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Cover of The Secret History of the Pink Carnation

Historical Fiction · 2005 · G

The Secret History of the Pink Carnation

by Lauren Willig

A Harvard student researches a Regency spy — and gets swept up in the story herself

Nothing goes right for Eloise. The one day she wears her new suede boots, it rains cats and dogs. When the subway stops short, she’s always the one thrown into some stranger’s lap. Plus, she’s had more than her share of misfortune in the way of love. In fact, ever since she realized romantic heroes are a thing of the past, she’s decided it’s time for a fresh start. Setting off for England, Eloise is determined to finish her dissertation on that dashing pair of spies, the Scarlet Pimpernel and the Purple Gentian. But what she discovers is something the finest historians have missed: the secret

ForAll agesGenreHistorical FictionLength384 pagesRead time~10 hours

This analysis was generated by AI from publicly available reader reviews, literary criticism, and book discussions. It has not been verified by a BookLens community reviewer and may contain errors. Be the first to verify →

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What's in this book, at a glance — five things readers want to know before they start.

Violence

Barely any

Mild spy adventure peril appropriate for the Regency romance register

Language

Barely any

Mild language

Sexual Content

Barely any

Mild romantic content in the Regency tradition

Substance Use

None

Some period-appropriate social drinking

Emotional Intensity

Barely any

No psychological intensity concerns

What this book is about

Lauren Willig's debut novel alternates between a modern Harvard graduate student researching the identity of a Napoleonic spy called the Pink Carnation and the Regency-era story of two English spies in France. The novel is a romantic comedy of manners in the Heyer tradition with a light spy thriller overlay. Clean and charming — appropriate for all adult readers who enjoy Regency romance.

Notes for sensitive readers

Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.

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