Mumsnet Talk

I would like to set a novel by Georgette Heyer on a course I am setting up for next year (on Romance). Which should I choose?

What themes do you want it to cover ? I'd be inclined for Frederica

It's a course on the history of the romance, so the themes as such aren't as important as the genre

The Grand Sophy!

My favourites are Frederica and The Grand Sophy

Thanks to both. I hesistated over The Grand Sophy but in the end went for Frederica (outline had to be submitted so forced to make quick choice). I'm really looking forward to teaching this one!

The Black Moth?

Oh too late.

Oh chose Venetia! Or the Grand Sophy! Or Frederica...

Sigh... Any in fact apart from The Toll Gate, which was strangely pants

Dammit! Too late!

I know!

Have you read any of her detective books?

No! You should've picked Faro's Daughter! Max Ravenscar is the most fabulous of Heyer's heroes and Deborah Grantham is a great heroine. Well-plotted, too.

Hmm - we could debate this for ages - should've given us more notice!

Frederica is a classic, no question. If I were teaching romance, what would I have gone for? Possibly Regency Buck, which I love, but could spark some interesting discussion about how the headstrong heroine has to be tamed of her wild ways before the hero rescues her from imminent disgrace and marries her.

These old shades. No question!

wow it's been years since i read heyer.
I loved one where there was a brother and siter, and she fell in love with thier guardian?

Regency Buck!

is the one you're thinking of, icer, I mean

Thanks i might have to get them on my kindle.
Was these old shades the one with the girl who dressed as a boy?
Which was the one where the guy kidnapped the woman and carried on a boat off to france? it was all some big mix up?
I think that have been the son of the couple who were in the one where she dressed as a boy?
wow it's all coming flooding back now lol

These Old Shades was the girl dressed as a boy, followed by Devil's Cub which is where the guy kidnapped the girl. It was Lord Avon in These Old Shades and Lord Vidal, his son, in Devil's Cub, you're right. Great books, all of them.

On Women's Hour once they were talking about The Unknown Ajax being their favourite, but that's one I don't remember at all.

ooh, my mum always raved about The Unknown Ajax and for some reason I didn't read it for ages and then I did and I loved it! Definitely recommend you give it a go. I think I was put off because initially he doesn't seem like a 'proper' Heyer hero but he has layers and it is so so funny.

I have now dug out my complete set of Georgette Heyers to work through... Many happy hours over the next few weeks methinks.

Much prefer her writing as Jean Plaidy, she got me hooked on history and Charles the second as my favourite monarch EVER!

How come I never knew she was Jean Plaidy?

I never knew that either!

I've just looked up Jean Plaidy on Wikipedia and she's not Georgette Heyer. Agree with the vote for Frederica.

She is not the same author as Jean Plaidy, who also wrote as Victoria Holt.
I read a lot of historical fiction as a teenager. I only ever reread Georgette Heyer, she stands alone, head and shoulders above the others.