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Pistols for Two
Intrigue, elegance, and glittering romance from bestselling author Georgette Heyer... In eleven charming short stories, the Queen of Regency romance presents an exquisite romp through affairs of honor and affairs of the heart. Featuring rakes and rascals, orphans and heirs, beauties and their beaus, the legendary Georgette Heyer's signature wit and inimitable style bring the Regency world dazzlingly alive. Praise for Pistols for Two : "Sparkling ... The stories run the gamut from cloak-and-dagger to whimsical-comedy."―Best Sellers "A delightful assortment."― Library Journal Georgette Heyer wrote over fifty novels, including Regency romances, mysteries, and historical fiction. She was legendary for her research, historical accuracy, and her extraordinary plots and characterizations.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1960
203 people are currently reading
1424 people want to read
About the author
Georgette Heyer
251 books5,505 followersGeorgette Heyer was a prolific historical romance and detective fiction novelist. Her writing career began in 1921, when she turned a story for her younger brother into the novel The Black Moth.
In 1925 she married George Ronald Rougier, a mining engineer. Rougier later became a barrister and he often provided basic plot outlines for her thrillers. Beginning in 1932, Heyer released one romance novel and one thriller each year.
Heyer was an intensely private person who remained a best selling author all her life without the aid of publicity. She made no appearances, never gave an interview and only answered fan letters herself if they made an interesting historical point. She wrote one novel using the pseudonym Stella Martin.
Her Georgian and Regencies romances were inspired by Jane Austen. While some critics thought her novels were too detailed, others considered the level of detail to be Heyer's greatest asset.
Heyer remains a popular and much-loved author, known for essentially establishing the historical romance genre and its subgenre Regency romance.
In 1925 she married George Ronald Rougier, a mining engineer. Rougier later became a barrister and he often provided basic plot outlines for her thrillers. Beginning in 1932, Heyer released one romance novel and one thriller each year.
Heyer was an intensely private person who remained a best selling author all her life without the aid of publicity. She made no appearances, never gave an interview and only answered fan letters herself if they made an interesting historical point. She wrote one novel using the pseudonym Stella Martin.
Her Georgian and Regencies romances were inspired by Jane Austen. While some critics thought her novels were too detailed, others considered the level of detail to be Heyer's greatest asset.
Heyer remains a popular and much-loved author, known for essentially establishing the historical romance genre and its subgenre Regency romance.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 292 reviews
November 16, 2023
There is a shiny new collection of Georgette Heyer's short stories
Isn't that a gorgeous cover? But when I requested a review copy from Random House's NZ branch, the reply came back with unflattering speed (would barely have hit their in tray) that there were no review copies available for this book.
In a way, this is appropriate as Georgette Heyer hated the whole publicity machine. She did one interview in her whole life and ignored letters from her fans.
So I'm stuck with my Arrow with its Georgian cover picture for a collection of Regency short stories!
I will start with the three stories that only feature in the Snowdrift collection. In spite of being billed as "recently discovered" these three are easy to find on the internet.
Pursuit
I read this one last year. My review at the time.
I hadn't read the Pistols for Two collection in a long time when I wrote that. I would now say when you read the original Pistols for Two collection there are some fine examples of Georgette Heyer short stories - but this wasn't one of them. Feels very undercooked. Same rating though 3.5★ and frankly a masterpiece compared to the other two.
Runaway Match
http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/art...
Another member of the Georgette Heyer Fans group says this is her first Regency short story.
Even allowing for the format being a bit tricky to read in (although I loved some of the ads) I didn't care much for this one. It was just too silly and improbable. An extra half star for 2.5★
Incident on the Bath Road
I thought I had read this one before but I was wrong (impossible! :D) I haven't read this one online before. A very slight tale, reminded me of The Corinthian. I was nearly as bored as Lord Revelry! 2.5★
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Don't despair Georgette Heyer lovers - the stories from the original collection are far superior!
Pistols for Two
Didn't care for this story much when younger- it's not romantic at all! Love it now.Witty and fun, loved reading Tom's thought processes. 5★
A Clandestine Affair
Not really the right title for this story - Lucy & Arthur are open in their regard for each. Very skillfully done story - & I liked both couples - & the engaging Holloways. I wonder if GH reworked this into the Black Sheep? It's not an exact copy, but there is a traces of it. & a heroine over 30 - yay!Why I'm deducting a star is 4★
Bath Miss
Sweet, silly, improbable - but I love it.
I like the way in this one the happy ending is foreshadowed, but there is going to be a courtship.
If I ever meet anyone named Almeria I'm going to expect her to look like a Georgette Heyer character! :D 5★
Pink Domino
This was sweet, romantic & instalove - then that wonderful final scene was so Heyer! I was laughing out loud! 5★
A Husband for Fanny
On previous reads the was my equal favourite & it holds up very well - not the least because it pulls off The Big Misunderstanding so well! It is so clever, so well crafted.
GH's oldest heroine at 36. & bonus points for a brown eyed heroine. GH had grey eyes herself (probably from her Russian forebears) and there's an army of grey eyed heroes and heroines in her books!If I could give 6★ I would, but 5 it will have to be.
To Have the Honour
I have a new joint favourite! A very romantic story, great secondary characters & a ton of humour. What Heyer does best! I do wonder if this was worked into the more realistic A Civil Contract. 5★
Night at the Inn
Showing Heyer could have written Victorian horror if she chose! Wow, she did this well. Deducting half a star for a slightly clumsy beginning & an extreme case of insta-love. 4.5★
The Duel
I'm going to overlook the insta-love, arrogant hero & yet another idiot brother in this story as it is just so romantic. ♥ GH tells it at a breakneck pace, so we ignore the improbabilities. I loved Mama's miraculous return to good health at the end. 4.5★
Hazard
Now this was my joint favourite as a young thing. & I still like it a lot as I allow for the fact that Sir Ralph is pond scum & Carleton is very drunk. & when it is starting to look too much like high tragedy, in waltz Fanny the Drama Queen & the fiance she wants to marry. I do have a quibble about whether such a wild young man could have been pressured into marriage like this.
