comment on The lost duke of Wyndham

[Hsieh]

The book started with a very clear description of the dukedom of Wyndham and the relationship between Grace and the dowager. I have always liked this sort simplicity – straightforward and articulate.

Jack was obviously a very unusual highwayman. He flirted and joked when he was actually conducting crimes. How he extended his hand asking the ladies if they needed assistance and the way he flirted with them emphasised the combination of Grace’s anxiety and the edginess of this particular night. The excitement was well-written.

However, as to Jack’s physical appearance, the description in the book did not seem to portray our hero’s feature clearly. The images of JQ’s heroes sometimes could be quite obscure. In some of her books, she simply used ‘tall’, ‘strong’, ‘broad-shouldered’, and ‘dangerous’, sometimes I just think it is somewhat too simple to say the hero is ‘tall, handsome, and dangerous’, such as Peter from The first kiss, Blake from To catch an heiress, Michael from When he was wicked. They are great heroes, but I was slightly frustrated when I was reading their books as I could not quite picture their faces. The same as Colin from Romancing with Mr. Bridgerton and Phillip from To Sir Phillip, with love. To me, Phillip was just faceless. And apart from green eyes and rakish smile, I am still not sure what Colin looks like.

But then, I believe Jack’s witty manners sort of showed us more of his enticing image, which is also a very enjoyable part of the book. It is apparent that he was not a true villain. At first he fully intended to take the valuables from the ladies, but when he said: ‘It can never be valuable to me as it is to you’ as he returned the miniature to the dowager, I was very touched; this highwayman is most unusual, indeed.

And then JQ told us how Grace became an employ in the Wyndham household. Grace kind of reminds me of Caroline from To catch an heiress – both girls protected themselves by attacking back the male attackers in a violent but also hilarious way. Also, how Grace felt is not so different from what many single females feel nowadays: we have a good-paid job, we are educated, we are not even bad-looking, but we don’t have a pair of strong arms that we can nestle at night. We have never been treated as a princess by a man.

After the robbery, we see Jack sitting in a dark room, drinking, and trying to remember what he knew about his biological parents; how he felt about his illegal profession. The whole scene was bleak and depressing. Jack was fully aware of the bleakness in his life and future. He also knew that there was no turning back.

‘Pulling from the frigid water of Irish sea’ was how Jack’s mother was saved from death. I find this particular sentence sublime: No long, tedious memories, no complicated premise or background. A mere sentence is enough to make just one page a sad scene. JQ has always been excellent at presenting distressing scenes. I can never understand why her books are called ‘light’. Yes, her books make us smile, but some of the distressing scenes just feel so real: Jack selling his commission in the army in order to buy a proper coffin for Arthur, John getting seriously injured during the war and witnessing a rape, Anthony learning his father’s death, Simon’s stutter, Miranda’s broken heart, Tillie’s brother, James and Elizabeth’s parents, Michael and Francesca accepting John’s sudden death. Those scenes are all very graphic and cruel, which, I suppose is not always an easy task for most authors. An author has to have a certain extent of talent to write a perfect distressing scene, which is why I find JQ admirable.

The interaction between the footmen, Grace, and Jack was entertaining. Grace being tossed out and into carriage, the whole notion of kidnapping a highwayman just made me laugh. The story progressed swimmingly after Jack had been dragged to the Belgrave. Whenever the story grew a bit unnerving, JQ always added a bit of humour here and there, which made us smile, chuckle, or laugh. Despite being a villain, the dowager’s eyebrow lifting probably is one of the most hilarious scenes of historical romance. The conversation between Jack and the little maid was also entertaining. I like how Jack considered the blue silk room; sometimes art really can be rather OTT.

What I don’t understand is why Thomas attacked Jack. I do know that at the time most people were supposed to show proper respect and be extremely polite when a nobleman, such as Thomas, was present. But it was a bit abrupt that Thomas struck Jack like beast just because a bit of jibe. I mean, Thomas was well-educated and always arrogant and collected, even with his annoying grandmother. Attacking someone he did not really know seems very out of character and illogical.

