Frederica (by Georgette Heyer)

Georgette Heyer’s historical novels are some of my favourite comfort reading books, and one of my top ten amongst them is ‘Frederica’. Heyer’s characterisation was always good, but in this book she created one of the most delightful families, the Merivilles, newly arrived in London and quite unused to its customs. 

Frederica is the oldest in the family, and she’s strong-minded, kind and caring. At twenty-four she sees herself as past marriageable age; since she’s never been in love, or had a...