Georgette Heyer's Regency World

by Jennifer Kloester, Graeme Tavendale (Illustrator)

Georgette Heyer fans will delight in Jennifer Kloester’s definitive guide to her Regency the people, the shops, clubs and towns they frequented, the parties and seasons they celebrated, how they ate, drank, dressed, socialized, voted, shopped and drove. A fun read for any Heyer fan.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Regency, Reference, Historical, Research, Romance

382 pages, Hardcover

First published October 6, 2005

About the author

I was born in Melbourne, Australia, but have lived and worked in Papua New Guinea and the Middle East and travelled to more than thirty countries. While living overseas I studied as an off-campus student with Deakin University and achieved my BA (Hons) while raising my three children.

After graduating with a PhD in history from the University of Melbourne, my first two books: 'Georgette Heyer's Regency World' and 'Georgette Heyer' (the biography) published in both the UK and the USA.

My first novel, 'The Cinderella Moment', was published by Penguin Australia in 2013 and its sequel, 'The Rapunzel Dilemma' in 2014.

My new novel, Jane Austen's Ghost will be published in October 2019 by Overlord Publishing. I've read and loved Jane Austen for years and have always wondered how she'd fare in our world. This book was my chance to find out! I've had lots of fun giving talks around the world on Georgette Heyer and the Regency, and am a passionate advocate for women writers, books and reading.

I love writing and spending time with my family, my garden is a haven of flowers, birds and insects and I have a serious plant addiction! I love having adventures,and once went to a Rammstein concert in Barcelona (it was epic). One of my favourite things is experiencing new cultures, meeting new people and trying out different languages. Particular interests include Georgette Heyer first editions, and after a glorious visit to South Korea in 2012, Korean language and culture.

Since then, I've also fallen in ove with Scotland and the Hebrides in particular. I have a dream of walking, around Italy but only if my knees hold up!

Reviews

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5★

I've owned this book for a few years now, and was lucky enough to have it signed by the author at the Georgette Heyer Conference in Sydney in 2016.

Jen was warm and lovely (and a really great public speaker.) It was a pleasure to meet her.

Very readable account of the times and it was fascinating to find out things you have always wanted to know like;

💞 What are crim. cons?
💞 What rules do the seconds have to follow when arranging a duel?
💞 When does a fashionable lady wear a carriage dress?
💞 Did you know that theatres of the time had to have a licence to operate.
💞 When Austen and Heyer talk about a letter writer crossing their lines, I pictures something completely different (and even more illegible!) than Jen's example;

Fascinating stuff.

The black and white illustrations by Graeme Tavendale (often adapted from other artists' work) were charming and enhanced my enjoyment of this book, as well as providing a convenient visual reference.

But there are also a few inaccuracies. Jen references Heyer novels the whole way through this book (minor spoilers for some, but that was not a problem for me as I have read all of Heyer's Regency novels) But a Cotillion reference was wrong and a copy editor hasn't aligned a table about money correctly (this must be so upsetting for the author) These aren't the only examples, but they are frustrating for a Heyer fanatic. Little things like this mean that this book can't be completely relied on as a reference source, but is fine for those of us whose interest is only casual.

https://wordpress.com/view/carolshess...

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Georgette Heyer’s Regency World unlocks the secrets of the Regency period (1811-1820) for the unseasoned reader. Along with the fourteen chapters on topics of everything from navigating the social ladder to “Getting About” to “What to Wear” to “The Sporting Life” and “The Fashionable Resorts,” there are five Appendices, one of which I found invaluable on “A Glossary of Cant and Common Regency Phrases.”

This is a highly readable book that informs without being dry. Woven throughout the text are references to Georgette Heyer novels. Even for the newbie reader like me, who has only read about eight of her books thus far, I found it delightful to recognize the names of some characters in the examples. Reading this book has made me aware of how thoroughly researched Heyer’s books are. By enhancing my overall understanding of the complex social customs of this period, I could tell a difference in my reading enjoyment with the Heyer book that I just finished, The Reluctant Widow.

There are approximately seventy plus ink drawings that were mostly useful. ‘A picture is worth a thousand words’ as they say, and I found the drawings of clothing and the types of carriages most helpful. The larger scale pictures (court presentation and the amphitheater for example) could veer on the dense side, thus some details were lost. And the few maps included were just too small to read. But the majority of these illustrations were valuable to me.

