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humour that still makes her readers laugh out loud.
For those lucky enough to know her novels –
and her Regency and Georgian novels, in particular
– just the mention of a character’s name is enough to
provoke a smile or a laugh. She had a genius for creating
comic characters, among them Sir Bonamy Ripple, the
indulgent gourmand in False Colours, Ferdy and Nemesis
in Friday’s Child, Claude and his valet, Polyphant,
in The Unknown Ajax, plain-speaking Mrs Floore in
Bath Tangle, vacuous Augustus Fawnhope in The Grand
Sophy, vulgar but well-meaning Jonathan Chawleigh in
A Civil Contract, and Lufra, the Baluchistan hound in
Frederica. They leap from the page as living, breathing
people (and dog), take the reader by the hand and draw
them, smiling, into their story.
If you haven’t read her yet, you might begin
with Arabella (young woman goes to London to find
a husband) or The Grand Sophy (independent young
woman turns her family’s life upside down) or The Unknown
Ajax (estranged heir meets his hostile relatives)
or Sylvester (proud Duke is refused by unconventional
female). Or you might try perennial favourites, Venetia,
Frederica, These Old Shades, Devil’s Cub or Friday’s
Child. If you enjoy Heyer’s novels, then like so many
millions of other readers, you may find yourself inexorably
drawn
into her Georgian and Regency worlds. Once there, you
can revel in her meticulous period
detail, so deftly woven into her clever plots, and enjoy
meeting her aristocrats, rakes and
ingénues, riding beside them in Hyde Park or joining
them at a ball or dancing with them at
Almacks. Whichever book you choose, there will be
clothes and carriages, drinking and
gambling, romance and delightful conversation with lots
of intriguing new words. For those
who have yet to taste the delicious fruits of Georgette
Heyer’s pen, there is much to look
forward to.
Jennifer Kloester
Jenniferkloester.com
Jennifer Kloester is a novelist and
Georgette Heyer's authorised biographer.
Her latest novel, Jane Austen's Ghost is a
paranormal contemporary romance with
a Regency twist. It will be available in
November 2019.
Step Into the Pages of a Historical
Romance
By Kristine Hughes Patrone
A good historical romance has the power to transport
us to an array of period settings, many of which are
located in Great Britain. Castles, stately homes, a vicarage,
manor house, coaching inns and London streets are
all deftly brought to life by the pens of the best historical
romance authors. No doubt avid readers will feel as
though they’ve actually been to these places, seen only
in their mind’s eye.
The best thing about these historic places is that
many of them still exist. Almack’s Assembly Rooms in
King Street and Vauxhall Gardens are, sadly, now gone,
but many of the great houses and London landmarks
can be visited today. I’ve been fortunate enough to tour
many of the sites that provided inspiration to romance
authors in the company of those authors, most recently
with Loretta Chase, Victoria Hinshaw, Diane Gaston,
Grace Burrowes, Louisa Cornell, Victoria Vane, Elizabeth
Essex and Susana Ellis. It’s a joy to see an author’s
eyes light up as she declares she’s just gotten a plot idea
for her next romance. And to read the finished novel.
Whether you love a good romance or prefer a
period drama, you’ll no doubt recognize Chatsworth
House (photo), home to the Dukes of Devonshire and
inspiration for the stately home of many a Regency Rake.
Chatsworth also appeared on film in The Duchess and
the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice. If your romance
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"Chatsworth House" Photo Credit: Chatsworth.org