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« Gambling, an Accepted Regency Pastime
Jane Austen’s Descriptions of a House and a Home »

Faro’s Daughter, by Georgette Heyer: A Book Review

December 1, 2008 by Vic

faros-daughterInquiring reader: Faro’s Daughter is reviewed by Lady Anne, my good friend and one of Georgette Heyer’s biggest fans.

Max Ravenscar is one of Georgette Heyer’s favorite hero types: he is 35 years old, single, and the head of his family for many years. He is a powerful athlete and superb horseman. He is harsh featured, strong-willed, and suffers no one to cross his will. And, oh yes, even more importantly, he is extraordinarily, amazingly wealthy. Deborah Grantham is also a favorite type: well-born and gently raised, but her family has suffered reverses, and she is forced to make her way. Her father was a military man, but more importantly to our story, a gamester. Her aunt, with whom she resides since her father’s death, is a widow forced to make ends meet by running a private gaming club. She was successful on a small scale, but is in no way equipped to run a profitable business, and inevitably, has fallen into debt.

Max’s nephew Adrian has fallen hard for Deb Grantham, and his mother, Max’s aunt, one of the women who depend on Max to keep their worlds untroubled, implores him to extricate the young man from this potential pitfall. Deb Grantham, a lovely 25 year old Juno-esque blonde, has a strong will and temper, along with a finely tuned moral code and sense of her own worth. At their first meeting, Ravenscar is surprised by her, but also beats her badly at piquet. The following day, he offers her money to turn his nephew loose. Deb has been playing with Adrian to keep another suitor, one who wishes to make her his mistress, at bay. Incensed at Max’s blunt offer, she plays a role that suits what he thinks she is, rather than showing her very real anger. Predictably, they show each other their worst sides, misconstrue actions, get into and out of scrapes, forestall any serious problems, and inevitably, end up in each other’s arms.

Other characters include the raffish sidekick, her father’s friend and confidante who is devoted to Deb, a spoiled younger brother, who is appalled at the slide into not-quite-respectable territory his aunt and sister have begun, an enchanting younger step-sister who gives her older brother something to think about, and a very young and foolish ingénue who is not so foolish as to allow herself to be married to a far older man of worse than dubious reputation. It is a great mix and a lot of fun.

Faro Dealing Box

Faro Dealing Box

Along the way, Heyer, who knows her periods well, reveals some of the cracks in the world of upper class Eighteenth Century England. The wellborn do not work; their money is inherited. If the families waste their fortunes, the choices for their children are harsh. Improvident parents marry children off to the highest bidder they can find, no matter how unsavory the reputation. Few opportunities present themselves for those girls who do not marry: companion or governess for the not so lucky. Deb Grantham shows this when she responds to Ravenscar’s comment that she is accomplished. “No,” she says, “drawing, singing or playing an instrument are accomplishments.” She means of course, suitable for a young lady. She was not fortunate to acquire those skills, but instead has learned card games like faro and piquet. She does not expect to marry because of her slightly tarnished reputation. Max is cynical in part because he has been the head of his family since far-too-young an age. Not only has he had too heavy a burden caring for his various family members, but ambitions mamas trying to marry off their daughters have disgusted him with their headlong pursuit of his name and his fortune. Naturally strong-willed, no one has crossed him in a long time. Deb’s expert fencing with him, whether playing cards or pitting her will against his, comes as a not entirely welcome surprise. They are equally matched; he may have doubts about her eligibility to marry into his family, but her behavior actually is more honorable than his. When he plays for high stakes against Lord Ormkirk, his lordship is drunk. The race, for breathtakingly high stakes, is against a man who he knows has inferior driving skills. It’s all right; both his competitors are bad men, but Deb, for all that she is plays in her aunt’s gaming establishment, would not take unfair advantage. She cannot afford to.

Faro Betting Board

Faro Betting Board

But, being a rollicking romance, all ends well, and Deb can stop playing faro, Max will pay her aunt’s debts, and everyone ends up happy. Including Georgette Heyer’s loyal readers.

About Lady Anne, the reviewer: A confirmed Janeite and co-founder of Janeites on the James (our Jane Austen group), an expert on all things Georgette Heyer and the Regency Era, a lady well read and well bred, Lady Anne is known for her discerning eye for both literature and her breath-taking garments made by a select mantua maker. Cloth’d and coifed, Lady Anne knows few equals, and when she enters a room she is a commanding presence. She is also Ms. Place’s special friend and confidante.

To read more about gambling during this era, please read the post that sits below this one or click here.

