Capital!
I’ve started on my first Georgette Heyer romance, and I couldn’t help laughing at some Regency’s expressions like “Capital!” that translates into “Awesome!” for me, and “Lit!” or “Gucci!” for kids.
It was @Kate who mentioned Ms Heyer in this month’s What Are We Watching? She said that her whole family grew up on her books, and her late Mom read GH every day. I asked for her recommendations and she said me her short list:
Civil Contract
The Grand Sophy (the archetypal spirited heroine)
Friday’s Child (I think this is my Dad’s favourite)
The Unknown Ajax
The Reluctant Widow
Devil’s Cub
Cotillion
I went through the boxes stored in the attic and found these.
I don’t know why there are duplicates. These books were given to me. I don’t seem to have a “Civil Contract” and “The Reluctant Widow.”
Also, @birdie007 sent her list:
Devils Cub
Venetia
The Grand Sophy
@Kate added this:
Fresh from family research: ‘Friday’s Child’ just received a top accolade from my very discerning Dad: ‘my favourite Georgette Heyer is ‘Friday’s Child’, one of the funniest books ever, and with a quotable ending that unexpected people can come up with.’
I’ve never seen a man read a romance book, @Kate! I’ve started on “The Grand Sophy” based on you list and @birdie’s. I’ll begin “Friday’s Child,” hopefully on Friday. lol.
ahh… books… It has been so long since I read one of these historical/regency romance. My usual fix for a feisty, witty, intelligence ladies are from the Bridgertons by Julia Quinn or Amanda Quick, latter of which likes to add mystery in her stories, making reading much more engrossing… 😀
I hope I can find these titles in our local bookstore. Thanks for the rec, Kate & PM3 ^^
Heheheh! It’s been too long. I don’t even know if the 2nd hand bookshops still have them! Ah, the good old days when I got my kicks from innocent romance novels. The heart palpitations and bated breath of naive youth LOL.
@packmule3 So happy to see this post about an old friend 😊 I have such dond memories of laughing at Ms. Heyer’s witty turn of prose in my high school days. I own many of her books and used to re-read them from time to time. I love the dialogues, the descriptions of dresses and balls, and the gentle romantic relationships. None of the overly explicit descriptions found in today’s Regency novels, which I don’t like at all.
Here are my recommendations:
Devil’s Cub
Arabella
Venetia
Faro’s Daughter
Bath Tangle
Did you know Georgette Heyer also wrote murder mysteries like Agatha Christie? I like most of them too.
*fond memories
Hope you enjoy discovering Geogette Heyer novels, @packmule3😊
The Black Moth was her first novel. She wrote the story to amuse her younger brother and turned it into a novel. I have the same bunch of books that you do, @packmule3, plus a few more. They are my ‘consolation reading’ when life and kdramas don’t go well. I prefer the Georgian and Regency novels to her mysteries.
Here’s a nice article:
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/oct/01/stephen-fry-on-the-enduring-appeal-of-georgette-heyer
I believe that a film adaptation of a Georgette Heyer novel was attempted, but she was appalled at how it turned out and said, ‘Nevermore.’
My mother read Georgette Heyer and a few others that I enjoy as well. If you like the tone of Georgette Heyer’s novels, you may also enjoy some of the novels of Mary Stewart and Dorothy Dunnett.
My favourite Mary Stewart novels are those written in the 50s and 60s, like “Nine Coaches Waiting”, “Moon Spinners”, “This Rough Magic”, “Airs Above the Ground”. These are also a bit dated, but I like the decency of the main characters.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Stewart_(novelist)
Stewart’s contemporary Dorothy Dunnett wrote a wonderful series, “The Lymond Chronicles” beginning in 1961. These are set in Renaissance Europe and beyond, telling the adventures of a charismatic and rogue Scotsman. What’s not to like? Like Heyer, she researched the era meticulously and like Stewart, her settings and dialogue are impeccable. I saw the first book of the series on a table in Barnes and Noble and bought it because I couldn’t resist the cover. I was surprised after reading it that it was written in the early 60s. It was strange to see some of the settings in RL when I drove with my family up to Edinburgh.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy_Dunnett
I am a fan of Georgette Heyer as well – back in my youth. I remember enjoying her books immensely. Recently I tried to find some of her books in the local library but the one I borrowed “Powder and Patch” didn’t hit the mark with me. I will need to see if I can track those mentioned here to see if they will reignite the spark again.