Not only did I find this book enlightening, but I also purchased a print copy to use as a reference for all things Regency. This brief period is a setting for a vast number of stories, besides the authors the time produced, like Jane Austen and Mary Shelley for instance. Georgette Heyer’s Regency World is a wonderful resource for fans of Heyer novels and beyond.

[Meredith (Austenesque Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

While engrossed in the pages of a delightful Jane Austen or Georgette Heyer novel have you ever come across something you didn't quite understand? Like what is the difference between a barouche and a phaeton? Have you ever thought about places mentioned in these novels like Almacks, Hyde Park, Carlton House,Vauxhall Garden and wondered if their renderings were true? Or are you fascinated by the Regency Era and interested in learning all you can about it? If you are anything like me, you would probably love to have a cumulative and accessible resource in which to find the answers to these and many other Regency related questions. Good news! One does exist!

Broken down into fourteen distinct chapters and with six valuable appendixes, Georgette Heyer's Regency World by Jennifer Kloester is a fantastic resource for understanding the Regency World. The chapters are categorized by topic and include manly pursuits (The Pleasure Haunts of London and The Sporting Life), areas of feminine interests (Shopping and The Gentle Sex), and historical places and people (The Fashionable Resorts and Who's Who in the Regency). It was interesting to learn that many characters from Ms. Heyer's novels were real people, such as Almack's patroness Lady Sefton and famous physician, Dr. Matthew Baillie. It would appear that Ms. Heyer has deftly woven fiction with history in her novels!

My favorite aspect about this book is that it could be read two ways: cover to cover for a full immersion of Regency history and life, or in conjunction with a Regency fiction novel, serving as a reference/guide. With chapters divided into subtopics and a detailed index in the back the reader can look up any question or topic with ease and convenience. Another aspect I greatly enjoyed was the black and white illustrations. I found them to be very helpful visual aids, I only wish there were more of them! Lastly, I took pleasure in reading the appendixes where there is a glossary of “Cant and Common Regency Phrases,” as well as other informative lists and indexes.

There are many allusions and references to Georgette Heyer's Regency novels interspersed throughout this text. If you have read several of her novels, then these references will make sense. I haven't read any of Georgette Heyer's Regency novels, I have read two of her Georgian novels, so the references to Mr. Beaumaris of Arabella or the Taverners of Regency Buck went right over my head! However, this did not deter my enjoyment of this book and when I do read some of Ms. Heyer's Regency novels I am sure I will understand and appreciate these references.

So, who would enjoy this book? Readers of Regency novels, of course, especially Georgette Heyer and Jane Austen novels! In addition, this book would be great for first time Regency readers who may not understand some of the language or etiquette of the era. Lastly, this book would be a tremendous resource for authors trying to write in this time period. I know the next time I read a Regency novel by Jane Austen or Georgette Heyer, I will keep Jennifer Kloester's book close by and most likely turn to it often!

Austenesque Reviews

[Melissa McShane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is closer to 3.5 stars. As a companion to Heyer's novels, it's invaluable. Kloester makes frequent references to characters and events from the books when she's discussing aspects of Regency society, and I think the only way it could be more useful in that respect is if there were some sort of index so you could look up facts in reverse (though this would be a truly major endeavor and probably better suited to a database). She's also got an extensive list of recommendations for further reading. What I wasn't fond of was that she said she'd written her thesis on Georgette Heyer and had access to all these letters and research Heyer did, and I wish she'd used more of that in her book. It's a popular rather than scholarly text, and I suppose I shouldn't fault the book for being something it isn't, but I was still a little disappointed. If you're looking for actual research on the Regency era, pick this book up and use the recommended reading list at the end. If you want something to help you understand some of the more arcane aspects of Heyer's novels, this will be perfect for you.

[kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a quick, glancing look at life during the Regency, complete with lots and lots of references to the books written by Heyer. So if you read Heyer and had questions: this is the book for you, probably. Maybe.

1. Ultimately, this was adequate. It doesn't provide quite the depth I would have liked, and it spends too much time referencing books rather than referencing Heyer's allegedly deep pile of reference materials. It felt like the sight-seers guide to Heyer rather than a tour of the Regency era, which was slightly disappointing for me, the loud-mouthed romance reader in the back.

