Lady of Quality

by Georgette Heyer

Independent and spirited, Miss Annis Wychwood gives little thought to finding herself a suitable husband, thus dashing the dreams of many hopeful suitors. When she becomes embroiled in the affairs of the runaway heiress Lucilla, Annis's life becomes more complicated, as she soon encounters her fugitive's uncivil and high-handed guardian, Mr. Oliver Carleton.

Befriending the wayward girl brings excitement and unexpected consequences, among them greater interaction with Lucilla's guardian, who is quite the rudest man Annis has ever met..

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, Regency, Historical Romance, Historical, Fiction, Regency Romance

267 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Georgette 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.

Reviews

[Richard Derus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heyer's last book. It was published in 1972, before a series of strokes and a fatal bout with lung cancer (80 cigarettes a day will do that to one) carried her off in 1974. Definitely not the best work she did.

Interestingly, Dame Agatha Christie's last book came out in 1972, the absolutely execrable Elephants Can Remember, and Dame Ags died in 1975. These ladies were contemporaries, though I know of no evidence showing that they ever met; I'd've paid top dollar to be present when they did! Your attention please, time-travel agencies, I want a cut of the bucks from that alternate-timeline tour.

The books were not the finest in the respective authors' ouevres. Heyer's not-best, however, was about as far from her normal output as any other author's not-best; as Christie was suffering from dementia, she headed a great deal farther down from her own peak. In this book, Heyer's accustomed subtlety and witty misdirection are entirely absent. There are pleasant passages of smile-inducing drôlerie, but few standout moments and then almost always deeply familiar from past works. Ninian, the very-recent schoolboy whose arc to maturity resembles that of Nicky Carlyon from The Reluctant Widow, has probably the most memorable humorous lines in the book:

"Well, I don't scruple to say that I never had the least turn for scholarship," Ninian somewhat unnecessarily disclosed. He added a handsome rider to this statement, saying, with a beaming smile: "And I promise you, ma'am, no one would ever suspect you of being bookish!"

Overwhelmed by this tribute, Miss Wychwood uttered in a shaken voice: "How kind of you, Ninian, to say so!"

Nicky's boyish enthusiasm for espionage in that earlier work contrast tellingly with Ninian's fuddled motivations and interest in this story. Ninian, graduated from Oxford as opposed to Nicky's rustication therefrom, is as bumptiously energetic as Nicky though considerably less interesting. He's a Regency dudebro, out with the boys and making light work of his childhood friend Lucilla's Bath coming-out sort of season. He is no patch on the juvenile leads from earlier Heyers, but he is energetically amusing whenever he's in the frame.

Miss Annis Wychwood and Mr Oliver Carleton are peas in a pod; they recognize kindred free spirits in each other from the first. Neither of them was much given to conformity; each has economic independence; both are older and wiser than all of the conventional folk around them, regardless of calendar age. Does this sound familiar, Heyerites? Black Sheep, anyone? (I should probably review that one one day soon.) They are crashed into each others' spheres of influence and, as a result of their shared indifference to Society (within the bounds of propriety in Annis's case! can't go too far from reality) discover they will do nicely as spouses to each other. (In a tellingly complete rundown of his character flaws at the end of his proposal to Annis, Oliver fails to promise Happily-Ever-After and Annis accepts him with clear eyes and a happy heart. I can but hope that represents Heyer's own marriage to George Rougier.)

Here's the thing: None of this is accomplished with the subtlety and panache of previous iterations. It's just out there from the first, and so there's no tension or conflict to resolve that's worthy of the name. This book is a canter down the bridle path on your oldest horse, a treat for the old creature and for you, a visit to the site of many familiar pleasures.

But how man and beast long for the fences and the hedges of steeplechasing youth.

[Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Update: 3.75 stars. I enjoyed it! I think I’d heard so many complaints about this later Georgette Heyer novel that my expectations were rock-bottom, so I ended up being pleasantly surprised. :D

The last Regency novel written by Georgette Heyer, and the GH group's July group read. I confess that I jumped in early when this became available at my online library. #sorrynotsorry

LOQ takes a fair amount of heat for not being up to the standards of Heyer's earlier novels, but I have to say I thought it was a fun read. It does owe more than a little to the plot of Black Sheep, but that's not entirely a bad thing...

[Phrynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having recently reread The Quiet Gentleman I could not help myself and I went back to my Georgette Heyer bookshelf and took another book at random.

It turned out to be one I enjoy very much. The lady of quality is Annis Wychwood, who has despaired of finding a suitable match and has set up in a home of her own as an independent woman. Of course she has a chaperone, an older lady with the gift of never being able to stop talking. Annis can barely be civil to her but she is the cross one has to bear to be accepted in society.

Curious events occur which eventually bring Annis to meet Oliver Carleton who is rather brash and outspoken but a good match for Annis in intellect and argument. The rest is pure Heyer as the romance develops despite everyone having an opinion.

I am not sure if Georgette Heyer actually invented this genre but she surely wrote the best of its books. Smart, entertaining and totally enjoyable. This time round I am giving it five stars.

[Christmas Carol ꧁꧂ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5★

I have a theory about this title.

If it's one of the first Heyer's for a reader they often love it, as even a lousy Heyer is superior to most historical romances on the market. If you have already read & loved some of Heyer's finest works it is likely you will be disappointed.

