Georgette Heyer Fans discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
Group Reads
>
The Corinthian Group Read March 2018
message 51:
by
Karlyne
(new)
Feb 28, 2018 03:03PM
So, Sherlock. the Bantam with the good haircut, riding crop, table and chair and the boyish face was published first!
reply
|
flag
This will be my second time reading it. I read it first many years ago and can't actually remember a thing about it. So goody!! It'll be like a new Heyer for me.
Karlyne wrote: "So, Sherlock. the Bantam with the good haircut, riding crop, table and chair and the boyish face was published first!"And let's not forget this fab cover from Pan (1982):
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
What?
Barb in Maryland wrote: "Karlyne wrote: "So, Sherlock. the Bantam with the good haircut, riding crop, table and chair and the boyish face was published first!"And let's not forget this fab cover from Pan (1982):
https://..."
That's hysterical!!!
So far, I am liking it much better this time around. There are a lot of things I did not remember, like Melissa Brandon and (view spoiler).I love that Richard, Mr. Heyer Alpha Male, is a self-confessed romantic. How can you not love that?
However, this whole romp with Pen is so out of the realm of Actual Decisions That An Adult Would Make, that Heyer had the sense to have him do this when he's drunk. That's the only way it makes sense. And even when he sobers up, you realize that he's in it for his own amusement, not from any charitable interest in Pen's life and future. At least that's how it comes across to me, at this stage of the story. (Just finished Chapter 6)
Girl running away from home is a theme that Heyer used again: Sprig Muslin, The Foundling (kind of), Sylvester, maybe Charity Girl? Anyway, it's interesting to see where it all started.
Oh my goodness barb from Maryland that 1982 cover is hysterical! The woman lying prone and the man standing over her as if he is about to ravage her like a vampire. Perhaps we should have a competition of the cheesiest covers? Thanks everyone for replies re my cover. Yes I must have the 1967 version that was 7th reprint in 1970. I’m jealous of people that have spare bookshelf space to collect GH books in all their various editions and reprints. It would be cool to do a bit of a GH ‘nerd out’ in this way. Happy to call myself a GH nerd but bow to the GH giants walking in this forum like carol!
I changed my profile picture to a photo of the Corinthian edition I have so y'all can see (I just came over deep southern american then with the 'y'all'!).
Belinda, that cover is great! Very Austin Powers. LOL!And the 1982 -- when I saw that, I thought, "what book is this for? Because I don't think it's the same one I'm reading." Pretty funny.
What a cover!!! If you didn't know Heyer's novels you'd pass this by on the shelf.
Also, he runs into Pen in the city - not out on some (apparently) wind-blasted, volcanic(charred?) heath...the artistic license taken with covers must be VERY frustrating for authors - can make or break you! As Teresa said, if you weren’t familiar, you’d pass it by on the shelf.
Not to commit spoilers or anything, but it is a scene from the book. Very misleading, though!
To do the Pan cover justice (though Belinda’s whole vampire scenario is dead-on accurate! and hilarious to boot), I think what’s depicted is (view spoiler)
Abigail wrote: "To do the Pan cover justice (though Belinda’s whole vampire scenario is dead-on accurate! and hilarious to boot), I think what’s depicted is [spoilers removed]"Well, but--that's so dull! Bring on the vampire!!
I feel a spoof coming on: Beverley would need to be the undead one, I think; Trimble certainly a zombie; Yarde a daemon; etc. Piers, of course, too stupid to live, so he’d be dispensable early on; and there could be a most satisfying scene in which Aunt Griffin and the Hake got theirs. Pen would be a most excellent Slayer!
Belinda wrote: "I changed my profile picture to a photo of the Corinthian edition I have so y'all can see (I just came over deep southern american then with the 'y'all'!)."That's it!
Hello, everyone!This is my first time reading "The Corinthian". I'll be using my Kindle app, both phone and tablet.
Abigail wrote: "I feel a spoof coming on: Beverley would need to be the undead one, I think; Trimble certainly a zombie; Yarde a daemon; etc. Piers, of course, too stupid to live, so he’d be dispensable early on; ..."hysterical!
Elizabeth wrote: "Hello, everyone!This is my first time reading "The Corinthian". I'll be using my Kindle app, both phone and tablet."
Hi Elizabeth. Enjoy the first reading
Elizabeth wrote: "Hello, everyone!This is my first time reading "The Corinthian". I'll be using my Kindle app, both phone and tablet."
Hi Elizabeth! Hope you enjoy this early Regency romp from the great GH.