2. This was also just not well written? And I mean that in a completely superficial way because the information is fine but the presentation is kind of...repetitious and cyclical and lazy. Information is repeated in multiple sections and there are places where the categories are rather poorly organized so the text seems to jump from topic to topic only to circle back and it's just a mess. Much like this sentence.

3. The descriptions would have been far more handy with additional illustrations.

4. I'm picky and cranky and this just didn't do it for me, I guess!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audio for Febregency 2023 and it's so fun! The connection to Georgette Heyer keeps it light and amusing with so many good details about the culture and society of the Regency period. There are sections about clothing for men and women, the hows and whys of coach travel, a typical daily schedule for the middle and upper classes, information about the class system at the time, profiles of the famous characters and culture makers of the day, popular pastimes, profiles of popular resorts, and much, much more.

Kloester also references Heyer's novels and characters many times throughout, which shows how incredibly knowledgeable Heyer was and how much she did in the 20th century to establish the popularity of the Regency. Besides WWII, the Regency seems to be the darling of the historical fiction/historical romance world. I feel like I have a much better grasp now on why that is. The Napoleonic wars were incredibly influential during this time and made the intercourse between England and the continent fraught with interesting tensions. The Prince Regent was an outsize figure in many ways and was an impressive leader of the fashionable world (amusingly and oddly much less interested in being a leader in the political world).

I am going to track down a physical copy of this, so I can use it as a reference when reading Heyer and my other Regency-era novels. I love finding a nonfiction book that is both fun and informative.

[Amy Bruno · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jennifer Kloester has authored a MUST READ reference book for any avid Georgette Heyer or Regency period fans.

In Georgette Heyer’s Regency World Kloester covers a wide-range of information pertaining to the Regency period; from deciphering the convoluted social class order of the day (wowza!), to what they wore, where and what they ate, where they shopped, the daily life of regency men and women, and my favorite, the hottest entertainment destinations to see and be seen! Also included is a who’s who in the Regency, a chapter that gives a small bio of the big players of the day, a list of newspapers and magazines that were being printed, a timeline of the Regency period and a bibliography of Heyer’s novels. One thing I really enjoyed was the way the author referenced scenes from Heyer novels that directly tie in with what she is discussing. I thought that really brought a lot to the book and showcases the author’s meticulous research. For example:

“Executing steps such as the chasse, jette, coupe, balote, glissade or the pas de basque with elegance and grace required a high degree of skill. Marianne Bolderwood at her first ball in The Quiet Gentleman found that she had to concentrate carefully on the steps of the quadrille, while her partner, Gervase, executed even the most difficult steps with considerable grace.”

What’s great about this book is that you can either read it all the way through or just pick it a chapter or subject at a time, whatever tickles your fancy that day or if you’re reading a book and come upon something you would like to have explained. Kloester has obviously done her homework, and I feel that I’m walking away knowing a LOT more about the Regency period than I did before and it’s also renewed my love for Georgette Heyer!

Passages to the Past highly recommends!!

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few weeks ago, as I was browsing the Romance shelves at one of my local Barnes & Noble stores, I spied a few copies of Georgette Heyer's Regency World, which I immediately scooped up. I could have used it for some of my Jane Austen-related research, since it includes quite a lot of useful information about the customs, manners, fashions, and practices of the time period.

If you are a fan of (a) Georgette Heyer's books; (b) Jane Austen's novels; (c) Regency romances; (d) the Regency era for any reason; and/or (e) all of the above, this book is for you. If you are planning on writing a Regency novel, I daresay this is a resource you will be exceeding glad to have in your arsenal.

There are chapters about society; housing (town vs. country); how men lived and were expected to behave; what women were taught and what sort conduct was expected of them (including what constituted an auspicious marriage); information about the Seasons in London (Big and Little), including information on Almack's and a separate chapter about the "pleasure haunts" of London (scandalous!); the fashionable resorts; the modes of transportation of the time; clothing of the time period; shopping, with a focus on particular haberdashers of note; food (Good Lord, what they ate . . . ); "Sport" for men, which includes talk of boxing, racing, gambling and even (one hesitates to mention such an illegality) duelling; business and the military; and the royal family. There are useful appendices including common Regency terms, newspapers, books mentioned in Heyer's novels, plus three more appendices that provide a timeline, a list of further Regency resources and information on Heyer's novels.