& I fall into the later category.

My father gave me this beautiful edition (brand new at the time) for my sixteenth birthday! How eagerly I fell on it & started reading, only to soon realise it was nearly as bad as her previous book, Charity Girl! If those two were the first Heyer's I'd read, I would never have read another!

On previous reads I didn't like Oliver. This time it was the heroine Annis I didn't like. I found her arrogant & judgemental. Quite easily the most unappealing heroine in any of GH's historical romances. Oliver is just a less well drawn edition of two of Heyer's heroes Charles (The Grand Sophy) & Max (Faro's Daughter) In fact I could find the original of most of the characters in this book in other Heyer novels. I might as well say the two from The Black Sheep. This book is an inferior copy of it. Lucilla = Fanny, Miss Farley = Selina. Believe me, not a spoiler.

Really the only incident is how Annis meets Ninian (what a name!) & Lucilla (another pearler!) other than that it is one set piece after another. The hero & heroine spend very little time together as I really don't think Heyer (elderly, unwell & probably sick of Regencies) knew what to do with them.

Only positives. In showing a more independent heroine I think GH was trying to move with the times. The solution to what was going to become of Miss Farley was brilliant! Not so the solution for Lucilla.

Unless you are a Heyer completist I would skip this one. Sad that it was her final completed novel.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. Heyer, you can do better than this. And I'd wager that you knew that when you wrote this, too. Was the rent due soon or something? You've done this better elsewhere... about twenty times. It is a classic cats and dogs fighting couple who hate each other on sight and then soften and fall in love pretty quickly. I liked the hero a lot, which is the only reason I finished the book. Simple, no nonsense, no heroics, rude, seemed like an actual man. The heroine sucked. If only because Heyer felt the need to tell me how amazing she was every few pages, I ended up distrusting that statement and realized that she wasn't really that great- she was just a lot more sensible and only a little less silly/insipid than average, and just as concerned about propriety as everyone else, she just showed it less (but we heard about her thinking/talking about it the most of everyone in the effing book- after going on about how silly everyone else was for caring about silly proprieties). It was just that she was surrounded by such horrors of women that she looked good by comparison.

Also, can we discuss? Why is it that in many of Heyer's novels if a female character is single at an unreasonable age, she must be one of two extremes? Either: She must be beuatiful, rich, personable, funny, smart, and have a lot of suitors that she's turned down and could have at a drop of a hat if she wanted to.... she just chooses not to. Or if she is of average looks, she must be only quietly witty, never think of herself and serve everyone else to death, and of course as soon as the hero comes on the scene everyone discovers that she's beautiful after all after one scene where she is forced to dress up- because of course she would never do so unless she was forced! And then it turns out that she is like girl A after all, just nobody knew? And then of course she must accept the first offer of marriage made to her.

I just... why does the heroine have to be beautiful and have all the advantages of life to remain single? Couldn't she be plain and of competent means? Perhaps not dazzlingly witty? Give her a flaw! You don't need to justify your heroine at every turn, Heyer! I would have liked her better if you hadn't.

PS- What kind of name is Annis? Was that supposed to make her excitingly exotic?
PPS- Damn. I sound jaded. I hope I'm not getting sick of Heyer romance novels! That would cancel out many happy reading hours from my life.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lady of Quality is a Regency romance featuring a mature heroine and the uncle of a young woman whom she met under odd circumstances. Annis invites the niece to stay with her in Bath while her uncle works out a permanent arrangement for her. Annis and the uncle, Mr. Carleton, find that the other brings out a strong passion in them and often clash. Both are wealthy and have turned down numerous offers of marriage. She is beautiful and proper and he’s a rake.

The plot and characters are simpler than I have come to expect from a Heyer novel. While it is a pleasant story, nothing much happens. And I felt it ended somewhat unfinished. The two questions I had were left unanswered. I wanted to know how Annis unencumbered herself from her annoying elderly cousin that lived with her. This cousin’s dialogue was tedious to read, though it was clear that her character was meant to be irritating. Nobody wanted this person to stay with them, so how did this issue get resolved? Additionally, much is said about Mr. Carleton being a rake with countless mistresses, though he stated he would no longer continue with that lifestyle. It would have reinforced the story if there had been an epilogue a few years later confirming their wedded bliss.

I must agree with what Carol She’s So Novel stated in her review about novice Heyer readers enjoying this book more than seasoned readers. Now that I’ve read twelve plus Heyer books, it is apparent that the characters and plot here lack the complexity that The Nonesuch or The Corinthian or Sylvester or These Old Shades do.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've seen mixed reviews for this one with GR readers but I have to say I enjoyed it on the whole.
I liked Annis. A strong independent woman who knew what she wanted and went after it. Leaving her brother's house to live alone was an unusual decision for a woman of the time. She came across as hard and uncompromising at times but I think that had to be her outward appearance in the world she lived in. Otherwise she would have not been taken seriously.

Oliver I wasn't too keen on. He was brash and rude beyond what was needed and I thought Annis was too good for him. He didn't really appear all that much in the book. Even though it was obvious that he cared for Annis very much it didn't redeem him in my eyes.

Lucinda was a lovable child and Ninian a delight. I think they'll definitely end up together as Lady Wychwood predicted. She was a wise woman who knew how to handle her 'stuffed shirt' husband. He would have thought he was in control but she was pulling a lot of the strings. Subtly.

