Go Ahead, Win Some Heyer!

An Infamous ArmyUnquestionably powerful librarian Nancy Pearl (I mean, dude, she has her own Action Figure!) has a new article up at NPR of her recommendations for carry-on books that make traveling and waiting a marvelous escape. Says Pearl, “You want a book — either fiction or nonfiction — that’s complex enough to smother your annoyance when the guy in the row ahead reclines his seat into your lap, but not so intellectually challenging that it demands a dictionary.” Oh, hell to the yes, ma’am.

And ho, there, what awesome sauce through yonder linkage breaks? It is the Heyer, and she is on the list! Heyer’s An Infamous Army is among the books recommended as perfect for carry-on reading, to which I say, “Carry on, Ms. Pearl, for verily thou art rocking my socks.”

But wait, there’s more! We’ll sell you the whole seat, but you’ll only need the edge! Sourcebooks, which has reissued many of Heyer’s books with absolutely scrumptiously opulent covers (if they were pastries they’d be moist cupcakes with four inches of perfect icing), is offering 10 books to Smart Bitch readers.

We have three copies of An Infamous Army, plus one each of Friday’s Child, Cotillion, Royal Escape, False Colours, Lady of Quality, Black Sheep, and Faro’s Daughter. Ten books for ten winners!

So leave a comment, and tell us your favorite Heyer scene, character, or just book in general. I’m not eligible, but I will say with no fear that I can reread over and over the scene in Devil’s Cub where

Kate

Mary (sorry!) begins to sniffle in front of Vidal, and he realizes due to her graceless snurfle she’s not at all like her silly sister, oh, no no no.

I’ll pick 10 winners at random, and you’ll get yourself some Heyer if you win. You have 24 hours. Carry on!

ETA: Heyer, Heyer everwhere! GalleyCat is hosting a GalleyLOLCat contest, wherein the winner gets some Heyer, too. Bitchery reader Mandy’s cat is in the running: seems Tiny likes Julia Quinn. Tiny, says I, has good taste.

Comments are Closed

  1. Echo Beach says:

    I’ve never read Heyer, but based on all the comments she’s going on my (lengthy) to-read list.

  2. Janet W says:

    *sticks up hand* could I have a copy of Friday’s Child for all of Freddy Standen’s neckties?  Or his general smushable adorableness and integrity and slightly below average IQ?  That is, if Sourcebook is posting to the UK…

    … is it Serena: you mixed up two of my FAVES! Freddy and Sherry 🙂 OK, Friday’s Child fave: “Do not I beg of you my lord say more” … dear Isabella Milbourne 🙂 and Freddy … LOVE him, love his kindness, how sensible he is and how really he and Kitty are PERFECT for each other, neither one of them over the top dramatic but just perfect. And Vidal, well, swoon 🙂 I have EVERY single Heyer: old and new. My first was Regency Buck: I was sick, my mum took all my books out of my room and just left Clorinda and her beau 🙂 And April Lady, oh, the line when he says, “Our dear ***** is returned to us” … or the staggering footman with the dressing case imbedded with diamonds … or or or so many many scenes: like in Frederica where he can never propose and eventually his secretary (so daringly in love with Adonis’s sister) … OK enough! Great contest 🙂

  3. Katie Ann says:

    I’ve never read her because I’ve never been able to find any of her books at the UBS, but she’s on my list!

  4. Louisa says:

    My favorites are Devil’s Cub, Friday’s Child, Cotillion, and The Grand Sophy, but favorite scene is the duel between George(?) and Sherry n Friday’s Child.  Duels are supposed to be tense, but this one was lighted hearted and farcical.

  5. Rachel says:

    I’ve never read any of her either, but I would love the opportunity!

  6. Malin E says:

    Quite a few favourite moments:

    Mary shooting Vidal in Devil’s Cub, and Mary talking to the mysterious gentleman at the inn at the end of the same book (this bit had me laughing out loud in hysterical laughter).

    Miles abducting Abigail for her own good at the end of Black Sheep..

    Alverstoke’s inability to propose to Frederica because they keep getting interrupted.

    Having finally discovered Georgette Heyer through a friend, I need to track down more of her book, because all the ones I’ve read so far are delightful.

