Georgette Heyer Fans discussion
The Books
>
The Book That Never Was (A Lady of Quality sequel)
date
newest »
newest »
I liked Lucy and Ninian, they weren't my Favorite but I liked them. Black sheep is a similar set up. As its been a while since I read it I can't say for sure that they were completely alike, but they were a close fit. I hope that helps you some. :-)
Did you like Lucy and Ninian? - I preferred Ninian, didn't mind Lucy, but liked Annis and Oliver Carleton much more!What kind of sequels would you have liked Heyer to have written? (Although this could be a separate topic as well) I think this would make a great separate topic! However, generally I think Heyer ties up the various threads very well. It's just that (as you find in this case) one gets fond of certain characters and wants more of them. The first who comes to mind for me is Nicky in The Reluctant Widow.
What are some of Heyer's novels that are similar to Lucy and Ninian's story? I'm reminded a little of Amanda and Hildebrand in Sprig Muslin.
One problem with a sequel to any of GH's Regencies is that, by the time the characters in the original story are old enough to be the main characters, it might no longer be the Regency! On that subject, what IS the latest setting of any of her novels of that period? Waterloo iigures in at least two--An Infamous Army (naturally) and A Civil Contract--but does she have any others that take place that late or later?
Hj wrote: "Did you like Lucy and Ninian? - I preferred Ninian, didn't mind Lucy, but liked Annis and Oliver Carleton much more!What kind of sequels would you have liked Heyer to have written? (Although this..."
I loved the chemistry between Annis and Oliver. In fact I liked them more than Lucy and Ninian! I haven't read Sprig Muslin, is it similar in many ways?
I would have liked to seen Arabella and Robert as a married couple. Maybe one involving her younger siblings. It could be set only a few years into the future.
Diana wrote: "I would have liked to seen Arabella and Robert as a married couple. Maybe one involving her younger siblings. It could be set only a few years into the future."That would be nice! Arabella is one of my favorite heroines. And her family sounded like they were characters!
Tweety wrote: "I loved the chemistry between Annis and Oliver. In fact I liked them more than Lucy and Ninian! I haven't read Sprig Muslin, is it similar in many ways? ..."Not really. It's not one of my favourites - Amanda is a bit of a pain. I do like the hero, Gareth, and there's quite a bit of banter with Amanda, and bickering between her and Hildebrand, that's quite fun. The actual romance is very under-played, but sweet! (Hint: Amanda is not who Gareth marries.)
Hj wrote: "Tweety wrote: "I loved the chemistry between Annis and Oliver. In fact I liked them more than Lucy and Ninian! I haven't read Sprig Muslin, is it similar in many ways? ..."Not really. It's not o..."
Do we (the readers) get to know who he marries?
Tweety wrote: "Do we (the readers) get to know who he marries? "Oh yes! Sorry, I was trying to avoid spoiling it for you, when you read it. He ends up with (view spoiler) I just saw a review which said that if the book had concentrated on that love story she would have given it 4 stars but it gets "approximately 2 chapters near the beginning and exactly 4 chapters at the very end. The bulk of the story rests in the (frankly) boring tale of a young, silly, annoying miss by the name of Amanda."
I tend to agree.
Thank you HJ! I will wait on that one I think.
Well, I kind of agree that it is a weak romance, but I treat it as a comedy and find it one of the funniest books!
Maybe when I need to laugh I will pick it up, till then I think I'll read the talisman ring.
The Talisman Ring is amazing, romantic, AND hilarious. Good choice :D
I'm glad to hear it so good! I am thinking of adding it to my "to buy list". Till then I will borrow the grubby library copy and enjoy every minute. :-)
The Talisman Ring is one of my favourites, too. I won't spoil it by saying why, but I look forward to discussing it with you when you've read it!
It will probably be another week or so till I get to it as I am reading a few books at once and the talisman ring will be due back at the library soon. When I finish it I would love to hear why it is your favorite HJ!
I found Ninian and Lucy really annoying- more like brother and sister than a romantic couple. I'll take the heroine and hero and their witty banter any day. Black Sleep is the same story more or less but better written. Both are among my faves.Georgette Heyer wrote some Regencies that take place after Waterloo. I believe Frederica is set just after that and Venetia takes place after the war is over. Her oldest brother is on the Continent with the army mopping up and keeping peace. The Regency era ends around 1821 with the death of King George IV or in 1837 with Queen Victoria depending on who you ask. GH also wrote some contemporary (to her) books including several murder mysteries. I wish she had tackled Edwardian society too! It would have been great fun but perhaps she felt it was too close and her contemporaries wouldn't like seeing themselves in her novels.
Heyer did write four contemporary (to her) novels, though I believe they were set post-WWI: Helen, Pastel, Barren Corn and Instead of the Thorn. By all accounts (I haven't read them myself), "fun" is not the adjective one would use to describe them.
Georgette Heyer.com has a timeline of the books http://www.georgette-heyer.com/chron.... Not including her contemporaries, the latest Regencies seem to be set in 1818, including Venetia, Frederica, and the Foundling.
Janhavi wrote: "Georgette Heyer.com has a timeline of the books http://www.georgette-heyer.com/chron.... Not including her contemporaries, the latest Regencies seem to be set in 1818, including Venetia, Frederi..."
nice link - thanks!
