Cynthia's Chauffeur

by Louis Tracy

This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.

Genres: British Literature

198 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1910

About the author

Louis Tracy (1863 - 1928) was a British journalist, and prolific writer of fiction. He used the pseudonyms Gordon Holmes and Robert Fraser, which were at times shared with M.P. Shiel, a collaborator from the start of the twentieth century.

Around 1884 he became a reporter for a local paper - 'The Northern Echo' at Darlington, circulating in parts of Durham and North Yorkshire; later he worked for papers in Cardiff and Allahabad.

During 1892-1894 he was closely associated with Arthur Harmsworth, in 'The Sun' and 'The Evening News and Post'.

Reviews

[Alisha · Rating 2 out of 5]

The plot of this one *sounds* wonderful… it’s just that it’s been done so much better by different authors!

A road trip around England in the early days of automobiles, where one among the group is using an assumed name, while falling in love most romantically with a fellow traveler? Pure catnip!

Unfortunately, this novel’s treatment of the plot leaves a lot to be desired. It’s overly verbose, and it taunts the reader MULTIPLE times by saying things to the effect of, “It would have been nice if such-and-such had happened at this moment, but fate was frowning on the young couple and so the exact opposite thing happened.” Maddening and manipulative and exhausting.

Also (and forgive me if I sound like Miss Cornelia in Anne’s House of Dreams), but the author is a guy, and isn’t it So Like A Man to gloss over the process of two people getting to know each other, and basically just announce, “eh, I don’t know, they’re in love now!” And then spend the majority of the plot on the dastardly schemes of the schemers.

Clearly this book annoyed me 😂

It’s just that I’ve been spoiled by having read and reread the vastly superior “Set in Silver” by A.M. and C.N. Williamson. It’s a very similar plot, but much more lovingly handled. It’s more inspiring, more romantic, and more fun. If you’re going to read a British road trip romance written in the early 1900s, please do yourself a favor and skip straight to the Williamsons’ books!!! You won’t regret it.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the years before World War I, while P.G. Wodehouse was barely moving beyond school stories, this romantic comedy appeared, involving members of the British and American upper classes, false identity, disapproving elders, questions of finance in the context of marriage, rapid romance, and the British countryside, all elements the master was later to adopt as part of his standard fit-out.

Cynthia is the daughter of an American railroad tycoon. When George, Viscount Medenham, only son and heir of the Earl of Fairholme, comes across an old Boer War comrade whose car has broken down, meaning he can't fulfil his contract to drive Cynthia on a tour of the South-West of England, Medenham volunteers to help his old friend out by substituting for him until the car can be fixed. He little knows that he will fall in love with Cynthia almost immediately - and be unable to speak up, since he's claimed to be merely a chauffeur.

On their journeys to see lovingly described landscapes and landmarks, accompanied by Cynthia's scheming chaperone, who wants to fix her up with an impoverished French count, their relationship blossoms, the count is vexed, the chaperone panicked, both fathers get in a taking because their precious child has fallen into the hands of (they each believe) a schemer, and the unfortunate servants (including Medenham's own chauffeur) are torn between duties.

It doesn't rise to the level of farce later perfected by Wodehouse, but on the other hand, the romance is a lot less ramshackle and better developed than he typically achieved, too; for Wodehouse, romance is usually a plot complication rather than a plot. I saw the attractive qualities in the pair, and the shared delights in history and beauty that drew them together, and believed in their love, even though it progressed so quickly.

There are dramatic and adventurous moments in the book too, but they're not pushed so far as to become implausible, though the final crisis is a bit over the top.

I was disappointed with the same author's Karl Grier , but not with this one. It's not one of the all-time greats, but it's a sound, solid rom-com with adventure and travelogue thrown in.

[Elderberrywine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very entertaining bit of romantic fluff. In a turn of events that only Bertie Wooster could properly appreciate, young Viscount Mendenham takes the place of the chauffeur and tour-guide hired by a beautiful young American heiress and her nefarious chaperon. It is only meant to be for a day or so, as a personal favor to a Boer War comrade in arms, who needs to repair his own car or risk losing the very much needed job, but soon enough, Mendenham finds himself meandering all about the south of England in his magnificent Mercury 38, enjoying the young lady's company no end, and when it appears that the chaperon is setting up the heiress for a dastardly penniless French count, our boy is all in.

With distracted fathers dashing hither and yon, mixed signals galore, and thrilling motor car action, this was a great deal of fun, even if I did not entirely buy the last bit of plot. All's well that ends well, of course.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

An old-fashioned romance with a bit of a travel guide feel to it. Some of the terminology is outdated. Reading it on the Kindle really helped since I could look most of the antiquated vocabulary up. Set in 1910, a British Viscount ends up filling in a chauffer on a whim. Predictably, he falls for the rich American he's driving all over the English countryside. Can she learn to love him in return even though he's a "servant?" Can she avoid the arranged marriage plot being hatched by her chaperone and a French Comte who is out of money? Yeah, you probably know the answer, but it is a fun read anyway.

[Carol Spears · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am embarrassed at how much I enjoyed this book....

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Fun travel adventure with a veteran doing a favor to a fellow veteran--only the one doing a favor is a Viscount and not a chauffeur at all! The fair lady, an American heiress touring England, catches his fancy at once, especially when he realizes her older-lady-companion is an adventurer ready to sell her hand to the one who greases her own the best. How can he leave the innocent, beautiful American to the wolves? Hijinks ensue as the Viscount pretends to be a chauffeur and keep his own identity alive on the side without the twain ever meeting.

The travelogue bit reminded me a lot of CN and AM Williamson's books, to the point where several times I forgot I wasn't reading something they wrote.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful reading 📚

Due to eye issues Alexa reads to me, a will written relationship, love, romance, travel novella with a little violence. The characters are interesting and will developed. The story line is entertaining with travel across the UK ending in marriage and the honeymoon. I would recommend this novella to readers of romantic novellas. Enjoy reading 🔰2021 😯

[Brad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming

A viscount disguised as a chauffeur falls in love with the American girl he’s driving around Britain. A romance, but with suspenseful and life-threatening twist.

[Sem · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll say three things about Louis Tracy:

1. He had a way with masterful, aristocratic heroes.
2. He had a bad habit of hinting at events to come ('if only x had realised that' etc) but I forgive him the anxiety he's caused me because the pleasure far outweighs the pain.
3. He didn't like French and Italian men. He may not have liked Japanese men either but he admired them. The former are invariably beaten into a pulp (or threatened with beating) by an Englishman because no amount of foreign deviousness can ever replace a good sound walloping with fists. The Japanese are allowed to commit suicide.

These opinions are based on three books so I reserve the right to change my mind. But he really didn't go for the Mediterranean type.