  7. Tina C. says:

    I’ve never read Heyer, either, and I’d love to have the opportunity to love a new (to me) author.  *crosses fingers*

  8. Virginia Shultz-Charette says:

    Beauvalet, probably because both my cousin and I read it at the same time, over 40 years ago. I thought I’d read all of Heyer’s
    but An Infamous Army is new to me! And since I haven’t read any of the others in 40+ years- pick me, pick me!

  9. JaniceG says:

    Daphne B said:

    And I like A Civil Contract, even though I’m still not convinced of the awfulness of Julia.  She was immature and selfish, but I still secretly think she had True Love for the hero.  That speech she gave about “I could withstand any sacrifice, as long as the two of us were together”… I believe her.

    I think she had True Infatuation for the hero – I think Heyer makes it clear that Julia never really knew Adam but was just in love with the surface qualities she saw in him: a good-looking war hero whom her family approved of. And I think the scene near the end puts her beyond just being immature: she’s pitching a hissy fit because people didn’t pay enough attention to her at dinner due to their preoccupation with something as petty as some silly old war, and she’s convinced that the only reason Adam would have stayed in the city is because of her, even though she’s now supposedly happily married to someone else.

  10. RfP says:

    RfP, how many Heyer’s have you got through?! Do you really think Cotillion is one of the best?

    Meriam, apart from the 6 I discussed in that post, I think I’ve read 2 more—Black Moth and… another of that vintage.  Sprig Muslin, maybe.  They didn’t engage me like the others.  Oh, and Pistols for Two.

    Cotillion is very assured, and frothy without becoming hackneyed.  As you highlighted above, I really like the way two very ordinary people come to find each other fascinating and wonderful.  I haven’t found another of Heyer’s “fun” Regencies that I like as well (in Talisman Ring I adore Sarah & Tristram, but the younger couple are aggravating), but I haven’t read some of the favorites you and others recommended.  The “serious” romances are so different that it’s hard to compare them.

  11. Kayigo says:

    Nancy Pearl is great.  She also had Robin McKinley’s book “Sunshine” on her plane list.

  12. Virginia says:

    I haven’t gotten a chance to read her works yet, but they sound like fun!

  13. Evaine says:

    The Devil’s Cub was the first Heyer I ever read, the first real romance I ever read and I believe I was all of 12 years old – almost 40 years ago.  I still have that copy and it’s much, much, MUCH loved.  I fell in love with Dominic and fell in love with Georgette Heyer.  This book is indeed a classic and a definite must-read.

  14. angieinky says:

    I’m ashamed to say that I have never read Georgette Heyer, but she sounds fabulous.  I’d love to have the chance to read one of her books.  Thanks so much for this chance to win one!

    I’m mostly a lurker here, but I stop by often.  You all are often the highlight of my day!  Thanks!

  15. Becca says:

    I really haven’t anything to add, except that Heyer was my first romance novel (I think it was Sprigged Muslin) back when I was a callow 16yo and had only contempt for romances… and then was promptly converted. Alas! All my copies have disappeared or fallen apart (I have a much-read copy of Sylvester held together by a rubber band). I would love to get a copy of any of them, were my name chosen for this contest… but I know what I’m going to ask for when Christmas comes!

    (now… will Patricia Veryan ever be republished? almost as good as Heyer, I think, for plot, characterization and witty dialog)

  16. Maya says:

    which? easy – any and every! up georgette! yay reissues! double yay perfect cupcakes with flawless icing!

  17. StacieMc says:

    My favorite Georgette Heyer is The Masqueraders. Having a Junoesque Heroine, Prudence, and her petite brother, Robin, who each pretend to be of the opposite gender makes for some very funny scenes.

    Robin is a scamp and Prue very sensible. They’ve traveled around the world assuming different identities and running cons with their grandfather as long as they can remember.

    They both find love and and new places in the world as they learn their grandfather’s secret.

    But that’s just my favorite. I love Heyer’s entire body of work and mourn deeply those that I no longer have. If you haven’t read Heyer, you are missing a LOT!!!

  18. alia says:

    frederica… when she’s tending the hero’s little sister who is at death’s door…and he suddenly realizes he loves her…

    though it’s most memorable for me because i read it the first time while sitting in the pediatric emergency room because my three year old was having mysterious dizzy spells. i had absolutely no trouble summoning up empathy for the characters…

    (son fine now, btw)

  19. Poison Ivy says:

    How strange is this? Just a couple of days ago, I posted an essay on the MyLoveStory.com blog talking at length about Georgette Heyer. And then, having reread the last chapter of The Black Moth and the first chapter of These Old Shades as research for the essay, I was totally sucked in and reread the entire These Old Shades. Staying up to 1:30 in the morning to do it. And loving it, simply loving her way with distinct and hilarious characters and comedy of manners that she somehow was able to drop into the middle of a big fat melodrama complete with a sinister Comte.

