After the horrible reviews from other Heyer fans, I ordered a copy Barren Corn through my library's ILL service.
Short conclusion: I did not find it as repulsive as others have found it.

It felt like an exercise in writing, as if she were practicing and not editing herself very well. Everything that happened in the story was obvious well in advance, no surprises here. The stupidity of most of the characters built a wall that prevented me from caring much about any of them. Character development, other than Laura, I felt to be stilted. Penhallow roused deeper feelings, although mostly dislike and loathing of the characters!

Heyer wrote Hugh's character to be aware of his own snobbery and hypocrisy, even to explore it and at times have great clarity; I do not think he would be in the least aware. Hugh thought Laura should cut off all contact with her family, yet it never was an option for him to do the same with his family, probably because he was unable to do anything to take care of himself. Shades of spoiled man-child.

This book failed at being a serious exploration of marriage between people of different societal levels. It was divided into two parts. The first half is supposedly the happy honeymoon, although it is peppered with doubts about future happiness. The second half is full of how Hugh's family is distraught, embarrassed, and humiliated by Laura's existence, and Laura's shame in being herself, and her attempts to make Hugh and his family happy (at the expense of everyone else).




Mediocre Heyer at best, really.

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I really wanted to like this "contemporary" novel (set in the 40's) since I love Heyer's Regency-era fiction... Unfortunately it is pretty boring and the characters never really engaged my interest. ( )