The Transformation of Philip Jettan

By Georgette Heyer and Sarah Maclean

“If Austen was the first queen of the contemporary romance . . . Heyer is the first of the historical romance.”—From the foreword by Sarah MacLean, New York Times bestselling author of Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake

“One of the wittiest, most insightful and rewarding prose writers imaginable.”—Stephen Fry, The Guardian
 
Philip Jettan is unruly. Unrefined. Unfashionable. But is that what she loves about him?

Previously published as Powder and Patch, this edition of The Transformation of Philip Jettan features the restored final chapter.
 
Cleone Charteris never had to look far to find an eligible bachelor. Her neighbor and best friend since childhood has made no secret of his intentions to marry her. Now that he’s a full-grown man, there’s only one small problem: He disdains art, fashion, and etiquette—all the things that Cleone cherishes most. If only it were possible to improve a man. . . .
 
Philip Jettan doesn’t think there’s anything wrong with a man preferring manly things, but he’ll do whatever it takes to win Cleone’s heart. So Philip travels to Paris, where, under the tutelage of the Marquis de Château-Banvau, he learns to duel, to write poetry, to find the perfect accessory for any outfit. But when the country bumpkin returns home a stylish dandy, he faces an unexpected challenge: convincing Cleone that he’s still the same boy who’s always loved her.

The Transformation of Philip Jettan is part of the Modern Library Torchbearers series, featuring women who wrote on their own terms, with boldness, creativity, and a spirit of resistance:

AMERICAN INDIAN STORIES • THE AWAKENING • THE HEADS OF CERBERUS • LADY AUDLEY’S SECRET • PASSING • THE TRANSFORMATION OF PHILIP JETTAN • VILLETTE

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Sep 10, 2019
• ISBN: 9780593133095

Georgette Heyer

Georgette Heyer (1902-1974) was an English writer of historical romance and detective fiction. Born in London, Heyer was raised as the eldest of three children by a distinguished British Army officer and a mother who excelled as a cellist and pianist at the Royal College of Music. Encouraged to read from a young age, she began writing stories at 17 to entertain her brother Boris, who suffered from hemophilia. Impressed by her natural talent, Heyer’s father sought publication for her work, eventually helping her to release The Black Moth (1921), a detective novel. Heyer then began publishing her stories in various magazines, establishing herself as a promising young voice in English literature. Following her father’s death, Heyer became responsible for the care of her brothers and shortly thereafter married mining engineer George Ronald Rougier. In 1926, Heyer publisher her second novel, These Old Shades, a work of historical romance. Over the next several decades, she published consistently and frequently, excelling with romance and detective stories and establishing herself as a bestselling author.

Reviews for The Transformation of Philip Jettan

[jbd1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This one got me through Election Week 2020 as I read a few pages each night/early morning in the brief period between when I tried to unwind from the news-deluge and when I crashed to sleep. So I'm grateful to it for that, and there are a few excellent set pieces (the bit about hiring a French chef had me in stitches). But this isn't nearly as good as much of the other Heyer tales I've enjoyed.

[sandyamcpherson · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Subtitled: 'The Transformation of Philip Jettan'. Storyline quite plodding at first and rather improbable; segues into a delightful transformation of Philip from a somewhat boorish provincial into a polished tulip of society. very amusing, albeit a light read.

[phyllis2779 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I like all Georgette Heyer books to some extent, from very much to middling. I disliked this one a lot. It's a Georgian, not Regency so I miss the language of the Regency books but beyond that is the way the hero is suppose to "master" the heroine if you can call her that. She is a ninny but according to Heyer, that's to be expected of women. They're not creatures of reason and logic. GRRR. I think I've read this before but I can't imagine I liked it the first time either.

[bekkil1977 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It was short, quick read. Philip is in love with Cleone, but she won't have him because he's coarse and countrified, so he goes to London to learn how to be a fop, and succeeds beyond anyone's expectations. Six months later when Cleone sees him again she's angry at him for being a gadabout and frivolous with his affections. Luckily for Philip, Cleone gets herself into a nasty entanglement and when he is able to free her of it they both realize how silly they've been and that they are meant to be together. Ah, happy ending.

