October 4th, 2009 — Georgette Heyer, Poll, Regency
This post is a counter post to 10 Reasons Why I Can’t Read Georgette Heyer by Zarabeth. I was surprised but not upset with Zarabeth's reaction to Georgette Heyer's writing style. It does take a little getting used to and in my opinion the hardest Heyer to read is your first. This will probably not be the case if you read a lot of historical fiction. Trust me, the pages will soon begin to fly as you read Heyer. Here are some reasons to love her:
- Georgette Heyer novels have characters that steal into your heart and mind.
- Georgette Heyer novels are stories that are worth rereading over and over.
- Georgette Heyer writes farces that make you laugh out loud and shake your head in gentle amusement.
- Everyone seems to have a favorite or two Georgette Heyers they grew up with.
- Where else can you encounter thief cant and learn words like snabble and snaffle?
- Georgette Heyer provides it all from spinsters to female gamblers, from dandy heroes to brooding alphas, and from enemies to best friends. She has a whole gamut to choose from.
- Jane Austen fix. Need I say more?
- Fairly unusual character names like Lizzie Winwood, Marquis of Alverstoke, Vidal, etc.
- Reading Heyer with those glorious new tradeback covers from Sourcebooks is an experience not to be missed. Aren’t they just gorgeous? Strokes glossy cover… yum. Which are your favorites?
- All of Heyer’s novels are filled with sweetness and chastity. Like a fairytale all HEA are sealed with a kiss!
Now if you have read a Heyer and both Zarabeth’s and mine arguments about Georgette Heyer – where do you fall?
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May 14th, 2009 — 4 Stars, Book Review, Comedy of Manners, Dukes and Earls, Gambling, Georgette Heyer, Great Britain, Marriage of Convenience, Politician, Regency, Virgin Heroine
This novel is definitely one of my overall favorites of Heyer’s so far. It’s easy to read and follow despite the language and research. I loved all the side characters and Rule most of all. The leads were very well matched for each other.
Lizzie Winwood, the Beauty, is engaged to the Earl of Rule, an older man whom she does not love. Edward Heron holds her heart, but Lizzie is too well bred to ignore the duty she owes her family to accept this great match. Her youngest sister, Horatia—Horry—Winwood, decides this situation will just not do. In a scandalously forward manner Horry approaches Rule and offers herself up in trade to her sister despite her disadvantages in looks and speech. She knows she’s not his first choice, but as Marcus obviously does not know Lizzie well enough to love her, he must agree any Winwood would do. Amused by the young girl, (he’s twice her age), Rule accepts her proposal and marries her right away.
Horry experiences wealth and freedom for the first time and goes a little wild. She learns to gamble, though she does fairly poorly, purchases things without any real thought to cost, and makes friends with unacceptable members of society. Horry comes off immature for the first half of the book because she is, but Rule keeps an eye on her in his usual casual and easy going manner and does not involve himself overmuch. He came to the marriage thinking he was in love with a widow. He did not marry the widow because he knew she could not, or perhaps, would not be faithful in the years to come and has determined Horry is and will be even if she is young and prone to fancy.
Rule’s amusement and fondness easily translate themselves to the reader. From his actions you can tell he’s falling for his young new wife. It’s harder to tell with Horry, as she spends a good portion of the book running around after Lord Lethbridge in pursuit of his friendship and the chance to pit her card skills against his. Lord Lethbridge is after revenge against Rule and uses Horry in an attempt to instigate it. Other characters seek to help him or eagerly wait in the wings watching for a chance to run to Rule with news of her scandalous ways. Luckily Rule, her brother and his friends come time and again to Horry’s rescue. A Convenient Marriage is an amusing romp through Regency England and sure to win your heart.
Rating: 4 Stars
Buy: The Convenient Marriage
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