Kalimera Ladies!
I don’t recall her at all. I have to check I have read her stories though…🙄
@Packmule3 – this is fab….What a treat to see this new thread this morning in rainy London!
You have a great collection there.
I am so glad you are enjoying ‘The Grand Sophy’! I am planning to re-read Friday’s Child and may go back to some of the others.
Yes, my Dad loves his detective fiction normally so I don’t know how he got into GH. I’ll ask him what the appeal was. He will be delighted that there is now a GH Book Club!
‘Civil Contract’ – has, from memory at least, a little more emotional depth to it and as K- and C-drama lovers, the type of theme that we warm to. A marriage of convenience!
I just remembered another book I like – it’s the classic trope of the supposedly bad boy hero who turns out to be the best of all:
The Black Sheep
@Fern
I like Mary Stewart novels too and still re-read them. I think I have read all her novels. They are gentle reads with old-world charm, perfect for reading on vacations – in dact, her descriptions of Provence and Greece inspired my desire to travel. My favourites are –
This Rough Magic
Madam Will You Talk
The Moonspinners
My Brother Michael
The Ivy Tree
Thornyhold
Wildfire At Midnight
I really like Mary Stewart too… especially ‘Wildfire At Midnight’.
My Dad got back to me just now and said:’it was a neighbour who loaned me Simon the Coldheart when I was about ten years old. I was surprised that the next I read was totally different, a Regency novel, but I enjoyed that too.’
So he got into GH via a historical novel, not a romance. Now, Simon the Coldheart’ was published in 1929… so I was way off with the dates of GH’s writing career which began in 1921. I hadn’t realised it was so early in the 20th century.
Just found some further background in Wiki. According to the article I just skimmed, Heyer’s Regency novels were inspired by the works of Jane Austen – as you well might imagine!
What sets Heyer apart is her meticulous attention to historic detail. She collected reference works and made notes on all aspects of Regency life.
Some people are off-put by the level of historic detail but for many readers it is central to the appeal of her novels. As @Packmule3 said – the expressions and the posh slang of the day are relatable to our contemporary conversation.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgette_Heyer
@nrllee, Powder and Patch was not a favourite Heyer novel of mine. It seemed superficial. One I always like is Frederica and the other one which begins with a girl escaping out of a window down knotted sheets (would have to go back and read through all of them to find it, but can’t atm)
My mother-in-law got me re-reading Heyer because she asked for an audiobook for Christmas some years ago.
@Phoenix, “Nine Coaches Waiting” by Stewart takes place in the early spring, so it’s a nice read this time of year. I love the descriptions of the scents and sights of springtime as she writes them.
The Dunnett books I mentioned are more complex, with a central character who has some things in common with Uk.
@Kate, if you’re doing a rewatch of You Are My Hero this Friday, please tag me here on this thread. It’s easier for me to spot. I need the episode numbers.
Thanks.
pm3
Noted @Packmule3!
Fern may have another commitment on Friday but will know later today I think.
I’ll discuss this with Fern in the re-watch thread.
@Kate, I’m waiting for word about this and should be able to let you know by 6pm.
@Fern – merci beaucoup!
@Kate, the film listings don’t come up until Wednesday, according to my daughter. 😕 Sorry, sorry, sorry. There are reasons I need to go along when I can. If you need to confirm today, please do as you feel is best and go ahead if others want to join.
No problemo @Fern – Wednesday evening will do fine from my perspective.
Understood.
News break. They are going to watch a film that doesn’t sound good to me, so I’ll pass on that one. I’ll be free on Friday this week. The next 2 episodes sound fine as well, unless anyone else has a strong preference.
Thanks for organising this.
@Packmule3,
‘You are my Hero’ re-watch,
We are good to go for this Friday 13th January at 9.30pm GMT (as per last week) – Episodes 11 and 12.
Many thanks as usual for facilitating this fun thread.
