Tag: Regency Romance

Regency Turns 80 — Black Sheep

Silhouettes of a man and woman in Regency dress against a background of the number 80

We have a very special treat in store for us today. Romance author, Cara King, has invited along her particular friend to discuss Black Sheep, one of her favorites among Georgette Heyer’s Regencies. Cara and her friend, Bertie, have rather different views on the characters and the setting of this story. They even differ on whether this tale is a romance richly laced with humor or a dismal tragedy. As you read through the transcript of their conversation, you will have to decide which of them best understands Black Sheep.

Dear Readers, please do favor Cara with answers to her questions in comments to this article.

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Regency Turns 80 — Beauvallet

Silhouettes of a man and woman in Regency dress against a background of the number 80

Though Georgette Heyer wrote dozens of historical novels, she only wrote one set in the Elizabethan period. Today, Regency romance author, Mary Moore, tells us why she enjoyed this novel, even though it is not set in our favorite period. In addition, she explains why this novel is unlikely to meet most publishers’ criteria for a romance in the twenty-first century. And yet, she found it quite the page-turner. Have you read Beauvallet? If so, do you agree with Mary? If you have not read it, will you now put it on your list of Heyer’s novels which must be read?

Everyone is welcome to share their views on Beauvallet, or any aspect of historical romance, in comments to this article.

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Regency Turns 80 — Frederica

Silhouettes of a man and woman in Regency dress against a background of the number 80

Frederica is one of a handful of Regencies which Georgette Heyer titled with the heroine’s first name. In today’s article, historical romance novelist, Miranda Neville, gives us some tantalizing glimpses into both the humor and romance of the story, combined as only Heyer could. What is your view with regard to Frederica’s late recognition of her love for Alverstoke? Do you consider it a flaw in the story, or the typical response of a young woman of her time and station in life?

All visitors are welcome to share their opinions on Regency romance, or Frederica in particular, in comments to this article.

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Regency Turns 80 — False Colours

Silhouettes of a man and woman in Regency dress against a background of the number 80

False Colours is almost certainly the first switched twin story set in Regency England, since it was written by Georgette Heyer, the originator of the Regency romance genre. Today, Regency romance author and reader, Alicia Quigley, shares her memories of reading this story for the first time. She also gives us a glimpse of some of the more interesting characters who play a part in this tale of missing relatives, spendthrift parents and outlandish family friends who complicate the budding romance between the hero and the heroine. In addition, Alicia notes the plethora of Regency cultural information which is to be found in this book. Like Alicia, do you learn new details of the Regency when you read the novels of Georgette Heyer?

All are welcome to post their views on this story, or Regency romances in general, in comments to this article.

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Regency Turns 80 — The Nonesuch

Silhouettes of a man and woman in Regency dress against a background of the number 80

Best-selling Regency author, Kate Pearce, and her mystery-writing alter ego, Catherine Lloyd, have something in common with Georgette Heyer, whose creation of the Regency romance we are celebrating this year. Like Kate/Catherine, Heyer wrote mysteries as well as romance novels. She even wrote some Regencies which incorporated a mystery. In today’s article, Kate shares her views on The Nonesuch, one of Heyer’s Regencies which begin in London, but then sweeps us off to a remote country village, peopled with a host of fascinating characters. It must be noted that the only mystery in The Nonesuch is what Sir Waldo is going to do with the property he inherited, but this novel is one of Heyer’s best-loved Regencies.

Everyone is welcome to share their views on the Regency romance genre, or this novel in particular, in comments to this post.

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Regency Turns 80 — A Civil Contract

Silhouettes of a man and woman in Regency dress against a background of the number 80

Today, award-winning Regency romance author, Julia Justiss, tells us about her very favorite Georgette Heyer novel, A Civil Contract. This is a very delicate love story, one which a modern reader might not fully appreciate on first reading. But once you are prepared with Julia’s insights into this romance, you should find it just as delightful as she does. So, can a plain, shy young lady find true love with a handsome viscount?

All are welcome to share their thoughts on this story, or Regencies in general, in comments to this post.

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Regency Turns 80 — The Unknown Ajax

Silhouettes of a man and woman in Regency dress against a background of the number 80

Did you know that Georgette Heyer’s Regency novel, The Unknown Ajax has a Shakespearian connection? In today’s article, award-winning Regency romance author, Sheri Cobb South, explains the connection. She also explains why she is particularly fond of this particular story. In addition, she shares her memories as an avid reader of Georgette Heyer in quest of more of her books.