I was going to mark it down slightly, read it it again & I can't help myself - just love it! 5★
Snowdrift
Echoes of Cotillion.
Fast paced & charming. Lovely fairytale 5★
Full Moon
It's very amusing but it is my least favourite out of the original Pistols for Two collection. This may be partly because of it's position in the book (last) but also another proposed elopement and this instalove is on the slightest of grounds. But the scene between Lord Staveley and Annabella's father in the rose garden is very funny, so I'm still going to give it 4★
So there you have it. If I included "The Snowdrift Three" my rating would be lower(3.5-4★)
but I'm going to rate the Pistols for Two collection only so 5★
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Edit 10/098/19; I didn't read "the Snowdrift Three" with this read. Two of them are also in Georgette Heyer: A Critical Retrospective & I'll comment on them when I finish that book.
Still light and frothy fun. I liked Bath Miss a little less this time and The Duel a little more. Other than that, my thoughts are much the same.
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My third read of this collection since being on Goodreads. Still love it as lighthearted fun, but recommend spacing the reads out as these are very light & some of the plot points will be familiar from her full length books.
After reading Pursuit from the Snowdrift extras I decided not to reread the other two. Last time I found Pursuit the best of these three. Reading Pursuit this time it does seem more like a rough copy than a true Heyer. Must have been very early in her career. I'm giving it 3★
Isn't that a gorgeous cover? But when I requested a review copy from Random House's NZ branch, the reply came back with unflattering speed (would barely have hit their in tray) that there were no review copies available for this book.In a way, this is appropriate as Georgette Heyer hated the whole publicity machine. She did one interview in her whole life and ignored letters from her fans.
So I'm stuck with my Arrow with its Georgian cover picture for a collection of Regency short stories!
I will start with the three stories that only feature in the Snowdrift collection. In spite of being billed as "recently discovered" these three are easy to find on the internet.
Pursuit
I read this one last year. My review at the time.
I don't think GH's style of storytelling is suited to the short story format.GH's great strength was in her plotting & she needs time to bring all the strands in her tales together. This was an engaging tale but character development & motivation were sacrificed to brevity.
This short story was originally published as part of war time fundraiser, but I am just about certain that I read a similar tale in Heyer's short story collection Pistols For Two by Georgette Heyer
Enjoyable but forgettable.
I hadn't read the Pistols for Two collection in a long time when I wrote that. I would now say when you read the original Pistols for Two collection there are some fine examples of Georgette Heyer short stories - but this wasn't one of them. Feels very undercooked. Same rating though 3.5★ and frankly a masterpiece compared to the other two.
Runaway Match
http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/art...
Another member of the Georgette Heyer Fans group says this is her first Regency short story.
Even allowing for the format being a bit tricky to read in (although I loved some of the ads) I didn't care much for this one. It was just too silly and improbable. An extra half star for 2.5★
Incident on the Bath Road
I thought I had read this one before but I was wrong (impossible! :D) I haven't read this one online before. A very slight tale, reminded me of The Corinthian. I was nearly as bored as Lord Revelry! 2.5★
●▬▬▬▬๑۩۩๑▬▬▬▬▬● ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ●▬▬▬▬๑۩۩๑▬▬▬▬▬●
Don't despair Georgette Heyer lovers - the stories from the original collection are far superior!
Pistols for Two
Didn't care for this story much when younger- it's not romantic at all! Love it now.Witty and fun, loved reading Tom's thought processes. 5★
A Clandestine Affair
Not really the right title for this story - Lucy & Arthur are open in their regard for each. Very skillfully done story - & I liked both couples - & the engaging Holloways. I wonder if GH reworked this into the Black Sheep? It's not an exact copy, but there is a traces of it. & a heroine over 30 - yay!Why I'm deducting a star is 4★
Bath Miss
Sweet, silly, improbable - but I love it.
I like the way in this one the happy ending is foreshadowed, but there is going to be a courtship.
If I ever meet anyone named Almeria I'm going to expect her to look like a Georgette Heyer character! :D 5★
Pink Domino
This was sweet, romantic & instalove - then that wonderful final scene was so Heyer! I was laughing out loud! 5★
A Husband for Fanny
On previous reads the was my equal favourite & it holds up very well - not the least because it pulls off The Big Misunderstanding so well! It is so clever, so well crafted.
GH's oldest heroine at 36. & bonus points for a brown eyed heroine. GH had grey eyes herself (probably from her Russian forebears) and there's an army of grey eyed heroes and heroines in her books!If I could give 6★ I would, but 5 it will have to be.
To Have the Honour
I have a new joint favourite! A very romantic story, great secondary characters & a ton of humour. What Heyer does best! I do wonder if this was worked into the more realistic A Civil Contract. 5★
Night at the Inn
Showing Heyer could have written Victorian horror if she chose! Wow, she did this well. Deducting half a star for a slightly clumsy beginning & an extreme case of insta-love. 4.5★
The Duel
I'm going to overlook the insta-love, arrogant hero & yet another idiot brother in this story as it is just so romantic. ♥ GH tells it at a breakneck pace, so we ignore the improbabilities. I loved Mama's miraculous return to good health at the end. 4.5★
Hazard
Now this was my joint favourite as a young thing. & I still like it a lot as I allow for the fact that Sir Ralph is pond scum & Carleton is very drunk. & when it is starting to look too much like high tragedy, in waltz Fanny the Drama Queen & the fiance she wants to marry. I do have a quibble about whether such a wild young man could have been pressured into marriage like this.
