Georgette Heyer

crumpet - crushed strawberries for the complexion is that? I'm sure that would be in a discussion between her aunt and another dowager (distilled water of pineapples was another favourite, I seem to remember) but couldn't be sure it is in Arabella!

Do you know I bought Federica after the thread on here but have never picked it up, never read Georgette Heyer though I'm sure I'll love her.

You might like Penny Vincenzi, she has a 'Spoils of Time' Trilogy, starting with No Angel set from edwardian times through to the 40s I think. Very epic, family dynasty type novels, a la Jilly Cooper.

I am a total GH fan - someone recently had a link to a website that gave similar authors to ones you love, and Mary Balogh came out closest by a long way. I had a look at her website and you can have a sample read of her books - it doesn't grab me in quite the same way as GH but is ok.

Have you read her murder mysteries? They are just as good (except for Penhallow which I have read twice and still can't enjoy it); same sort of biting wit and characters you love to hate etc. (except for Penhallow, I couldn't find any sympathy for any of the characters)

LGP I remember that thread - and whenever I do pick up a GH I still keep an eye out for the mention of crushed strawberries - I never did find it in Arabella!

I also thought Daphe Du Maurier - Frenchman's Creek. Also Baroness Orczy's Scarlet Pimpernel books, which have the foppishness down perfectly.

But for perfect comfort reading (gentle thriller in which nothing very horrid happens, but intelligent, attractive heroine meets intelligent hero in attractive surroundings), I second the Mary Stewart suggestion. Read Wildfire At Midnight, The Ivy Tree, The Moonspinners (which are the best) or any of the others. It's like getting into a nice hot bath.

The Scarlett Pimpernel series is a fabulous historical romp.

The Scarlett Pimpernel series is a fabulous historical romp.

Agree with Peabody about the Elizabeth Peters series. I also like Peters' alter ego Barbara Michaels.

I also enjoy Mary Stewart in the same type of comforting read way. Something like Wildfire at Midnight or Touch not the cat.

Try Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody series. Very funny, very easy and entertaining read.

Here is the thread, I really think it should go into Mumsnet classics.

Cynthia Harrod-Eagles' Morland Dynasty series is good, though not exactly Heyerish.

Never read Georgette Heyer but how about Daphne du Maurier? Frenchman's Creek perhaps?

Choosy: agreed re DF! Odd how both regency frolics and the murky world of racing can be the literary equivalent of a packet of biscuits but they are!

(I'm very fond of Reflex myself)

Nothing is like a GH, but I do get much the same comfort reading from Dick Francis. Don't bother with his most recent ones, but do try:

Nerve
Dead Cert
The Danger
Risk
Flying Finish

If none of these do anything for you, I can't help!

Have you tried Mary Balogh? I do like her books, my favourite is Slightly Dangerous

Victoria Holt - who I think is also Jean Plaidy but not sure. When I was a younger, less cynical, slip of a thing, I read and reread 'On the Night of the seventh Moon'

Anya Seton's 'Katherine' is no 1 for me, I bought it for my teenage daughter in the hope that she would love it as much, but not to be!
I read an interview with Alison Weir, who has written a biography of Katherine Swynford. She says the most daunting part was the countless number of women who told her how much they loved Katherine. The expectations were unbelievable.

Sylvester makes me roar.

There was a fabulous Georgette Heyer thread a while ago, which drew all the GH fans out of the closet. I was trying to convince a sceptical friend yesterday that, despite writing 'Regency Romances', her books are utterly fabulous. She was unconvinced, but I have managed to convert others to GH.

I do dislike historical romances so much that GH would have to be fantastic to make me read her books - and she is!

cmotdibbler: those are my three favourites as well, with a little soft spot for Arabella and Sylvester.

I like the same 3!

No suggestions, but I love Georgette Heyer - The Grand Sophy, Frederica and Venetia are my constant comfort reads

If you can find Jane Aiken Hodge in charity shops she is similar (but not as good).

Otherwise I would heartily second Diana Gabaldon and Anya Seton.

I quite enjoyed Sharon Penman too if you like a big schlocky historical blockbuster.

My lodger's suggestions (big Georgette Heyer fan):

Barbara Erskine (excellent)
Katherine Neville
Mary Brown's Playing the Jack'

mixture of history and spooky stuff (I love Erskine) history & time travel)

Diana Gabaldon - (more mixture of history and time travel)

Our brand-new sparkly local library had a complete set (also brand new) on the shelves on opening day. About half of them are now out, and I have just re-read a Civil Contract for the first time in 30 years. I did enjoy it!

I am a very wide reader, but if I am under the weather or a bit fed up there is nothing to beat Georgette Heyer; they other odd thing is that I have been reading them over and over again since I was 14yrs and still love them, whereas I have moved on from anything else read at that age!