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286th out of 1,138 books
—
1,079 voters
Charity Girl
When Fate and a chivalrous impulse combine to saddle Viscount Desford with a friendless homeless waif named Cherry Steane, to whom else should he turn in such a scrape but his old childhood playmate, Henrietta Silverdale? For all they refused to oblige their parents by marrying, they have always been the best of friends. But as Desford pursues Cherry's lickpenny grandfathe...more
Paperback, 256 pages
Published
October 7th 2004
by Arrow
(first published November 1st 1971)
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Not one of Heyer's best, but an enjoyable read. This one is mostly a comedy of manners, and while it's never laugh-out-loud funny, I read it with a smile on my face.
The romance is quite weak, although I was glad that the story didn't go in the direction I first expected. These are not modern romances so you must be prepared to enjoy the spectacle of wealthy gentlemen coming to the rescue of hapless females, but Heyer usually comes through with a balanced match.
The prose does bog down a little wh...more
The romance is quite weak, although I was glad that the story didn't go in the direction I first expected. These are not modern romances so you must be prepared to enjoy the spectacle of wealthy gentlemen coming to the rescue of hapless females, but Heyer usually comes through with a balanced match.
The prose does bog down a little wh...more
Jul 05, 2009
Abigail
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Georgette Heyer Fans / Regency Romance Readers
Shelves:
georgette-heyer,
romance
Review Temporarily Removed.
Wow. The first Heyer I geniunely, completely disliked. The plot has been done much better before. By Heyer. Many times. There were no hijinx. Just an annoying search for equally annoying, selfish, awful people who weren't even amusing to hear about. The characters were barely people, and when they were, they were terrible or irritating, with the possible exception of the hero, and that's only because he's off-stage or being perfect the whole book. I didn't want to spend time with any of these pe...more
Charity Girl is an enjoyable Regency Romance by Georgette Heyer. It is one of her later novels, and it perhaps loses a little of the charm that made her books sparkle in previous years. But it is an enjoyable read nonetheless. Charity Girl is similar in plotting-but-not-pacing to an earlier novel, Sprig Muslin which Heyer wrote in 1956. Both books feature gentleman rescuing damsels-in-distresses. Both women, I believe, were running away. Both, I believe, were heading from the country to the city...more
I’m a huge Heyer fan – I think I have at least half of her Regency books, and am always looking for the rest on sale for the Nook or in paper. Unfortunately, not all of her books are as fun as Frederica, my favorite. Charity Girl is one of these.
The hero of the book is one of Heyer’s decidedly non-rakish characters, though he is still high ton (fashionable clothing, lives a life of dissipation in London). When he spots young Charity, or Cherry as she prefers to be called, Steane hiding in the ba...more
The hero of the book is one of Heyer’s decidedly non-rakish characters, though he is still high ton (fashionable clothing, lives a life of dissipation in London). When he spots young Charity, or Cherry as she prefers to be called, Steane hiding in the ba...more
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Apparently I have this little problem when it comes to choosing books from a genre. I find myself choosing the one book that is not representative of the group. Like that time I picked up an Orson Scott Card novel with the intention of giving science fiction a try. I've NEVER read science fiction, and guess what? I still haven't ever read science fiction because I just happened to choose the one Orson Scott Card book that is NOT science fiction.
And I've done it again! My mother is a huge fan of...more
And I've done it again! My mother is a huge fan of...more
Ashley Carrington, Viscount Desford, is in dire straits, all due to his chivalrous nature. Having recently been raked over the coals by his father, the Earl of Wroxton, for refusing to propose to his lifelong friend, Henrietta, Desford escapes to the home of his more understanding aunt. While there, he meets a young girl named Cherry hiding upstairs during a ball. He is charmed by her innocence but thinks little more of her until he encounters her on the road to London. When he stops to question...more
Viscount Desford is an unmarried gentleman who finds Charity Steane running away from her aunt's household on the way to London. Rescuing her puts Desford in a social pickle and he turns to his best friend, Lady Hetta Silverdale, for help. Bound by honor, Desford goes on a search to find Charity's missing grandfather.
