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Liked It “Georgette Heyer, the author, invented the concept of the "Regency Romance" novel. Starting writing professionally in 1922 when she was still in her teens, she wrote dozens of books, most but not all in the Regency genre. Her role in creating this type of light, enjoyable novel, almost...” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“ Georgette Heyer, the author, invented the concept of the "Regency Romance" novel. Starting writing professionally in 1922 when she was still in her teens, she wrote dozens of books, most but not all in the Regency genre. Her role in creating this type of light, enjoyable novel, almost Austen-esque in style, (and set in Jane Austen's own time period) is undisputed. She studied old letters, diaries, books of the time, to get the feeling for the way the people talked, thought, interacted with the opposite sex, dressed, treated servants, and on...Any one of her Regency books introduces the reader to the actual slang and terminology of the people who lived in that era. This book---and I don't want to get into the plot--is one of her best Regency stories. Fun, witty, and thoroughly enjoyable. (For those interested in the Regency era, read the non-fiction book by V. Murray, "An Elegant Madness, High Society in Regency England." )” NOTE: It seems some people dislike Heyer because they feel her female lead characters are not feminist enough, not strong enough. Someone stated they liked a certain book of Heyer's because the main character was "strong" ---referring to "Grand Sophy" one of my least liked. To me, there is not anything subtle about Sophy arranging marriages and upending her uncle's family to suit herself. That is more like a modern young woman, very likely NOT a Regency era young woman. To me, most of Heyer's female character's show a subtler form of courage than putting on a man's clothes and learning to duel with swords (as one of her early character's did). For most of her Regency books, the more mature Heyer put people in positions in which they acted according to the time they lived in, and were forced to make choices within the code of behavior, which was very strict for women, and sometimes to give up their own happiness or chance of happiness to care for their family, or in one instance, to refuse to marry someone who would have married her out of pity. Marriage was the expected life for women---if they did not marry they lived with their parents,then went on to live with siblings. No women lived alone at that time, or pursued carreers. Jane Austen, who lived in the Regency era, was considered shocking for, as a female, having written books. Austen,who never married, also lived all her life with her parents and other unmarried sister. In this book, which is one of my favorites of Heyer's, the lead character, Venetia, is feisty, strong-willed, and not afraid to offend society, within realistic limits of her time. In the novel events which happened many years before the time in which the book was set, affect the main characters; and lies which are well meant almost destroy someone's chance of happiness.”
gilly 8 wrote this review Saturday, June 13 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“one of my favourite Heyers”
Lynda B wrote this review Sunday, May 17 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A comfort book. ”
Solveig S wrote this review Saturday, May 16 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“fantastic!!!. I always wondered whether Dameral was a rake or a scholarly gentleman”
Analese C wrote this review Friday, May 15 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“a new favorite of my romance genre! I loved the characters, except for the ending a bit - it just came to an abrupt ending. ”
Gina N wrote this review Sunday, August 10 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Probably the most romantic of the romances I have read from Goergette Heyer - the friendship and love that gradually grows between the smart yet naive Venetia and the black sheep neighbor is handled with a light no-nonsense touch.”
PriyaT wrote this review Friday, December 28 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Marred by a dated tendency to trivialize or romanticize inebriation, but vintage Heyer nonetheless.”
Roxane M wrote this review Sunday, October 21 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