There were some great characters and lots of dialogue more than descriptive writing.
One more thing, cousin Maria, she should have been smothered at birth!! Enough said.

This is a reread and I'm upping it to 5*'s. Enjoyed it a lot this time. It's quite short and contains a lot of dialogue which I loved. The sparing between the main characters was great and the relationship between Lucilla and Ninian was delightful.
Only one thing hasn't changed, Maria should still have been disposed of at birth!! If I was Annis I would have been severely tempted to 'plant her a facer'!! What a waste of space of a person!!!

My third read and I enjoyed it as much as the last time. Still feel the same about the characters and once again I must mention Maria!! surely the most annoying character Heyer ever produced!!!

I needed a comfort read and so naturally turned to Heyer! Still a great read and yes, Maria still drives me nuts!!!!

[Abigail Bok · Rating 4 out of 5]

Late in her career, Georgette Heyer published two novels set in Bath. Both have heroines who are more mature (late twenties) and both have heroes who defy the gentlemanly conventions of the Regency. Black Sheep, the other one of the pair, tends to be the preferred book, and I can see reasons for that although I enjoy reading both because I tend to prefer Heyer’s older heroines (Venetia being an exception for me).

In Lady of Quality, Annis Wychwood is a beautiful woman of nearly thirty who has turned down a number of marriage proposals. She is independently wealthy and sees few inducements to exchange her independence for the married state. Annis has even left the protection of her brother’s household (her parents being no more) and set up her own establishment in Bath. She finds life a little dull there but has a circle of friends that make it more appealing than being buried in the country under the thumb of her pompous, self-important brother, who can’t rid himself of the notion that he must guide and control her.

His parting shot was to saddle her with a companion of his choosing, an impoverished kinswoman named Maria Farlow, who proves to be an airhead and an inveterate gabster. Annis tries to put up with her but for her, as for the reader, a little of Maria’s inanity goes a long way. There are moments in the book that jarred me with how unkind Annis could be to her tiresome companion.

On their way home from a visit to her brother’s estate, Annis and Miss Farlow encounter a pair of young people benighted on the road by a carriage accident. Annis takes up the young lady to convey her to Bath and hears her story. She is a young, orphaned heiress, Lucilla Carleton, a year or so shy of her debut, who is escaping from the loving but smothering guardianship of an aunt who is determined to marry her off to her childhood friend, Ninian Elmore. (Ninian was the other half of the pair found by the roadway, having been dragooned into assisting Lucilla with her escape.) The young people are fond of each other but have no wish to wed—hence the ill-considered flight.

Annis, on an equally ill-considered impulse, decides to invite Lucilla to stay for a while as her guest. Lucilla is a sweet girl but Annis soon discovers that the duties of a chaperone are trickier than she foresaw—especially when Lucilla’s guardian, her uncle Oliver Carleton, appears on the scene. Oliver is a well-known libertine renowned for his brusque, uncivil manners, and his entrance into staid Bath society is like throwing a cat among the pigeons.

This is a very promising setup, but in this last of Heyer’s novels, it is clear that she is running out of creative energy. Ordinarily, Lucilla and Ninian would have storylines as well developed as the heroine’s, their subplot having almost as many twists and surprises as hers. But in fact, despite lots of sparkling dialogue, from Annis’s quarrels with Oliver to Maria Farlow’s nonsense, not a whole lot happens. Annis’s position of independence doesn’t allow for a lot of opposition, however inappropriate her choice of partner might seem to her loved ones; and Lucilla ends up making much less trouble than you might expect.

I enjoy the primary couple (despite Annis being forced in the proposal scene to utter the canard that makes me dislike Venetia so, “if you cheat on me it will be my fault”) and enjoy following two self-aware adults as they fall in love, but I miss the complexity and challenges of her earlier books. I even found three passages where Heyer repeated herself within the same book—a failing made poignant by my knowledge that she was reaching the end of her long and productive career. It’s hard to escape the conclusion that this was written on autopilot.

Still, the least of Heyer’s Regency novels is better than anyone else’s Regency novel that I’ve yet encountered, so as an occasional reread, Lady of Quality toes up to the mark.

[Mela · Rating 4 out of 5]

How can Ibe sure that we shall be happy when neither of us has had any experience of marriage? All I can tell you is that I am perfectly sure I want to marry you...

For sure, there were a few interesting and mature conversations between the two main characters. I liked that they were equal in it.

I also think that the characters of Miss Farlow, Lord Beckenham, and Ninian were wonderfully created.

But besides mentioned above, there was "just" Heyer's language and atmosphere. No fireworks. No scenes that could have made me laugh or sigh. It was "just" putting all "Heyer's basics" in the jar, shaking it, and spilling the mix. Because it was Heyer - it was still entertaining. Yet, she could have done better.

I think I liked it better the first time. [3.5-4 stars]

**************
/below is a review after first reading/
**************

In my opinion, this book consists of two components.

The first component are dialogues between Annis and Oliver. They last for many pages. I can't recall if there is another book of Heyer where are so long talks between the main hero and heroine. And let me tell you, these talks are fantastic and amusing. There wasn't a force that could have forced me to take a break when I was reading one of these dialogues.