    Long live Georgette Heyer! She wrote the book over 80 years ago and there isn’t a word that reads wrong or dated today.

  20. LizC says:

    frederica… when she’s tending the hero’s little sister who is at
    death’s door…and he suddenly realizes he loves her…

    Isn’t that Sophy and not Frederica?

  21. Trumystique says:

    I dont have a favorite Heyer yet.. but I might if I win one. I have read Venetia and another which I cant remember.

  22. Throwmearope says:

    Frederica is tending her own gravely ill brother.  Sophy is caring for the hero’s little sister.  Lordy, I love these books.

    AG Tigress—11 contemp mysteries?!?  Say it isn’t so!  I thought I owned every book she ever wrote (well except The Great Roxhythe and My Lord John—but you gotta draw the line somewhere.)  I only have 10.

    My favorite scene is from Death in the Stocks where the hero (Giles) and heroine are discussing the murder:  (Kenneth is the heroine’s brother and Arnold her half-brother.)

        “Kenneth seems to be taking this pretty badly,” Giles said.  “Yet I shouldn’t have said that he cared much about money.”

        “He doesn’t, but of course he is rather hard-up at the moment and after thinking you’re next door to being a millionaire, it must be fairly sickening to find you’re just as poor as you always were.  I’d better go, I suppose.  Do you know, Giles, I’m almost beginning to wish Arnold hadn’t been murdered?”

    Don’t enter me in the contest, save it for somebody new to discover La Belle Georgette.

  23. Anonym2857 says:

    I’ve led a sheltered life—and have never read a Heyer, even tho I have plenty of friends who adore the woman.  In fact, I have an ‘adopted niece’ (daughter of good friend) who is named Sophie, because my friend loved the book The Grand Sophy.

    Diane

  24. Melanie18 says:

    I hate to admit that I, even though a lover of Regencies, have never read a Heyer.  I know I’m missing out.  Please, please correct this unfortunate situation. 😉

  25. Tae says:

    I have only read one Heyer book which I absolutely loathed.  I think I should win so that you can send me a book that I may like and tell other people about Heyer.  I keep hearing about her and I’m wondering how I had such a bad experience.

  26. Kimmy L says:

    I’d love to win some Heyer books!  I, even though a lover of Regencies, have never read a Heyer.

  27. acdaisy77 says:

    I would love to win some books.  I have not read any books by Georgette Heyer.

  28. Jenny Islander says:

    I fell in love with Georgette Heyer when I was dealing with my late mother-in-law’s effects.  The family pretty much assigned her enormous library of paperbacks (neatly stored in converted Kleenex boxes—very practical way to save space) to me.  I had to go through them all, make a list of what she had left so people could take their faves, and pull out anything that was too decrepit to keep.  At the time, I thought Regency romances were the silliest thing on Earth.  But then I sat down on the sunny front steps and opened—what was it?—Venetia.

    At suppertime, I was still there, giggling.

    I’ve read her collection pretty much to death and I would adore the chance to win another copy of one of my old favorites.  Best bits, top of my head:

    *The scene at the end of The Nonesuch in which the odious Tiffany is finally treated as befits her age.
    *The bit in the middle of the same book where the heroine realizes that she is being gossiped about.  My heart hurt in sympathy.
    *The bloviating suitor in either Frederica or The Grand Sophy—I think it was The Grand Sophy—who is egged on by the children of the house because they think it’s hilarious that the family has to put up with him as long as he doesn’t say anything rude.  And he doesn’t, he just never shuts up!
    *The scene in The Unknown Ajax where the family contrives to hide a wounded criminal from The Law while The Law is standing just across the room.
    *Venetia’s shocking discovery about her past—and what she does about it—and the way the people around her react.  (Although I did feel a sneaking sympathy for the butter-toothed heiress and hoped that she would find somebody to love her someday.)
    *Venetia’s brother’s horrible mother-in-law.  Sometimes Heyer sees into people with a gimlet eye.

