The Spanish Bride
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 First edition | |
| Author | Georgette Heyer |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Regency, Romance |
| Publisher | William Heinemann |
Publication date | 1940 |
| Publication place | United Kingdom |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 432 |
The Spanish Bride is a historical novel by English writer Georgette Heyer. Written during 1939, it was published in the UK by Heinemann in April 1940, and in the US by Doubleday in October 1940.[1] Mainly it centres upon the life of Juana Smith, who has married her English husband during the closing years of the Peninsular War.
After the siege and sack of the Spanish city of Badajoz by British and Portuguese forces in 1812, the convent-raised orphan, Juana and her older sister seek sanctuary among officers of the 95th Rifles in the British camp outside the city walls. From their first encounter, Brigade-Major Harry Smith - shot-proof, fever-proof and already a veteran campaigner at the age of twenty-five - falls deeply in love with fourteen-year-old Juana and, over all objections from his brother officers, marries the girl a few days later. In his beautiful child bride he finds a kindred spirit, and a temper to match, and she soon becomes a firm favourite with the whole army, from the generalissimo down.
Choosing to share with Harry all the difficulties of war on the march, Juana remains at his side throughout, accompanying the baggage train, sleeping in the open on the field of battle, riding freely among the troops, and sharing all the privations of campaigning. After the abdication of Napoleon, Harry takes Juana to live in London and installs her in the house of a refugee French landlady. As Harry spoke fluent Spanish, he had never bothered to teach English to Juana and now engages a tutor for her. But the two, inseparable until then, are parted when Harry is ordered with his regiment to take part in the continuing war with the United States.
During his absence, Harry's family has visited Juana in London and, on his return, she is persuaded to stay with them in Cambridgeshire. In the meantime, Napoleon has escaped from his exile in Elba and Harry is posted to Belgium for the continuation of the war, with Juana insisting on accompanying him. Parted by accident and having been informed that Harry has been killed during the Battle of Waterloo, Juana searches through the horrors of the battlefield for her husband's body. However, the report referred to another officer called Smyth and Juana is finally reunited with the uninjured Harry.