The second component are monologues of Miss Farlow. I almost envied her capability to this chatter. I read it spellbound and with a big smile on my mouth. The ease with which she goes from one thing to the other - I couldn't invent it. Heyer was a master.

Between these two components, we have Bath atmosphere, a little about change from a boy to a man and of course a little about society. But these are additions. One of the surprises is that we don't know if Lucilla and Ninian will be together. In all of Heyer's books, I have read until now all love stories (not only main ones) have endings. This is the first time with this big unknown. But it makes the book more unique.

I don't put it on my shelf with the best Heyer's Regency romances but just behind them.

[QNPoohBear · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annis Wynchwood left her brother's home at the age of six and twenty to set up her own establishment in Bath because she and her brother Geoffrey can not rub on together while they live under the same roof. Annis has a comfortable home in Bath with her garrulous, indigent relative as chaperone. Annis enjoys her life but she is a bit bored. On the way home from visiting her brother and his family, Annis comes across a broken down carriage and a young lady and young gentleman in distress. Annis offers her assistance to the pair and changes her world forever. The young lady, Lucilla, is running away from an unwanted marriage with her childhood best friend Ninian. Ninian wants the marriage as much as Lucilla but his sense of honor compels him to keep her from getting into trouble. Annis befriends the pair and takes young Lucilla under her wing. Lucilla's uncle Oliver Carleton, the rudest man in London, arrives in Bath and barges his way into Annis's well-ordered life. The pair are forever at odds yet they seem to share the same sense of humor and enjoy trading witty barbs. Soon Annis has more excitement than she every thought possible when her brother, fearing for her virtue, sends his wife and children to stay. Annis has her hands full playing hostess and keeping Druscilla out of trouble but she doesn't need help. Indeed Mr. Carleton expresses little interest in his niece. Why then does Mr. Carleton insist on staying in Bath?


This book is tied for my #2 favorite Heyer novel. I love the independent, older heroine who thinks she knows everything until she matches wits with a notorious rake! The dialogue between Annis and Oliver is quite witty and made me smile. They are an evenly matched pair. The secondary characters provide much of the screwball comedy antics Heyer is known for. I chuckled out loud in many places and smiled at the end. I love comedy of manners plots and no one did it better than Heyer. I enjoyed this book as much as I did the first time, even if it is basically a copy of her earlier book Black Sheep. I loved Black Sheep. It was great so why mess with success?

*update on reread July 2020*

This one is usually right up in my top 5 but not so this time. It didn't do anything for me. I found Lucilla and Ninian annoying as usual. Maria is stupid and petty. Telling tales to Geoffrey when she's employed by Annis is just wrong. If you don't like living with an independent woman, ask her to find you a new position. Maria plays on the family connection too often. "Blood is thicker than water" is not an excuse when everyone else realizes her chattering is making Annis ill. Annis is worried about Lucilla and so Lucilla is allowed in to ease Annis's mind. Lucilla may be selfish but she knows when to shut up.

Geoffrey is an awful brother. He claims to care about his sister but wanting her to be happy is less important than wanting to appear respectable. He's a loving husband and father but still treats his sister like a child. He's a man of his time, I know but he should realize why Annis left Wychwood and set up her own establishment in Bath even though she's bored. They never did get along that well. I can relate! I get along with my siblings better when we don't live together. Amabel is a lovely widgeon. I'd be sooooooooo bored in her presence and with her life. It works for her. She's content to be a wife and mother, concerned with domestic affairs. She isn't clever and bookish like Annis.

Ninian and Lucilla's parents/guardians are terrible. Ninian's mother and sisters keep him on a short leash by weeping and being full of "excess sensibility." His father keeps his only son in line with threats that dear Papa is going to have a heart attack and die if Ninian doesn't do exactly what Papa wants. This is a truly awful, abusive way to raise a family. While Mrs. Amber seems to lavish money on Lucilla and perhaps cares for the girl in her own way, she has no real love for her niece and lacks the understanding necessary to deal with a headstrong teenage girl. Lucilla is very much spoiled, like her uncle and selfish like him too. Unlike Oliver, she has a good heart and pretty manners. She's just young and silly. I think she'll be a lot like Annis when she's older.

I'm not fond of Oliver. He's so rude and he deliberately provokes Annis to make her mad. I hate that. He's very Darcyish in a way. He was probably brought up "in pride and conceit" and spoiled. He's gotten everything he wanted handed to him. I'm sure even the fashionable impures were fawning all over him. Amabel says he's had a number of "lures cast out" to him. I don't see their marriage being successful. At some point there will probably be children. Then what? He can't be so unfeeling as to be so rude and uncaring about what other people think. Annis doesn't care what other people think about her but she does understand the rules and how to toe the line between independence and respectability.

I didn't like the "if you're unfaithful it's my fault" line. I don't see Oliver as being faithful. He may love her, yes but he's too cock of the walk to leave behind the incognitas and easy conquests. Then they'll fight and make up. I think Oliver is different from other rakish heroes. The other couples share a strong friendship and sense of humor. They form a connection and then fall in love. Oliver fell in love at first argument. Hopefully, because he's getting older, he'll be less interesting to the demimonde, willing widows and bored housewives.