I was going to mark it down slightly, read it it again & I can't help myself - just love it! 5★
Snowdrift
Echoes of Cotillion.
Fast paced & charming. Lovely fairytale 5★
Full Moon
It's very amusing but it is my least favourite out of the original Pistols for Two collection. This may be partly because of it's position in the book (last) but also another proposed elopement and this instalove is on the slightest of grounds. But the scene between Lord Staveley and Annabella's father in the rose garden is very funny, so I'm still going to give it 4★
So there you have it. If I included "The Snowdrift Three" my rating would be lower(3.5-4★)
but I'm going to rate the Pistols for Two collection only so 5★
●▬▬▬▬๑۩۩๑▬▬▬▬▬● ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ●▬▬▬▬๑۩۩๑▬▬▬▬▬●
Edit 10/098/19; I didn't read "the Snowdrift Three" with this read. Two of them are also in Georgette Heyer: A Critical Retrospective & I'll comment on them when I finish that book.
Still light and frothy fun. I liked Bath Miss a little less this time and The Duel a little more. Other than that, my thoughts are much the same.
●▬▬▬▬๑۩۩๑▬▬▬▬▬● ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ●▬▬▬▬๑۩۩๑▬▬▬▬▬●
My third read of this collection since being on Goodreads. Still love it as lighthearted fun, but recommend spacing the reads out as these are very light & some of the plot points will be familiar from her full length books.
After reading Pursuit from the Snowdrift extras I decided not to reread the other two. Last time I found Pursuit the best of these three. Reading Pursuit this time it does seem more like a rough copy than a true Heyer. Must have been very early in her career. I'm giving it 3★
May 8, 2016
This was the best book of short stories. Georgette Heyer has the best way of pulling you in right from the beginning and letting you unwrap the characters one at a time. Then you are allowed to see them as their story unfolds in a clear and usually funny well scripted manner.
This book was no different. It was a joy to read from the first page. I want more Georgette Heyer! She was just brilliant!
There are real people captured in her words and they are so full of life and witty. What a joy to read!
This book was no different. It was a joy to read from the first page. I want more Georgette Heyer! She was just brilliant!
There are real people captured in her words and they are so full of life and witty. What a joy to read!
February 9, 2009
So the thing about Georgette Heyer's romances is this: I like them, but I have to space the fuckers out. She's really only got like eight characters, and only two kinds of romantic heroes (the scandalous rake, usually lots older than the heroine, and the rarer dandy), and her stories all seem to follow the same beats, so if I go straight from one Heyer romance to another, it's impossible to ignore the creative recycling, which I can only bear if I can ignore it.
I had the same sort of problem with Pistols for Two, a collection of eleven short stories; rushing through the book in one go was probably the worst thing I could have done. Don't get me wrong: Heyer is consistently entertaining and frequently amusing, and I enjoyed nearly all the stories in this collection. But they're so very predictable, and so many of them are so very much alike - oh, my goodness, so many ill-tempered rakes in their mid-thirties falling desperately in love with teenage ingenues who have fallen into dire straits! Is it any surprise my favorite story is the one in which the middle-aged rake proposes to a middle-aged widow who is in no danger at all? - that they start to blend together by the end of it all.
Of course, being short stories and not, as you might suppose, novels, this collection is rather bereft of the improbable subplots, the cast of wacky supporting characters, and the complicated hijinks of a full-on Heyer novel, which is a bit of a shame. I like Heyer's romances, but I love her sense of humor, and you don't get much of that here. All the absurdities and the wit have been pared down or outright disposed of in order to streamline the plot, and without the comedy - without that enormous supporting cast to liven things up - it isn't really the same.
Favorite stories: A Husband for Fanny, in which the widow Wingham nearly gives up everything to see her daughter married well, To Have the Honour, in which the hero is a well-intentioned doofus and also not fifteen years older than the heroine (I don't have a problem with age differences and actually rather like them in fiction most of the time, but seriously, enough is enough, Heyer), and The Duel, in which there is a twist I genuinely did not see coming, though I think that's more to do with the fact that I'm an idiot than anything else. I'm also rather fond of the title story, Pistols for Two, which is surprisingly and delightfully slashy.
*2.5 stars.
I had the same sort of problem with Pistols for Two, a collection of eleven short stories; rushing through the book in one go was probably the worst thing I could have done. Don't get me wrong: Heyer is consistently entertaining and frequently amusing, and I enjoyed nearly all the stories in this collection. But they're so very predictable, and so many of them are so very much alike - oh, my goodness, so many ill-tempered rakes in their mid-thirties falling desperately in love with teenage ingenues who have fallen into dire straits! Is it any surprise my favorite story is the one in which the middle-aged rake proposes to a middle-aged widow who is in no danger at all? - that they start to blend together by the end of it all.
Of course, being short stories and not, as you might suppose, novels, this collection is rather bereft of the improbable subplots, the cast of wacky supporting characters, and the complicated hijinks of a full-on Heyer novel, which is a bit of a shame. I like Heyer's romances, but I love her sense of humor, and you don't get much of that here. All the absurdities and the wit have been pared down or outright disposed of in order to streamline the plot, and without the comedy - without that enormous supporting cast to liven things up - it isn't really the same.
