Classics, Nonfiction, and Children's Literature
The titular Lady in Lady Rose and Mrs. Memmary by Ruby Ferguson (published 1937) had a childhood of wealthy bliss in her Scottish estate in the 1860s and 1870s, as told by the housekeeper Mrs. Memmary, who welcomes the American tourists for a tour of the rundown castle in the 1930s. The tourists are enthralled
Meggy MacIntosh: A Highland Girl in the Carolina Colony by Elizabeth Janet Gray (published 1930) is a middle grade novel awarded a Newbery Honor in 1931. As the subtitle suggests, it focuses on Scottish immigrants to South Carolina, specifically during the Revolutionary War. Meggy comes from a long line of highland wealth, but upon becoming
The Talisman Ring by Georgette Heyer (published 1936) is a mix of mystery and a Georgian-era romance story, with a huge dose of humor. The main characters try to solve a mystery of who killed the cardsharp who had won Ludovic’s heirloom ring (the titular “Talisman ring”). Ludovic has fled the country to avoid trial
The Foundling by Georgette Heyer (published 1948) is another satisfying romp set during Regency England, with a light romance and a whole list of adventures for our main character, the Duke of Sale. I really could only read/listen to it by renaming it The Duke in my mind. It irritates me that the “foundling” is
The Time Traveler’s Guide to Regency Britain by Ian Mortimer (published 2022) is a thorough overview of thesoc Regency era, including a look at the social strata, food, dwellings, entertainment, and so much more. It would have been helpful to read this before jumping in to my most recent Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer obsession!
The Convenient Marriage by George Heyer (published 1934) features the very languid and lazy Lord Rule’s marriage to the very young 17-year-old Horatia Winwood, the youngest daughter who seeks to financial save the family while allowing her older sisters to marry as they please. Stuttering Horatia wants a life an exciting life of wealth, while
Our titular hero in Sylvester (Or, The Wicked Uncle) by Georgette Heyer (published 1957) has only one flaw: his monstrously large and memorable eyebrows. So although he’s a wealthy and kind gentleman and a caring uncle to his deceased twin’s son, it’s unfortunate that Phoebe Marlow used his most distinctive feature as the defining characteristic
If The Nonesuch in Georgette Heyer’s novel (reviewed here) introduced the perfect Regency era love interest, than the scandalous Lord Damerel in Venetia (published 1958) represents the least virtuous. Venetia Lanyon is the 25-year-old beauty who has always lived in Yorkshire, and her sensibility means she will never marry the boring suitors from her neighborhood:
The Nonesuch by Georgette Heyer (published in 1962) features a “nearly perfect” gentleman as the main romantic catch. That title, “Nonesuch,” refers to someone who is athletically successful (also called a Corinthian), good at a variety of things, comports himself admiringly, and is generally the best one, the guy everyone looks up to. The female
Because of inheritance law, Major Hugh Darracott is now the heir of the Darracott home in The Unknown Ajax by Georgette Heyer (published 1959), even though his domineering grandfather Lord Darracott has never met him. After the recent death of his oldest son and oldest grandson, now Lord Darracott must invite this unknown grandson into
The titular character in the Regency novel Frederica by Georgette Heyer (published 1965) is not looking to get married. Ever since her father died, Frederica Merriville has been the guardian of her family, and even beforehand she was the principal person to run the household, since her mother has been gone for years. Now she
These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer (published 1926) introduces the Duke of Avon as a cold-hearted and ruthless man, so why does he purchase the young urchin that runs into him in the road one day? Although he is known as “Satanas” to those around him, the young urchin quickly become the duke’s devoted page,
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