The book contains absolutely charming pen and ink illustrations by Graeme Tavendale, many of which are his adaptations of the sketches of Regency artists such as George Cruikshank, John Nash, Hugh Thomson and more. While not all of them are absolutely necessary, they are all delightful additions to the package as a whole, and are in some cases indispensable to understanding the text (as with the illustrations of certain conveyances, such as a barouche, a phaeton, etc.).

Highly recommended for Regency fans of all ilks.

[QNPoohBear · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a handy reference book for fans of Georgette Heyer, Jane Austen and the Regency era. Each chapter covers an aspect of Regency society: clothing, transportation, etiquette, health care and more. She uses examples from Heyer's novels and appendices provide a list of slang words, biographies of Regency people and a timeline. The book is illustrated with small line drawings done from 19th century illustrations. The book could have benefited from full-color or at least larger illustrations. Though I knew most of the information included in the book from reading the novels and reading blogs, I found it useful and learned a few new things. I especially liked the glossary, biographies and timeline.

Despite a few historical inaccuracies, Jennifer Kloester nicely compiles all the information from Heyer's novels into one book. I plan to keep this book on my night stand next time I read Heyer so I can look up what a tilbury looks like or the dates of events mentioned in the book, etc.

I recommend this book primarily to first-time Regency readers and not so much to the long-time reader.

[Susan in NC · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars - very familiar territory for fans of Regency romances and mysteries, a fun compendium of popular history about all aspects of Regency life, mainly among the upper classes.

Kloester delivers a lot of interesting information in a breezy, informative style. I read this nonfiction book with the Georgette Heyer Fans group here on GR; some of our members felt the references to Heyer’s books were incorrect, and thus made the rest of the information questionable, so I knocked off half a star. I found the book enjoyable otherwise, and learned a few things I had not come across, or was unclear about, in Heyer’s novels and the several Regency-era mystery series I’ve read.

As one member pointed out, this book, and the line drawings of everything from carriages to bonnets to clothing styles, will be handy for visualizing those things mentioned when reading regency-set books in the future.

[Abigail Bok · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got too bored around chapter 8 and set it aside.

As others have said before me, this book pretends to be more authoritative than it is. Most reasonable readers would go in with the assumption that it illuminates the real Regency society and culture that Heyer treats fictionally. To a certain degree it does, but its revelations should be taken with a grain of salt. As the title technically says, it is Georgette Heyer's Regency world that is being described, not the real Regency world. So Kloester makes the same assumptions and mistakes about Regency life that Heyer does, and Heyer--not primary or scholarly secondary sources--is her main reference material. So this is more like a companion to Heyer's novels than a reference book on the period.

Fair enough, though I feel the book was marketed in such a way as to obscure rather than illuminate that distinction. I'm happy to have it as a place to look up questions that might arise when I'm reading a Heyer novel, but I wouldn't use it as a guide to my own historical fiction.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in one sitting at my local Borders today :D

Interesting compendium of everything regency, especially as it relates to Georgette Heyer's novels. A good reference companion book, but probably best for people who don't know all the in's and out's of this fascinating time period.

Glad to say I knew most of this stuff already (yes, I'm bragging....)

[Lady Wesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you enjoy Regency-era romances, you will learn many interesting details from this book. Although I love fiction, it's nice to know about some of facts of that era.

[Laurel · Rating 4 out of 5]

During her prolific fifty-three year writing career, British author Georgette Heyer (1902-1974) wrote fifty-six historical romance and detective fiction novels. She was a pioneer in Regency romance, and is generally attributed by many for establishing the sub genre that is flourishing today. Stylish, witty and historically accurate, her humorous plots and memorable characters serve as the benchmark for new Regency romance writers.