I liked Charity Girl, but it was missing something I found more readily in Regency Buck. Perhaps it was that little element of intrigue that kept me turning pages in Regency Buck. I...more
I liked Charity Girl, but it was missing something I found more readily in Regency Buck. Perhaps it was that little element of intrigue that kept me turning pages in Regency Buck. I...more
I've always loved Georgette Heyer and I picked up this book from the library recently on a day I just needed something light and sweet, though I think this might be the only Georgette Heyer my library has, since I'm sure I've read this twice before. But not to worry. One reads a Georgette Heyer for the experince rather than the story.
In this case, while at a country ball, our hero meets the hostess's poor and put upon young cousin. The next day he finds her attempting to walk to London. In a mo...more
In this case, while at a country ball, our hero meets the hostess's poor and put upon young cousin. The next day he finds her attempting to walk to London. In a mo...more
Yeah, hmm, not one of my favourite Heyers. I got positively bored while the Viscount was looking for Cherry's granddad, and was not especially convinced by the central romance. Maybe my cousin is right -- you do have to know by the middle of the book which option the protagonist is going to go with, though it's better if the protagonist themselves doesn't know yet. I didn't -- as wasn't sure if this was going to be an "equals who banter" Heyer romance, or the "rich aristocrat + naive girl" type....more
In more weird mid-century marketing news (did they think women only read books about women, or could Heyer not come up with a cute double meaning title?), the real protagonist of Charity Girl is not the C.G. Cherry, who clearly annoyed Ms. Heyer before she'd been writing about her for thirty seconds, but instead the sensible but not un-dashing Viscount Desford.
Large quantities of silly Regency slang ("Turkish treatment" "mifty" and more!) make this a fun read, even though the conclusion is appa...more
Large quantities of silly Regency slang ("Turkish treatment" "mifty" and more!) make this a fun read, even though the conclusion is appa...more
More lovely, escapist reading. I consider Georgette Heyer Jane Austen lite. None of the biting social commentary or deep intellectual meaning. All of the silly characters and heady romance. This one features a couple of rational, mature protagonists. All of the excitement comes from innocent, lost, nineteen year-old girl in need of a home. I suppose I could focus on how the social constraints of the regency period were used as plot devices. Really, though, it was just pleasant to read believable...more
I gave this Heyer novel a 3.5 rating as there wasn't as much interaction between the 2 characters that realize how much they love each other in the final chapter. Viscount Desford helps a runaway Cherry to London and when her grandfather's home is boarded up and she has no where to go, the Viscount takes to his best friends home - Henrietta and her mother. The Earl had hoped that Desford would have married many many years ago to Henrietta but there was no mutual desire for either to marry and ye...more
Jul 13, 2010
Madelyne
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
yes
Shelves:
just-simply-a-good-read,
own
Several people have suggested that I read her books and I thought it was about time. Heyer is a modern Jane Austen author, modern in the sense that she lived in modern times (1902-1974), but she wrote Regency Era Romance. The Charity Girl was a pleasant read, not heavy and certainly not boring. My only 2 complaints are that I felt I needed a lingo dictionary to better understand the characters peculiar phrases and at one scene the characters go round and round (beat the bush!) to the point where...more
"Charity Girl" is a historical romance novel set in England during the British Regency period (1811-1820). As usual for Heyer, the story was very funny. There was a nice level of historical detail woven into the story, and the characters were all enjoyable. It was clear which woman was best suited to Desford, and it was fun seeing how they would finally end up together. The only reason this book didn't quite rate among my very favorite Heyer's novels is that a few scenes ran on a little too long...more
This is the first book I have read by Georgette Heyer and it was enjoyable. Very light. Something that will not make you think, but has some funny parts. That said, the colloquial phrases, such as "you old windy wallet" and "never mind looking like a bull-beef" added fun element to the book. Also the vocabulary was quite high for such a light read - how many times do you run into the word "apostrophizing" in historical romances? Based on the reviews this is not one of her best works, but it was...more
2.5 stars
The descriptions about this book strongly reminded me of another Georgette Heyer book, The Foundling, and I had a strong feeling that I would know how things would turn out. I was right.
