Thank god for Georgette Heyer. I'm reading avidly at the moment - newspapers, instructions, journals (well 'Friday's Child' and I had it partly confused with 'Cotillion' (I think) and again it's not a title that was a particular favourite so I'd forgotten most of the details over the last 20 odd years.
What I've found re reading these Heyer's is that they're far better than I remember. 'Friday's Child' is bitter sweet comedy. It's light reading but perfectly crafted, over the years I've read enough trashy romances (I used to share my grannies Mills and Boon as a teenager, and for my sins once borrowed a Barbara Cartland from the library. The Cartland was The Worst Book I've Ever Read. Ever.) to have an idea of how poor they can get. Heyer who liked to mix her romances with elements of other genres (mostly detective fiction) it can get. Heyer manages plots that hang together and characters that the reader can warm to - not as common as you might hope. She has a magic touch at what she does.
I'm aware that after writing about 5 Heyer titles in the last few weeks (I think I've read about 9) that I'm running out of things to say about her - but she really is good. I keep describing her as light which is accurate but probably does her a disservice. I think these are books that are meant purely for entertainment, a way to avoid thinking about the every day rather than reveling truths about it but often that's what you want. To find someone who does it with grace and humor is something to be very glad off.
You've inspired me to read a Heyer too. I finished Sylvester last night. I've only read about half a dozen of her books but have at least that many on the tbr shelves in the lovely US Sourcebooks editions. Just what I needed this week, I read it in a couple of evenings.
ReplyDeleteSylvester is one of my favourites :)
DeleteI love Friday's Child. My favourite bit is when Ferdy is wondering who that Greek chappie is who keeps lurking - seems he means Nemesis! You can write about as many GH books as you like, I love them all!
ReplyDeleteI remember having this conversation with you once Elaine - and thought of you all the time I was reading it. Lovely book.
DeleteI understand how Georgette Heyer pulls her readers in and I understand the stark difference from those M&B's ... ugh! You seem to love old world romance just like me so I would suggest the Madeline Brent series too...
ReplyDeleteNot heard of her so I'll go and look her up now, thank you :)
DeleteRadio 4 broadcast a dramatisation of this which was fun: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007jq09.
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame it's unavailable to listen to, that would have been great fun!
DeleteI've only read one Barbara Cartland too - wasn't too bad, actually, given the production line she must have had going - A Ghost in Monte Carlo. It was subsequently made into one of the worst TV-movies I've ever seen though (just to even things out, I guess!). Like Elaine, I loved that Nemesis bit in Friday's Child, though I do prefer a slightly more obviously intelligent hero!
ReplyDeleteI can't remember what the one I read was called just that it was dire, certainly so bad I never wanted to read another. In real life I definitely prefer a more intelligent hero, but I'll settle for the jokes in fiction ;)
DeleteI love Friday's Child, I think it was the first Heyer I read
ReplyDeleteThe first I read was 'These Old Shades' almost 30 years ago, I don't think she's ever disappointed me since
DeleteThe T L S, no less, described her as " literate and amusing"
ReplyDeleteThat and much more :)
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