Alas, Georgette Heyer was very ill when she wrote this last novel. She phoned it in and it shows. It's Austenesque in the Bath setting and the domestic details but unlike Heyer's other novels, that's all there is. There isn't any conflict outside of Annis's head. It's all internal. I can complete empathize with her. At this point in my life, I couldn't see myself marrying anyone and thankfully, if I did, I wouldn't have to give up my independence or my fortune. It's a really terrible dilemma for Annis but not one, I think, Regency spinsters had to make. I don't think anyone WANTED to be a spinster (except maybe Jane Austen).

Hopefully upon my next reread, I will enjoy this one again. My favorites change places depending on my mood when I'm reading them and which Heyer or Austen I've been reading before it.

**************************Reread December 2022***************************

I enjoyed my reread. It's not so similar to Black Sheep after all. Heyer had a formula and it worked for her. That's not such a bad thing because she was an excellent writer. The dialogue is funny and the characters appealing. I really REALLY relate to Annis! As an unmarried, child FREE woman, I would love to have enough money to be independent like Annis and there's NO WAY I'd let my brother impose on me like that. I'd flat out say no. Geoffrey is overbearing even if it comes from a place of love. Annis is an adult and he has no authority over her. She has friends in Bath who would certainly caution her against Oliver in a less heavy-handed way. Is Oliver really any worse than any other wealthy gentleman? Geoffrey's only reason for disliking Oliver is because Oliver is the rudest man in London. Annis wonders whether Oliver once gave Geoffrey a setdown. Oliver has enough money to say whatever he wants and do whatever he wants.

I think Annis felt sympathy and kinship with Lucilla and that's why she took the girl in. She understood completely how it felt to yearn for independence and not be forced into fitting into someone else's plans. She also understood how it felt to be a headstrong young lady and knew how Lucilla would react if sent back to her aunt. Ninian was part of the package deal and able to control Lucilla a bit more than Lucilla's relatives. Plus, he's in the same situation and Annis recognized how the adults were manipulating the children.

Maria is awful. She deliberately interrupts Annis and Oliver because she doesn't think they should be alone together. She lacks education, intelligence and insight to understand the world and the various types of people in the world. She's terrified of wicked men like Oliver and jealous of Lucilla because she knows Annis enjoys Lucilla's company more. Maria is poor and dependent on others and so she tries to make herself useful. It comes out all wrong except when she's helping Amabel with Tom. She's good with children, I'll give her that. I'm certain she'll live out the rest of her days in Amabel's nursery but I wonder what Nurse will have to say about THAT?

I thought Lucilla and Ninian were more like siblings than lovers. He felt protective of her but had his head turned by other pretty young ladies with milder temperments. I don't think these two will end up together in the end. She'll end up with someone older and wiser who can handle her and he'll end up with a sweet young bride.

[Kim Kaso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just what I needed during a rainy February. I always get in a subconscious funk at this time of year, & then realize it is when my mom had a health crisis while I was living in England. My family told me to stay put, but then she took a turn for the worse and we had to fly home and bury her in a Western Pennsylvania winter. Valentine's Day has never been the same.

Anyway, although this is my first re-read of this since my first read way back when, I enjoyed it more. Not in my top GH books, but still very enjoyable. I have been in Bath reading-wise for the past month, Black Sheep, Persuasion, and now this one. It is helping me to make it to spring, and to escape when the country's vicissitudes become too much for me.

I very much enjoy Annis, Oliver, found Maria to be one of the all-time annoying characters & hope they find a place for her where she does not drive our happy couple mad...perhaps with a slightly deaf person? All in all, just what I needed.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

2022 Review
Bumping back up to 4 stars because I've decided I love this book again.

Granted, it would be nice to get more of the main couple. But they still make me very happy.

Probably helps that I'm turning 29 this year so 29-year-old Annis is feeling rather terrifyingly like the only Heyer heroine I've got left.

2021 Review
If I were in the habit of bumping Heyer novels down, I might adjust this one to 3 stars again. The romance just occurs too fast. There was no build-up. None of the witty banter that characterizes Black Sheep. I was astounded that we reached the point of Oliver's departure at the 70% mark! That leaves nearly 30% of this book for Annis to pine after him!
Far too much time.

2019 Review - 4 stars
3rd times the charm? I actually really enjoyed this re-read! (It may take a read or two, but I always fall for Heyer's characters. Sigh.)
I immensely dislike the name Annis but otherwise I really like this storyline. It is a welcome relief from the "dangerous rake falls for innocent young maiden" plot. For a change, "dangerous rake falls for mature woman"! Heyer dabbles in both types of stories and generally succeeds in both cases. However, in this situation I really liked it because Annis doesn't walk in blind. It is somewhat similar to Venetia in that sense and I don't care as much for that story, so I guess my earlier hostility makes sense. Still, much more enjoyable this time around. (Maybe I should give Venetia a third try!)

2018 Re-read - 2 stars
Not as horrid as I remembered, but still not Heyer's best. She doesn't allow subtlety to move her characters but has her heroine spend paragraphs analyzing her own emotions.
I like her relationship with her brother, however.

2011 Review - 1 Star
Worse Heyer book I've read yet. Disliked the heroine, the hero lacked what some of Heyer's better guys had. Gahhh. All the characters were insipid.
The only part I liked was when the brother thought the companion was drunk >.> that was slightly amusing.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this Bath regency comedy. Oliver the wealthy bachelor and Annis (weird name) with their brief courtship. My favorite is the elderly cousin Miss Farlow who is absolutely hilarious. The story probably needed more fleshing out but its funny and made me laugh in places. The spoilt Lucilla and the schoolboy about to become a gentleman, Ninian.

