When spirited, independent Miss Annis Wynchwood embroils herself in the affairs of a runaway heiress, she is destined to see a good deal of Lucilla...
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reviews
May 12, 2008
Julie (jjmachshev)
rated it: 
Reviewed for queuemyreview.com
Truth to tell, I’m a little discomfited to be writing a review of Georgette Heyer’s “Lady of Quality”. Heyer was, after all, the progenitor of the Regency Romance genre. What can I possibly say that hasn’t been said (and likely better) by much more facile and famous reviewers than myself? But, Quentin the taskmistress has set me to this undertaking, so onward I shall go!
Did I enjoy reading this book? Indeed I did. Heyer’s style of writ More...
Truth to tell, I’m a little discomfited to be writing a review of Georgette Heyer’s “Lady of Quality”. Heyer was, after all, the progenitor of the Regency Romance genre. What can I possibly say that hasn’t been said (and likely better) by much more facile and famous reviewers than myself? But, Quentin the taskmistress has set me to this undertaking, so onward I shall go!
Did I enjoy reading this book? Indeed I did. Heyer’s style of writ More...
25 comments
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May 12, 2008
Kelly
rated it: 
Meh. Heyer, you can do better than this. And I'd wager that you knew that when you wrote this, too. Was the rent due soon or something? You've done this better elsewhere... about twenty times. It is a classic cats and dogs fighting couple who hate each other on sight and then soften and fall in love pretty quickly. I liked the hero a lot, which is the only reason I finished the book. Simple, no nonsense, no heroics, rude, seemed like an actual man. The heroine sucked. If only because Heyer felt
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8 comments
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(4 people liked it)
Oct 12, 2010
Abigail
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Wealthy, beautiful and unmarried, Miss Annis Wychwood had grown bored with her sedate suitors, her prosy "companion" Miss Farlow, and her boring life in Bath. Considered quite mature at the ripe old age of twenty-nine, Annis had no intention of surrendering her hard-won independence, nor any expectation of falling in love. Until, that is, a chance encounter with runaway heiress Lucilla Carleton forced her into the company of one of England's most notorious bachelors, and she discovered
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(1 person liked it)
Jan 11, 2009
Delaina
rated it: 
I've read this novel several times over several years, and it never loses its charm. Annis and Oliver are fun to watch as they develop a romantic relationship, mostly because even love fails to make them act sappy or soupy or simple-minded. The first time I read it left me feeling out of sorts, though, because Oliver is abrupt and rude, and I didn't understand how she could fall in love with him. Now that I'm past 30 I can appreciate the adult intelligence and interaction the two share.
Desp More...
Desp More...
Nov 10, 2011
ladydusk
rated it:
Own.
I picked this up at the library book sale and it was just the thing to read after the heavy-reading Lord of the Rings books. A light, witty, quick read with a happy ending for all involved and not a lot of effort on the reader's part.
I do appreciate Heyer's examination of the theme of independence, Annis is "independent" in many ways, Lucilla and Ninian are under a forced "dependence," Miss Farlow is dependent because of a lack of means, etc. Hey More...
I picked this up at the library book sale and it was just the thing to read after the heavy-reading Lord of the Rings books. A light, witty, quick read with a happy ending for all involved and not a lot of effort on the reader's part.
I do appreciate Heyer's examination of the theme of independence, Annis is "independent" in many ways, Lucilla and Ninian are under a forced "dependence," Miss Farlow is dependent because of a lack of means, etc. Hey More...
Jan 20, 2011
Rydia
rated it:
Hmmm...
Where should I start?
I absolutely loved this book. Think Jane Eyre without a crazy wife in the attic and no dressing up like a gypsy. Not saying I didn't like Jane Eyre... well wait I wasn't much of a fan there. Ah anyway!
Ok, Annis Wychwood is tired of living with her brother. She's 29, a self pro-claimed spinster in the making, and although she loves her brother and his new wife it just isn't working there.
She moves to Bath with a cousi More...
Where should I start?
I absolutely loved this book. Think Jane Eyre without a crazy wife in the attic and no dressing up like a gypsy. Not saying I didn't like Jane Eyre... well wait I wasn't much of a fan there. Ah anyway!
Ok, Annis Wychwood is tired of living with her brother. She's 29, a self pro-claimed spinster in the making, and although she loves her brother and his new wife it just isn't working there.
She moves to Bath with a cousi More...
Jan 08, 2011
Jane
rated it:
Very enjoyable time with interesting characters and a romance.