I really liked Desford although he seemed a little too perfect. I enjoyed his exchanges with his crotchety father, and how could one hate a guy who was so gallant towards his mother? The interactions between Desford and Henrietta clearly showed their closeness but like everyone else, it seemed one of ju...more
The descriptions about this book strongly reminded me of another Georgette Heyer book, The Foundling, and I had a strong feeling that I would know how things would turn out. I was right.
I really liked Desford although he seemed a little too perfect. I enjoyed his exchanges with his crotchety father, and how could one hate a guy who was so gallant towards his mother? The interactions between Desford and Henrietta clearly showed their closeness but like everyone else, it seemed one of ju...more
Aug 22, 2010
Mandi Ellsworth
added it
When I saw this little paperback in my local opp shop, I snatched it up and I'm so glad I did. In this one, Ms. Heyer once again creates a plot that is at once, exactly what I wanted, but still surprising. In Charity Girl, a gentleman discovers an acquaintance walking on a country road laden with a suitcase and against his better judgement takes her up in his carriage with him. He's not quite sure what to do with her, and hijinks ensue. It's lovely and gentle and witty. *sigh* THIS is why I love...more
While this book may start off slow and shaky, by the end Heyer has her footing again and the plot and characters sparkle. In Charity Girl a Viscount named Desford meets a young woman named Charity, “Cherry” for short, hiding away upstairs at a ball. She was foisted off on these relatives by an absent father and is treated more like glorified help then a poor relation in need. Naturally she ends up running away to London in a search for her grandfather. Desford finds her on the road to London and...more
I'm thrilled that I've finally discovered Georgette Heyer! Since she was such a prolific writer, I can look forward to many years of enjoying her books. Heyer established the Regency romance after Jane Austin began it. Jane Austin is certainly the master, but Heyer is able to transport her reader to that time through her vivid details and well-researched language. I imagine that "Charity Girl" follows a similar format to her other books of the Regency upper class. I am excited to find out becaus...more
Nice, charming... but overall a little blah. I really enjoyed Desford and Hetta, and loved the viscount's family dynamics. Unfortunately, most of the book is spent in Desford's driving back and forth across the country, and in endless explanations ...which complaint is pretty weird, coming from me - I love dialogue, but this was just way too much from all the most obnoxious characters (i.e., Cherry's relations), especially with a tendency to expostulate the same subjects repeatedly.
Georgette Heyer's historical fiction is my 'comfort reading'. This is one of my all-time favourites. The story is about a nice, unassuming Viscount who befriends a young girl in all innocence when he sees her peeping through the bannisters at a dance.
Before long he's involved in a chase around the country, suspected of having abducted her, when all he wants is to find her paternal grandfather.
Desford, the Viscount, is a likeable hero; I was also very taken with his close friend Henrietta - Hett...more
Before long he's involved in a chase around the country, suspected of having abducted her, when all he wants is to find her paternal grandfather.
Desford, the Viscount, is a likeable hero; I was also very taken with his close friend Henrietta - Hett...more
The other two Heyers I've read took me awhile to get into—this one, on the other hand, pulled me right in from the start. I most definitely enjoyed it. I do end up getting a little tired, though, of the way that every sentence ends with an exclamation point! And of all the slang. I can't help wondering if people REALLY used THAT much slang in their every day speech. They're like Regency gangsters....
On the whole, though, definitely recommended for anyone looking for a fluffy and entertaining his...more
On the whole, though, definitely recommended for anyone looking for a fluffy and entertaining his...more
this is more of a 3 1/2 stars booked. a cute little book. AND it didn't go where I thought it would. I picked it up expecting another Friday's Child, but it didn't become that. I guess once you read enough Georgette Heyer novels you start to recognize the various character types, but the amazing thing is she does different things with them each time. She also creates some dreadfully annoying characters, in the same class as Shakespeare and Austen. this book was no exception--one of the most drea...more
How does Georgette Heyer never fail me?