In her lifetime Heyer publisher twenty-six Regency-era novels, many of which are again available in new editions by Sourcebooks and Harlequin Books. Renowned for her historical detail, to read a Heyer Regency romance is to be truly entrenched in the bon ton lifestyle in England from 1811 to 1820. Even though readers can enjoy her novels without understanding the entire historical context or nuanced meanings behind social customs and colloquialisms of the time, it is even more entertaining if you do. Georgette Heyer’s Regency World: The definitive guide to the people, places and society in Georgette Heyer’s Regency novels, by Jennifer Kloester offers an incredible resource for Jane Austen fans, Georgette Heyer enthusiasts and Regency-era novelists. Here you will find detailed cultural information on the aristocrats and gentry that populate her drawing room comedies. Learn the importance of social strata and the right connections, where to live in Town and the country, how to dress, eat and conduct yourself properly in polite society, where to shop for a fashionable frock, what type of carriage to tool down St. James Street in, which pleasure haunts to frequent in London, and, most importantly, who to be seen with and who to avoid socially. Also included are appendixes on de rigueur Regency era cant and common phrases that Heyer’s characters frequently use, a very helpful historical timeline and other pertinent information.

What elevates this book beyond a collection of historical facts is its organization and that the author places many of Heyer’s novels and characters in context to the categories and descriptions within the text. For example, Hero the young and naïve bride in Friday's Child soon learns the importance of proper language when she asks her husband Lord Sheringham about his ‘opera dancer’ and is quickly informed on the ways of the world by a brotherly friend. Unbeknownst to Hero who had received a negligent upbringing, young ladies vocabulary was strictly regulated and a slip such as asking her husband about his mistress could ruin her reputation if the conversation had been overheard outside the family. If you do not know what an ‘opera dancer’ is or their reputation for becoming the mistresses of the bon ton, then you missed an important aspect of Hero’s personality and Lord Sheringham’s position in society. The book is full of similarly helpful insights and I found myself learning more about Regency culture and developing a greater appreciation for Georgette Heyer’s skill as a writer as the book progressed. What a treasure!

Originally published in the UK in 2005 and reissued in 2008 by Arrow Books (Random House UK), Georgette Heyer’s Regency World is an import and not readily available in North American bookstores. I purchased my edition from Paperbackshop-US via Advanced Book Exchange, but I was happy to discover that Sourcebooks will be printing a new edition that will be available this August. Gentle Readers, since Sourcebooks is re-issuing it, we know it is more than worthy and the definitive guide to all things in Heyer’s world.

Laurel Ann, Austenprose

[Barbara Klaser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recommended for curious readers and also highly recommended for aspiring Regency Period authors, along with whatever other sources can be found. Having recently read a few more recently authored Regency novels and cringed at some of the anachronisms, I would point out that this is a great resource for research for historical fiction, and so are Georgette Heyer's actual novels set in that period.

I'm not sure of the exact date I started this, because I've picked it up and read a little more between other things for a few weeks now. It's one of those books you can do that with. It's also a nice one to have as a reference for when you come across something in a Regency Period historical novel that puzzles you.

If you've been reading Georgette Heyer's Regency fiction and you suddenly want to know what a yard of tin is, this is the place to find it. It does help to have it on an e-reader so you can do a quick search for the term in question.

By the way, a yard of tin was a coaching horn, used when traveling to let the ostlers at the next posting place know you were coming and needed a change of horses, or to alert the toll gate keepers that you were approaching a toll gate. Its use required a person other than the driver to blow it, so a person driving alone couldn't make use of this convenience, which sped up travel quite a bit.

I found the information about carriages and coaching especially helpful, because I'm always curious about that. There was quite a lot about social matters, the men's clubs, and other fascinating stuff. The fashion information was helpful too, although it didn't answer all my questions. I think I need a time travel machine to make some quick visits. But with what amounts to an entirely different way of life than we have now, these novels can sometimes keep me puzzling, and now I have found a key to unlock some of those puzzles.

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrifically entertaining and interesting guide to the Regency World of Georgette Heyer. Kloester goes into just enough depth on such topics as Clothing, Sport, The wars, A typical day in a bachelor's or a Debutante's life, The Royal Family, etc. to both enlighten the Heyer fan, and to remind them of what they already know. It's not for the serious historian or sociologist. She keeps it light and entertaining. As she goes from topic to topic, she adeptly and smoothly weaves in illustrations and examples from Heyer's own novels. There are line drawings throughout on, for example, carriages, bonnets, underclothes, architecture, the leading figures of the day. One of the highlights are her appendices. The one on the cant or slang of the day is particularly entertaining and handy. I started out intending to just skip around and read the parts that particularly interested me, but I ended up reading the whole thing, cover to cover.