If anyone fancies joining us for some more BJT and Sandra Ma romance – please jump in!
Got it!
Hi @pkml3, since you’re on the topic of setting up a rewatch, this is just a reminder (although I don’t think you need it!) to please open a Rewatch Thread for MOTA on Saturday, same time, for Episode 2.
Thank you!!
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🍊 🍐 🍎 🍌 🍓 🍈 🫐 🍒 🍏 🍑
😋 😆
@Packmule3, please check your email.
Dear @Packmule3,
Putting our request for this week’s YAMH re-watch which will be at the same time as last week.
‘You are my Hero’ Friday 20th/Saturday 21st January re-watch will be Episodes 13 and 14.
Many thanks!
Got it, @Kate.
What a treat to see this thread. I read Georgette Heyer books over 50 years ago and thanks to pm3 and all of you I am revisiting some that are available via my library online. Not as pleasant as having a book in my hand but good to have at my fingertips. And free. I am enjoying Regency Buck and an audio of The Convenient Marriage.
Hi @pkml3, please note that I’ve left a post on including breaks in the MOTA Rewatch schedule in:
https://bitchesoverdramas.com/2023/01/11/memories-of-the-alhambra-ep-2-rewatch-on-sat-jan-14/#comment-99375
We’ll continue as usual this Saturday Jan 21st, 2023. 🙂
Thanks! 💐
Ladies, just wanted to delurk for a second and thank you for sharing your love for Georgette Heyer! Somehow I never heard of this author before, but since I came across this post last week, I’ve been devouring her books with the joy reading hasn’t given me in years! I feel like I discovered a treasure akin to the first time I saw a K-drama!
@Vasilisa – hello! So pleased to hear this. I’d love to hear of you have any favourites along the way.
Dear @Packmule3,
‘You are my Hero’ re-watch Episodes 15 and 16 is taking place on Friday 27 January, at the new time of 8pm UTC which is Friday 12 midday PT, Friday 3pm EST, Friday 8pm GMT in London, and Saturday 4 am in Singapore.
@Fern and I have checked with other BoDers and are doing this re-watch unaccompanied by BoDers from other time zones. So we are bringing the time forward for greater end of week convenience.
I hope this finds you well and not too busy!
Thank you, @Kate.
@packmule, we mentioned the time change in last week’s YAMH thread in case there were shy lurkers, but there have been no responses pro or con, so I believe we can make the change in good conscience. Many thanks for allowing us to revisit this heart-warming drama.
Thank you @Fern – I also put a message about this in ‘What are we watching in January?’ – for good measure.
I think you’ve covered all of the bases! Thank you, @Kate!
Dear @Packmule3 – just so the message doesn’t get lost in the flow of discussion:
Our great British You are My Hero re-watch this week will be Episodes 15 and 16 and we are moving it forward to 8pm UTC Friday 27 January which is:
Friday 27 January 12 midday PT,
3pm EST
8pm GMT in London
and Saturday 28 Jan 4 am Singapore.
We’ve canvassed opinion and no-one else seems to be watching at this stage so are going for a better time for our end of week watch.
Many thanks as ever!
Got it, @Kate.
Hi @pkml3, the MOTA rewatch is on as usual on Saturday. We are watching Episode 4. Thanks very much and I trust you have time to watch dramas!
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I am so glad I came across these references to the Georgette Heyer novels. I downloaded two to my kindle and one Mary Stewart novel referenced in this blog. They have proved to be perfect travel books! Engrossing, not too traumatic; perfect for long hours in airport gate areas or for hotels with lumpy beds. Thanks again!
@Packmule3 – thank you for creating the ‘You are My Hero’ re-watch thread.
It’s been very enjoyable. @Fern and I think we’ve seen many of the best bits now and that the momentum isn’t there for a complete re-watch of all 40 episodes, so we are drawing to a halt this week.
[I should add that this is because we’ve both seen it before – a few times – it’s well worth watching through to the end for anyone who hasn’t.]
Dear @Packmule3 – just making sure you get the message that the Great British Re-watch is now completed. See above too.
Thank you for letting us enjoy the best bits of YAMH again!
Understood, @Kate!