This was Heyer’s last novel and not her best but still wonderful, humorous and with the happy ending.

[Emmy B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know this story is essentially Black Sheep revisited, and yet the feel of this novel differs substantially from its predecessor. Black Sheep is a romp, this feels more mature, angrier somehow. Annis’s decided defence of her independence is unique in Heyer literature, where women who suggest they’d like to set up their own home are usually laughed at or discouraged (and who then get married before it becomes a necessity). Even the romance feels like it cuts deeper than Black Sheep.

The only problem I have with this book is Miss Farlow. By setting her up as a sort of villain in this story, Heyer was punching down and so nothing in her storyline feels at all satisfying. This part felt, in fact, very underdeveloped, as if this were a placeholder for a much more effective antagonist.

[Lady Wesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book, the last one written by Georgette Heyer, is essentially the same plot as the far superior Black Sheep, but it nevertheless was a pleasure to listen to. Eve Matheson is a good narrator, although not in the Kate Reading or Roslyn Landor class.

[OT: I do wish Eve had narrated Black Sheep, as it is one of my favorite Heyers, and the audio version was done by Barbara Leigh-Hunt. She is a marvelous actress, but her voice is and ever will be that of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and she sounded far too old to be the heroine.]

[Seema Khan Peerzada · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75* for this Georgette Heyer book, because it kept me totally hooked onto it!
I am overdoing the Georgette Heyer book reading spree for not one comes to an end and I am ready with the next! Such is the charm of the author that I can't resist the temptation! Having started late on reading Georgette Heyer books, I find myself compelled by the reader in me to practice the reader's gluttony!
Coming to the book, Well there's nothing drastically different or new in the storyline to be sure and definitely not one of Heyer's best books, but I enjoyed it nevertheless!
It was in one word 'Fun' to read this book. Though I agree that the hero appeared only in the fifth unit ( much to my blight!) but then it was essential to form rigid grounds for his entrance.
The best part about the book is the anti camaraderie between Miss Annis Wychwood and Mr Oliver Carleton. It kept me in splits! Superb dialogue. Especially the surprising things Mr Oliver Carleton says are rib tickling!
The character of Mr Carleton is very similar to that of Marquise Alverstoke (Frederica) and Lord Jasper Damerel (Venetia) a very matter-of-fact manner and I-care-a-jot attitude of a wealthy rake; but inspite of the similarity I still do like him. All his conversations are very intelligently designed and executed, and his character comes out amazingly brilliant in the book in terms of character depiction. One of my favourite Heyer Hero's..
Miss Annis Wychwood is one of my favourite Heyer heroines for the sheer strength of character she has. A daring female choosing to live life on her own terms, which in that period in which the story is set was colossal!
Even though the story has many similar elements belonging to a typical Heyer book, it had some newness with the change in setting from London to Bath, and a portrayal of events and life in that setting and also the book was not very crowded.
I was exasperated with Miss Farlow! Oh if such a person I did encounter in my life I shall (in Mr Carleton's words) wring her neck! Such a test to the nerves she is! Which clearly shows us what a genius Georgette Heyer was in bringing out characters in her books which made us heartily love or loathe them, whatever the case may be.
Secondary characters were also amiable from Lucilla and Ninian to Jurby and the Wychwoods. The parallel story of Lucilla and Ninian had made my mind up that they may actually be married by the end of the book, but no such turn of events is to be noticed here.
Overall, anyone looking for a fun and quick read and also wants some quality conversations and dialogues, this is the book for you. And being a GH it has definitely to be read at least once!

[Barb in Maryland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not one of the best of Heyer's books, but it is still a delightful read. It is very heavy on dialog, and a bit repetitious. And the basic plot owes a bit to 'Black Sheep'.
However, I am fond of Annis and Oliver; and the minor characters, especially Maria Farlow, still amuse me rather than annoy me.
I just finished a re-read (5th or 6th--I've lost track) and had a good time. Not a bad way to start Sept. 2016.
ETA 2/06/2017--
I've been re-reading this with the GH Fans Group--very interesting to read all the different views.
What I noticed this time is how little we know of Annis's daily life in Bath before Lucy and Ninian disrupted it. How did she spend her days, who did she spend time with--we just don't really know. The background details that GH provided were few and far between. For example, Annis spoke of the difficulties of keeping a riding horse and all the steps it took to take a ride--but who did she ride with (besides her groom)?
Re-reading this so close to having read 'Black Sheep' brings into focus the lack of drama in this book, especially in comparison to the high drama of 'Black Sheep'
I still stand by my earlier rating and comments. I like Annis and Oliver and believe in their romance. I appreciate that GH's final heroine was older, trying her best to be independent without crossing the boundaries of the society she lived in.
ETA: 13 July 2020--another re-read with the GH Fans group. I stand by my previous reviews, but I'm bumping the rating up to 4 stars. I still enjoy reading this, in spite of its storytelling flaws. This time around I especially noticed how well Amabel managed her dear husband and found it delightful.