[helenliz_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is Heyer's second novel, and I think it shows her as not yet being the fully formed artist she becomes. Phillip is a country bred man; plain and with few airs and graces. Near him lives Cleone, who is the love of his life. All is well until a man from town arrives and with his polished ways shows Phillip up. He leaves to get a polish in Paris, having been sent away by both his father & Cleone, working in sympathy. Polish duly acquired - and this is the middle section of the book, he arrives back in London shortly after Cleone has been taken there for the season. At this, there is much talking at cross purposes, both trying to conceal feelings behind a mask of society airs, flirting, and generally getting in a pickle when a good, honest conversation would have sorted the thing out in 5 minutes. The principles themselves are a tad annoying. Especially Phillips continual slipping into French, mine wasn't up to most of this, I was continually guessing what was said based on what happened before and after, and filling in the gap. The older generation are the better drawn characters. Phillip's father & uncle & Cleone's aunt are the sensible heads in this romance. It was good, but not great.

[condorena · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a light story under which ran the theme of judging a book by it's cover. Phillip Jettan couldn't be best appreciated by his loved ones with his rustic exterior but once this particular lily was gilded he lost all resemblance to his former self. Or did he? One thing is for sure he was tall at the onset of the story, described as slight midway through and at times toward the end he was called little.

[cbl_tn · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Childhood friends Philip Jettan and Cleone Charteris seem destined for each other. Philip adores Cleone, and Cleone loves Philip. She just wishes he was more like the society gentlemen in dress and manners. When Cleone rejects Philip's affection, a hurt Philip vows to become the man she wishes him to be. What better place to acquire social graces than Paris? But will Cleone be happy with the new Philip?I've read a number of books about women who undergo a makeover to win a man's affection. I think this is the first one I've read where the man undergoes the transformation. Heyer describes men's fashion in the Georgian era in great detail, and it's very different than the mental picture I usually have for a romantic hero. There's a lesson here about character being more important than outward appearance. However, I was uncomfortable with the “helpless female needs a man to protect her from herself” aspect of the story.

[dragonflydancing · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

One of Heyer's earlier stories. It was first published by Mills and Boon in 1923. It had the original title The Transformation of Phillip-Jettan, and was later re-issued under the title Powder and Patch by Heinemann in 1930 and by numerous other Heinemann printings thereafter. It is typical Heyer in its style and a delightful romance of eighteenth century England that I have enjoyed reading more than once. Heyer went from strength to strength in her subsequent historical romances and she is still unbeatable in this area of writing, even these days. She is the author that numerous modern authors of historical romance try to copy, in vain! It is not one of her best stories, but it is an enjoyable read as long as you accept the silliness of the hero believing that 'fine feathers make fine birds'. It is a relaxing change from the never ending so-called romantic stories that sell themselves with endless sex scenes. The authors of them won't be remembered, Georgette Heyer will. Her stories ended at the bedroom door (even a long time before they were anywhere near it) but that's why they are so intriguing - we have to use our own romantic imagination about what happened thereafter.

[philsyphe · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Philip Jettan hates the way many other young men dress and behave, but adopts their type of persona in a bid to win the love of his life, Cleone.“Powder and Patch” is a light-hearted tale featuring plenty of humorous dialogue and likable characters. There’s little in the way of suspense and, despite the outcome being quite predictable, it’s a good-fun read. Georgette Heyer’s female characters are especially entertaining. I liked Jennifer the most, but sadly she’s only an “extra”.The only thing I dislike about this novel is the overuse of French language. I am pro-language learning myself, I hasten to add, but I believe that if a book is written in English then that’s the only language that should be used, except for people’s titles and names of places where appropriate.

[riverwillow · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

"Philip Jettan is a country man - some might say a country bumpkin - when the love of his life Cleone rejects him because she wants a more fashionable man, he takes himself off to Paris to transform himself before returning to London to try and win her heart. There are a couple of duels, and some hilarious moments as friends, family and rivals come to terms with Philip's transformation.