Hi - on the subject of covers, I found an article on the 1967 cover in the rather academic book 'GH A Critical Retrospective' page 212. It is by Barbara A Bannon, 'Forecasts Fiction' Publishers Weekly 191 (19 June 1967) page 87:"Devil's cub, These Old shares, The corinthian - Bantam, 75c each. With these three, Bantam joins Ace in publishing Miss Heyer's work. As far as we know, there will be no overlap of titles, you can buy it in Ace or Bantam but not both. These novels are popular Regency romances: they sell quite well, as do the ace titles. But we MUST put in a word about the covers, since many paperback buyers DO judge a book by them. They are insipid, chocolate-boxy, pretty-pretty, silk-and-satin-and-pink jobs, a la Emilie Loring, stressing the romantic, ladylike aspects of the novels. Miss Heyer deserves better than this. Her books sparkle with wit, and style, and many intelligent readers who aren't familiar with her work will be turned off by these covers. On the other hand, the ladies who devour pink and blue romances will get rather more than they paid for. Don't hesitate to recommend these to the most discriimating reader of fiction, cover or no cover.
Well said, indeed. The Ace covers were especially bad:This one for April Lady:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
This one for Sylvester:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
One last example--this is the edition of Venetia that I first read (and still own):
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
That Sylvester cover from Ace wins the price for ugliest hat ever!Also, there is a book about bookjackets -- Jhumpa Lahiri's The Clothing of Books. I haven't read it, but the cover art discussion brought it to mind.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
Goodness. There was quite a lot of bosom on show for the April lady cover but that was correct for the period wasn’t it? The purple is quite violent. It’s crazy to think it was considered daring and fast to show your ankles in the late 1700’s but it was perfectly okay to have so much bosom on display. Social mores change.
Barb in Maryland wrote: "Well said, indeed. The Ace covers were especially bad:This one for April Lady:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
This one for Sylvester:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/..."
Thanks for those Barb - strange! - I have never seen these as I don’t think they appeared in the UK. It’s amazing how dated they look, and how much they reflect the era in which they were published. I would have bought them anyway because they were by GH but I would have kept them hidden! I really like my Arrow covers.
Susan in Perthshire wrote: "Thanks for those Barb - strange! - I have never seen these as I don’t think they appeared in the UK:Unlikely that you would have--Ace and Bantam are US publishers. Just as it was rare for us in the US to see Pan editions. The Pan covers for The Corinthian aren't real winners, either! See comment 53 for a link to the 1982 Pan cover.
The Arrow covers for GH's books are quite lovely--they make a nice display.
Those covers are a hoot, Barb - that last be for Venetia looks like she’s standing in front of a southern plantation!
Nice quote from Barbara A Bannon (thanks for that, Belinda!)—though I would say that not even Emilie Loring deserved those covers!
Elza wrote: " this whole romp with Pen is so out of the realm of Actual Decisions That An Adult Would Make, that Heyer had the sense to have him do this when he's drunk. That's the only way it makes sense. And even when he sobers up, you realize that he's in it for his own amusement, not from any charitable interest in Pen's life and future..."I agree, Elza. He starts this whole escapade as a lark and as a way to avoid making a decision about his future. Of course he doesn't want Pen to come to any harm, but he certainly isn't smitten at the beginning of their adventure.
I'm up to chapter 6 now, having just finished the night at the inn and their encounters with the very colorful Jimmy Yarde.
Barb in Maryland wrote: "Well said, indeed. The Ace covers were especially bad:This one for April Lady:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
This one for Sylvester:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/..."
I have the Sylvester one, but I try very hard to not look at the cover when I read it.
Karlyne wrote: "Barb in Maryland wrote " This one for Sylvester:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/..."
I have the Sylvester one, but I try very hard to not look at the cover when I read it. "
I know! Doris Day as Phoebe, with an upside-down flowerpot hat... {{{shudder}}} That was my first copy! I later replaced it with an edition that had a much more suitable cover.
Doris day, that’s it! Couldn’t place her face. But the hat baffles me!
And the knowing look - so NOT Phoebe!
I’ve switched to the Audible version and reading along with my sourcebooks paperback edition. The audible narrator is brilliant- had me chuckling over poor richard’s visit to Saar’s house and run-in with the Honorable Cedric. Too funny!
I'm far enough along that we've finally met up with the Honorable Beverley. Cedric is a vast improvement on his brother Bev. I like Cedric; Beverley--not at all!I do think GH laid the cant on just a bit thick in Richard's encounter with Horace Trimble. Other than that, 'The Corinthian' is reading smoother and faster than 'Regency Buck'. GH had definitely found her Regency comfort zone in this one.