  • Faro: 19th Century Gambling Craze
  • Faro: Or Bucking the Tiger, The Gentleman’s Page

Our Other Georgette Heyer Reviews Sit Here:

  • The Reluctant Widow
  • The Spanish Bride
  • Lady of Quality
  • False Colours
  • Cotillion
  • Royal Escape
  • Simon the Coldheart

These Georgette Heyer books, available this holiday season, will be reviewed on this blog and Jane Austen Today.

Cotillion, Simon the Coldheart, The Reluctant Widow, Faro's Daugher, and The Conqueror

Cotillion, Simon the Coldheart, The Reluctant Widow, Faro


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Posted in Book review, jane austen, Jane Austen's World, Regency Life, Regency style, Regency World | Tagged Faro's Daughter, Georgette Heyer, Georgette Heyer Book Reviews, regency gambling | 19 Comments

19 Responses

  1. on December 15, 2008 at 10:52 The Conqueror, by Georgette Heyer: A Review « Jane Austen’s World

    […] Faro’s Daughter […]


  2. on January 7, 2009 at 16:04 Friday’s Child by Georgette Heyer, A Review « Jane Austen’s World

    […] Faro’s Daughter Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)The Conqueror, by Georgette Heyer: A ReviewOctober Short Book ReviewsBook Review ~ “Faro’s Daughter” by Georgette HeyerPaula Quinn Guest Blogging […]


  3. on January 23, 2009 at 09:55 Frederica by Georgette Heyer, A Review « Jane Austen’s World

    […] Faro’s Daughter […]


  4. on February 12, 2009 at 05:08 Black Sheep by Georgette Heyer, A Review « Jane Austen’s World

    […] Faro’s Daughter […]


  5. on February 23, 2009 at 16:17 Kimberly Ann

    Would you say that Faro’s Daughter is representative of Ms. Heyer’s work overall? I am almost finished with it and I am curious if it would be considered an apt example of her style? Thank you.


  6. on February 23, 2009 at 21:23 Vic (Jane Austen's World)

    Kimberly Ann,

    Yes, the book is typical of a Georgette Heyer regency romance. It is atypical in that the heroine works and the hero is darker than most of her leading men, but the witty repartees, historical detail and use of Regency cant is characteristic of a Georgette Heyer novel.


  7. on May 1, 2009 at 10:03 The Convenient Marriage by Georgette Heyer, A Review « Jane Austen’s World

    […] Faro’s Daughter […]


  8. on May 12, 2009 at 01:49 Cousin Kate by Georgette Heyer, A Review « Jane Austen’s World

    […] Faro’s Daughter […]


  9. on May 30, 2009 at 12:39 The Talisman Ring by Georgette Heyer: A Conversational Review « Jane Austen’s World

    […] Faro’s Daughter […]


  10. on June 1, 2009 at 06:36 FeFe

    I found FD to be atypical of GH’s work. Indeed, it impressed me as rather swashbuckling. In the absence of ships and water, there is none the less forbidden adventure. Of course, this could just be my own desire to find a suitable leading role for immortal Errol Flynn as the so lively characters play out in my mind.

    While I don’t claim a connection, my sister is most assured there can not be enough reference to his grandson, Sean:
    http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2718862080/nm0024960


  11. on June 12, 2009 at 00:03 The Corinthian by Georgette Heyer, A Review « Jane Austen’s World

    […] Faro’s Daughter […]


  12. on June 26, 2009 at 08:08 My Lord John by Georgette Heyer, by Georgette Heyer « Jane Austen’s World

    […] Faro’s Daughter […]


  13. on December 9, 2009 at 12:03 These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer: A review « Jane Austen's World

    […] Faro’s Daughter […]


  14. on February 2, 2010 at 01:25 The Masqueraders by Georgette Heyer: A Review « Jane Austen's World

    […] Faro’s Daughter […]


  15. on August 1, 2010 at 00:03 Georgette Heyer’s Regency World by Jennifer Kloester: A Review « Jane Austen's World

    […] Faro’s Daughter […]


  16. on August 16, 2010 at 09:41 Happy Birthday, Georgette Heyer « Jane Austen's World

    […] Faro’s Daughter […]


  17. on July 10, 2011 at 13:21 Review of The Quiet Gentleman by Georgette Heyer « Jane Austen's World

    […] Faro’s Daughter […]


  18. on August 7, 2011 at 01:57 Review: Venetia by Georgette Heyer « Jane Austen's World

    […] Faro’s Daughter […]


  19. on August 16, 2012 at 10:35 Happy 110th Birthday, Georgette Heyer! « Jane Austen's World

    […] Faro’s Daughter […]



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