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What is your opinion of Georgette Heyer?

(63 Posts)
Flossieturner Sun 07-Aug-16 20:53:17

I have friends who rave over them, but I have read 4 so far, and I can't make up my mind.

Mardler123 Tue 09-Aug-16 12:28:41

Georgette Heyer is not your usual run of the mill historical romance author. Her novels are well researched and so give a very accurate account of Regency times. They are well written as well as entertaining. There is much snobbery about such novels but in this case quite unjustified I think. I read them as a teenager and again as an adult and enjoyed them both times. Read and enjoy.

Flossieturner Tue 09-Aug-16 14:42:26

Are there any recommendations from those of you who are fans please?

M0nica Tue 09-Aug-16 17:55:16

I prefer her later ones. The ones I always go back to are Civil Contract, Cousin Kate, Reluctant Widow, and The Tollgate. Ones that have a strong plot element that is not romance led.

Ivanova5 Tue 09-Aug-16 19:20:51

I have always loved GH - and her writing about the battle of Waterloo (I think someone previously mentions "An Infamous Army") horrified me. No slushy romance there! I wasn't keen on her detective books. I do like Ngaio Marsh's Inspector Alleyn books.

funwithgrandma Tue 09-Aug-16 21:25:22

I love Georgette Heyer and read lots of them many years ago and even now they are books I turn to for their humour and the comfort they bring me. I inherited a lot of them from my aunt who had a bookcase full of them!

Indigoblue Thu 11-Aug-16 15:42:29

I read all the Georgette Heyer books so many years ago, re-discovering them recently was a thrill. She really is one of the best "Regency writers" since Jane Austin.

LAINEANN Thu 11-Aug-16 17:49:51

I have been re-reading Mary Stewart novels, feisty young 20 somethings having adventures. I also love Howard Spring, much more meaty, have been finding his books in 2nd hand shops. Georgette Heyer was a great favourite with me & my school friends back in the 60's.
Try www.persephonebooks.co.uk for really good re-prints of older novels by mostly women writers. Beautiful to look at too.

Elrel Thu 11-Aug-16 19:28:45

I read and enjoyed them in my teens and 20s, so did my granny who was in her 80s. I recently began to reread one and couldn't get into it at all. It may have been Friday's Child.
As the kind of child who would read anything I got hold of and read Forever Amber at ten. I fear that it may have scarred me for life!! I'd already seen the blockbuster film with my mother and aunt ... Inappropriate!!

Elrel Thu 11-Aug-16 19:40:45

LaineAnn. I'll second that - Persephone books are unique and make wonderful presents. Great packaging and book mark included! I went in the shop, tiny, welcoming and fascinating. Lamb's Conduit Street, I was on my way to the Foundling Museum.

Elrel Thu 11-Aug-16 19:42:49

I didn't know Persephone books until a cousin gave me Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day for Chirstmas. Lovely book, the film, for me, failed to do it justice.

Elrel Thu 11-Aug-16 19:47:27

Instead of GH I enjoy the various 'Regency lite' series by MC Beaton.

NotSpaghetti Fri 12-Aug-16 21:52:41

M0nica- Cold Comfort Farm always brings a smile! We had a great unabridged audio book of it years ago which my children loved. One of the "long car journey" tapes.