There I was, lethargic, bored and unadventurous. I picked up one of my least favourite books by Heyer. I skimmed over large parts of it, ignored many descriptions....... and still enjoyed the book! The spark that Heyer gives her characters is unparalleled. I can't say I enjoyed every moment of the book, but I can say with complete truth that this book changed my mood not just for the day, but for the week!
There I was, lethargic, bored and unadventurous. I picked up one of my least favourite books by Heyer. I skimmed over large parts of it, ignored many descriptions....... and still enjoyed the book! The spark that Heyer gives her characters is unparalleled. I can't say I enjoyed every moment of the book, but I can say with complete truth that this book changed my mood not just for the day, but for the week!
Lighter than most of her stories; a very slim volume. The fun part is watching Heyer throw in some standard Regency rigamarole for the plot, while at the same time keeping it fresh and entertaining through her characters and dialogue. Not unexpected in any way, really, but despite the similarity in plot details you never really get the same love story twice. Each of Heyer's couples is unique, even in a little story like this one.
Possibly not one of Georgette Heyer's best, but still immensely enjoyable. Heyer manages to introduce characters which can be recognised in other stories (like the handsome young lord, the feisty heroine etc) - yet they are always different enough to make a book as fresh as if completely new to the reader. Her use of the slang which was prevalent at the time in which her books are set just adds to the enjoyment. And the inevitable single kiss at the very end of the book feels as passionate as a...more
This title is a clever play on the words "Charity Girl" because one of the main characters is named Charity, but she does become something of an object of charity.
Georgette Heyer (1902-1974) was a prolific writer of romance fiction that was considered historically accurate in its details and very (Jane) Austenesque.
Charity Girl is not one of Heyer's worst efforts, but still far from being her best. There was little evident chemistry between the main pairing, and as they spent very little time together over the course of the book, Heyer's best attribute—her dialogue—wasn't allowed to shine. Very low on Awful Aunts and other horrible relations, too; very much a Heyer-by-numbers.
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Georgette Heyer was an amazingly prolific writer who created the Regency England genre of romance novels.
Georgette Heyer was an intensely private person. A best-seller all her life without the aid of publicity, she made no appearances, never gave an interview, and only answered fan letters herself if they made an interesting historical point. Heyer wrote very well-researched historical fiction, fu...more
More about Georgette Heyer...
Georgette Heyer was an intensely private person. A best-seller all her life without the aid of publicity, she made no appearances, never gave an interview, and only answered fan letters herself if they made an interesting historical point. Heyer wrote very well-researched historical fiction, fu...more
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“Desford said abruptly: "How old are you, my child? Sixteen? Seventeen?"
"Oh, no, I am much older than that!" she replied. "I'm as old as Lucasta - all but a few weeks!"
"Then why are you not downstairs dancing with the rest of them?" he demanded. "You must surely be out!"
"No, I'm not," she said. "I don't suppose I ever shall be, either. Unless my papa turns out not to be dead, and comes home to take care of me himself. But I don't think that at all likely, and even if he did come home it wouldn't be of the least use, because he seems never to have sixpence to scratch with. I am afraid he is not a very respectable person. My aunt says he was obliged to go abroad on account of being monstrously in debt." She sighed, and said wistfully: "I know that one ought not to criticize one's father, but I can't help feeling that it was just a little thoughtless of him to abandon me.”
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"Oh, no, I am much older than that!" she replied. "I'm as old as Lucasta - all but a few weeks!"
"Then why are you not downstairs dancing with the rest of them?" he demanded. "You must surely be out!"
"No, I'm not," she said. "I don't suppose I ever shall be, either. Unless my papa turns out not to be dead, and comes home to take care of me himself. But I don't think that at all likely, and even if he did come home it wouldn't be of the least use, because he seems never to have sixpence to scratch with. I am afraid he is not a very respectable person. My aunt says he was obliged to go abroad on account of being monstrously in debt." She sighed, and said wistfully: "I know that one ought not to criticize one's father, but I can't help feeling that it was just a little thoughtless of him to abandon me.”
Aug 24, 2008 12:07pm