Mary wrote: "One problem with a sequel to any of GH's Regencies is that, by the time the characters in the original story are old enough to be the main characters, it might no longer be the Regency! On that su..."Yeah, I didn't think of it that way. I just really loved Lucy and Ninian. :P
Hj wrote: "Did you like Lucy and Ninian? - I preferred Ninian, didn't mind Lucy, but liked Annis and Oliver Carleton much more!What kind of sequels would you have liked Heyer to have written? (Although this..."
Thanks, I think I'll read Sprig Muslin next :D
Speaking of sequels, how about one for Cousin Kate? It ends (SPOILER!) with Lady Broome and Torquil dead, and Sir Timothy, Philip, and Kate gracefully accepting that Philip is now the heir to the centuries-old title and estate--although Sir Timothy must be disappointed that for the first time in its history, it will not pass from father to son, and Philip doesn't want it anyway.Now, how old IS Sir Timothy? He's presented to us as a frail old man, but Lady Broome has told Kate that he's twenty years her senior,that they met during her only London season, and that they've been married for twenty years. Given that a girl's first season usually occurred when she was eighteen, Sir Timothy must be no more than sixty.
So, then, let's suppose that Kate learns, soon after her marriage, of the death of one of her father's fellow-officers, who has left a thirty-something widow and two or three young children--the last one, in fact, born posthumously. Kate remembers her as a gentle, fair, well-born but impecunious lady to whom the army doctors sometimes turned for help in tending to wounded soldiers. Need I go on? >:)
I never actually thought about Sir T's age Mary until now, I just accepted the 'frail old' thing at face value , but in fact you are quite right he can't be more than about 60 or so. Mind you, I think he's one of those who 'does' old, it suiting his weak and defeated kind of personality. Any new Lady Broome would have to be VERY gentle and nursemaid-ey to do for him, wouldn't they!
Mary wrote: "So, then, let's suppose that Kate learns, soon after her marriage, of the death of one of her father's fellow-officers, who has left a thirty-something widow and two or three young children--the last one, in fact, born posthumously. Kate remembers her as a gentle, fair, well-born but impecunious lady to whom the army doctors sometimes turned for help in tending to wounded soldiers. Need I go on? >:) ..."May, am I being very dense, and you're referring to a character whom I should recognise? I feel as though I should know the lady!
H, no, I'm not referring to any existing GH character. I just made up one who (1) is mature but still of child-bearing age, (2) resembles Sir Timothy's fondly remembered first wife, and (3) has the ability to care for an elderly invalid and perhaps nurse him back to better health--not to mention give him something to be REALLY happy about!
Well, remember that 60 in those days *was* old. Life expectancy has increased since, but so has quality of life- people were often not very healthy in their 60s in those days. Heyer does have a few old-but-strong characters- Lord Darracott from Unknown Ajax is fit at near-80, then there are some grandmother type figures like Lady Ingham in Sylvester who are of decent health. But broadly, there are not many older characters in the books since many people die young
Yes, I always notice that GH's definition of "middle-aged" is of someone younger that I think that term means - and she describes Selina Wendover as "elderly" when she is about 44! (16 years older than Abigail who is 28, if I remember correctly.)But I agree with Janhavi, 60 was old in the early 1800s.
Selina, of course, really did maintain all the trappings of elderly ness and frailness, she liked to be invalid-ish which automatically makes one older.
Hj wrote: "Yes, I always notice that GH's definition of "middle-aged" is of someone younger that I think that term means - and she describes Selina Wendover as "elderly" when she is about 44! (16 years older ..."I do agree re Serena, invalidish or not , I mean, 44 !!!!
yes, and think of Lady Denville of False Colours, she was 43, but totally young in various ways
Yes, Lady Denville is a delightful character, too! Can't you see Glynis Johns playing her? I enjoyed the way she wrung a proposal out of her stout suitor!
And Lady Steeple, Venetia's wayward mama. She'd have been 45 or so, and no one could call her old/elderly!
haha, Lady Steeple is a good example :D Lol.
Lucy and Ninian are one of my favorite couples that Heyer created, and they aren't even the main characters! And I really wanted to read how they're story ended up. (If you haven't read the book yet, you may or may not read the following)(view spoiler)[At the start of the book, Lucilla and Ninian were running away together so that they wouldn't have to marry each other, oddly enough. From their perspective, they know each other too much to want to marry each other. But to me, as a reader, there can never be anyone else for them. Even Annis's sister-in-law predicted that they'll end up together. As she says, "The end of it will be, of course, that they will marry one another!"
Besides, they're young now (in LoQ), but I believe that when they grown and mature, they'll find they really do suit each other. Maybe a little like Desford and Hetta in Charity Girl>? Ninian, at the end of the book showed much promise by going home and finally taking the responsibility of running his family estate. And Lucy is intelligent as well. (hide spoiler)]
So my questions are:
Did you like Lucy and Ninian?
What kind of sequels would you have liked Heyer to have written? (Although this could be a separate topic as well)
What are some of Heyer's novels that are similar to Lucy and Ninian's story?