“A certain cynicism, born of the life she has led; a streak of strange wisdom; the wistfulness behind the gaiety; sometimes fear; and nearly always the memory of loneliness that hurts the soul.”

They call him Satanas. Lord Justin Alastair, Duke of Avon is quite proud of his nickname, earned for his cold and debauched way of life. What society doesn’t see is that Avon’s jaded demeanor has been carefully calculated over the past twenty years, as he plots revenge against his worst enemy the Comte de Saint-Vire. When he stumbles across a ragged urchin named Léon in a dark alley in Paris, Avon’s plans for vengeance finally start to come together.

A pioneer of historical romance, Georgette Heyer’s delightful tale of hidden identities and wicked deeds established her as a bestselling author. Heyer famously refused to give interviews to promote These Old Shades, since the novel was already an instant hit with the public.

Kobo Editions offers this fully accessible version of the original text for your enjoyment.