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Reading Heyer: The Black Moth
Literary criticism has never been so hilarious! Here, historical romance maven Rachel Hyland explores the great Georgette Heyer's seminal masterwork The Black Moth, taking a chapter-by-chapter look at the book's genius, along with an unflinching analysis of its problems and prejudices. A must for any Heyer fan!
93 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 17, 2018
12 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Hyland
19 books20 followersRachel Hyland is, she is pretty sure, the one true queen of Fantastica, raised in obscurity to protect her from the dark lord Sinisterium. If you see her magic sword, get in touch. The fate of the many worlds just may depend upon it. She lives in Melbourne, Australia with too many Pop! Vinyls and not nearly enough Little Golden Books.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 17, 2018
Masterful. Cuts to the chase!
A rather wonderfully, light hearted, yet shrewd interpretation of Heyer's first novel, The Black Moth.
The prologue was adroit and immediately grabbed my attention. (Mind you 'These Old Shades' was the Heyer novel I first read, and to this day I am in love with the Duc of Avon and Leonie! Oh! Stamp of pretty foot, Monsiegneur!)
So this well delivered expose of The Black Moth has me recalling those stories and feelings that revolved around this novel, These Old Shades and Devil's Cub. Certainly Hugh Tracy, the Duke of Andover, is darker than Justin, the Duc of Avon.
Whole generations have been born and died since I first read Heyer. And I am still enamoured of her works, and still reread them with the same fervour.
And oh Bliss! I reacquainted myself with Heyer in Hyland's fabulous commentary. I was given fresh eyes to see and things reflect on and to laugh at. What a wonderful sardonically, laconic writing style Hylands has, albeit with serious undertones. The inclusion of Jenny, Jack Carstaires horse, is both deft and hilarious.
On a darker note Hyland points to the shocking fact that Hugh Tracy, the Duke of Andover, tries to kidnap and have his way with the Lady Diana Beauleigh (aka rape). The lower classes were targets for this sort of behaviour, but Ladies? Oh my, the class divisions rear their ugly head and the treatment of females generally rears its even uglier head. All of which nineteen year old Heyer, in the early 1920's seems to have had little notion about, or perhaps the real life knowledge to view such actions through?
Certainly, a 2018 view on this Georgian novel written is illuminating and thought provoking.
This is a witty, well written reflection on Heyer's first novel. I enjoyed it immensely.
'Damn it, Tracy. Damn it all.'
All Heyer fans need a copy!
A NetGalley ARC
A rather wonderfully, light hearted, yet shrewd interpretation of Heyer's first novel, The Black Moth.
The prologue was adroit and immediately grabbed my attention. (Mind you 'These Old Shades' was the Heyer novel I first read, and to this day I am in love with the Duc of Avon and Leonie! Oh! Stamp of pretty foot, Monsiegneur!)
So this well delivered expose of The Black Moth has me recalling those stories and feelings that revolved around this novel, These Old Shades and Devil's Cub. Certainly Hugh Tracy, the Duke of Andover, is darker than Justin, the Duc of Avon.
Whole generations have been born and died since I first read Heyer. And I am still enamoured of her works, and still reread them with the same fervour.
And oh Bliss! I reacquainted myself with Heyer in Hyland's fabulous commentary. I was given fresh eyes to see and things reflect on and to laugh at. What a wonderful sardonically, laconic writing style Hylands has, albeit with serious undertones. The inclusion of Jenny, Jack Carstaires horse, is both deft and hilarious.
On a darker note Hyland points to the shocking fact that Hugh Tracy, the Duke of Andover, tries to kidnap and have his way with the Lady Diana Beauleigh (aka rape). The lower classes were targets for this sort of behaviour, but Ladies? Oh my, the class divisions rear their ugly head and the treatment of females generally rears its even uglier head. All of which nineteen year old Heyer, in the early 1920's seems to have had little notion about, or perhaps the real life knowledge to view such actions through?
Certainly, a 2018 view on this Georgian novel written is illuminating and thought provoking.
This is a witty, well written reflection on Heyer's first novel. I enjoyed it immensely.
'Damn it, Tracy. Damn it all.'
All Heyer fans need a copy!
A NetGalley ARC
June 12, 2019
Loved this!! Rachel Hyland takes us through and explains what happens in Georgette Heyer's The
Black Moth.
A witty and sometimes downright hilarious run through Heyer's first novel. I laughed out loud many times and she had it spot on.
The Black Moth is the first Heyer novel I ever read many years ago. I would advise anyone reading Heyer for the first time to read this book. I found the language hard and reading this has made it so self explanatory. Over the years I've come to understand her books (and love them). However, having read this book I want to read The Black Moth again with this in mind.
Heyer fan's, you'll love it!
Black Moth.
A witty and sometimes downright hilarious run through Heyer's first novel. I laughed out loud many times and she had it spot on.