Please feel free to share your views on this book or on Regencies in general in comments to this post.

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Happy Birthday, Georgette Heyer!!!

Silhouettes of a man and woman in Regency dress against a background of the number 80

Georgette Heyer, whom the Beau Monde is celebrating this year as the "founding mother" of the historical romance genre and the Regency romance sub-genre, was born on Saturday, 16 August 1902. That makes today her one hundred-and-thirteenth birthday. We could not let this momentous occasion pass without marking it with a salute to the author who has given us so many entertaining stories as well as paving the way for all of us who love to write historical romance, especially Regencies.

All visitors are welcome to post their own tributes and birthday greetings to Georgette Heyer in comments to this article.

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Regency Turns 80 — Venetia

Silhouettes of a man and woman in Regency dress against a background of the number 80

As Regency romance author, Louisa Cornell, explains in today’s article, at its heart, Venetia, one of Georgette Heyer’s most beloved Regencies, is all about love. True love between two strong, honest people who understand and accept each other for who they are, faults and all. A bad boy hero who, for the first time in his life, will do anything for the woman he has come to love and a strong but caring woman who will not accept his sacrifice at the cost of their mutual happiness. Though it is set in the Regency and was published in 1958, Venetia has all the romance and humor to delight a twenty-first-century reader. And talking about bad boys, how do you think Jasper Damerel stacks up against some of the other heroes Louisa mentions?

All visitors are welcome to share their views on the Regency romance genre in general, or this novel in particular, in comments to this article.

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Regency Turns 80 — Sylvester, or The Wicked Uncle

Silhouettes of a man and woman in Regency dress against a background of the number 80

It turns out that romance author, Barbara Bettis, has been a champion of the work of Georgette Heyer since her college days. Barbara is also a teacher of English and in today’s article, she shares her insights into what makes Heyer’s novels so enjoyable, even in this new century, despite the fact that the Regency genre has changed significantly since Heyer’s books were first published. Whether you are just discovering the work of Georgette Heyer, or if you have enjoyed her books for years, you will better understand the differences between her Regencies and those written in the twenty-first century once you have read Barbara’s article about Sylvester, or The Wicked Uncle.

Visitors are invited to share their views on this romance novel, or the Regency genre in general, in comments to this article.

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Regency Turns 80 — April Lady

Silhouettes of a man and woman in Regency dress against a background of the number 80

Though she frankly admits that April Lady is not her favorite Regency by Georgette Heyer, romance author, Ella Quinn, does still enjoy reading this novel of a recently married couple who have yet to admit their love for one another. As Ella explains, there are other aspects of the story which will enlighten and inform those interested in the Regency period, even if the tale of romance itself is not quite their cup of tea. And yet, how many readers will be able to help but root for this couple whose path to true love is strewn with various obstacles in the shape of silly, dim, oblivious and downright selfish family and friends?

Please share your views on this Regency romance, or the genre in general, in comments to this article.

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Regency Turns 80 — Sprig Muslin

Silhouettes of a man and woman in Regency dress against a background of the number 80

Romance reader and author, Lesli Lent, shares with us her views on Sprig Muslin, one of Georgette Heyer’s most amusing, if confusing, Regency romances. Though Lesli has no doubt who the hero of this story is, she does question the roles of the two most prominent female characters. Which one is the heroine? How does one classify the other prominent female? Would such a romance make it to press today? If it did, would you read it?

Have you read Sprig Muslin? Whether you agree or disagree with Lesli, you are welcome to post your views in comments to this article.

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Regency Turns 80 — Bath Tangle

Silhouettes of a man and woman in Regency dress against a background of the number 80

In today’s article, award-winning Regency romance author, Ann Lethbridge, shares her experiences and views of Georgette Heyer’s Regency Bath Tangle. In particular, Ann has a special, even sympathetic, take on the very alpha male hero of this story. If you have read the book, do you agree with Ann, or do you have a different take on this alpha male hero and how Heyer handled him?

Everyone is welcome to share their own views on this story or Regency romance in general in comments to this post.