I forget Bev, I got a big laugh out of Cedric; I’ll continue on with my own personal Masterpiece Theater presentation(becoming quite an audiobook fan).
Wasn't sure where to post this so here it is, Venetia is on Bookbub for 99p.https://www.amazon.co.uk/Venetia-Geor...
This was my 3rd time reading Corinthian; it's in my Top 10 GH. First time about 10 years ago when I first discovered her books. I enjoy the fast paced bantering dialog, especially with Ceddie, who positively makes me laugh out loud. Sir Richard is believable; a warm, patient charmer. Agree with the earlier cross dressing comments, makes for good farcical fun.
I got a jump start and reread this for the third (or fourth??) time back in January. The Corinthian was the first Heyer book I ever picked up and it was the start of my obsession with her books. I always enjoyed it, but never considered it a top favorite. That has changed on this reread - I enjoyed/appreciated it so much more this time - it's being moved to the "favorites" list. The dry humor. The subtleties. The WIT!! The enjoyable interplay between Sir Richard and all the other characters. I found myself reading it out loud simply because it’s so fun and dynamic.And I think I'm a minority, but I love reading thieves cant!
This is my second read. I didn't care for this book all that much on my first read. Pen was too young and silly for my personal tastes. I read the 1966 U.S. hardcover with the Heineman dust jacket. While pretty, it shows Richard with a wasp waist (so not Corinthian) and Pen with red hair. I stayed up too late reading the first 7 chapters. I loved the opening scene-so descriptive. I could very easily see and hear the characters in my head. I think Heyer started to hit her stride here. She did reuse this trop several other times but the madcamp romp seems to be unique.
Anyone else feel really sorry for Melissa and the rest of the family? It's mostly Melissa I feel sorry for. What will the rest of her life look like with a father and brothers fast depleting every available resource?
QNPoohBear--Oh yes, poor Melissa. I know we aren't meant to like her, but I am with you in feeling somewhat sorry for her. Even though she is such a cold fish.She reminds me of the gal Charles is engaged to in 'The Grand Sophy'. And I know GH used her type in at least one other book, but it escapes me which one...
QNPoohBear wrote: "This is my second read. I didn't care for this book all that much on my first read. Pen was too young and silly for my personal tastes. I read the 1966 U.S. hardcover with the Heineman dust jacket...."Good point- and Melissa is rather a cold woman, so I don’t know if she’d find another possible husband. Very proud, and about 25 I think? Not some simpering, pliable miss! She tells Richard he certainly doesn’t do it for her, so who knows, maybe there is a gentleman somewhere that floats her boat!
Susan in NC wrote: "Good point- and Melissa is rather a cold woman, so I don’t know if she’d find another possible husband. Very proud, and about 25 I think? "& no dowry I would think.
I agree that GH is starting to find her niche here. She is still explaining a few things that in her later books she will take for granted we know.
But this book is showing her trademark sparkle.
& I forgot! I am excited about this read as we haven't read this title as a group read before.
I've read this one countless times but the last time would be nearly 30 years ago.
My copy is the one pictured with the thread - not the slightest resemblance to Pen at all.
25 and no dowry puts Melissa in a really precarious situation. I think Richard knows this and feels sorry for her which is why he's going off to propose when Pen drops in!
This is my first read, so I'm here on the "no spoilers" discussion. I'm just coming off a re-read of Venetia which is one of my favorites. Hopefully, the timing won't be detrimental to my enjoyment of The Corinthian. Looking forward to this group read!
Tracy wrote: "This is my first read, so I'm here on the "no spoilers" discussion. I'm just coming off a re-read of Venetia which is one of my favorites. Hopefully, the timing won't be detrimental to my enjoyment..."Enjoy Tracy! :)
I found the Pan cover of Dad's copy. The Corinthian (view spoiler)
QNPoohBear wrote: "25 and no dowry puts Melissa in a really precarious situation. I think Richard knows this and feels sorry for her which is why he's going off to propose when Pen drops in!"Agreed - very precarious, especially with her “Brandon pride”, not sure who she thinks would be worthy of her!
I'm really enjoying this, so I'm not sure why I haven't re-read it more often. Cedric is fun, I love George, and Pen is obviously a heroine worth her salt. Richard doing the honorable thing by Melissa shows him as a rather caring man, although it's obvious that he's mostly just tired of his life and can't think of a good reason to not offer for her. And then the good reason drops out of a window...
Lol - I really enjoyed it, too, so fun!
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
Georgette Heyer Fans
Books mentioned in this topic
These Old Shades (other topics)The Corinthian (other topics)
The Corinthian (other topics)
