Regency fiction

[Brenda]

I haven't really read much of this genre, except for a few books by Patricia C. Wrede which are very funny and include a Royal College of Magic, among other things.

A very similar humor can be found in some recent snippets by Ursula Vernon, posted on her blog. Read on...


"The ball was that greatest of social triumphs, a sad crush. Bodies packed the ballroom as tightly as salted herring in a barrel, leaving little room for air. Reputations were made, compromised, destroyed and on at least one occasion, became inexplicably intertwined with a silver salt cellar shaped like a whimsical goat..."


http://ursulav.livejournal.com/1450690.html

http://ursulav.livejournal.com/1450753.html

http://ursulav.livejournal.com/1451432.html

http://ursulav.livejournal.com/1451536.html

http://ursulav.livejournal.com/1452043.html



There are also ninjas.

We can only hope that she breaks down and does, in fact write the full novel.

[Lily]

I've always loved Georgette Heyer and can always pick up one of her Regency Romances. And I see Ursula Vernon admits to liking her too.

I'll go for anything labelled a regency romance, even though I'm not a reader of "LLL" (Light ladies literature - take that how you want ). But no one matches GH.

It's probably the lack of explicit set and swearing that is so common today.

[Sandi]

I'm confused. Lily, I always thought your last remark was exactly what those books were. Are we talking about the paperbacks with Fabio and his ilk scowling at some bombshell in tatters on the covers or am I missing something? I'm old enough to have been a big fan of Mary Stewart and a couple of others they used to call Gothic Romance or Mystery Romance but that type of light adventure/mystery sort of thing doesn't seem to be popular these days. I always thought the Regencies were the same as Harlequins but with bigger words and "historical" settings. Have I been wrong all these years? Are there some good, fun-reading books I've missed out on all this time?

[Lily]

Sandi, have you not read GEorgette Heyer?

[Brenda]

I haven't, but since reading through the comments on UrsulaV's blog I've added a few more authors to my "books I should look up" list!

[Lily]

I've just read through Ursula Vernon;s snippets.
What a scream!!!
I must tell my sister about it, she loves Georgette Heyer too

[Brenda]

http://ursulav.livejournal.com/1452921.html


She says she actually sent some of it to her agent to see what they say!

[goldenstarcandy]

Samanta Jefferies is a great writer and Victoria Alexender is too

[Pam]

I'm reading The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer right now. It's a hoot.

[P'ter]

Has anyone else read any of G.H's "historical" novels like 'The Conqueror'?

Or even 'Spanish Bride'? Harry Smith was a real officer and really did marry Juanita. He finished up as governor of Natal and Ladysmith is named after her.

[edith]

Several times I think they're mentioned in an Infamous Army too.

My Mum has most of them. I'm stretching my brain to remember the titles of a few of my favourites.

[Anneli]

One of my all time favourites To read and re-read, it never loses that certain "something" which makes me glad I'm reading it

Originally Posted by Pam

I'm reading The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer right now. It's a hoot.

[P'ter]

I've got a full set of her historical ones but I've six more of her detective ones to obtain.

[Anneli]

Good luck in your search

I have them all, they're pretty good IMO. She got the plots from her Barrister Husband, and turned them into fascinating tales

Originally Posted by P'ter

I've got a full set of her historical ones but I've six more of her detective ones to obtain.

[Brenda]

Well, I'm now a Heyer fan. So far I've read:

A Marriage of Convenience (didn't like this one quite so much, but it had its moments)
Black Sheep (very funny, although it was strange how it seemed to end a page early...)
Venetia
Frederica (my favorite so far, probably due to the addition of children and a large dog to the mix...)

There are a few more in our library system that I'm waiting to check out.

[Brenda]

Also, today Ursula Vernon posted on her blog that she needs to "get some serious distraction-free writing time in, which will hopefully allow me to get Regency Ninja significantly underway. (Yes, my agent likes it, yes, I’m writing it, no, I know absolutely nothing more beyond that.)"

[edith]

Originally Posted by Brenda

Well, I'm now a Heyer fan. So far I've read:

A Marriage of Convenience (didn't like this one quite so much, but it had its moments)
Black Sheep (very funny, although it was strange how it seemed to end a page early...)
Venetia
Frederica (my favorite so far, probably due to the addition of children and a large dog to the mix...)

There are a few more in our library system that I'm waiting to check out.

You forgot the hot air balloon and the bicycle in Frederica

All this talk about Georgette Heyer led me to dig out my copy of The Spanish Bride. I really, really recommend reading it. It's not quite like the others as most of it is spent in Spain during the Peninsula Wars and the characters all really existed but it is well worth the effort.

[Brenda]

I read Heyer's Arabella and I was actually laughing out loud in places! I also enjoyed Cotilion although I never did figure out what the title meant...

Something interesting I've noticed is the use of the word "sensibility". It seems to be intended as a synonym of "sensitivity". I've never read Sense and Sensibility but it's interesting to know that the title is apparently NOT redundant!

[P'ter]

A female described as having 'sensibility' was one who, today, would be described as 'over emotional'.

A cotillion was a dance involving changing partners.

[Brenda]

Thank you, P'ter! It's amazing how some words have changed their meaning completely over time! That meaning of "sensibility" seems to be almost completely the opposite of how I would use it today!