The Seduction of the Crimson Rose--Lauren Willig

Lauren Willig is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. The woman is brilliant and her novels reflect that quality. Just yesterday I finished reading her latest book The Seduction of the Crimson Rose. This book is the fourth in her series about fictional spies from the eighteen century, who are contemporaries with the Scarlett Pimpernel. I have previously reviewed the first in the series, The Secret History of the Pink Carnation, here if your interested.

The Seduction of the Crimson Rose picks up the previous story with Lord Vaughn and Mary Allsworthy, who are working together to try and uncover the dashing and dastardly French Spy, The Black Tulip. As they dodge death, meet for secret assignations, and uncover truth together Lord Vaughn and Mary realize that they can't live without one another. Ravishing heroines and dashing heroes create a classic worth reading!

While the plot might be a bit predictable, this book is definitely worth the read for a number of reasons:

1. If you care to learn about English and French life during the late seventeenth and early eighteenth century, these are absolutely fascinating. Willig holds a post-graduate degree in history and has clearly conducted research before writing. I appreciate her thoroughness.


2. Few books actually have me looking up vocabulary as I read along, and I appreciate one, like this one, who teaches me a new word or two. Did you know that "ennui" is high-falutin' way of saying "I'm bored?" Such valuable vocabulary has escaped me before reading Willig.


3. Willig is obviously well read and I appreciate the references she makes in her books to other famous works of literature. After a brief poll, I think she made allusions to Jane Eyre, Shakespeare, Milton, Dante, Mary Wollstonecraft, Thomas Paine, and a number of others. The constant references to other works sets Willig apart from many modern authors and adds a richness to the text which is extremely enjoyable.


4. Willig balances the academic nature of her novels with good plain enjoyment. Her writing is incredibly humorous in a witty and sophisticated way. She draws upon puns, irony and sarcasm to lighten the mood immeasurably.

Overall, The Seduction of the Crimson Rose is one book you'll be thinking about and enjoying for awhile. If you enjoy Elizabeth Peters, The Scarlett Pimpernel, Jane Austen or just like to read a good chick-flick, this is the book for you.

WARNING: I realized I failed to mention one detail and some of you might care. The first book, The Secret History of the Pink Carnation, is a romance (well, actually all of them are). With that comes a rather detailed romance scene. The scene could easily be skimmed (or completly skipped) and nothing like that occurs in any of the following three books; they are all very clean. Just thought some of you might like the warning...