If you're a fan of immersive historical fiction that goes beyond ballrooms to the realities of war, "An Infamous Army" is a treasure trove. Georgette Heyer's meticulous research brings the Battle of Waterloo to life, and history buffs will love her vivid battlefield scenes and authentic period details. Lovers of classic romance will still appreciate the tense, tempestuous connection between the notorious Lady Barbara and steady Colonel Charles Audley, set against a city teetering between frivolity and impending disaster. Longtime Heyer readers will especially enjoy the crossover cameos from her earlier books.

Who May Not Like This Book:

This book might not be for you if you're looking for a light, bubbly romance or quick character development. The military detail is exhaustive - sometimes feeling more textbook than novel - and can bog down readers not fascinated by regiments, uniforms, or tactics. The romance, too, takes second place at times, and some find Lady Barbara a tough heroine to root for. If you're hoping for sparkling banter and a tightly focused love story, you might find yourself skimming through the troop movements to get back to the heartbeats.

A richly detailed blend of historical drama and romance - best suited for readers who want both Waterloo’s thunder and the thrill of improbable love.

About:

'An Infamous Army' by Georgette Heyer is a unique blend of humorous romanticism and detailed military campaign set during the time of the Battle of Waterloo. The story follows Colonel Charles Audley and Lady Barbara Childe as they navigate love, scandal, and the impending threat of Napoleon's forces. The narrative seamlessly weaves together historical facts with fictional elements, providing a vivid portrayal of life in Brussels leading up to the battle.

Characters:

The characters exhibit a mix of charm and flaws, with Lady Barbara as a bold, complex figure and Colonel Audley as the steady hero.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by meticulous detail and extensive historical context, sometimes at the expense of narrative flow and character development.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative blends a romantic storyline with the historical events surrounding the Battle of Waterloo, focusing on the characters' struggles amidst the backdrop of impending conflict.

Setting:

The setting effectively juxtaposes high society in Brussels with the grim realities of war, especially leading up to the Battle of Waterloo.

Pacing:

The pacing fluctuates, transitioning from a slower, character-driven beginning to an action-packed and detailed account of warfare.

The youthful gentleman in the scarlet coat with blue facings and gold lace, who was seated in the window of Lady Worth’s drawing-room, idly looking down into the street, ceased for a moment to pay any...

Notes:

The novel is set in 1815 during the lead-up to the Battle of Waterloo.

General Wellington struggles to gather trained troops and ammunition before confronting Napoleon's forces.

Lady Barbara Childe is a flamboyant widow at the center of social life in Brussels.

Barbara's character is depicted as bold, fashionable, and scandalous, making her the talk of the town.

Colonel Charles Audley falls in love with Lady Barbara at a ball, leading to an unexpected marriage proposal.

The book alternates between the romantic subplot and detailed accounts of the Waterloo battle.

Georgette Heyer's meticulous research, including military strategies and character backgrounds, makes this work notable in historical fiction.

The extensive battle descriptions were so well-received that the book was used at military academies like Sandhurst.

The characters from this novel link back to those in Heyer's earlier works, creating a rich family tree in her literary universe.

Lady Barbara's tumultuous nature and flirtations are contrasted with the serious backdrop of war, highlighting themes of societal expectations and personal choices.

Has Romance?

The romance between Barbara and Audley is present but often overshadowed by the historical and military narrative.

From The Publisher:

The Battle of Waterloo. A heart-racing tale of adventure, love and fate against the backdrop of one of the most decisive battles in history by one of the greatest and best-selling romantic novelists of all time.

In 1815, beneath the aegis of the Army of Occupation, Brussels is the gayest town in Europe. And the widow Lady Barbara Childe, renowned for being as outrageous as she is beautiful, is at the centre of all that is fashionable and light-hearted. When she meets Charles Audley, dashing aide-de-camp to the great Duke of Wellington himself, her joie de vivre knows no bounds - until the eve of the fateful Battle of Waterloo ...

Georgette Heyer was the creator - greatest practitioner - of the Regency romance, and An Infamous Army shows why she has won the hearts of a whole new audience with her sweeping historical fiction.

1937

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468 pages

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About the Author:

Author of over fifty books, Georgette Heyer is the best-known and best-loved of all historical novelists, who made the Regency period her own. Her first novel, The Black Moth, published in 1921, was written at the age of seventeen 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.

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An Infamous Army

Georgette Heyer

Book 4 in the series:Alastair-Audley

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