Favorite stories: A Husband for Fanny, in which the widow Wingham nearly gives up everything to see her daughter married well, To Have the Honour, in which the hero is a well-intentioned doofus and also not fifteen years older than the heroine (I don't have a problem with age differences and actually rather like them in fiction most of the time, but seriously, enough is enough, Heyer), and The Duel, in which there is a twist I genuinely did not see coming, though I think that's more to do with the fact that I'm an idiot than anything else. I'm also rather fond of the title story, Pistols for Two, which is surprisingly and delightfully slashy.
*2.5 stars.
December 23, 2021
In truth, I have to be in the mood to read something by Georgette Heyer and Pistols For Two satisfied my craving for some witty romances. I was able to read one or two stories per day while working on other things.
Pistols for Two was more about friendship than anything else. Two friends let a woman get between them. And all for what? 3 stars
A Clandestine Affair concerns itself with young love, their guardians and the words what goes around comes around. 3.5 stars
Bath Miss struck some tender feelings in me. I loved the snooty Sir Charles and how the sweet and young Miss Massingham turned his world upside down in a few days. I don't care that the story was so short because it was good. And yes, I finally got over the dreaded words, 'my child'. 4.5 stars
Pink Domino A brother and sister each fall in love with a special someone. 3 stars
A Husband for Fanny With a bit of confusion and a minor misunderstanding, love finds itself in a strange place. 3 3/4 stars
To Have The Honour Money problems put love in crisis. For a little while. 3 stars
Night at the Inn Be careful when you travel, especially of shady innkeepers. 3 stars
The Duel Accusations, guns and love. 3 stars
Hazard What happens with a drunken bet. 3 1/2 stars
Snowdrift An naive young woman gets help from an unlikely source. 4 stars
Full Moon Lord Stavely has moon madness. 3 3/4 stars
Rounded up to 4 stars because of some special stories.
Pistols for Two was more about friendship than anything else. Two friends let a woman get between them. And all for what? 3 stars
A Clandestine Affair concerns itself with young love, their guardians and the words what goes around comes around. 3.5 stars
Bath Miss struck some tender feelings in me. I loved the snooty Sir Charles and how the sweet and young Miss Massingham turned his world upside down in a few days. I don't care that the story was so short because it was good. And yes, I finally got over the dreaded words, 'my child'. 4.5 stars
Pink Domino A brother and sister each fall in love with a special someone. 3 stars
A Husband for Fanny With a bit of confusion and a minor misunderstanding, love finds itself in a strange place. 3 3/4 stars
To Have The Honour Money problems put love in crisis. For a little while. 3 stars
Night at the Inn Be careful when you travel, especially of shady innkeepers. 3 stars
The Duel Accusations, guns and love. 3 stars
Hazard What happens with a drunken bet. 3 1/2 stars
Snowdrift An naive young woman gets help from an unlikely source. 4 stars
Full Moon Lord Stavely has moon madness. 3 3/4 stars
Rounded up to 4 stars because of some special stories.
April 23, 2025
2025 Review
This is something of an obsolete collection now that Snowdrift and Other Stories exists. You get all the same stories in Snowdrift plus a few more (and, if my memory serves me, minus the random excerpts at the back from two of her other books.)
There are some strong short stories here and some weak ones. Lots of shockingly quick engagements! I still wish we had gotten a full length story more in the flavor of Hazard.
2018 Review
Disclaimer: Anyone but HER and this book would probably garner 3 stars.
A collection of short stories by Georgette Heyer.
I found the titular story miserably boring. It is the sole reason I haven't gotten to this volume before. Once I passed it, the stories weren't so bad. I enjoyed some, particularly Hazard. A widow makes an appearance in another one, which represented a welcome break from the ever-present 19 year old heroines fluttering about. Elopements, Gretna Green, and Heyer heroes pepper the stories and eventually blur them together.
If you like Heyer, this is a pleasant stroll. It contains a few gems. Unfortunately, it also feels rather paint by numbers. The same personalities emerge - not just from her other books - but from the other stories within the volume. Almost all female characters fall into her "younger female" category and I just don't like them as much. I also felt a little concerned for how many of them met the Heyer hero and then were talking engagement! Not much development.
I think I'd still buy this one. There is creativity in it. Just not as much 'new' as I'd hoped.
This is something of an obsolete collection now that Snowdrift and Other Stories exists. You get all the same stories in Snowdrift plus a few more (and, if my memory serves me, minus the random excerpts at the back from two of her other books.)
There are some strong short stories here and some weak ones. Lots of shockingly quick engagements! I still wish we had gotten a full length story more in the flavor of Hazard.
2018 Review
Disclaimer: Anyone but HER and this book would probably garner 3 stars.
A collection of short stories by Georgette Heyer.
I found the titular story miserably boring. It is the sole reason I haven't gotten to this volume before. Once I passed it, the stories weren't so bad. I enjoyed some, particularly Hazard. A widow makes an appearance in another one, which represented a welcome break from the ever-present 19 year old heroines fluttering about. Elopements, Gretna Green, and Heyer heroes pepper the stories and eventually blur them together.
If you like Heyer, this is a pleasant stroll. It contains a few gems. Unfortunately, it also feels rather paint by numbers. The same personalities emerge - not just from her other books - but from the other stories within the volume. Almost all female characters fall into her "younger female" category and I just don't like them as much. I also felt a little concerned for how many of them met the Heyer hero and then were talking engagement! Not much development.
I think I'd still buy this one. There is creativity in it. Just not as much 'new' as I'd hoped.
April 1, 2017
Very Short Stories from Georgette Heyer
These stories were very short.
They didn't make enough of an impression on me to be memorable or for me to wish to reread them as I do some of her novels that are my favorites.
