Adèle and Co.

Adèle and Co. is a 1931 comic novel by English author Dornford Yates, featuring his established 'Berry' characters. This full-length novel marks the first Berry book published by Hodder & Stoughton. The story centers on the Berry family who discover their jewels have been stolen by a supposed friend in Paris. The narrative follows their pursuit of the thief across France, from Dieppe to the Pyrenees, while dealing with a rival group of criminals. The tale takes place against the backdrop of established relationships - Boy and Adèle's marriage, Berry and Daphne's union, and Jill's new life as the Duchess of Padua. This book serves as Adèle's final appearance in the Berry series. The novel combines elements of comedy and adventure, exploring themes of friendship, betrayal, and justice through the lens of upper-class British society in continental Europe.

Readers describe this book as a light, humorous adventure following the Berry family. Many see it as comfort reading and praise the witty dialogue and charming characters. Readers liked: - Fast-paced road trip plot through France - Interactions between the Berry siblings - Period details of 1920s European travel - Blend of comedy and mild suspense Readers disliked: - Dated cultural references and language - Some characters' attitudes toward women - Plot coincidences that stretch believability - Humor style may not connect with modern readers Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (137 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (21 ratings) "Pure escapism and jolly good fun" - Goodreads reviewer "Like a P.G. Wodehouse with added adventure" - Amazon reviewer "The casual sexism is a product of its time but still grates" - LibraryThing review The book remains in print primarily through print-on-demand services and finds an audience among fans of Golden Age British fiction.

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🔍 Dornford Yates was actually a pen name for Cecil William Mercer, a British lawyer who turned to writing after being wounded in WWI. 🏰 The French settings in the novel were drawn from the author's personal experience - he lived in Pau, France, from 1922 until the outbreak of WWII. 📚 "Adèle and Co." is part of the popular Berry series, which features recurring characters first introduced in "Berry and Co." (1920). 🎭 The book's style reflects the "Thriller" genre popular in the 1920s and 30s, pioneered by writers like John Buchan, but uniquely combines it with comedy. 🌟 The novel was published during the golden age of detective fiction (1920-1939), sharing the literary landscape with contemporaries like Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers.