced to leave her home for London, she thinks she will never see Damerel again. Desperate measures are called for...
This is not a typical Regency; Venetia is not a blushing debutante, and Damerel is not a dandified town gentleman. But the characters are delightfully appealing and Damerel is such a wonderful, down-to-earth hero! Read it, re-read it, treasure it for ever. I do.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Wonderful
The book is really good and Richard Armitadge does an excellent job, like always. The audiobook is fantastic!. I highly recommend it.
Published 4 months ago by angeles
One of the very best Heyers for me!
I know that there are all sorts of reviews out there as to why each and every Georgette Heyer is their favourite. Ok - so, cards on the table: Venetia is mine. Read more
Published 11 months ago by floribunda
Nice novel!
I bought this audiobook together with The Convenient Marriage, both read by the actor R. Armitage. It was a very pleasant listening: the interpretation of characters and the... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Alessandra Arosio
A liberated heroine and a libertine spar & spark in one of Heyer's...
One of Georgette Heyer's most beloved novels, VENETIA is set in the countryside of the North Riding of Yorkshire three years after the end of the Napoleonic Wars. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Laurel Ann
Historical romance with independent heroine
'A fox got in amongst the hens last night, and ravished our best layer,' remarked Miss Lanyon.
Venetia Lanyon's opening remark to her inattentive brother presages her... Read more
Venetia Lanyon's opening remark to her inattentive brother presages her... Read more
Published 22 months ago by purpleheart
A Romance with Class
Country born-and-bred beauty, Venetia Lanyon lives with her younger brother Aubrey with no access to society and the usual ways in which a genteel young lady can find herself a... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Genevieve
venetia
It is the second audiobook i bought to georgette heyer read by richard armitage abnd i appreciated every tiny bit of it. Entertaining and romantically riveting
Published 24 months ago by Mme Bourdiaux
Exquisite.
A beautifully written novel read with passion & talent... what more could you ask for?
Published on 25 May 2010 by tequilagirl
historical romance
This is one of the best Georgette Heyer historical romances. Beautiful description and safe language.
Published on 17 May 2010 by Lightweight lover
Fantasy
I have read the book many years ago, so am sure this will be a humerous romp.
Published on 6 May 2010 by Tc Rundle
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