I am not too sure about the kiss scene in the blue silk room, though. Jack and Grace had known each other for only one day, (probably not even more than 24 hours), and they kissed each other like there was no tomorrow. I know there was a strong attraction between them, but considering how reserved and shy Grace was and how careful and cautious Jack considered himself, the kiss just seemed far too reckless and too emotional, and almost unnecessary and unconvincing in the story.

But then, I suppose ‘love at the first sigh’ happens, and sometimes if a man and a woman are meant to be together, it probably doesn’t really matter if they met just yesterday.

Amelia mistook Jack for Thomas and later explained that she thought both men were in a way alike, this was a creepy and subtle implication that Jack and Thomas were indeed related, they were blood relations. It also implied that there was no avoiding that Jack was the heir to the dukedom.

The problem is that, The lost duke of Wyndham and Mr. Cavendish, I presume, are heavily entwined with each other as these two stories actually happened at the same time. I think this is a very good opportunity to see how capable the author is. In other words, can an author focus on just one story, and not involving too much of other characters?

At this point, JQ did not succeed; I believe I am not the only one who wondered what happened to Thomas the other night and how Amelia assisted him. Again, I am fully aware that these two books are heavily entwined, in a way they probably could be written as one big book. But the thing is, the main characters in this book are Jack and Grace, and JQ actually turned the spotlight to Thomas and Amelia by letting us know that something curious happened to the duke and his fiancée, which decidedly turned our attention away from Jack and Grace.

And in chapter 16, Grace became almost one dimensional. I did wonder just what she was meant to be doing in this chapter. Yes, she was the heroine in this book, but I think story/plot wise, JQ did not need to add Grace’s presence in the episode. The argument between Thomas, Jack, and Amelia’s father would have sufficed perfectly in the whole chapter. It just seems a bit pointless to have Grace sitting there and feeling dreadful and helpless, for her presence was not really needed at the time.

I also believe that I was not the only one who wondered why Jack had to live as a highwayman instead of finding a respectable profession, considering he was educated. This was indeed another masterstroke of JQ’s. We kept wondering and wondering until we reached chapter 20, until Jack forced out the truth: dyslexia. Yes, how difficult would that be for someone, or anyone to understand – especially in the 19th century – that being unable to read had got nothing to do idiocy or any punishment from god? The scene in the library, including Jack’s confession, Arthur’s memory, and Uncle William’s death, was truly heartbreaking but also soothing. Aunt Mary was kind and gentle, and Jack knew that he was forgiven, eventually.

I kind of wish Grace had been a bit more responsive and slightly less quiet. I understand that she was very reserved and gentle, but sometime in the book she could be rather flat when it came to interacting with people.

I give this book 6.8 out of 10.

[JQFan]

How did you come up with 6.8? Just curious why it's not a even number, like 6 or 7.

[Julia Quinn]

Hi Hsieh! What a wonderful analysis of the book! I absolutely understand your feelings about wondering what happened to Thomas and Amelia---I have to admit that when I wrote that, I thought people would be curious, but I didn't think it would pull the story unduly from Jack & Grace. But the truth is, not every part of everything I do is going to work for everyone.

And indeed, the writing of two intertwined books did present some challenges. There was a reason I wanted Grace in the room in chapter 16--it wasn't a hugely important reason, and I probably could have eliminated it, but it was something I really quite liked---in Mr. Cavendish, I Presume. So I had to balance stuff out.

At any rate, I really appreciate your comments--the stuff that worked for you was, in almost all ways, stuff that I had tried to do, so it was wonderful to know that I succeeded!

Warmly,
JQ

[Hsieh]

JQFan, I was going to give the book 7 out of 10, but did not feel quite convinced myself. 6 or 6.5 seemed too harsh, So I decided that 6.8 would do.

JQ, it is always hard to believe that I am actaully talking to you on the board. It just feels so surreal that I can talk about the book with its author.
Thank you for reading this tediously long comment, I really appreciate it.