STORY BRIEF:
Annis is 29, single, and financially secure. She is beautiful and had many offers of marriage. She turned them all down because she was never in love. She wants to live on her own, away from her older brother who has a wife and two children. Annis does not want the life of a babysitting aunt. The story begins with Annis traveling to Bath to set up her new home. There are three sub stories.
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STORY BRIEF:
Annis is 29, single, and financially secure. She is beautiful and had many offers of marriage. She turned them all down because she was never in love. She wants to live on her own, away from her older brother who has a wife and two children. Annis does not want the life of a babysitting aunt. The story begins with Annis traveling to Bath to set up her new home. There are three sub stories.
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(1 person liked it)
Nov 07, 2010
Rebecca
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Oct 28, 2010
Karen
rated it:
Miss Annis Wychwood, twenty nine, possessed of financial independence and her own house in Bath, is returning to her home when she comes upon an overturned gig. Her involvement in the lives of its young occupants brings the rude but amusing Oliver Carleton into her life.
Annis is one of the most well-drawn heroines that Georgette Heyer ever created. She is a cross between Heyer's earlier character Venetia and Anne Elliot (Persuasion) and I love the exchanges that she has with Mr Carle More...
Annis is one of the most well-drawn heroines that Georgette Heyer ever created. She is a cross between Heyer's earlier character Venetia and Anne Elliot (Persuasion) and I love the exchanges that she has with Mr Carle More...
Jul 18, 2010
Katie
rated it:
This is the last of the Heyer novels that I raided the library's shelves for back in May and I think it's gone overdue twice before I actually read it, due to other books on my nightstand having more pressing due dates or something. Anyways, worth the wait and the overdue fines. A very enjoyable story, a little (and I mean a very little) bit like Persuasion. Main character not a helpless maiden at all, but a very intelligent, independent woman (a veritable spinster at the age of 29). The her
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Mar 12, 2011
Becky
rated it:
I love Georgette Heyer's books--the characters are quirky and totally unique, her storylines are always fresh, and her use of Regency slang makes me want to toss around terms like "ape-leader", "blue devil", "wet goose", and "cock up one's toes" in my everyday conversation. I don't usually, but I'm tempted. Lady of Quality is a prime example of Heyer at her best.
At twenty-nine, Annis Wynchwood is considered firmly on the shelf. Strong-minded More...
At twenty-nine, Annis Wynchwood is considered firmly on the shelf. Strong-minded More...
Jan 28, 2011
Sho
rated it:
Georgette Heyer is easily as good, if not better, at writing a Regency romance as Jane Austen. Easily as good. I've read four of her novels in the past - Venetia which is the one which people always recommend, The Toll Gate which is fabulously written, Bath Tangle which really shows how women were treated back then and An Infamous Army. The last is an account of the Battle of Waterloo from the camp followers' point of view - the ladies who were in Brussels waiting for news of their husbands. An
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Apr 03, 2010
Kathy
rated it:
Lady of Quality wasn’t my favorite Heyer novel. It seemed a little boring most of the time and only livened up when Mr. Carleton and Annis were sparring, when they weren’t together the story kind of dragged by. I am not really a fan of “rakes” and don’t find it romantic when they are purposing they are promising never to stray again. Yeah, right. Other than that, I actually thought Oliver and Annis were perfect for each other and again enjoyed their interactions.
I thought Annis was a More...
I thought Annis was a More...
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Jun 25, 2009
Sbuchler
rated it:
Genre: Regency Romance
This is one of my favorite Heyer novels simply because I think it's the only one where the hero treats the heroine as an adult. The exchanges between the lovely Annis Wynchwood and the wealthy rake Oliver Carleton are a joy, but even more so are the times when he shows that he understands what she's feeling, even when that feeling is confusion and not knowing her own mind about wanting to marry him. Instead of forcing her to give an answer (like most romance her More...
This is one of my favorite Heyer novels simply because I think it's the only one where the hero treats the heroine as an adult. The exchanges between the lovely Annis Wynchwood and the wealthy rake Oliver Carleton are a joy, but even more so are the times when he shows that he understands what she's feeling, even when that feeling is confusion and not knowing her own mind about wanting to marry him. Instead of forcing her to give an answer (like most romance her More...