    Must stop or will be up until dawn rereading Heyer . . .

  29. Jennifer says:

    This thread is making me want to start rereading far too many books! I can’t pick a favorite Heyer because I love too many of them, but my top five would probably be: The Reluctant Widow, False Colours, The Nonsuch, Sylvester and A Civil Contract.  Freddy from Cotillion is my favorite character, followed by the irrepressible Nicky from The Reluctant Widow.

    A favorite scene:

    Nicky, the younger brother of the hero, has left his dog to guard the heroine in case of danger while he is gone. Unfortunately the dog takes “guard” very literally and our heroine Eleanor is forced to spend the day trapped in a room with only an old horse-racing guide for amusement:

    “Good dog!, she said in what she hoped was a reassuring voice. “Lie down, sir!”.
    Bouncer barked at her.
    “You stupid creature, he did not mean you to keep me chained to my chair! scolded Eleanor. “Lie down this instant!”
    Bouncer stood his ground and went on growling in a sort of crescendo which could not be regarded as other than menacing. Elinor sat down again. Pleased with his success, Bouncer followed suit, lolled his tongue out, and panted gently.

    I also love Sylvester’s reaction to Phoebe’s romance novel version of him: “Very clever, Miss Marlow, but could you find no better name for me than Ugolino?”

  30. Ijinx says:

    My very favourite scene is from Cotillon where Kitty and Meg discuss how Freddy would react to the idea of someone (romantically) abducting a lady at her wedding.
    And of course the end of Friday’s Child where Sherry tries to shush Kitten when she discovers (in front of all people) that she would like Sherry to knock her up.
    The pragmatics of it cracks me up every time.

  31. Catherine says:

    I just finished reading The Black Moth (provided by Suze’s link) and I found myself quite unsatisfied with it.  Can anyone tell me if this is a typical Heyer work or if most of the other ones are more well developed. 

    It wasn’t a bad book, but it was very hard for me to get engaged by.  Everyone spoke of marvelous, witty dialogue in all her stories, but I just didn’t see it in this one.  Most of the secondary characters bothered me and I wish they were less well developed so I wouldn’t have spent half the novel wishing I could stab them in the eye with a pen.

    So, is this her usual style then?

  32. Nancy Bristow says:

    Add another reader who hasn’t been in the Queendom of Heyer as yet.  I did, however, purchase These Old Shades at B&N;the other day (it was one among many on my TBB).  I also picked up one more at a thrift shop, Venetia, which is in my TBR mountain.  What can I say…I became a book junkie much later in life than most and have been trying to catch up in the last several years.  I don’t have copies of any of the books we’re being tempted with so here’s hoping:)  Nancy

    “Tried59”…uh, no?!

  33. Helen says:

    The only Georgette Heyer I’ve read is The Unfinished Clue. My favourite character in that was Dinah.

  34. RfP says:

    I just finished reading The Black Moth (provided by Suze’s link) and I found myself quite unsatisfied with it.  Can anyone tell me if this is a typical Heyer work or if most of the other ones are more well developed.

    Catherine, that’s one that I didn’t really enjoy.  However, she’s surprisingly varied.  I asked for recommendations a few months ago and got a list ranging from silly to serious and from high-society to grimy war story.  Here are my reactions after reading six Heyers (Black Sheep, Corinthian, Civil Contract, Infamous Army, Talisman Ring, Cotillion).

  35. Marianne McA says:

    Catherine, The Black Moth was her first book, and I think she just got better. I’d also avoid My Lord John, Simon the Coldheart, Powder and Patch,  Royal Escape, The Conqueror and Beauvallet.
    (There’s also one of her mysteries that she had supressed during her lifetime, which has been reprinted. I’m blanking on the name, but while I was glad to have the opportunity to read it, I think she was right to let it go.)
    And Spanish Bride is very different from the rest, because it’s a fictionalised account of a real relationship. 

    I wouldn’t write her off because of Black Moth – I’d try one of the later books – more humour, and less melodrama.

  36. rooruu says:

    My dear mama introduced me to Georgette Heyer when I was a teenager, and I’ve read and reread them since, always with enjoyment, delighting in the wit and skill of the writing, the historical details, the characters she draws.  I recently introduced a friend to them, and she was hooked!  All those who haven’t read ‘em – you have such a treat in store.

