Georgette Heyer
Arabella (1949)
Author: Georgette Heyer
Genre: Romance (Regency)
Plot Summary:
Raised the daughter of a Vicar, Arabella has never known high society. But when she comes of age her godmother offers her the chance to spend the Season in London. Unfortunately, on the way to London, the coach in which she travels breaks down and she is obliged to take refuge at a nearby house - the house of Mr. Beaumaris, a most fashionable and wealthy gentleman. Mr. Beaumaris' haughty attitude drives Arabella to do something of which her father would most definitely not approve - she tells Mr. Beaumaris and his friend, Lord Fleetwood, that she is an heiress. The word soon spreads all across London and Arabella finds herself the darling of London society, with everyone clamoring to make her acquaintance and many gentleman seeking her hand in marriage. All of this should have made her happy, but how can she marry someone who thinks that she has a great fortune - when the complete opposite is true? Her brother arriving in town, unbeknownst to their family, only adds to Arabella's difficulties. In the end, it is her love for her brother that makes her really evaluate and resolve her feelings for Mr. Beaumaris. SPOILER Mr. Beaumaris comes through, in Mr. Darcy-like style, and saves Arabella's brother from his gambling debts. And even though he agrees to elope with Arabella, he does not actually go through with it and instead proposes a normal wedding.
Geographical Setting: Yorkshire and London, England
Time Period: 1800s
Appeal Characteristics:
Georgette Heyer does a superb job of combining vivid description with light and funny conversation. From the very beginning the reader is drawn in by the warmth and love of Arabella's family. Throughout the book, it is easy to relate to the characters and laugh at their idiosyncrasies. While the description does slow down the pace of the book, it serves the purpose of making Regency England really come alive. Heyer even makes sure to use the rougher dialect for the poorer people. Arabella herself is a very lovable character. She truly cares about the less fortunate - managing to save both a little chimney boy and a stray dog and then foisting them off on Mr. Beaumaris. It is her tender heart and innocence that make her such a wonderful heroine. And Mr. Beaumaris can take his place with Mr. Darcy as a proud and rich gentleman who is changed for the better by his association with the heroine. He is the character, more than any other, that adds humor to the story. His conversations with Ulysses, the mongrel dog, keep the reader laughing.
Read-alikes: The undisputed queen of Regency Romances is Jane Austen. It was her books, written in the Regency period, that are the foundation for the genre. And it is the books of Georgette Heyer, written in the 20th Century that got the genre going today. AustenŐs Pride and Prejudice is a great read-alike for Arabella in that they both feature poor yet independent and witty heroines dealing with proud, rich, and seemingly austere heroes. Both of the authors are skilled at creating characters with which the reader can identify, in a setting that is rich in detail and accuracy. For contemporary authors, Clare Darcy is the author referred to most often as similar to Heyer. Her books feature independent, witty heroines and pay close attention to historical detail. Her book Allegra features a heroine similar to Arabella in her strength and clashes with the hero, who still tries to help her make her entrance into society. Another similar author is Jo Beverley. Her books have a solid Regency England backdrop and feature strong, funny heroines. Her first few books, including Lord Wraybourne's Betrothed, are a bit more racy than Heyer, but should not be offensive to those who enjoyed the lack of sexuality in Arabella. Watch out for her more recent Regencies if you're looking for harmless love making. Joan Smith also follows in Heyer's style. Just like Arabella and Mr. Beaumaris, her characters engage in a lot of verbal sparring which keeps the reader engaged and entertained. For a similar read having to do with misunderstandings about fortunes - only in this case the fortune does exist - you might try The Waltzing Widow. Shelia Walsh also writes traditional Regencies in Heyer's style. Her hero in The Sergeant Major's Daughter is very reminiscent of Mr. Beaumaris. The heroine's concern for the poorer classes leads the proud and haughty landowner to reconsider his attitude toward the poor.
Red Flags: While some oaths are uttered, nothing questionable is portrayed.