March 2017 Georgette Heyer group BOTM
These stories were very short.
They didn't make enough of an impression on me to be memorable or for me to wish to reread them as I do some of her novels that are my favorites.
March 2017 Georgette Heyer group BOTM
July 16, 2025
Ich habe nicht aufgepasst und schon wieder einen Band mit ausschließlich Geschichten über elopements nach Gretna Green erwischt. War aber dann insgesamt okay, ich habe jetzt Hornhaut auf der Hochzeitsstelle, und naive junge Frauen mit widerspenstigen Locken und großen Augen, die durch Zufall überaus reichen, eleganten und liebenswürdigen Herren begegnen, machen mir gar nichts mehr.
August 29, 2014
3.5 stars.
Heyer has a small pot from which she collects her characters. The humble, witty spinster with laughing eyes; the naive, big-eyed waif; the sporty, devil-take-it Corinthian (usually 'swarthy'); the handsome, hiding-hidden-depths Dandy, the young bucks; and the prone to spasms, overwrought mother.
Basically, Pistols for Two is a mix and match collection.
But what keeps Heyer from seeming too formulaic is her skill with a well-placed plot-twist. In "Hazard," a gentleman wakes up hungover in the middle of his own elopement, only to encounter the fiancee he wasn't eloping with--but there's more! In "The Duel," a young lady is attempting to appeal to the man who is to duel with her brother when she inadvertently ends up in the home of a handsome stranger--but that's not all!
Half the fun I had was trying to pick the hero and heroine out of the line-ups of characters (not difficult), and then attempting to figure out the twists (more difficult)--and then seeing if I was right.
Favorites of the lot: "The Duel", "A Husband for Fanny"; "Pink Domino", "To Have the Honour", "Hazard"
Heyer has a small pot from which she collects her characters. The humble, witty spinster with laughing eyes; the naive, big-eyed waif; the sporty, devil-take-it Corinthian (usually 'swarthy'); the handsome, hiding-hidden-depths Dandy, the young bucks; and the prone to spasms, overwrought mother.
Basically, Pistols for Two is a mix and match collection.
But what keeps Heyer from seeming too formulaic is her skill with a well-placed plot-twist. In "Hazard," a gentleman wakes up hungover in the middle of his own elopement, only to encounter the fiancee he wasn't eloping with--but there's more! In "The Duel," a young lady is attempting to appeal to the man who is to duel with her brother when she inadvertently ends up in the home of a handsome stranger--but that's not all!
Half the fun I had was trying to pick the hero and heroine out of the line-ups of characters (not difficult), and then attempting to figure out the twists (more difficult)--and then seeing if I was right.
Favorites of the lot: "The Duel", "A Husband for Fanny"; "Pink Domino", "To Have the Honour", "Hazard"
February 1, 2017
My 33rd Georgette Heyer
"Pistols for Two" - while Tom and Jack's courtship of the same girl started out on friendly terms, the situation quickly deteriorates and enters dangerous territory. (3 stars)
"A Clandestine Affair" - Miss Tresillian is shocked to discover that her niece has fallen in love with the nephew of her jilted ex-fiance, , but when an elopement is about to happen, the two must unite forces. (3 stars)
"Bath Miss" - Sir Charles falls into a trap set up by his mother and aunt, so he must now pick up Miss Anne from boarding school. (3 stars)
"Pink Domino" - Giles is trying to prevent his sister from making a disadvantageous marriage while on a mission to find the girl who stole his heart. (3 stars)
"A Husband for Fanny" - Fanny has scrapped all her life in order to give her daughter a London season, but she finds herself falling in love with her daughter's suitor. (3 stars)
"To Have the Honour" - Alan has returned from war to find his family estate in ruins and his only salvation is to marry his cousin Hetty (3 stars)
"Night at the Inn" - on his way back from Lisbon, Mr Cranbrook meets Miss Gateshead in an inn where odd things are afoot. (2 stars)
"The Duel" - on the eve of his duel, Lord Rotherfield finds his adversary's sister in his house, trying to prevent desaster. (3 stars)
"Hazard" - Helen's brother has just lost her hand in marriage in a game of cards to the very drunk Lord Carlington, who wants to set off for Gretna Green as soon as possible (3 stars)
"Snowdrift" - on his was to Bath via the stage coach, Sir Julian meets Miss Trent who is on her way to win a fortune. (3 stars)
"Full Moon" - on his way to visit family friends, Lord Stavely meets a young man who is determined to elope with the fiance Lord Stavely was unaware he had. (3 stars)
"Pistols for Two" - while Tom and Jack's courtship of the same girl started out on friendly terms, the situation quickly deteriorates and enters dangerous territory. (3 stars)
"A Clandestine Affair" - Miss Tresillian is shocked to discover that her niece has fallen in love with the nephew of her jilted ex-fiance, , but when an elopement is about to happen, the two must unite forces. (3 stars)
"Bath Miss" - Sir Charles falls into a trap set up by his mother and aunt, so he must now pick up Miss Anne from boarding school. (3 stars)
"Pink Domino" - Giles is trying to prevent his sister from making a disadvantageous marriage while on a mission to find the girl who stole his heart. (3 stars)
"A Husband for Fanny" - Fanny has scrapped all her life in order to give her daughter a London season, but she finds herself falling in love with her daughter's suitor. (3 stars)
"To Have the Honour" - Alan has returned from war to find his family estate in ruins and his only salvation is to marry his cousin Hetty (3 stars)
"Night at the Inn" - on his way back from Lisbon, Mr Cranbrook meets Miss Gateshead in an inn where odd things are afoot. (2 stars)
"The Duel" - on the eve of his duel, Lord Rotherfield finds his adversary's sister in his house, trying to prevent desaster. (3 stars)
"Hazard" - Helen's brother has just lost her hand in marriage in a game of cards to the very drunk Lord Carlington, who wants to set off for Gretna Green as soon as possible (3 stars)
"Snowdrift" - on his was to Bath via the stage coach, Sir Julian meets Miss Trent who is on her way to win a fortune. (3 stars)
"Full Moon" - on his way to visit family friends, Lord Stavely meets a young man who is determined to elope with the fiance Lord Stavely was unaware he had. (3 stars)
May 11, 2023
An entertaining collection of 11 short stories packed with great characters and Heyer’s signature plots. Many snippets reminded me of her full novels. This compilation was republished under the title Snowdrift and Other Stories in 2016 with three additional short stories and the omission of The Pink Domino, which was one of my favorites from this collection. I also really liked A Husband for Fanny, Pistols for Two and Night at the Inn.