[Tittirossa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Le eroine di Heyer sono tutte wonderwoman, belle e intelligenti, e anche se fanno passi falsi immediatamente si ripigliano.
E’ pure questo il caso di una non più giovanissima Lady che casualmente (perché dire per noia farebbe brutto) prende sotto la sua ala protettrice una giovinetta in fuga (dal marito che le vogliono appioppare, e che non volendo sposarla l’ha aiutata nella fuga) salvo poi scoprire che le giovinette sono come i cagnolini, simpatici e di compagnia, ma necessitano di guida e accudimento.
La pulzella ha uno zio, non c’è bisogno di dire che è sgodevole e poco propenso alle smancerie, e quindi brilla come un diamante grezzo agli occhi della Lady.
Si dipanano un 300 pagine agili e piene di dialoghi scoppiettanti, in particolare con la povera dama di compagnia e con lo zio diamante, di lievissimi travagli (omg ho usato un tovagliolino sbagliato per il te delle 5, sono uscito con gli stivali da cavallo, e via discorrendo) fino al consueto happy end.
Il pink effect è quello di un romance, ma ci si sente più intelligenti e meno poracce che a leggere un Harmony, visto che Heyer viene paragonata ad Austen (yessss, i dialoghi sono brillanti è vero, le ambientazioni accurate, la società ironicamente presa per i fondelli, manca* il quid austeniano, la capacità di raffigurare sentimenti e situazioni, comprendere tutto e tutti in uno sguardo, pennellare quadri di insieme dove ogni singolo personaggio salta fuori e diventa indimenticabile).
*manca, ma non tutti possono essere dei geni e avercene delle Heyer!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was just what I needed right now. It's a frothy, jolly frolic that made me laugh aloud more than once.

Miss Annis Wychwood is a woman after my own heart, and no mistake. She knows her own mind, she's Sensible, and she's Kind and Helpful. She even has a penchant for playing fairy godmother, though it's never put in exactly those terms.

The story feels a bit as if Emma Woodhouse from Emma had fallen in love with Mr. Palmer from Sense and Sensibility. Can you hear me cackling with glee? I cackled with glee a good deal while reading this book, I assure you. And chortled. Possibly even guffawed once or twice. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[ᴥ Irena ᴥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lady Of Quality is a cute historical romance featuring two characters who can't seem to talk normally when they meet. I liked their every meeting. The bickering was one of the things that make this book better.
What drove me nuts is the way people allowed the most annoying person in the world to manipulate them (Annis's cousin Maria). It is humorous at first, but later it gets tiresome.

I don't have a lot to say about the book. It's is one of those you can breeze through.

[Lady Wesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, the last one written by Georgette Heyer, is essentially the same plot as the far superior Black Sheep, but it nevertheless was a pleasure to listen to. Eve Matheson is a good narrator, although not in the Kate Reading or Roslyn Landor class.

[OT: I do wish Eve had narrated Black Sheep, as it is one of my favorite Heyers, and the audio version was done by Barbara Leigh-Hunt. She is a marvelous actress, but her voice is and ever will be that of Lady Catherine de Bourgh, and she sounded far too old to be the heroine.]

[Lea · Rating 5 out of 5]

God, this was just right. I loved it. I like that the heroine is older (close to my age), I loved Oliver Carleton, I thought the secondary characters were great (props to the excellent Jurby!) and I thought the conflicts were so well written.

The ending was so good and heart-warming. I think this is one of my favourite Heyers.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel sort of mixed about this one in that I truly enjoyed the characters, and loved how the reader did their voices (especially Cousin Maria), but they . . . didn't do much. They mostly sat around Annis' house in Bath and talked about What To Do With Lucilla. Which was ultimately solved by a conversation we didn't even see.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 to 4 stars. A light and enjoyable read, although perhaps not Ms Heyer's best. This was the last book she ever wrote apparently.

Another book set in Bath, in which not a huge amount happens. I did think the way that Annis took Lucilla in after randomly meeting her on the road was a bit hard to swallow. They were perfect strangers, after all, and despite Annis' good intentions, it could have been disastrous.

One issue I had with this book was that, as with some of Ms Heyer's other books, there wasn't enough romance in it for me. I would like to have seen more of Oliver and Annis together. The ending was quite satisfactory, though, although we never do find out whether Lucilla and Ninian eventually marry. But Annis and Oliver do get their lovely HEA.

[Anneceleste · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's true that it resembles Black Sheep: it takes place in Bath, the heroine is on her late twenties and the romance develops gradually from the heroine's point of view and doesn't finish abruptly like most Heyer's romances do. It has many funny moments especially where the companion, Miss Farlow, is involved. One of my favourites.

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ 3.5 un romanzo storico molto divertente, il finale un po’ troppo sbrigativo ma rimane comunque una buona lettura.

[Julie (jjmachshev) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed for queuemyreview.com

Truth to tell, I’m a little discomfited to be writing a review of Georgette Heyer’s “Lady of Quality”. Heyer was, after all, the progenitor of the Regency Romance genre. What can I possibly say that hasn’t been said (and likely better) by much more facile and famous reviewers than myself? But, Quentin the taskmistress has set me to this undertaking, so onward I shall go!