A Lady of Quality (1972)
Author: Georgette Heyer
Genre: Romance (Regency)
Plot Summary:
Miss Annis Wychwood, despite her great beauty, captivating wit, and solid station, remains unmarried at the advanced age of 29, but that fact does not concern her in the slightest. A woman of independent means and the spirit to match, she has set up her own household at Bath, away from her overbearing brother Sir Geoffrey. Her pleasant daily life is intruded upon only by the inane chatter of her spinster cousin Miss Farlow and the persistant advances of the irritating Lord Beckenham. All this changes, though, when her carriage encounters a young couple stranded at the side of the road. Far from what the situation implies, these two, Lucilla and Ninian, are not eloping, but trying to escape the plans made by their parents to bring them together. Amused by the girl's story, Miss Wynchwood finds herself taking her in temporarily, to the jealous displeasure of Miss Farlow. This arrangement brings Lucilla's guardian, Mr. Oliver Carleton, into the picture. Described by all as the rudest man in London, Mr. Carleton holds no special affection for his ward, but merely wants to ensure that she is under the care of a suitable chaperone. He is quick to inform Miss Wynchwood that he considers her FAR from suitable for the position. Over the course of the novel, these two butt heads repeatedly as Lucilla is introduced to Bath society through elegant and proper parties, dances, and riding groups. The situation is complicated by the sudden arrival of Sir Geoffrey and his family at Bath, with the aim of protecting Miss Wynchwood from Mr. Carelton's shameful influence. Mr. Carleton, however, chooses this time to reveal his true feelings! SPOILER: After an outbreak of influenza which incapacitates most of the household, Mr. Carleton returns to receive Miss Wynchwood's happy answer to his proposal. Lucilla will be placed in the care of her dear friend's family, and Sir Geoffrey is brought to a grudging recognition of the engagement upon discovering that Mr. Carelton and he are united in their dislike of Miss Farlow.
Geographical Setting: Bath, England
Time Period: 1815-1820
Appeal Characteristics:
Sparkling dialogue is Heyer's strong point, and nowhere is this more evident than in the frequent back-and-forth exchanges of Miss Wychwood and Mr. Carleton. The mutual affection that grows from their verbal duels is a charming emotional appeal to the reader's sense of romance. The tone is light, and the plot bounces gracefully from scene to scene, with many witty exchanges filling each chapter. The strong-willed heroine is symapthetic and easy to identify with, as see seeks to preserve her hard-won independence against all circumstances and schemes. Heyer is also known for her historical accuracy in setting and language, and this standard is upheld in her descriptions of men's and ladies' fashions, the atmosphere of society meeting-spots like the Pump Room, and liberal use of exclamations such as "pudding-faced", "gabble-monger", and "rake-shame" that will amuse and confuse the reader in equal measure. As this is a Regency Romance in the Austen model, the novel contains no explicit sexuality beyond some aggressive kissing in the closing chapter.
Read-alikes: Any one of Heyer's many Regencies will be light in tone and full of witty dialogue, all while operating within the framework of social custom. Sprig Muslin (1956) is the most similar in plot elements to A Lady of Quality, with a heroine thought too old to wed, a runaway girl, and meddling relatives. Another story featuring an "unsuitable" love interest is Jo Beverley's Emily and the Dark Angel (1991). In addition to traditional Regencies like Emily, Beverley has written more sensual fare set in the same time period as part of her Company of Rogues series. Readers who enjoy their Regencies with a bit more spice may find Mary Balogh's The Temporary Wife (1997) worthwhile. In addition to verbal sparring and a growing affection between the hero and heroine, who enter a marriage of convenience, there are actual scenes of romance in which a married couple does what it is that married couples do. On the opposite end of the spectrum, readers who prefer their Regencies on the more wholesome side will like Rose Burkard Linore's Before the Season Ends (2005), hailed as the first Christian entry in the genre, and a high-quality one at that. Clare Darcy's breezy tone and use of humorous elements echoes Heyer at her best. Letty (1980) may be the breeziest of the lot, with the titular heroine dealing with comical situations and colorful characters as she travels under the care of an older gentleman who slowly but surely falls in love with her. Finally, we would be remiss in failing to mention that although Heyer revived the Regency genre, there would be no genre to revive were it not for Jane Austen and her groundbreaking novel Sense and Sensibility (1811). Austen's masterful dialogue and use of genteel society as a plot element not only created the genre, but transcended it.
Red Flags: Delicate readers may not realize that words like "ejaculate" and "fagged" had very different meanings in Regency England.
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