Georgette Heyer - which book to read first?

[Grockle]

I see her raved about on here and fancy having a read... which book would you recommend?

[cathan]

"The Grand Sophy" is my absolute favourite - she is Heyer's BEST heroine! Enjoy.

[JeanPaget]

Nooo! I think she's dead annoying . Read Venetia or Frederica first.

[DemelzaPoldark]

Devils Cub was my first one. Still love it. These Old Shades is practically a classic - it's fab!

[JeanPaget]

These Old Shade's is totally fab, but it has a Georgian rather than Regency setting, so it's not a 'standard' Heyer iyswim.

[ChewingOnLifesGristle]

I keep hearing she's good too but not sure if my sort of thing I've always half assumed they're going to be historical Mills and Boons. That's probably totally wrong

[derektheladyhamster]

I was going to say 'the grand sophy' too, but I also loved 'these old shades'. The first one I read was 'regency buck' which I still love.

[TunipTheVegedude]

Are they all Georgian/Regency or did she do any other periods too?

[derektheladyhamster]

She's written some contemporary (for her - 1920's) detective novels.

[CousinRachel]

She also did other periods. One about Charles II, haven't read it and can't remember the title, sorry and one about William the Conqueror funnily enough called 'The Conqueror' which was v v good.

[DemelzaPoldark]

I think 'My Lord John' is the Charles II one. It has been years since I read it but I remember enjoying it.

[MooncupGoddess]

I'd go with Venetia or Frederica too.

My Lord John is 15th century, Royal Escape is the Charles II one. Neither is very good!

[IShallWearMidnight]

Frederica or Cotillion (tho Grand Sophy was my first too)

[IloveJudgeJudy]

I also read Devil's Cub first. I really enjoyed it at the time. I do still enjoy it, but see it through very different eyes now (the way some of the women are treated). I do love the way she writes. I haven't found anyone like her at all. On Amazon there are all these "fantastic Regency writers, just like Georgette Heyer", but imo their writing style is nothing like.

[SilverBrumby]

Devil's Cub a great choice and then... These Old Shades (the two are linked).
Also brilliant are..The Convenient Marriage, Arabella and Faro's Daughter. Sylvester is also good.
Loved Venetia too - but there is something for (almost) every mood.
Enjoy!

[bluebump]

I started with Venetia, i'm now on The Talisman Ring. I picked up 5 for £10 in a charity shop recently so I'm giving them a go.

[edam]

I'm particularly fond of Venetia but also suggest Frederica - that's a good old romp with a glorious transformation of the hero wrought by the heroine (and her cheeky younger brother). The Reluctant Widow is another favourite. And Friday's Child... ooh, I'm so jealous of anyone who is dipping into Heyer's world for the first time.

[JeanPaget]

Ooh good call Silver and Leonie, I'd forgotten about Arabella, it's definitely one of my favourites

[MrsHelsBels74]

Arabella was the first I read & I really do have a soft spot for it. But there are very few that I struggle to enjoy. Favourites include Frederica, Cotillion, The Tollgate...oh I could go on & on!

[edam]

I just went up to my Mother's for the weekend and bagged her copy of The Toll Gate. That was a very happy train journey back again - so engrossed I almost missed my stop.

[LadyIsabellaWrotham]

The important thing to know is that the MN Georgette Heyer Book Club has reached Sprig Muslin. If you can get hold of a copy and read fast (it's 250 pages in my edition and a really speedy read) then you can come and join in - I personally adore Sprig Muslin and think it's as good a place as any to start.

Next on the list is April Lady - not a good place to start I'd have said, I find it a bit depressing, and nobody upthread recommends it.

After that we'll be reading Sylvester, which is a lot of fun IMO, but not exactly typical Heyer, and then Venetia, which everybody loves, and The Unknown Ajax which is hilarious.

We're doing them at roughly one a fortnight. If you start on one of the older ones we've already done then you can always go back and read what we thought, and indeed add belated comments.

[HorryIsUpduffed]

The Convenient Marriage
Sylvester
Devil's Cub
Civil Contract

It is all enormously well researched and although there is nothing more explicit than a crushing kiss, some of it gets me very hot under the collar.

[TheYamiOfYawn]

I love Venetia, but it's so good, it's worth saving for later. Arabella and Cotillion are also fantastic. Basically, she only wrote a few duds.

They are romances, but extremely well-written with brilliant plotting. They tend to be loved along with classic detective novels as light reading by people who read very intellectual books the rest of the time.

[edam]

Aw, I have a soft spot for April Lady. Not in my top three or even top 10 Heyers but still good, I think. Love Dysart. OK, the plot is silly but it's still a fun read.

[LadyDamerel]

Arabella and Black Sheep are good ones to start with - neither are too long but good heroes/heroines.

Same with Lady of Quality, actually.

I love, love, love Frederica though.

Are we helping you make a decision?