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May 23, 2010
Shanda
rated it:
Another fun Georgette Heyer read. Annis Wychwood is an independent, wealthy nearly spinster of twenty-eight years old. She is on her way to Bath when she meets a young orphan and heiress who is running away from home and an arranged marriage to her best friend. Annis takes Lucilla under her wing and helps her learn how to navigate society before her real coming out in London. Along the way, Annis meets Lucilla's uncle, Mr. Carleton, who is the rudest man in London. But somehow she still remai
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Apr 30, 2011
Lightreads
rated it:
So close, but no. I could have loved this one – our heroine is not a fluttering 18-year-old, but a secure, independent woman of 29. And when the hero finally asks her to marry him, she says, get this, that she isn't sure, and then they have a mature conversation about how difficult it would be for her to give up her space and her freedom. Can you imagine?
But then the whole thing comes to a splintery end with no real conclusion aside from their inevitable engagement. And the really we More...
But then the whole thing comes to a splintery end with no real conclusion aside from their inevitable engagement. And the really we More...
Jul 11, 2011
Karen (Kew)
rated it:
I've titled this review "romance for grown-ups" because I first read this book as a teenager and didn't like it much at all! Re-reading it now that I am in my middle age I have enjoyed this book much more! The heroine is slightly older than other Heyer heroines (though 29 now longer seems old to me like it did when I was a teenager!) and the hero is far different from the typical charming and dashing Heyer hero! In fact, he is a very rude man! As a youngster I couldn't see any romance
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Jun 26, 2011
Ah mine'l-aŞk
rated it:
Bu kitabı okuduktan sonra forumda yaptığım yorumu ekliyorum...:)
anlaşılan hiç beğenmemişim.....
Yorumum:
bu yazar hep aynı şeyi yapıyorgeçen gün bitirdim di kitabı..
konu seçmekte gerçektende başarılı ama konuyu ımm geliştiremiyor...
aşka bir şans daha"da da aynı şey olmuştu...
hatta ben kitabın eksik olabileceğinide düşünüyorum çünkü çok saçma bitti...
Carleton ile Annis'in evlenmesine abisi karşı çıkıyordu ama yengeside yapacak
bir şe y More...
anlaşılan hiç beğenmemişim.....
Yorumum:
bu yazar hep aynı şeyi yapıyorgeçen gün bitirdim di kitabı..
konu seçmekte gerçektende başarılı ama konuyu ımm geliştiremiyor...
aşka bir şans daha"da da aynı şey olmuştu...
hatta ben kitabın eksik olabileceğinide düşünüyorum çünkü çok saçma bitti...
Carleton ile Annis'in evlenmesine abisi karşı çıkıyordu ama yengeside yapacak
bir şe y More...
May 10, 2011
Katie
rated it:
This was a good book! It is the type of book where the two main characters start out not liking each other, and then they, of course, end up falling in love. Depending on your view on that type of romance (my mom says it's totally unrealistic--but I like it), there was plenty of humor, memorable characters and quotes, and adventure. The ending was good, but I wished there was a little bit more about the secondary characters (not to dampen anyone's spirits about reading this book). One of my favo
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May 07, 2009
Laura
rated it:
Although Georgette Heyer is well-liked for her Regency romance novels this book was not one of her best. The book engendered mixed feelings among our book club members. Three of the members did not like it and did not finish reading the book, five liked it so-so and two members liked it overall.
Several reasons were given for disliking this novel. Some found it difficult to read with terminology not even found in a dictionary. Others were not attracted by the main character nor the st More...
Several reasons were given for disliking this novel. Some found it difficult to read with terminology not even found in a dictionary. Others were not attracted by the main character nor the st More...
Jun 05, 2010
Jennifer
rated it:
This reminds me a lot of the different Jane Austen sequels out there. It is better written than most, but it falls into some of the same traps: in an effort to imitate the witty dialogue, there's just too much of it. You only need to include one of Miss Farrow's long-winded speeches, to understand what they're like. I definitely don't need to keep reading them. Another thing - she tries to hard to mix in phrases from the time period. Austen doesn't use all of those phrases, why should a nov
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Jan 21, 2011
Miste
rated it:
This was the last book she wrote a year or two before she died and you can tell. Either she didn't get a chance to fully flesh it out or she got lazy as she got older because this book was not that good. It seemed like it was only half a story. You had no sense exactly why the main characters would have fallend for each other because they didn't spend any time together. She spent more time talking about the time the heroine spent being sick on her own than any time they spent together. You
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Mar 04, 2009
Kendra
rated it:
I liked this book. I had heard good things about it - specifically that if I liked Pride & Prejudice that I would LOVE this book. So - I think that I had too high of expectations. I did like it - I really did. But let's be honest, it's not Pride & Prejudice! Anyway, this book is a historical fiction set in the same era. It was fun, kept me interested, witty, light hearted, and overall entertaining. I enjoyed reading it. I found many of the characters quite endearing. But for some reason
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Dec 26, 2011
Kelli
rated it:
I never completely love Heyer's older heroines. They aren't as endearing as the younger ones. Annis is kind of the same cardboard cut out as Abby in Black Sheep. Older, rich, independent, lives in Bath...sames.