May 3, 2020
Whenever I need a Georgette Heyer fixs but don't have time for a full novel, I grab this delightful collection of short stories. Of course GH is at her best when there is time to develop her characters and all the wonderful side plots, so a short story will never show her at her best. But it is fun to see her toying with ideas and characters she has either abandoned in earlier books or want to explore before reusing in later books. It is amazing how many plans for Gretna Green there can be in one book. A lot of the stories are on the road, which makes it a perfect read for travelling. It is hard for me to choose a favourite but the ones I most often return to is A Husband for Fanny, The Duel and Hazard
March 15, 2017
A must read for any Georgette Heyer fan.
February 28, 2016
Great Heyer in short stories. There are essential elements of her books in here. Ideal when you look for a short entertained. Elopements, duels, misunderstandings, quarrels and all end (of course) with a happy ending. Although you must be prepared you will not find here witty descriptions of people and so on.
I wish there are more such short stories written by Heyer.
I wish there are more such short stories written by Heyer.
May 22, 2013
Yes, two Georgette Heyers in a few days. What can I say? It was a stressful week. Such a lovely way to relax.
August 16, 2022
3.5 stars. The stories are fun, romantic and over the top. A nice light read.
August 19, 2014
I think maybe a 4 1/2
All the stories are fun frolics but some are better than others. The best were A Clandestine Affair, Bath Miss, To Have the Honor, Hazard and Full Moon. Hazard was very good and Full Moon has become a Favorite of mine.
Swears are few and far between, (D's) . On a plus there is no violence, other than some talk of fisticuffs and nothing detailed. And unlike most Georgette Heyer books there is no talk of mistresses. All of the stories were clean. If you have a problem with mentioning/talking about gambling you wouldn't like Hazard. (it begins in a gaming house but it is not viewed as good). Full Moon was the perfect one to end on! the characters lived and breathed. Amazingly, even in the stories I didn't care for the characters were well put together.
I read this every night before bed and can see myself borrowing it from the library again. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is because I didn't like Pistols for Two and Pink Domino.
If you have never read Georgette Heyer's books before I wouldn't start with this. I'd star with Arabella or A Convenient Marriage as those are a two of her best. In my opinion, that is. I would love to say more but as they are short stories I would probably wreak them for you if I summarized them.
All the stories are fun frolics but some are better than others. The best were A Clandestine Affair, Bath Miss, To Have the Honor, Hazard and Full Moon. Hazard was very good and Full Moon has become a Favorite of mine.
Swears are few and far between, (D's) . On a plus there is no violence, other than some talk of fisticuffs and nothing detailed. And unlike most Georgette Heyer books there is no talk of mistresses. All of the stories were clean. If you have a problem with mentioning/talking about gambling you wouldn't like Hazard. (it begins in a gaming house but it is not viewed as good). Full Moon was the perfect one to end on! the characters lived and breathed. Amazingly, even in the stories I didn't care for the characters were well put together.
I read this every night before bed and can see myself borrowing it from the library again. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is because I didn't like Pistols for Two and Pink Domino.
If you have never read Georgette Heyer's books before I wouldn't start with this. I'd star with Arabella or A Convenient Marriage as those are a two of her best. In my opinion, that is. I would love to say more but as they are short stories I would probably wreak them for you if I summarized them.
August 25, 2019
I read these as part of the August group read with the Heyer group - before this I wasn’t even aware Heyer had published short stories.
I enjoyed these, but would recommend reading them just two or three at a time, otherwise they tend to start feeling a bit the same. For example, the elopement theme crops up regularly, although Heyer does give it some clever twists. Another feature is how immediately attachments form. This happens sometimes in her longer works too but more believably so, given the scope and depth a novel brings.
That’s not to say Heyer doesn’t offer here the same skill in plotting and characterisation found in all her work. These stories are delightful, and in some she finds clever ways to get around the insta-love scenario. Some of these were my favourites, but I had others too. A bit like dipping into a box of chocolates, some flavours will appeal, other won’t.
The collection is like that, more a box of chocolates than a substantial meal, and definitely worth reading as a treat.
I enjoyed these, but would recommend reading them just two or three at a time, otherwise they tend to start feeling a bit the same. For example, the elopement theme crops up regularly, although Heyer does give it some clever twists. Another feature is how immediately attachments form. This happens sometimes in her longer works too but more believably so, given the scope and depth a novel brings.
That’s not to say Heyer doesn’t offer here the same skill in plotting and characterisation found in all her work. These stories are delightful, and in some she finds clever ways to get around the insta-love scenario. Some of these were my favourites, but I had others too. A bit like dipping into a box of chocolates, some flavours will appeal, other won’t.
The collection is like that, more a box of chocolates than a substantial meal, and definitely worth reading as a treat.