[Mela · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was enjoyable reading but not as much as I hoped for. [It would have been much much better with more and colorful pictures.]

Yes, it was nice to get back to Heyer's books world but there was little new to me. Although I admit, some information will be useful when I next reread Heyer, especially the glossaries will be handy.

The book confirmed the historical accuracy of Heyer's novels but it didn't add much. Perhaps it is more informative (and enjoyable) for those who know less about the Regency era.

[Kilian Metcalf · Rating 4 out of 5]

For Heyer lovers like me, this book is the equivalent of a 2-lb box of See's dark chocolate raspberry creams. Delightful references to beloved books on every page, historical timelines, suggested reading.

[Babette Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Autrice di successo fin dal lontano 1921, Georgette Heyer è conosciuta in tutto il mondo per i suoi romanzi storici ambientati nell’epoca Regency in Inghilterra. Milioni di lettori adorano lo stile di vita, la moda e le avventure dei membri dell’elegante Ton, e nessuno ha catturato quel mondo meglio di Georgette Heyer, con romanzi universalmente amati come “Il Dandy della Reggenza”, “La pedina scambiata” e “Il figlio del Diavolo”.

Il “Regency World di Georgette Heyer” è una guida completa al regno meraviglioso e incantevole di questa autrice: le sue eroine, i suoi cattivi, gli eroi spavaldi, i negozi, i club, le feste e le stagioni che celebravano, come mangiavano, bevevano, vestivano, socializzavano, facevano acquisti e guidavano carrozze in corse spericolate.

Sebbene abbia un elenco dei romance di Georgette Heyer e una breve sinossi delle loro trame, la guida usa le opere solo come esempi illustrativi. Le informazioni sono presentate in modo molto semplice, ma ben organizzato. Ad esempio, Jennifer Kloester presenta una comoda tabella che fornisce indicazioni sulle monete; l’Appendice 1 è dedicata ai modi di dire gergali; l’Appendice 2 parla di giornali e riviste; e così via. I quattordici capitoli che spaziano dalla descrizione delle classi sociali alla vita dei gentiluomini e delle esponenti del gentil sesso; dall’abbigliamento allo sport; dal cibo alle bevande alla vita in campagna e in città, si concludono con il “Who’s Who in the Regency”: la famiglia reale, le donne e gli uomini influenti, i Dandy. Lo consiglierei a chiunque voglia scrivere di questa epoca.

In definitiva, una lettura piacevole e divertente, magnificamente illustrata e avvincente nei suoi dettagli storici. Insomma, un must per ogni fan di Georgette Heyer.

[Staci · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to read this one because I've read a few of Heyer's Regency romance novels and thought it would be fun to try to understand the customs, rules, clothes, food, and the monarchy from that time period. This book does not disappoint at all. There are so many aspects from the Regency era that it can be a little mind-boggling at the beginning. I recommend that you read this book in chunks, because there is so much information that your head may explode....SERIOUSLY! I can tell you one thing...I would never be allowed into the upper crust because I wouldn't be able to remember all of the rules of etiquette!! My favorite chapters were:

* The Gentle Sex- everything a young lady needs to know and oh, so much more!
* Up and Down the Social Ladder- this was great information as to how the class system was dictated.
* On the Town-how to get in with the very best Patronesses so that you will marry well! Oh, and after you're married and have produced an heir, you may have as many affairs as you want as long as you don't flaunt them! O' la la!!
* Eat, Drink, and Be Merry- no wonder the rich were fat!!They ate all of the time!
* Who's Who in the Royal Family- I really enjoyed this one. I don't know the monarchy and this was a much needed chapter!!
* If you're a fan of information the appendix is awesome!!!

Recommend? I would, especially to fans of Heyer, Austen, and the Regency time period. This has everything you would ever need to know and while I was reading it, I found myself filling in some questions that I had while reading their books.

