We finished a relisten of Lauren Willig’s The Secret History of the Pink Carnation last night, and since we are counting it for The StoryGraph’s Genre Challenge 2021, here’s our review!
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The Publisher’s Blurb
Deciding that true romantic heroes are a thing of the past, Eloise Kelly, an intelligent American who always manages to wear her Jimmy Choo suede boots on the day it rains, leaves Harvard’s Widener Library bound for England to finish her dissertation on the dashing pair of spies the Scarlet Pimpernel and the Purple Gentian. What she discovers is something the finest historians have missed: a secret history that begins with a letter dated 1803. Eloise has found the secret history of the Pink Carnation the most elusive spy of all time, the spy who single-handedly saved England from Napoleon’s invasion.
The Secret History of the Pink Carnation, a wildly imaginative and highly adventurous debut, opens with the story of a modern-day heroine but soon becomes a book within a book. Eloise Kelly settles in to read the secret history hoping to unmask the Pink Carnation’s identity, but before she can make this discovery, she uncovers a passionate romance within the pages of the secret history that almost threw off the course of world events. How did the Pink Carnation save England? What became of the Scarlet Pimpernel and the Purple Gentian? And will Eloise Kelly find a hero of her own?
Why You Should Listen
~Because Book~
This book has survived several relistens over the years. Eloise Kelly makes a very likable narrator and we find her thesis-researching travails easy to identify with. It’s through Eloise we’re introduced to Amy, our Regency heroine and would-be member of the League of the Purple Gentian. The author sets up nice parallels between the modern and historical romantic action. This device does tend to highlight the plot’s predictability—and formulaic plots are something the series suffers from as you read other installments—but we’re not here for an original plot.
We’re here for the characters and the humor that keeps us laughing out loud. The banter is spot-on in a dry, tongue in cheek flavor that hits our sweet spot. The characters may do absolutely stupid things, but they get roasted for it, often by themselves. Our favorite characters are actually the chaperone, Miss Gwen, and Amy’s sensible cousin, Jane. They provide balance and keep the book from veering into utterly ridiculous territory. If you love Amelia Peabody and Alexia Tarabotti, you’ll love Miss Gwen.
As far as we can tell, the historical accuracy is spot-on, too. Author Lauren Willig makes Napoleon’s France come to life. She uses a wealth of detail to make her characters seem as if they must have really existed—and who wouldn’t want such dashing spies to be real?
~Because Narrator~
Kate Reading narrates with a lovely contralto. Most of the time her performance allows you to forget the book is being read to you, which is great! She’s able to differentiate the characters’ voices and switch among genders and ages with ease. At times, her renditions, while true to character, get a bit stridently high-pitched for our taste, especially in Amy’s impassioned moments. So this audiobook is not really a good choice if you’re looking for a story to nod off to (though the content is often exciting enough to keep you awake on its own). We also found some of her French accents grating, but since she also performs some superbly (to our American ears, at least), we assume she exaggerated for comedic effect. Obviously, none of this has kept us from listening time and time again.
A Word to the Wise (Content Warnings)
Major: Detailed sex scenes
Moderate: Sexism and misogyny appropriate to the period (usually counterbalanced by feminine subversion), attempted sexual assault, violence, heteronormativity
Minor: Brief mention of blood and torture
TL;DR
The Secret History of the Pink Carnation is a great listen if you’re in the mood for a funny, lighthearted, adventure with dashing spies and girl power, as long as you don’t mind the predictable romance aspects. The characters’ witty repartee will keep you coming back for more. Good narration, but not for bedtime listening.
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