While the opening is much too wordy and lengthy in dialog/descriptions, there are some sparkling parts. Like Miss Farlow's hilarious speech about being hurt over Lucy's arrival and not wanting to be usurped from being Annis' companion.
I think Heyer is one of the few writer's More...
While the opening is much too wordy and lengthy in dialog/descriptions, there are some sparkling parts. Like Miss Farlow's hilarious speech about being hurt over Lucy's arrival and not wanting to be usurped from being Annis' companion.
I think Heyer is one of the few writer's More...
Nov 15, 2011
Ruth
rated it:
c1972:Discovered these books whilst a teenager (who didn't, I wonder). Plot very similar to those Mills and Boon that nobody ever read (yeh - right) - hate/dislike changing/turning to enduring love. Georgette Heyer (1902-1974) is known as a writer of Regency romances, and it is not easy to find anybody who has managed to surpass her in the genre of light-hearted romantic historical fiction although, arguably, Barbara Cartland may have given her a good run for her money. Heyer was educated at re
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Mar 09, 2011
Cortney
rated it:
Miss Annis Wychwood, at twenty-nine, has long been on the shelf, but this bothers her not at all. She is rich and still beautiful and she enjoys living independently in Bath, except for the tiresome female cousin, who her very proper brother insists must live with her.
When Annis offers sanctuary to the very young runaway heiress Miss Lucilla Carleton, no one at all thinks this is a good idea. With the exception of Miss Carleton's overbearing guardian, Mr. Oliver Carleton, whose reput More...
When Annis offers sanctuary to the very young runaway heiress Miss Lucilla Carleton, no one at all thinks this is a good idea. With the exception of Miss Carleton's overbearing guardian, Mr. Oliver Carleton, whose reput More...
Feb 07, 2010
BJ Rose
rated it:
This really should be a 5* rating, but it just wasn't quite there for me - a strong 4.5*, tho!
I love to sink into Heyer's regency world - to experience and perhaps understand a little better the ups and downs of living in 19th century England, this time in Bath. And I especially love the way she uses the vernacular of those times - it's so much more enjoyable to figure out the meaning of the slang & 'cant' through the conversations of the characters rather than reading a glossary, such as More...
I love to sink into Heyer's regency world - to experience and perhaps understand a little better the ups and downs of living in 19th century England, this time in Bath. And I especially love the way she uses the vernacular of those times - it's so much more enjoyable to figure out the meaning of the slang & 'cant' through the conversations of the characters rather than reading a glossary, such as More...
Dec 09, 2008
Amy
rated it:
Lady of Quality was Georgette Heyer's last novel and although it's not her best, it is still a cute, fun read. While Heyer continues with her first-rate characters, I hate to admit that the plot seemed a little too "cookie cutter". This is your classic I-hate-you-but-wait-no-I-love-you type stories, but Heyer works it well.
From the start I was engaged - I mean how great is it when you're already giggling at the first page?! The story flows well and moves along nicely. More...
From the start I was engaged - I mean how great is it when you're already giggling at the first page?! The story flows well and moves along nicely. More...
Apr 15, 2010
Crystal
rated it:
Some of the reviews I read of this book, prior to reading it myself, scared me a little. They said it wasn't Heyer's best, and some said flat out that they didn't like it. It never hurts to go into a book with low expectations, though, because it's so nice when they turn out wrong and you love the book, instead. And that is pretty much what happened with this book. Will it ever be my favorite Heyer book? no, but that's like saying Godiva isn't my favorite chocolate. This book was hugely enjoyabl
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Aug 07, 2008
Becky
rated it:
Heyer, Georgette. 1957. Lady of Quality.
"The elegant travelling carriage which bore Miss Wychwood from her birthplace, on the border of Somerset and Wiltshire, to her home in Bath, proceeded on its way at a decorous pace." (1)
Lady of Quality's first line may not sparkle as much as Austen's famous one, "IT is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife." But just give it time. Trust me. This o More...
"The elegant travelling carriage which bore Miss Wychwood from her birthplace, on the border of Somerset and Wiltshire, to her home in Bath, proceeded on its way at a decorous pace." (1)
Lady of Quality's first line may not sparkle as much as Austen's famous one, "IT is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife." But just give it time. Trust me. This o More...
