I couldn't say that I was instantly captivated by her novels. A quick glance through made it seem like it would be a chore reading her books. But I was mistaken.
Luckily, I was trapped in my aunt's god-forsaken home for quite some time and had nothing else on hand to read except Heyer or the daily news.
At closer look, I was enchanted by her novels, by her quick-thinking, unconventional heroines, the far-from-staid heroes and their unusual exploits.
Georgette Heyer wrote a wide range of novels between 1921 and 1972. Starting with The Black Moth which
she wrote as a tale to amuse her invalid brother, she went on to write mysteries, thrillers... but mostly she
is known for her well-written, incredibly witty period romances. Though her romances are set in various settings and periods,
she plainly favours the Regency England period ( 1811-1820 ).
Her romances bear the stamp of her writing in every word, every line and every turn of phrase. For stories that are termed as romances, her tales do not at all resemble the generic bodice-ripping romance. Forget about the tall, dark, silent hero running to the aid of the swooning, virginal heroine... it's more likely that a Heyer heroine would calmly rationalize her situation and as deftly extricate herself from it leaving the hero nothing else to do but yell at her ( such as the redoubtable Mary Challoner in Devil's Cub ).
Many other personalities people her pages, unusual and endearing characters giving life to her stories from a sensible, levelheaded heroine
who cannot find it in herself to swoon( witness the wonderful Miss Drusilla Morville in The Quiet Gentleman )
to a doubting Duke who can hardly be described as dashing nor
handsome ( the ever endearing Adolphus Gillespie Ware in The Foundling ).
You can also check out what I think of the Scarlet Pimpernel.
© 1997 Scooi@excite.com
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The characters in her books.
For a full list of her books, go here.
To find out more about Heyer, take a look at some interesting
Links.
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