Title: Sprig Muslin
Author: Georgette Heyer
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Publication date: 1956
Length: 298 pages
Genre: Historical fiction/romance
Source: Purchased
Rating:
A dashing man of honor…
En route to propose to his sensible acquaintance Lady Hester, Sir Gareth Ludlow finds young, pretty Amanda wandering unattended and knows it is his duty to bring her back to her family. This turns out to be a challenge as Amanda seems to possess an imagination as intriguing as it is dangerous.
A shocking refusal…
Lady Hester stuns both him and her family when she refuses him. At her age, no one would expect her to turn down such an eligible suitor. But Lady Hester has met the indomitable Amanda. How can the quiet, intelligent Hester hope to compete with such a lively young lady?
After finishing Georgette Heyer’s Cotillion, I felt like my appetite for her books was reignited, and turned to Sprig Muslin, a paperback I’d picked up a few years ago. I’m so happy I did! Sprig Muslin is silly, sweet-natured, fun — and a refreshing contrast to some of Heyer’s more dramatic books about rakes and rogues and dashing men with terrible reputations.
In Sprig Muslin, the two anchors of the story are good-natured, respectable adults who nonetheless find themselves caught up in a whirlwind of shenanigans. Sir Gareth Ludlow, at age 35, is fashionable, well-off, and after losing his fiancée in a tragic accident many years earlier, still single. It’s time for him to take a wife and start producing heirs.
Sir Gareth decides to propose to Lady Hester Theale, a kind, intelligent woman he’s been friends with all his life. Lady Hester, at age 29, is on the shelf and seemingly content with her lot, although she does seem to get bossed around by her overbearing brother and sister-in-law quite a bit. Hester is appalled to learn that Sir Gareth has declared his intentions to her father and is en route to propose to her; although she won’t give a reason, she definitely does not want this proposal.
Sir Gareth’s plans are interrupted when he stops for refreshment along the way and discovers a young girl on the verge of trouble. Amanda, not quite 17, has apparently run away and is determined to remain at large. Clearly belonging to an upper class family, she states that she intends to marry an up-and-coming soldier, and by running away, she intends to force her grandfather to give his consent. Amanda is headstrong and passionate, and Gareth realizes that his duty is to see her safely returned to her family rather than leaving her to make her way unchaperoned and without an actual plan.
There’s a hitch, however: Amanda refuses to name her family, where they live, or even who her soldier fiancé is. She spins story upon story, and while initially thankful that Gareth seems willing to help her, she soon realizes that he’s going to keep her from her schemes, and attempts to get away from him too.
Thus begins a madcap series of escapades, as Amanda creates one fabulous story after another to explain her situation, drawing in Gareth and then others met along the way. Each tale leads to further complications, and before too long even Hester is drawn into Amanda’s web of stories and fake identities.
Sprig Muslin is utterly delightful. As Amanda’s stories get more and more inventive, various bystanders take on roles, and her tales result in all sorts of rescue attempts, misguided escapes, and even a daring kidnap attempt that goes disastrously wrong. It’s all quite ludicrous, and so very, very enjoyable.
As with all Georgette Heyer books, the unusual words and expressions make the reading experience extra entertaining — here are a few from Sprig Muslin that I highlighted:
- nodcock (fool or idiot)
- marplot (one who ruins a plan through meddling)
- bosky (drunk)
- daffish (stupid, silly)
- spinney (small area of trees and bushes)
- gammon (trick)
- nonesuch (a person or thing unrivaled or unequaled)
- gaby (a foolish person)
- elbow-crooker (drinker)
- bobbery (a squabble, a noisy disturbance)
- humdudgeon (loud complaint or noise)
- flat (as in, “A flat, my child, is one who is easily duped”)
And as for phrases, can’t beat:
- a fashionable fribble
- a real top-of-the-trees, slap up to the echo (top-of-the-trees = someone of high esteem)
- chuffy thing to do
- in the petticoat line (associating with women of “easy virtue)
While I always enjoy Georgette Heyer’s books, Sprig Muslin may have just become my new favorite. It’s so good-natured, and the sense of fondness for Kitty’s exploits makes this a sweet read. I came away from it really appreciating all the main characters, and had plenty of giggles along the way. If you’re looking for a GH book but aren’t crazy about rakish men being cast as heroes, Sprig Muslin is a great choice!
Bookshelf Fantasies 
This sounds like a lot of fun. You’re tempting me to try her books again😁
Do it!! 🙂 This is a charmer.
I really how this sounds, like a fun read. I think I’ll start with it when ready to try Heyer’s books.
Such a good one! This would be a great starting point for sure.
Your review popped up in my news feed on Google and it struck me as funny as sitting next to me on the couch is Sprig Muslin. This book has been read so many times, since I bought it for $1.25 in the early 1970s. I find this book and almost all of Georgette Heyer’s novels have me grinning and chuckling. I have read all of her novel but one, Helen, which is hard to find and costly. I recently reduced my library from over 5000 books to around 300 book. I kept all of my GH books. They are a regular source of enjoyment. You should read one of her mysteries. I recommend Why Shoot a Butler.
Thank you for the recommendation! I haven’t read any of her mysteries yet, but I’d like to. Meanwhile, I’m still slowly working my way through her Regency romances — I try to read at least one or two per year!
They Found Him Dead would be my recommendation for your first mystery.