Georgette Heyer - give me your top five

Of course! I knew it wasn't Freddy (I love Freddy) so thought it was Dolph. I've only read Friday's Child once in the last 15 years or so so I should did it out.

I'm surprised at al the love for A Civil Contract. When I first read it I found that so very melancholy that I struggled. Jenny deserves so much better treatment throughout. It's a bit like Dumbo, where the nice resolution at the end doesn't make up for the poor treatment before.

I like A Civil Contract - for once the heroine isn’t beautiful!

Thanks all for setting me right on Freddy and Ferdy. I must away and look for the plot of 'Friday's Child'.

No, my fault for putting Giles instead of Gilly. Too many names.

No, it was Ferdy in Friday's Child. Hero's admirer works it out "I fancy he means Nemesis"
"that's it!... Nemesis! you know him too?".....

"not he" murmured Mr Tarleton, who was beginning to feel his years. "Goddess of retribution. The daughter, according to Hesios, of Night"

Easy to confuse Ferdy and Freddy . "You have your own armour, do you not, Frederick?"

Dolph is an altogether sadder case (GH clearly suggests this is at least partially due to parenting) who is less capable and will depend on Hannah's support.

Oh my god its very unpc of me but I love to read Dolphington and all his interactions. He’s a bit of a “Holy Fool” and when he says “I don’t like you” to someone he has laid down the LAW.

Dolphington. That greek thing, coming after him. Kitty works out what he means eventually.

Did Freddy talk about Nemesis creeping up on you from behind? Maybe not.

I love GH my favourites have changed since I got older. I just reread false colours and enjoyed Sir Bonomy finally getting his girl, although he wasn't quite sure about it.
Since I am with other Heyer fans I love her use of language and historical knowledge but can I just be childish and say it always makes me laugh when she talks about ladies airing their grand toilets in the park, or some such, I know that's the correct term for the times but it amuses my small mind.

Great thread OP! Am listening to The Talisman Ring, read by Phyllida Nash, which was in my Audible library already. I forgot how fab it is, so really enjoying it again. I read loads of the books in my teens, but tend to listen to them now, so I'm looking forward to reacquainting myself with them.

Is Gilly autocorrecting to Giles?

I agree! I love Giles and Freddy but agree that The Foundling is not as re-readable as Cotillion.

I actively dislike most other Regency fiction and would never voluntarily watch Bridgerton for eg, I hate it when they include modern manners and attitudes. Obviously Heyer is of her time too, but 30s-50s attitudes are less grating in the context and she does work hard to achieve an authentic mental landscape.

Good point! I never realized that!

Fan !!!🪭

Are there any modern writers of Regency fiction you like?

I’ve never found anything quite like or as good as Heyer, but have enjoyed both MC Beaton’s regency series ( funny especially the ones with the older lady with the great malapropisms) and the rather racy Cynster series by Stephanie Laurens (think of ‘Devil’s Bride’ and employ my fam vigorously to flushed face 😁).

I hold on to them, even though the paperbacks' paper is rather yellow, on the grounds that one day I might have a condition or illness which puts me in bed for a year and I'll need something light to keep me going.

Judith reads Northanger Abbey.

It's interesting watching her style evolve , occasionally in dialogue with Jane Austen. Regency Buck is trying very consciously to be Jane Austen, and is a bit stiff in places: later on her mature style still owes a lot to Austen but is much more natural, except when she gets carried away with Regency slang - Charity Girl is terrible for that.

Judith reads a Jane Austen (possibly Sense and Sensibility?) at one point in Regency Buck. Jenny in A Civil Contract also reads and likes Jane Austen (as opposed to Julia who is addicted to poetry - shades of Persuasion and the first clue that she really wouldn't do for Adam in the long run and Jenny is the much better bet). I'm sure there are others.

They are all, essentially, the same story and characters, but they are so entertaining and well written I would happily read them all.

The first one I read was The Convenient Marriage, when I was about 13. I was hooked. My mum had a huge collection - sadly all thrown out (not by me).

I think you may be right but having read all of JA and lots of GH , there is something about her style that i prefer.

There are some audio versions on YouTube - I started listening to The Transformation of Philip Jettan but only got through about 5 mins because it sounded so weird. All in one flat tone & with some odd pronunciations. I think it was AI.

Oh yes, Phoebe!

I've finished my third novel off the back of this thread (These Old Shades, Devil's Cub and Sylvester). The latter is laugh-out-loud funny.