The Black Moth is the first Heyer novel I ever read many years ago. I would advise anyone reading Heyer for the first time to read this book. I found the language hard and reading this has made it so self explanatory. Over the years I've come to understand her books (and love them). However, having read this book I want to read The Black Moth again with this in mind.
Heyer fan's, you'll love it!
May 20, 2024
This just made the cut for three stars; the author is nowhere near as clever as she thinks she is. It did make me laugh though and there was the odd very good insight (Heyer's use of the word "doubt", etc.). It was generally buried under several annoyingly childish observations (his name is Dick which makes sense because he behaves like a dick? Are you twelve?) but still: credit where credit is due. PLEASE read the original, brilliant book and not just this.
May 1, 2026
Hi Rach this is Karen Reeves nee McLaughlan from our Finishing Touch days. So RDJ tells me you went to Hollyweird to track down celebrities who knew my husband Keanu Reeves and/or possibly me because you were unknowingly (mostly) inspired by Steve Hitchings. And yes I understand the subtext babe!
Apparently you went to Ben Afflecks house and didn't make the grade when you said "Hi I'm Rachel from Australia" and Ben replied "Oh you worked with Karen Reeves at Finishing Touch." Rachel then had a momentary flash of surprise crossed with delight however Ben quickly quashed that down with his riotous retort "Never gonna happen bitch" until it somehow still did.
Call me 0403 808 180 (and the +61 is implied dude)
😎😊😎
Apparently you went to Ben Afflecks house and didn't make the grade when you said "Hi I'm Rachel from Australia" and Ben replied "Oh you worked with Karen Reeves at Finishing Touch." Rachel then had a momentary flash of surprise crossed with delight however Ben quickly quashed that down with his riotous retort "Never gonna happen bitch" until it somehow still did.
Call me 0403 808 180 (and the +61 is implied dude)
😎😊😎
March 22, 2018
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.
Initially I read a chapter of the novel and then the relevant chapter from this commentary, but found that rather dull and repetitive. Things looked up a lot once I put the original novel to one side and just read the summaries and comments contained here. There is a bit of an overlap between the very subjective synopsis of each chapter and the "Thoughts" section, but as the author doesn't take things too seriously in either context, it doesn't really matter. I would describe this book as light and fun - the commentary is humorous and affectionate - but I wouldn't say I learnt a great deal about the historical background that I didn't already know.
If she wrote one on a different Heyer novel, I would read it.
Initially I read a chapter of the novel and then the relevant chapter from this commentary, but found that rather dull and repetitive. Things looked up a lot once I put the original novel to one side and just read the summaries and comments contained here. There is a bit of an overlap between the very subjective synopsis of each chapter and the "Thoughts" section, but as the author doesn't take things too seriously in either context, it doesn't really matter. I would describe this book as light and fun - the commentary is humorous and affectionate - but I wouldn't say I learnt a great deal about the historical background that I didn't already know.
If she wrote one on a different Heyer novel, I would read it.
June 19, 2018
I don't remember my first Heyer. It was in high school, some 50+ years ago, and I have been a fan of her romances ever since. I'm reading one right now. Rachel Hyland, obviously another fan, turns a loving, albeit critical, eye on Heyer's first novel, written when she was a teenager.
Chapter by chapter, she dissects the novel, exposing all its weaknesses as well as its strengths, revealing why it is so beloved by fans. Even Jenny the Wonder Horse comes under scrutiny.
This book is a delight and belongs in the library of every Heyer fan, whether a long-time reader or the first-time venturer into the wonderful world of Georgette Heyer. More, please!
Chapter by chapter, she dissects the novel, exposing all its weaknesses as well as its strengths, revealing why it is so beloved by fans. Even Jenny the Wonder Horse comes under scrutiny.
This book is a delight and belongs in the library of every Heyer fan, whether a long-time reader or the first-time venturer into the wonderful world of Georgette Heyer. More, please!
October 24, 2019
I downloaded this night because it was on the kindle unlimited list and I needed to have something to read while I was anticipating it putting me sleep. I should explain that I am and have been an avid Georgette Heyer reader/rereader for years. I have almost all of her Regencies and also her mysteries. I couldn't doze off to sleep as planned. Laughed so much I had to resort to melatonin to get to sleep after I finished.
The Black Moth has not been my favorite of Heyer's wonderful books but I like it more now. Now I will have to look up the other ones she has reviewed?/interpreted?
Good read.
The Black Moth has not been my favorite of Heyer's wonderful books but I like it more now. Now I will have to look up the other ones she has reviewed?/interpreted?
Good read.
September 23, 2019
Funny and insightful, this book takes us through The Black Moth and doesn't pull any punches, finding both amazement and wonder in the book but also a lot to puzzle over. It's a loving, hilarious look at an underrated classic, and the best companion piece to a novel that I have ever read.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews