The Unknown Ajax

The Unknown Ajax

  - Georgette Heyer

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

Note: Review contains mild spoilers.

When I mentioned on my reading group that I have read Georgette Heyer for the first time, and enjoyed most of them, several enthusiastic fans recommended me to read this one.

I think it was different from the other books, which was a plus. The main protagonist was the hero, and it was a refreshing change to have one so likeable and genial (rather than a stiff, curt, older man of a bad reputation, that the heroes of this genre usually are). It was quite amusing the way Major Darracot deceived most of his family about himself, with only a couple of them realizing that he was not the simpleton they had expected, an impression which he proceeded to emphatically sustain. I also enjoyed the antics of some of the other characters, like the brothers Vincent and Claud, and especially their mother. However, unlike other Heyer novels, the heroine was not a very impressive character.

The story started off well enough in this entertaining manner, but that is almost all I can say in it's favor. For almost three-fourth of the book not much happens, except the natural family conflicts. The last one-fourth captures the only notable incident of the story, and is a complete comedy of errors. I would have found it extremely hilarious when I was much younger, but with the perception and sensitivity of age, I find certain things quite unacceptable - even taking into consideration the context of the times it is set in. The entire family comes together, abusing their social position, to not just deceive but grossly insult a police officer who is only doing his duty, and what makes it worse is that he happens to be right in his accusation but has to give in. The way the rich and titled, though idle, elite bully and harass hardworking people like these is utterly shameful. Even more so is the way they consider themselves to be above law or common courtesy. There is certainly nothing noble about the 'nobility'.

In this genre, a repetition of characterization and themes is rather expected, but I was peeved to find the author repeating same adjectives over and over again to describe the same character in the same book. Bovine countenances, muttonheads, twinkling eyes, glints in the eyes, had me fairly pulling off my hair.