    There are so many wonderful individual characterisations – from subtle ones like Jenny in A Civil Contract to wonderfully drawn nincompoops.  Understated, charming, amusing dialogue (Mr Beaumaris and the dog Ulysses in Arabella).  Women reminiscent of Miss Bates from Persuasion – needy sisters, whining mothers, obnoxious companions.

    There may be no rumpy-pumpy, but the attraction between characters is so clearly drawn through word and gesture – subtle, clever writing.  A bat squeak that can be far more effective than the obvious.

    Regarding the film: Georgette Heyer hated it – she refused to see it, based on what she knew during filming, and her seventeen year old son left half way through a screening, “speechless with rage”.

    Another snippet: she didn’t have much time for fan mail, but one letter she treasured was from a Romanian political prisoner who had read Friday’s Child (in English) just before being imprisoned for twelve years.  Having a retentive memory, the prison retold the story (translating and aiming to keep the writing’s wit) many times to her fellow inmates.  She didn’t see a written page in the twelve years, but, she says, “My memory, however, could not be sealed up and thanks to it and to you, my fellow-sufferers begged, again and again, to hear ‘What Kitten did next’”.The original letter is reproduced in The Private World of Georgette Heyer by Jane Aiken Hodge.

    There’s a lovely bit in the Aiken Hodge book, quoting Heyer writing to her publisher about Lady of Quality:

    “I’ve left [Carleton – the hero] making himself thoroughly obnoxious to Lord Beckenham, in the Pump Room, and must go back to him, and think of a few more poisonously rude things for him to say.”

    Another book about her work: Georgette Heyer’s Regency England by Teresa Chris.

    Favourite scenes: so many!  lots already mentioned.

    I did put this one in a comment on an early SBTB entry:
    Venetia, arriving back to find Damerel somewhat sozzled, and remarking that she would “build me a willow cabin at your gates” (they’ve been quoting Shakespeare and other poets back and forth throughout) but that “November is not the month for willow cabins.” 

    That wonderful final scene in The Grand Sophy, arrival after arrival, and Sophy managing it all.  Also Sophy telling the nasty sinister moneylender that if SHE were his daughter she’d keep his office cleaner (thus completely discombobulating him).

    Sylvester telling his nevvy that he and his brother would have cut off Sir Nugent’s boot tassels too.

    Miles, in Bath Tangle, explaining patiently that he hasn’t eloped with Abby (as she’d have to agree, and her sister would never let her), but abducted her (thus neatly avoiding such unnecessary hassles).  And then he challenges her to insist he’ll take her back (which of course she doesn’t).

    Thank you, Sarah and Candy, for highlighting Georgette Heyer’s work.

  37. LizC says:

    Frederica is tending her own gravely ill brother.

    Ah. I haven’t finished Frederica yet so I thought maybe I’d missed something but I knew that when Sophy was tending Amabel is when Charles realized he loved her so I was hoping Heyer didn’t pull quite the same trick twice.

  38. rooruu says:

    Just a sideline: the Nancy Pearl article also recommended Robin McKinley’s book, Sunshine, which has been mentioned/recommended in comments here on a number of occasions.  Good to see it getting more guernseys.

  39. gin says:

    Oh Heyer!!

    These Old Shades every time!

    Although yes, Sophy, Fredericka, Cotillion, Arabella & The Reluctant Widow are also firm favourites, and thanks for reminding me of The Talisman Ring (from memory)
    “How many seasons have you been at Almack’s?”
    “You are surely not proposing to me with what I am certain is a black eye and a bandage on my head?”
    “My ear you look delightful”
    pause
    “Oh. You must be in love!”

    I also love how Sarah refers to being a strapping wench and she goes out in her cloak hoping to be mistaken for a man pretending to be a woman.

    And hooray, someone else loves the Quiet Gentleman, such an unassuming heroine and such a gentle growing romance against all the other subplots.

    But my absolute favourite, These Old Shades, the last few pages where after returning triumphant, Leonie’s mother interrupts the rejoicing and they all go quiet as she stands shrinking in the door way.

    “Maman?” Leonie held out her hand tentatively.

    Her mother dissolves in tears, and so do I, every damn time.

  40. Sandia says:

    oh is it too late?  i haven’t read any heyer and would love to – i have yet to look for her in the library, but i can’t get any for my beloved kindle 🙁

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