Foundling (novel)

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Findelkind is a novel by Georgette Heyer that was first published in English in 1948 under the title The Foundling . It is one of the author's Regency novels .

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The novel tells the story of the young Duke of Sale, Lord Adolphus Gillespie Ware. Raised as an orphan by his uncle, he grew up in an overprotective atmosphere. In combination with a natural restraint, this upbringing means that in his young adult years he still mostly lives according to the wishes and ideas of others. So, in accordance with social conventions, he tries to get the hand of Lady Harriet Presteigne, although he only appreciates her and does not love her. When his younger cousin Matthew Ware asks him for help related to extortion, the Duke sees an opportunity to prove himself and escape the care of his relatives. He travels incognito from London through England and meets both the eponymous beautiful foundling girl Belinda and Tom, the son of a nouveau riche blacksmith who fled from his private tutor. Trying to help both of them, he goes on a number of adventures - including being kidnapped and arrested. Meanwhile, his relatives are very concerned and are looking for him. In Bath, all the main characters of the story meet again. Lady Harriet Presteigne spends some time there with her grandmother and assists the Duke of Sale in appropriately marrying Belinda off and putting Tom back into the care of his father. At the request of their relatives, the two betrothed at the beginning of the book discover their love for one another. The book ends with the Duke of Sale being prophesied by his older cousin Gideon that in the future he will always assert himself and tyrannize his relatives and servants.

Translations

The book was published in German in 1976 in a translation by Hanna Lux by Rowohlt Verlag. There are also translations into French (L'enfant trouvée) and Italian (Belinda e il Duca) .

literature

  • Mary Fahnestock-Thomas: Georgette Heyer. A Critical Retrospective . Prinny World Press, Saraland, Al. 2001, ISBN 978-0-9668005-3-1 , pp. 146-150 .

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