Su gracia, el duque by Georgette Heyer

462 pages

First published 1948

My rating: 4 stars

Reto Popsugar #3: un libro sobre un joven de 24 años.

Esta es una de las pocas veces, o quizás la única, en que encuentro que el título es más apropiado en su traducción al castellano que en el original (The Foundling: la expósito). La perspectiva es del señor Duque de Sale, Adolphus Gillespie Vernon Ware a quien llaman "Gilly", a quien por ser siempre enfermizo desde niño, su tío y tutor a más de un batallón de sirvientes le han cuidado, mimado y sobreprotegido toda su vida. Gilly esta a punto de alcanzar la mayoría de edad, y uno comparte su desaliento cuando no logra hacer valer su opinión en ninguna cosa, pues su carácter es tímido y sumiso. Es un 'pobre niño rico', pero cae muy simpático porque es amable y le apena hacer pasar mal al resto.

No crean que es una novela de romance. Mejor se buscan otra cosa para leer.

Este es un protagonista que escapa al arquetipo de este tipo de novelas, es bajito, pasa desapercibido por su apariencia, no es atlético, no tiene carácter fuerte ni despótico ni se impone a gritos ni trompadas, no destaca en carreras de caballos, ni le gusta jugar a las cartas ni beber. Y le cae muy mal cuando su tío dice que ya le ha elegido novia y es hora de pedirle su mano. No es que no la conozca, ni le caiga mal, no es eso. Es que no le dejan ni elegir corbata, ni dar opinión de negocios, pero eso ya fue la proverbial gota.

Es así cuando su primo le pide ayuda con un problemilla un tanto peliguado con una mocita a quien le pidió matrimonio y ahora es chantajeado por unas cartas, que Gilly decide 'ahora o nunca' y se va a resolver ese problema pues ya que le dicen tanto que es el jefe de la familia ... o como dice a ver si "es Duque u hombre", sueña con ser un Smith cualquiera y vérselas solo.

Lo que sigue es una serie de aventuras, unas cuantas disparatadas y absurdas al mejor estilo de una comedia shakesperiana, con pícaros turbios, una mozuela con cero sesos (que me deja al final hasta con la duda si Belinda es limítrofe ~~o un poco sociópata~~). Lo que sí se me hace pesadito es el tal Tom con sus cosas disparatadas a que Gilly no pone freno que me sacan de quicio (view spoiler).

Tengo la mala costumbre (ironía) que cuando menos en ficción deseo ver que las malas acciones no sean premiadas, sino que castigadas.

De igual modo, es una novela que se hace corta y bastante entretenida. Bien por Adolphus!

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This is one of the few times, or perhaps the only one, in which I find that the title is more appropriate in its Spanish translation (Su gracia, el duque) than in the original . The perspective is from the Duke of Sale - Adolphus Gillespie Vernon Ware, who is called "Gilly"- and who, because he was always sickly since he was a child, has been cared for, pampered and overprotected by his uncle and guardian and more than a battalion of servants all his life. . Gilly is about to come of age, and one shares his discouragement when he fails to assert his opinion on anything, since his character is timid and submissive. He is a 'poor rich boy', but he is very likable because he is kind and it bothers him to make others feel bad.

Don't think it's a romance novel. Better to find something else to read.

This is a protagonist who escapes the archetype of this type of novels, he is short, goes unnoticed due to his appearance, he is not athletic, he does not have a strong or despotic character nor does he impose himself with shouts or blows, he does not stand out in horse races, nor does he likes to play cards or drink. And he really dislikes when his uncle says that he has already chosen a girlfriend for him and it is time to ask for her hand. It's not that he doesn't know her, or dislike her, it's not that. They don't even let him choose a tie or give a business opinion, but that was the proverbial last straw.

It's like this when his cousin asks him for help with a somewhat tricky little problem with a girl to whom he proposed to marry and now he is blackmailed by some letters, that Gilly decides 'now or never' and is going to solve that problem because as they say so much so that he is the head of the family... or as he says, let's see if "he is a Duke or a man", he dreams of being any Smith fellow and dealing alone.

What follows is a series of adventures, some of them crazy and absurd in the best style of a Shakespearean comedy, with shady rogues, a girl with zero brains (which leaves me in the end even wondering if Belinda is borderline ~~or a little sociopath~~). What does bother me is this teenager Tom with his crazy things that Gilly doesn't put a stop to that drives me crazy (view spoiler).

I have a bad habit (irony) that at least in fiction I want to see bad actions not rewarded, but punished.

Likewise, it is a novel that feels short and quite entertaining. Good for Adolphus!

View all my reviews /p>