[lovelylime · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

2.5ish on this one. Short but disappointing, especially from Heyer.

[abigailadams26 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

A country gentleman with no pretension towards fashion, young Philip Jettan finds himself faced with an ultimatum when his lady love, Mistress Cleone Charteris, informs him that she will have none of him, unless he gains a little "town polish." With wounded feelings he sets off to obey, and succeeds beyond anyone's wildest imagination. But will the newly exquisite "petite Philippe" still have time for Cleone when he returns?Originally published in 1923 under the title The Transformation of Philip Jettan, and then reprinted as Powder and Patch in 1930, this was one of Georgette Heyer's earliest novels, and it shows. There is little narrative tension here, as the reader can be in no doubt as to the outcome of the tale, and the self-conscious manner in which the author addresses her readers feels somewhat awkward and forced. There were, moreover, some passages in Powder and Patch that should offend any right-thinking woman, as when Lady Malmerstoke informs Philip that "Women don't reason. That's a man's part." The subsequent passages, in which the lady informs our hero that women really want to be "mastered," were enough to set my teeth on edge, and Heyer's famously polished prose - normally a compensation for moments such as these - did not yet seem to be fully developed.All in all, this is not a novel I would recommend to a general readership, and I think its primary interest must lie in what it reveals about the evolution of its author's skills as a writer.

[poonamsharma_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A short somewhat cold story of country boy Philip Jettan as a young man in regency period - who must win the hand of the woman he loves by becoming something he despises. To please his dame, he must be wigged, powdered and patched like any of the fop gentlemen of 'Polite Society' of his era.

[pjh1984_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I read along with a couple other books by Georgette Heyer in Jr High out of boredom and fell in love with historical anything. Well lets say well written historical anything. There is a lot out there that isn't. The book may seem a tad slow moving according modern standards but the plot is full and interesting. The only thing I never quite understood was why he would want the silly twit. And the father and Cleone both getting exactly what they wanted and deserved was quite enjoyable.

It isn't a romance by modern standards. If you want oversexed nitwits look elsewhere. That is Cleone's redeeming factor. She isn't bemoaning every 3 seconds she needs a man, a baby, a relationship or needs desperately to get laid.

It's stayed a favorite for all these years and I have probably read it many more times than 15. I know I wore out the books I had of hers that was my favorite. This was one of them. It simply fell to pieces. Everything I feel as if someone needs to get exactly what they deserve, I pick up the book.

[wealhtheowwylfing · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A forthright and honest young gentleman goes forth into the world to gain the polish his sweetheart demands. He becomes the beautiful and caressed darling of society, and when his childhood sweetheart encounters him next, he behaves like a light-minded fop. She's horrified, and of course he's just pretending--they end up happily married. A fluffy story at best.

[jjmcgaffey · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A lovely, funny, mindless story. Cleone is such an idiot - and then Philip turns into one too. He manages Paris and Bancroft and his father so nicely, but when it comes to Cleone he can't deal with things. His own game - but it's not a game so he plays badly. Brenderby is very convenient - if he hadn't triggered the whole mess they might even have not cleared things up. And, of course, a happy ending - lovely. And Philip's poetry! I wish I knew enough French to understand the rondeau - that's the only one we get to see, and even that the conclusion gets hijacked. It took me just over an hour to read (reread, admittedly) but it was just what I needed after studying all day.

[sarahemmm · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

One of Heyer's early works, and one of the few with a hero rather than a heroine. Phillip's rapid transmutation from country boy to elegant man about Paris really doesn't ring true, but in all other respects the characterisations are excellent. The Georgian manners and scene are also extremely good.

[nx74defiant · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very fun historical romance. After his love rejects him for his plain spoken manners and lack of fashion Philip goes to France. He comes back as a man of the height of fashion. Will Cleone want the man he has become or the man he was?The copy I had included Chapter 20 which was left out of later version. I can see why it was viewed as unnecessary, but it made a cute epigraph.