Did I enjoy reading this book? Indeed I did. Heyer’s style of writing draws the reader into her regency world and immerses us into this different time with wholly different standards of behavior, station, and living. Our heroine, Annis, is revealed to us as very much the deviation from the norm. But, there are no speeches or ruminations about ‘proper’ behavior, instead we learn what makes Annis so different from others of her time and station by her actions and the ensuing reactions of others to her actions in various situations. Heyer doesn’t preach and prosy about what made those times so different from ours; instead she allows us to learn for ourselves throughout the progress of her story. And, being me, I always enjoy authors who don’t try to bash me over the head with data like I’m an idiot!

Her hero, the rake Oliver, was truly not the focus of this book. I would really consider him a more secondary character in comparison. This book is about Annis; her feelings, beliefs, behaviors, and secret desires. Oliver and his actions toward others, including Annis, really just provides the means for a radical change in Annis’ thinking. Here she is, 29 years old (an old maid of her time), and with a definite, yet unstated, view of her future. She will only marry for love, for the possibility of love…not for comfort, or to bow to pressure, or for money or ‘things’. Now here’s Oliver. She can’t for the life of her figure out why (or even if) she like him. But over time, she finds that she can’t imagine life without him. Now, isn’t that love?

I also found it intriguing that there was still passion in this book; it was just veiled, very unlike these days of open sexuality and blatant language. Don’t get me wrong! I happily read erotica as well as romance and mystery and…well anything really. But it’s probably been 10 years since I’ve intentionally picked up a romance book I knew would be sexually suitable for a teen reader. A good friend from goodreads.com (knowing my readaholic illness) asked me, before I was offered this book for review, if I’d ever read Heyer. I said, “Of course!” But, knowing her reading tastes I went on to remind her that the majority of Heyer’s books were written during the 1930s to 1950s. This was a VERY different time with repressed sexual mores most of us today can’t begin to imagine! And yet, her novels continue to sell, and sell very well, regardless of when they are reprinted. Maybe that’s because love and our ideas of what love is (and isn’t) don’t really change?

“Lady of Quality” is considered the last full-length regency novel Georgette Heyer penned. First published in 1972, it’s a stunning example of her style and voice, perfected over her years of writing. Whether you’re a long-time Heyer fan, or have never tried one of her novels, I’d definitely suggest you give this one a try. I did; and I’m glad. She was, after all, and will always be the Queen of the Regency.

[Kavita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wealthy Annis Wychwood is getting on in years but is not interested in marriage. Neither is she interested in being under the thumb of her brother, so she moves out with a companion (engaged by her brother). When she encounters a runaway heiress, escaping a plan to forcibly marry her off to her best friend, she takes her under her wing. Her best friend follows and soon enough Annis is embroiled in their affairs.

I feared that this was going the way of The Nonesuch, which had a terrible 'stubborn young female' character distracting the reader from the actual romance and other better characters. But though not a brilliant story, Heyer managed to pull it off pretty decently. The romance between Annis and Oliver Carleton, Lucilla's absent guardian, is really one of the saving graces of this book. His annoyance at having a stranger butt into his arrangements appear to be both realistic and valid to me. Then he gradually gets to know Annis and respect her, then falls in love.

I really needed to overlook so many obvious plot holes in this one, though. Why does nobody give a shit about this kid, Lucilla? For a strictly brought up young girl, everyone is just happy to foist her onto a perfect stranger. For all anyone knows, Annis may not be all that she appears to be! Lucilla's aunt never shows up after having arranged a forcible marriage for her ward. The obvious emotional abuse shown by both Lucilla's aunt and Ninian's parents are triggering.

This was Heyer's last fully-written book published in 1972, before she died a couple of years later. For a writer in that situation, this was a pretty decent attempt. The characters were well-drawn, though the plot does seem to be a bit repetitive and reminiscent of some of her older works. The humour is present, the romance is believable, and you do end up liking the main couple. Overall, worth a read!

[Susan in NC · Rating 4 out of 5]

10/30/22 - 4 stars this time, listening to the audiobook, not a top 10 favorite, but very entertaining reread!

7/1/2020 - rereading with Heyer Group for maybe fourth time; this time, enjoying the audiobook, always fun for rereads, I always catch something new! Still a fun 3.5 stars - not Heyer’s best, but an entertaining romp! Love the ending scene.

2017 reread: This one still rates 3.5 stars for me, as in I really liked it, but not quite loved it compared to some other Heyer books.

I liked Annis Wychwood, the lady of the title, and there were several enjoyable typical Heyer "types": the high-spirited yet sweet-natured young ward, Lucilla; her would-be swain and childhood playmate, Ninian; the loyal, tough old servant, Jurby; the annoying, incessantly chattering, family dependent Miss Farlow; and the pompous, persistent suitor, Lord Beckenham.

I'm still not sure about the hero, Oliver Carleton; he and Annis are constantly at daggers drawn and of course finally come to a happy resolution, but he didn't really cut it for me as a great Heyer hero - and she's given us some wonderful heroes! I really couldn't see what could've made Annis fall In love with him except he was rude and outspoken compared to her previous suitors - not my cup of tea at all, but apparently it worked for her.

The Heyer group just read Black Sheep together, an earlier Heyer with a very similar plot. I enjoyed that book much better, I must admit - especially the hero, Miles, who was funny and charming and gracious and just delightful. So, I would say Lady of Quality is not a favorite, but still a fun, light-hearted romp.

[Bettie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two authors that I simply must engage with in the summer months:
Georgette Heyer
P G Wodehouse




Formulaic. Do not read this and think that this is all Heyer is about.