Arabella (by Georgette Heyer)

Georgette Heyer has been one of my favourite writers for over four decades, and I reread her novels regularly, particularly the Regency and other light historical ones. So I was delighted to discover that I had not read ‘Arabella’ for over ten years. I have thoroughly enjoyed it, after reading for at least the eighth or ninth time.

Arabella is the eldest daughter of a well-bred, gentle but fairly impecunious vicar. Her mother, who has more worldly wisdom than her father, asked her old school...