[Kathleen Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Georgette Heyer's Regency World is an interesting nonfiction book of the do's and don't of life in the Regency period of England, the time of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer's world that is so popular today . This is actually a guide that is helpful to the reader of Georgette Heyer's novels if the reader wants to know more about that period in time. Upon reading this book you will learn what was worn, the food eaten, most important how to behave, what class you belong to and even to what kind of carriage you drove. Spread through out the book are illustrations of the time with a great attention to detail. The book includes a Who's Who in the Regency, a glossary of common phrases of the Regency, an appendix of newspapers and magazines of the time with a brief description, books written by Heyer also with a description. A timeline and bibliography rounds off the book. I felt that this book was very well researched and meticulously put together. For the fan of Georgette Heyer's Regency novels and Jane Austen, this book makes a great companion. I enjoyed it and even learned a few things about that era.

[Barb in Maryland · Rating 3 out of 5]

A delightful look at Regency England's upper class as reflected in the Regency stories of Georgette Heyer. Not designed to be read straight through, but rather, dipped into for bits of information on the subject of your choice. Say you want to know what they ate for meals, or wore to drive in the park; you can flip between the chapters to find out.
The is an easy to read gloss on the era. Don't go looking for a lot of deep detail--but it is a good jumping off point for deeper research, if you are interested. The author includes a nice bibliography. The illustrations are charming; I wanted more of them.
Readers familiar with Jane Aiken Hodge's book on Georgette Heyer will recognize some of the illustrations. See also Carolly Erickson's Our Tempestuous Day for another easy to read look at Regency England--more detail that Kloester's book, but same general idea.

ETA 20 June 2020--currently re-reading with the Georgette Heyer Fans group. I really have nothing to add to my earlier review. Upping the rating to 3.5 stars.

[Karlyne Landrum · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been a Georgette Heyer (and Jane Austen) fan since, oh, I don't know, probably birth. But, having read them without a guide or a glossary, it's amazing to realize how much you can pick up on your own, from just the inferences. Dictionaries are fun to read, but when you're reading well-thought-out, well-plotted books you really don't need one. Having said that, though, this is still an entertaining read, and I did learn that "boxing the watch" doesn't mean throwing a punch at the local copper, but actually putting him in one of the small one-door booths which were set up around the city for the watch's convenience in watching the passersby and then turning the booth around so the door was up against a wall, thus effectively "boxing" him in. Sounds like fun to me!

[Lynn Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking for a basic survey of social history of the Regency period, this one is an interesting read. While the author doesn't delve deeply into the topics covered, there are all kinds of interesting tidbits about dress of the period, manners and mores, transportation, social class, and more. Because she is looking at the world portrayed in Georgette Heyer's novels, the author does tie some of the factual information into various plot points used by Heyer.

Since I like Heyer's novels and I enjoy history, I enjoyed reading through this book. It's a good starting point if you want to learn more about the period, though those already fairly knowledgable may find it a little too basic.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really takes the guess work out of the slang terms and social customs of the regency period. I plan to read more of Heyer's work, as well as other regency novels, so this book has given me a better understanding of all things regency. My only disappointment was the omission of the slang term "stoopid" which I encountered in Venetia. A term of endearment??? All in all, I felt like this book was an easy to read motorcycle ride through the time period and the illustrations will help me to construct mental images of phaetons and curricles next time I read a regency novel. Very helpful!!!

[Danielle Lisle · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a writer I found this book a very helpful starting point to the Regency era. It (of course) focuses on Georgette Heyer’s novels and what her characters did where and when, but it also gives the reader a clear image of the time and places set.

The only negative thing I can offer is that it skims over the mindset of the ladies or gentlemen of the time. This book however offers a very nice insight into the time and will stay on my shelf for reference in the future.

[Teri-K · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book reads like detailed notes for a research paper. There's tons of info in here, and it's well organized. But there's no real depth. If you've read lots of historical fiction you've deduced all of this anyway. I was quite disappointed, looking forward to interesting information and instead found it too boring to finish. The only part I thought worthwhile was the explanations of where some of the slang came from.

[Katie Winkler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great resource for Georgette Heyer fans and anyone interested in the Regency Period in England. I like how the author relates the information to Heyer's Regency romances, all of which I have read and enjoyed ever since my uncle introduced me to them when I was a girl. He used to collect them for me as he roamed the used books stores in Columbus, GA and Montgomery, AL.

[Sabrina Jeffries · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of great information about the Regency period.

[Yvette Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this - Regency heaven.