Georgette Heyer books

[ProfessorLayton1]

I have never read them but what do you all think about a 12 year old reading her books.
We say P and P bbc mini series and Dd read the book following this, wanted something similar so have bought her The Grand sophy but now thinking, did I do the right thing?
Usually I ask my eldest but my eldest found out Terry Prarchett at this age, haven't read Georgette Heyer.

I love Georgette Heyer and The Grand Sophy is my favourite of hers. Content-wise, there is absolutely nothing in them that will disturb a twelve year old, but the vocabulary, together with the extensive use of eighteenth/nineteenth century slang, can be challenging (more so than Jane Austen). I started reading them when I was about sixteen and it began a life-long love affair - I must have read The Grand Sophy over twenty times by now.

I would just leave her to it and see how she gets on. If she likes it, there are LOADS more!

Another avid georgette Heyer fan here. Nothing to worry about for a 12 year old. As pp mentioned some tricky language but you soon get into the swing of it. Also grand sophy is particularly good because the lead female is such a strong character as most of them are. Not the typical female romance lead I find. X

Yes fine, I started reading them when I was 10 though of course quite a lot went over my head at that time.

To note that there is a scene with a Jewish money lender in The Grand Sophy which reads antisemitic these days - maybe worth a quick chat.

DD listened to the audiobook at 12 and loved it. She loves history but we did have to discuss some of the more “grown up” references. Nothing too worrying. Great opportunity to discuss women’s roles and experiences in the past.

Ideal for anyone over ten

which reads antisemitic these days how else will children learn what the world was like?

My gran introduced me to Georgette Heyer at a similar age and I've loved and re-read the books numerous times since. Agree with PP that the Grand Sophy is a great one to start with. Arabella and Frederica would be good options too. Hope she enjoys!

Yes, I'm not saying children shouldn't read The Grand Sophy, simply that, in retrospect, I would have found it helpful to discuss the Jewish money lender scene and why it was problematic.

Thinking about it, there are a few with pretty dodgy sexual politics which may be best holding off til she's a bit older, eg Devil's Cub and Faro's Daughter.

Irene - I have similar discussions with kids about the characterisation of Shylock every time I teach The Merchant of Venice.

Agree about the sexual politics of some too but again, a good opportunity for a bit of a chat about context and how attitudes have changed over the intervening centuries.

I would hope parents have similar conversations when their children are reading Enid Blyton!

Yes, good point @abigailwendover (possibly my favourite GH heroine!). Have to admit, when I first read Devil's Cub at 10 I didn't pick up on the (very obvious) rape threats at all, and was quite when I reread it as an adult.

@IrenetheQuaint yes I seem to remember thinking Vidal quite the catch when I was a teenager but he's pretty awful upon re-reading as an adult!

And yes, agreed, Abigail's definitely one of the best 😁

I love Heyer and on the whole she had strong female characters

I started reading them at about 10, and I'm still re reading them now, nearly 40 years later. I think there's a lot more disturbing books out there for teen and YA readers, and my 10yo seems to be making a beeline for all of them.

I adore GH, and there really isn't anything in there unsuitable for a 12 year old. The history is solid too.
My favourites are the Grand Sophy, Venetia, and Frederica

Another who was introduced to them in her early teens by her grandmother. Those and Catherine Cookson. Perfectly fine.

I was probably the same age when I started reading them, having decided I was "too old" for children's books. Devil's Cub is still one of my go to read when I need some comfort thirty years later.

Good to read all the positive messages. Hope she enjoys the book, then I don't have to worry about what book to get for her next.