Has anyone found any authors comparable or similar to Georgette Heyer?

[JuanPotatoTwo]

Round about this time of year I always turn to my collection of Heyer books yet again. But I think there is a limit to how many times even I can re- read them. Anybody have any alternative, yet similar, suggestions please?

[joanofarchitrave]

I find that I feel similar to the way I feel when I read Georgette Heyer, when I read Dorothy Sayers and Dick Francis (some of).

Other possibilities would be the Cazalet Chronicles by Elizabeth Jane Howard and Washington Square by Henry James.

Which is your favourite Heyer and why? I might know more about what you are looking for then.

[HoratiaDrelincourt]

In a word, no.

Join us in the GH book club for a new eye on your old favourites though maybe?

Current thread is The Unknown Ajax and Civil Contract is next.

[JuanPotatoTwo]

Thank you both. Have read The Cazalet Chronicles (not the latest one though, am strangely reluctant to for some reason). Don't think I have an out and out favourite, I find different things in each one each time I read them again. The very first one I read (aged about twelve - a loooong time ago now!) was The Reluctant Widow so I have a special place for that one!

Will go and read the linked to thread shortly :)

[ColouringInQueen]

Hi there, I'd like the answer to this too.

I recommend the Liberty Lane series by Caro Peacock... pretty good. Feisty heroine, witty writing, good stories...

Other recommendations welcome!

[EldritchCleavage]

Jean Plaidy
Mary Renault
Marguerite Yourcenar
And for swashbuckling romantic adventure, try the Captain Alatriste books by Arturo Perez-Reverte

[Louise1956]

Sorcery and Cecelia by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer is set in an alternative Regency England where magic is part of everyday life, it is very Heyer like in tone and is told in the form of letters between the two heroines. there are two sequels, The Grand Tour, and The Mislaid Magician. they are very good, with interesting characters.

[lucysnowe]

Jude Morgan comes closest imho.

[SharpLily]

Jean Plaidy/Victoria Holt covers similar territory. Have you tried Philippa Gregory?

[DameDeepRedBetty]

I was about to suggest Jude Morgan too. I've paid An Accomplish't Woman the compliment of reading it several times, which is otherwise reserved for Heyer, early Elizabeth Chadwick, and Dorothy L Sayers!

Oh and The Reluctant Widow was the first I ever read too! My mum gave it to me - and six months ago I gave it to dtd2

[DameDeepRedBetty]

Also, not too bad include Jane Aiken Hodge and Clare Darcy (date back to the seventies)

Much of the more recent work in the genre would make GH blush, let alone JA! If you're up for some rampaging sex scenes along the way, an American called Elizabeth Hoyt has done some crackers - well rounded characters, both male and female.

[LadyIsabellaWrotham]

There's only one Georgette Heyer, obviously, but I find Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels are also perfect comfort reading, and there's forty of them . I would second/third Dorothy L Sayers.

I adore Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell as well, but it takes a lot of getting into.

And yes, get out your copies of A Civil Contract and join us on the Georgette Heyer Book Club - or advance search the Adult Fiction threads to find all the previous discussions.

[HoratiaDrelincourt]

I may have named DS1 after the hero in Civil Contract. So far they share many character traits.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Novels that 'feel' similar in terms of ease and comfort (other than Jane Austen, who is the obvious one):

Cold Comfort Farm
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
The Little Princess
I Capture The Castle
PG Wodehouse
Vile Bodies or A Handul of Dust or Scoop or The Loved One (Waugh) - Not Brideshead as it's too depressing

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Oh and Sherlock Holmes stories - obviously not love stories but v good comfort reading.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

And the v v silly Amelia Peabody series

[LadyDamerel]

Eva Ibbotson has written 5 adult novels- a Company if Swans, The Morning Gift, Magic Flutes, A Song for Summer and The Secret Countess. They are beautifully written and quite reminiscent of GH in tone and themes. I reread them as often as I do Heyer; they're real comfort reads.

[HowGoodIsThat]

I agree with regard to Jude Morgan.

I have recently discovered M M Bennetts - Of Honest Fame and 1815. See what you think.

I have a soft spot for Stella Riley too.

[JuanPotatoTwo]

Thank you for the suggestions, I'd forgotten about Clare Darcy so good to get reminded. Have read some of the suggestions but will check out the others.

[Sakathu]

I like Cynthia Harrod Eagles, not overly similar to GH but lovely historical family chronicles that I can read over and over again. Second Jean Plaidy too for comfort.

Just reserved a few books from this thread at the library, thanks all!

[CrowmarshGibbon]

For a really rubbishy, bodice-ripping adventure version of Heyer try anything by Stephanie Laurens.

[ancientbuchanan]

She stands alone but

For detectives, Josephine Tey ( book people going complete set); Dorothy Sayers, yes I agree some Dick Francis, possibly Allingham and Ngaio Marsh.

Light fiction,
D E Stevenson
Angela Thirkell, beautifullly noticed social realism, Asa Briggs and I raved about her as a social historian over lunch once, mostly out of print.
Mary Stuart

Historical fiction
D K Broster, about the ' 45
Mary Renault
Dorothy Dunnett, esp the Lymond series
Irwin


More serious fiction
Kennedy, eg the constant nymph

[Sakathu]

Ah Stephanie Laurens, good call CrowmarshGibbon. Wonderfully trashy.

[revivingshower]

I agree no one is like GH but I like PG Wodehouse for that light hearted touch and good writing.

[VikingLady]

Have you tried Amanda Quick (one of Jayne Ann Krentz's many pen names)? They are set in regency England, have a similar feel to the Heyers with the stronger, more forthright protagonists, although they do have sex scenes. Some have elements of magic/paranormal, but not all.

I find they have a similar overall feel.