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Title: False Colours
Author: Georgette Heyer
Narrator: Phyllida Nash
Format: Unabridged
Length: 10 hrs and 57 mins
Language: English
Release date: 04-01-13
Publisher: Audible Studios
Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 497 votes
Genres: Fiction, Historical
Publisher's Summary:
The honourable Christopher Fancot, on leave from the Diplomatic Service in the summer of 1817, is startled to find his entrancing but incorrigibly extravagant mother on the brink of financial and social ruin - and more than alarmed that his identical twin, Evelyn, Earl of Denville, has disappeared without trace.
Christopher, or Kit, the respectable brother, is forced into an outrageous masquerade by his wayward family's tangled affairs. But in the face of Evelyn's continued absence, even Kit's ingenuity is stretched to the limit.
Members Reviews:
Wow! A great listen!
Phyllida Nash's excellent performance lets the quirky, likeable characters sparkle in this wonderful, witty comedy.
After a few calm pages that let us find our balance, Kit learns that his mother and brother are teetering on the brink of crisis. After that, it's unexpected turns and convolutions all the way to the end.
The story would be amusing and thoroughly satisfying even if you've never heard of Regency England. But having more background lets you appreciate its breadth and depth of authenticity.
If this were a movie, it would get a whole bundle of Oscar nominations: screenplay, leading and supporting character performances, costumes, setting, cinematography, and direction. It all seems light and effortless, but wow, it's a delightful masterpiece.
A rather Woodhouseian Heyer and a great reader!
Phyllida Nash is my favorite reader for Georgette Heyer books. Heyer builds her stories with sparkling dialog, and Nash is spot on with all voices. As with many Heyer book's this one relies on situational comedy, and Nash has unfailingly perfect timing in her reading that makes the most of the comedy. I had read this book in print, and I will say that Nash's performance makes it even better.
As the story unfolds, I was reminded of Shakespeare's comedies and some Wooster/Jeeves misunderstandings, but even when Heyer's characters are silly, she draws them with so much affection, they don't come off as completely ridiculous.
A delightful comedy of errors and love
What did you love best about False Colours?
The main characters: the cool Kit, his lovely mother and smart Cressy, his beloved. They are wonderfully portrayed, complex human beings that go through several transformations in their feelings and relationships as the novel progresses.
What did you like best about this story?
First, the setup: serious Kit poses as his rakish twin brother, Evelyn, who is nowhere to be found and must appear at a family function to save his upcoming nuptials. The hoax turns out to be much more complicated than originally envisioned, making for a thoroughly enjoyable plot. Also I greatly enjoyed the description of an English manor house in the early 19th century, the food, the clothing and the general setting. It's full of interesting detail that brings an old story into the present.
Have you listened to any of Phyllida Nashs other performances before? How does this one compare?
I listened to and enjoyed the Black Moth.
Any additional comments?
I'm looking forward to more books by Georgette Heyer, a novelist I feel fortunate to have discovered.
Secondary Heyer
I've been reading Georgette Heyer's regencies for years - some of the books many times. "False Colours" has never been one of my favorites.
That said, this is still so much better than most romances.