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Regency Turns 80 — The Toll-Gate

Silhouettes of a man and woman in Regency dress against a background of the number 80

Regency romance author, Ella Quinn, today gives us a glimpse of The Toll-Gate, one of Georgette Heyer’s more unique Regencies, in which the story centers on the hero. It is particularly appropriate that The Toll-Gate is discussed this month, as the bicentennial anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo is only days away. The hero of this story has returned to England after serving as an aide-de-camp at Waterloo. He is finding civilian life a bit dull and sets out on what becomes quite the adventure, leading him to romance as well.

What are your views on this story and its characters? Please feel free to share them in comments to this article.

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Regency Turns 80 — Cotillion

Silhouettes of a man and woman in Regency dress against a background of the number 80

The Heyer Regency in the spotlight today is Cotillion. Though Regency romance author, Elizabeth Johns, cut her teeth on the works of Jane Austen, when she had run though those, she moved on to the novels of Georgette Heyer, thus allowing her to continue to enjoy our favorite era, the Regency. Today, Elizabeth shares with us her views on Cotillion, one of the most light-hearted and amusing of all of Heyer’s Regencies.

As always, everyone is welcome to share their memories or favorite scenes from this, or any other Regency romance in comments to this article.

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Regency Turns 80 — The Quiet Gentleman

Silhouettes of a man and woman in Regency dress against a background of the number 80

Georgette Heyer has often been compared to Jane Austen in general terms. Today, Regina Jeffers, author of a number of award-winning Regency romances, Austen tales and cozy mysteries, finds some one-to-one comparisons with several Austen characters in Heyer’s novel, The Quiet Gentleman. Based on your readings of Austen and Heyer, do you see those same comparisons?

Anyone with an opinion on this novel, or Regencies in general, is welcome to post them in comments to this article.

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The Rise of the Paper Hats

A cross-post from The Regency Redingote:

Today, paper hats are most often worn for a bit of fun at parties, or are made for a child by parent or grandparent for some make-believe playtime. But during the Regency, paper hats were regularly worn by working men in a number of trades. In fact, the wearing of such hats had only begun a few years before the Prince of Wales became Regent. It was during that second decade of the nineteenth century that the use of these hats became much more widespread among an expanding number of craftsmen and tradesmen. But these hats were not worn for fun, they had a much more serious purpose. It should be noted that the wearing of these hats seem to have been confined to English working men.

When paper hats were for work, not play …

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Regency Turns 80 — The Grand Sophy

Silhouettes of a man and woman in Regency dress against a background of the number 80

The Grand Sophy is one of Georgette Heyer’s best-loved Regency novels. Today, romance author, April Kihlstrom, explains that even though this novel is set in the English Regency, it was also a product of the time in which it was written and had a powerful impact on its readers. Those of you who read this novel within the first decade of its publication in the last century will almost certainly identify with why April so enjoyed this novel as a young woman. And those of you who did not live through those times and have only read it recently will get a dual history lesson, and, perhaps a greater appreciation of the power of Heyer’s fiction.

As always, everyone is invited to share their views and opinions about this novel in comments to this article.

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Regency Turns 80 — Arabella

Silhouettes of a man and woman in Regency dress against a background of the number 80

Arabella is one of Georgette Heyer’s Regency romances which is set primarily in London. As romance author, Wareeze Woodson, explains, the romance of the heroine and her hero are set against the glittering London social season. Even so, we soon see that both of these characters are neither shallow nor brittle social creatures. Instead, each is naturally compassionate and has a strong sense of social responsibility. But will those admirable sensibilities be enough to bring them together for their happily ever after, regardless of their various contretemps?

Comments about this Regency romance are most welcome.

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Kitchen Fireplace Furniture:   Contraptions for Cooking

A cross-post from The Regency Redingote:

Last month I catalogued the different types of fireplace equipment which might have been found alongside Regency fireplaces in all the rooms of a house, except the kitchen. This week, I shall focus on kitchen fireplaces and the many unique devices and gadgets which had been invented to customize those fireplaces for the preparation of food in times past. Though you may not think so, most of these devices were considered the latest thing in labor-saving cooking when they were first introduced, regardless of the fact that a number of them look like instruments of torture, better suited to a dungeon than a kitchen.

And now, the sometimes confounding cooking contraptions with which Regency cooks could contend …

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