Reading Room: "Love Conquers All" by POM

[constant-muse.livejournal.com]

Title: Love Conquers All
Author: POM
Zine info: first published 1998, see palelyloitering. Second edition by Gryphon Press (October 2010), 34 pp.
Pairing: B/D (and another - see under the cut)


What is it about Regency AUs?

Doyle turned to see elegant legs encased in tightly-fitting pantaloons and highly-polished hessians. Above these a well-cut coat covered a snow-white lawn shirt, with elegantly starched cravat and a waistcoat so tight that Doyle wondered that the wearer could draw breath. The elegance did not end at the man's shoulders, his dark cropped hair topping a face so striking familiar that Doyle could not forbear to cry out.

and this

when the following morning dawned fresh and clear it found the Earl of Lewis mounted on an excellent thoroughbred in company with Mr Raymond Doyle astride an elegant bay mare, taking a brisk canter through the lower woods…

"Love Conquers All" satisfactorily combines the Mister D'Arcy effect with all the fun of a parody:

scarcely a year after [the Reverend Aubrey Doyle] had departed for that great vestry in the sky…

and

[Bodie] sat at ease in a high-backed leather armchair and contemplated the swirl of amber liquid in his brandy glass. It was, in fact, the finest French cognac and he knew, because he was intelligent, that it was unlikely that duty had been paid on it.

A feature is the densely packed in-jokes - this AU is almost entirely populated by characters from canon:

Bodie laughed, "… I was thinking of my ward."
"Colonel Grant's daughter, the Honourable Susan?"

some more canon than others:

"Walsh," Lady Cowley addressed her maid with the easy familiarity of one born to command. "What am I to wear on my hair tonight? My useless shaver of a nephew has ruined Colin's brilliant creation…"

Favourite characters are rewarded with virtuous roles, the unpleasant and evil are brought low.
One particular favourite agent is rewarded with a sympathetic role and a pairing that is scarcely second to Bodie/Doyle - but with whom?

My only complaint is that POM is too true to the Regency style, not the modern (soft porn) romance novel. "Placing a hand on [the beloved's] shoulder" is a reflection of ardent sexual desire, and a chaste kiss is the nearest thing to shagging for our handsome beaux.

What did you think?

Comments

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

Well, darn. This is one zine I don't have! So other than to say thanks for posting, I can say I like regency but probably would wish there was a bit more personal contact as well. LOL!

[constant-muse.livejournal.com]

At least it is readily available, if pricey (incl. P&P) for the length.

I thought it was well written and amusing, and it was frolicking along so well that the lack of erotic 'pay off' was a major disappointment.

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

What is it about Regency AUs?

I haven't read this story but commenting generally, I think it's partly because the lads would look so damn good in the clothes of that period! (That's it for me, anyway....). I think Doyle with his classic beauty would look at home in the dress code of any age and Bodie, too, I can happily picture him in most styles/ages e.g a Roman soldier, a Mr.Rochester or D'arcey, a Roundhead (and perhaps Doyle as his cavalier lover) so I love imagining them in all their tight, regency gear.

and a chaste kiss is the nearest thing to shagging for our handsome beaux

I think I kid myself that if there are enough erotic moments in a story then I'll be happy but I suppose that's in the knowledge that I know eventually it's going to lead to something a bit more physical.

A parody? Hmmm....Again, commenting generally, they're OK but I think I have to be in the right kind of mood for parody or they can start to irritate slightly or just become a bit tedious (laughing can be hard work).

Thanks for this rec!

[constant-muse.livejournal.com]

Parody "can start to irritate slightly or just become a bit tedious" - so true. Even though I was a bit disappointed that this isn't longer, it's probably for the better, as imho this one doesn't exhaust its theme - it's just right.

Agreed, they'd look good in anything - overalls, wet suits... But particularly the Regency style.

Reading Room

[heliophile-oxon.livejournal.com]

Alas, I'm another who hasn't had the pleasure ... I've come to appreciate historical AUs very much lately - in fact I have a bit of a craving for more just at the moment - though it sounds as if I might find this one a little frustrating (and I certainly don't want Walsh demoted to lady's maid - not right at all!). Thank you for the low-down *g*

Re: Reading Room

[constant-muse.livejournal.com]

Then you should indulge yourself in this.

"I certainly don't want Walsh demoted to lady's maid" That did rankle, and not in character at all, imho. On reflection Betty would be a better candidate as 'Georgina' Cowley's lady's maid.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Apparently commenting (late - sorry!) as a representative of people who have read this zine - I recommend it too! *g* There is something about Regency lads for a start - as shooting2kill said I think it's partly that they'd look stunning in the fashion, and also I think they'd fit in quite well with the romanticised view of the times too - independing and adventurous, the world still to discover and explore, dangerous, just rather dashing really... *g*

As for this particular zine - I was won over by the gentle humour of it, and the way POM made me feel part of it, and part of Pros and part of the whole wonderful world, with the in-jokes that you mention. They were beautifully balanced, didn't feel at all forced or self-conscious to me, and were just fun...

I wish it could have been longer, and of course I always wish there was passion with the lights on, but I also appreciate it very much for being just what it was! *g*

[constant-muse.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you liked.
the way POM made me feel part of it, and part of Pros yes. In peopling it with Pros characters she really had to go beyond the usual supporting characters to some more obscure ones that made the in-jokes even more 'in'.

I expected more of a bodice ripper, imagining that as more in keeping with a robust parody, but it is more affectionate of the genre than that.

[moonlightmead.livejournal.com]

Ah, finally, I have a semi-working computer and can post. Albeit late. Sorry!

That was an excellent summary.

I'm often quite dubious about AUs and I also tend not to share the sense of humour as everyone else, so I can't say I was predisposed to adore this. But I did. I'm really glad this was suggested for the Reading Room.

One thing I liked about this was that, as you say, there are in-jokes galore, but it doesn't feel exclusive. I am a relative newcomer to Pros (less than a year...) but I don't feel 'this is for people who have been around a while and who can spot the fan jokes'. There are fan jokes - the existence of elves is considered at one stage - but they're not overwhelming. Even that bit is written in nicely overwrought language so you can just enjoy the sillies.

And there are other jokes and references which aren't Pros, from Doyle's confusion about being mistaken for a nun to a very Jane Eyre touch of heartfelt calls being heard miles away.

The character names are great. You don't need to have read tons of fiction to spot the characters. You just need to have seen the programmes - or even to go and poke around on the Hatstand with its summaries and transcripts. I would have thought this was a device that would be really tiresome, but nearly every new name provoked a grin for me.

I don't read enough Regency and the like to know whether this is a common plot line, but it gave them both good reason to be stubborn and awkward (and to annoy each other) and made me laugh. The writing's nice, too: it gets the style just right.

Thanks for a great choice.

[constant-muse.livejournal.com]

Late reply from me too, but thanks for your comment. I'm glad it amused you too.

It's affectionate in every respect (except perhasp towards certain female characters!) - it doesn't particularly parody Pros fic, or Pros AUs, and it isn't vicious about Regency romances, hence I think we get a bit of both, peiord charm and humour.