May 27, 2022
These feel like Heyer story-starters or short story advertisements for her work, with all the usual plots wrapped up in a few pages. You can imagine them in magazines, not even continuing to the pages in the back.
Not bad, but even less memorable than the full length books.
Not bad, but even less memorable than the full length books.
August 30, 2021
Georgette Heyer Lite. These stories were almost like a sampler of many of her full-length novels. I found them undemanding and enjoyable, great for bedtime reading.
October 8, 2019
Georgette Heyer's only collection of short stories, Pistols for Two offers eleven charming tales, each a little bon-bon that both satisfies and tantalizes. Compact and self-contained, each of these stories will involve and entertain the reader, before bringing matters to a satisfactory conclusion. The delights contains herein include:
Pistols for Two, in which lifelong friends Tom and Jack find themselves confronting one another across a dueling field, fighting for the right to court a woman whom neither of them really loves. Heyer's delicate but pointed sense of humor is in full force here...
A Clandestine Affair, in which Lord Iver and Miss Elinor Tresilian, two bitterly estranged lovers, find themselves reconciled while trying to prevent the elopement of their respective wards. This was a very satisfying tale of love lost and found...
Bath Miss, in which Sir Charles Wainfleet finds himself in charge of the mischievous Miss Massingham, when he agrees to do a favor for his mother's friend. The chance meeting with Wainfleet's fiancée may have felt somewhat improbable, but the heroine of the piece was delightful!
Pink Domino, in which Mr Wrexham of Lyonshall finds the woman of his dreams at a masquerade ball, while trying to protect his younger sister from a fortune-hunter. I was surprised that Heyer used the "love at first sight" trope, as she usually avoids it, but its inclusion here did not seem inappropriate.
A Husband For Fanny, in which the widowed Mrs Wingham mistakes the intentions of the Marquis of Harleston, and almost loses her only chance at love. One of Heyer's rare romances involving an "older" woman...
To Have The Honor, in which Lord Allerton comes home from war to discover that his estates are badly mortgaged, and that he is expected to marry his wealthy cousin. A tale of two young people who love one another, but won't tell each other...
Night At The Inn, in which two young people find themselves staying at the same sinister inn one foggy night. Far more gruesome than the other stories in the collection, this was more of a mystery-thriller than a romance...
The Duel, in which the impetuous Miss Dorothea Saltford finds her way to the home of Lord Rothersfield late one night, in order to beg him to spare her brother's life in an upcoming duel. Sheer improbable fun!
Hazard, in which Miss Helen Morland is won in a game of cards by the Marquis of Carlington. I have never been fond of this plot device, and this was the sole story in the collection that I didn't love...
Snow Drift, in which Miss Sophy Trent enlists the aid of that bored man of fashion, Sir Julian Arden, in reaching Bath in time to "win" a fortune. Another road-trip adventure par excellence!
And finally, Full Moon, in which Lord Stavely unexpectedly finds himself assuring Miss Annabella Abingdon that she does not have to elope with her best friend in order to escape him...
Pistols for Two, in which lifelong friends Tom and Jack find themselves confronting one another across a dueling field, fighting for the right to court a woman whom neither of them really loves. Heyer's delicate but pointed sense of humor is in full force here...
A Clandestine Affair, in which Lord Iver and Miss Elinor Tresilian, two bitterly estranged lovers, find themselves reconciled while trying to prevent the elopement of their respective wards. This was a very satisfying tale of love lost and found...
Bath Miss, in which Sir Charles Wainfleet finds himself in charge of the mischievous Miss Massingham, when he agrees to do a favor for his mother's friend. The chance meeting with Wainfleet's fiancée may have felt somewhat improbable, but the heroine of the piece was delightful!
Pink Domino, in which Mr Wrexham of Lyonshall finds the woman of his dreams at a masquerade ball, while trying to protect his younger sister from a fortune-hunter. I was surprised that Heyer used the "love at first sight" trope, as she usually avoids it, but its inclusion here did not seem inappropriate.
A Husband For Fanny, in which the widowed Mrs Wingham mistakes the intentions of the Marquis of Harleston, and almost loses her only chance at love. One of Heyer's rare romances involving an "older" woman...
To Have The Honor, in which Lord Allerton comes home from war to discover that his estates are badly mortgaged, and that he is expected to marry his wealthy cousin. A tale of two young people who love one another, but won't tell each other...
Night At The Inn, in which two young people find themselves staying at the same sinister inn one foggy night. Far more gruesome than the other stories in the collection, this was more of a mystery-thriller than a romance...
The Duel, in which the impetuous Miss Dorothea Saltford finds her way to the home of Lord Rothersfield late one night, in order to beg him to spare her brother's life in an upcoming duel. Sheer improbable fun!
Hazard, in which Miss Helen Morland is won in a game of cards by the Marquis of Carlington. I have never been fond of this plot device, and this was the sole story in the collection that I didn't love...
Snow Drift, in which Miss Sophy Trent enlists the aid of that bored man of fashion, Sir Julian Arden, in reaching Bath in time to "win" a fortune. Another road-trip adventure par excellence!
And finally, Full Moon, in which Lord Stavely unexpectedly finds himself assuring Miss Annabella Abingdon that she does not have to elope with her best friend in order to escape him...
February 7, 2019
3.5 stars.
Getting a little sick of the man always "savagely" or generally roughly kissing the girl at the end, and her weak little protest that she doesn't really mean, followed by him ignoring it. I mean, I didn't overly detest it in Faro's Daughter, but in a short story collection especially, you don't know the characters very well, which makes it that much harder to stomach. Also, the fact that it's just one after another example of it doesn't help either.
Otherwise though, I liked this collection!
Getting a little sick of the man always "savagely" or generally roughly kissing the girl at the end, and her weak little protest that she doesn't really mean, followed by him ignoring it. I mean, I didn't overly detest it in Faro's Daughter, but in a short story collection especially, you don't know the characters very well, which makes it that much harder to stomach. Also, the fact that it's just one after another example of it doesn't help either.
Otherwise though, I liked this collection!
August 9, 2019
This is a delightful collection of short stories by the undisputed queen of the Regency Romance genre, Georgette Heyer. There are villains who aren't damsels in distress, happily ever afters, and an enchanting glimpse into a way of life now long gone. My ONLY disappointment with this volume is that so often I would have gladly spent far longer with the characters! Any fan of Ms. Heyer's work can look forward to some happy hours spent with "Pistols for Two" in hand!
August 29, 2025
This was such a delightful collection of Regency short stories! I must do a proper review in the future for each short story, I read it so fast I can't remember all of my impressions of each story, but the ones that did stand out as my favorites were "The Duel", "A Clandestine Affair" & "A Husband for Fanny".
August 17, 2023
A collection of regency romance, short stories. Loved them all!
April 26, 2024
A delightful collection of short stories from the queen of trad Regency romance. I enjoyed most of these stories, though the romantic threads were pretty preposterous. A lovely palate cleanser nonetheless, and a definite recommend to those who enjoy short stories.
March 3, 2017
Great collection! :) Very funny.
January 22, 2020
This was the first collection of Georgette Heyer short stories that I’d encountered, and I began Pistols for Two and Other Stories with high expectations. The first story (the title story) turned out to be pretty much vintage Heyer, with two best friends falling out over a girl and making it a matter of honour—a duel, no less. With funny consequences and a somewhat predictable twist in the tale.
After that, though, as I progressed through the book, the stories began to seem too much alike. The much older man, for one. I don’t mind the occasional fifteen-year gap between the hero and heroine, but in one story after another, with the hero (who is a wealthy peer, and a Non Pareil to boot) constantly addressing his beloved as “my child,” it becomes tiresome. Then, there are the numerous elopements, the flight to Gretna Green. And the heroine not even realizing who the man she’s attracted to actually is, until nearly the end of the story (when she’s savagely kissed).
They’re not bad stories; they’re pleasant enough. Heyer, after all, evokes the period like none other, and her wit is exceptional. But here, other than in a couple of stories (Pistols for Two and A Husband for Fanny were my favourites), she just doesn’t have the scope to show off what she’s capable of. Each story is not just far too similar to the other, but her wit, her characterization, the convoluted plots—everything that makes Heyer such a very readable writer—just don’t have the space to develop. Before she can get around to doing anything much, it’s time for the story to end.
Read Sprig Muslin or The Unknown Ajax or one of her other novels to see what magic Heyer is truly capable of.
After that, though, as I progressed through the book, the stories began to seem too much alike. The much older man, for one. I don’t mind the occasional fifteen-year gap between the hero and heroine, but in one story after another, with the hero (who is a wealthy peer, and a Non Pareil to boot) constantly addressing his beloved as “my child,” it becomes tiresome. Then, there are the numerous elopements, the flight to Gretna Green. And the heroine not even realizing who the man she’s attracted to actually is, until nearly the end of the story (when she’s savagely kissed).
They’re not bad stories; they’re pleasant enough. Heyer, after all, evokes the period like none other, and her wit is exceptional. But here, other than in a couple of stories (Pistols for Two and A Husband for Fanny were my favourites), she just doesn’t have the scope to show off what she’s capable of. Each story is not just far too similar to the other, but her wit, her characterization, the convoluted plots—everything that makes Heyer such a very readable writer—just don’t have the space to develop. Before she can get around to doing anything much, it’s time for the story to end.
Read Sprig Muslin or The Unknown Ajax or one of her other novels to see what magic Heyer is truly capable of.
March 15, 2019
I'm not really a fan of short stories, especially short romances, since it seems to me that to be believable a romance has to go quite deeply into developing characters. This is a collection of short Regency romances by Georgette Heyer. I did enjoy it, but I'm not excited about it. It does contain her usual amazing sense of place and history, her sense of humor, and even does very well portraying characters, though some of them brought a feeling of familiarity, most likely because of similar characters found in her novels that I've read. There were a few of these stories that I liked quite a lot. Some were kind of meh. But if you are a GH fan, of course, you won't want to miss this. The almost Gothic "Night at the Inn", "The Duel", and "Hazard" were my three favorites. I also liked "A Husband for Fanny" quite a lot.
June 28, 2017
These are entertaining and readable, on the whole, but probably only for the Heyer completist. She's done most of this to better effect in her novels, where there's far more scope for situation and character development. That said, I did like "A Clandestine Affair", because the history between the two main characters made their relationship feel more real. I also liked "Night at the Inn", for its unusually suspenseful plot with genuinely tense and creepy bits.
November 1, 2015
Favourites (as I'm rereading 1st Nov 2015):
The Duel ~ loved it. I do find it funny how the girl implores a stranger to convince a man not to kill her brother in a duel! The best part is when the man gets hit!
Hazard ~ oh yes! haha humourous and adorable, a guy waking up hungover devilishly aware when he realises where he is that he's eloping when already engaged!
The Duel ~ loved it. I do find it funny how the girl implores a stranger to convince a man not to kill her brother in a duel! The best part is when the man gets hit!
Hazard ~ oh yes! haha humourous and adorable, a guy waking up hungover devilishly aware when he realises where he is that he's eloping when already engaged!
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