Georgette Heyer Fans discussion

I've read this months book multiple times, the last time at least 30 years ago. I remember it as a 4.5★ read.

I'm reading this version. How about you?

Remember no spoilers - or use spoiler tags. We don't want to spoil a first read for anyone.

Anyone know what "worked" muslin is? (page 2)

First thing that I noticed -- Horry has grey eyes.
And then -- Rule has grey eyes.
Of course! Love it.

Carol ♔Type, Oh Queen!♕ wrote: "Anyone know what "worked" muslin is? (page 2)"

Most definitions I've seen indicate that it is white muslin that has been embroidered (or 'worked') all over in white thread.

Elza wrote: "First thing that I noticed -- Horry has grey eyes.
And then -- Rule has grey eyes.
Of course! Love it."

an army of grey eyed aristocrats marched across England...

Barb in Maryland wrote: "

Most definitions I've seen indicate that it is white muslin that has been embroidered (or 'worked') all over in white..."

Now that would be pretty!

Carol ♔Type, Oh Queen!♕ wrote: "an army of grey eyed aristocrats marched across England..."

LOL!

I am always interested in Heyer's description about how here upper class characters handle debts. As in not worrying about paying debts owed to the merchant class, until another upper class person gives him money under the understanding that that's what he needs to do.

Lower classes don't matter. But honor among peers is everything.

I love horry's proposal to rule, it's the funniest proposal ever.

I have read this one a few times, and this time will be on my kindle. I also liked Horry's proposal.

Louise wrote: "I love horry's proposal to rule, it's the funniest proposal ever."

Agreed--one of the best bits in the book.

Louise wrote: "I love horry's proposal to rule, it's the funniest proposal ever."

Ageed, it's the funniest proposal.

I was so charmed that Rule was (view spoiler)[himself charmed by Horry enough to accept. (hide spoiler)]

Louise wrote: "I love horry's proposal to rule, it's the funniest proposal ever."

Just a reminder about spoilers everyone. If you want to put them in this thread please use spoiler tags.

Re: the eyebrows that won't arch. I have always pictured a young Audrey Hepburn from the '50s, when the style was for eyebrows so dark and thick that they overwhelm a face. Eyebrow fashion in the Georgian era was, if you can believe the portraits, for a narrow, very arched brow. I am refusing to picture a Kahlo-esque uni-brow. Heyer would not be so cruel to Horry. [and besides, once she is married the world of cosmetics is opened to her, and we do know they had tweezers!]

Carol ♔Type, Oh Queen!♕ wrote: "Louise wrote: "I love horry's proposal to rule, it's the funniest proposal ever."

Just a reminder about spoilers everyone. If you want to put them in this thread please use spoiler tags."

I don't understand what you mean. isn't this section for discussing chapters 1-11? the proposal is in that section, isn't it? i mean, aren't you supposed to have already read chapters 1-11 before you discuss them? How can you discuss them without having read them?

I think that Horry's eyebrows were full and bushy, but not unibrowish! I am thinking like Lily Collins's eyebrows. Striking, and much fuller than most eyebrows, but not a unibrow.

I've read this once before and remember it as a five- star read for me. This time I'm reading the Kindle edition until my eyes tire out, then listening to Richard Armitage narrate the audiobook- thank heaven for Scribd! Forgive me if I'm slow, I stillget tired easily, but better every day!

I've only read this once before about 20 years ago, mostly because I wasn't very keen on it, so it's past time for me to give it another go.

This time I'm going to listen to the audiobook.

❇ Critterbee wrote: "I think that Horry's eyebrows were full and bushy, but not unibrowish! I am thinking like Lily Collins's eyebrows. Striking, and much fuller than most eyebrows, but not a unibrow."

Ah yes, Lily Collins has this era's version of the '50s heavy brows. Good visual image. [But I'm still going with Audrey Hepburn because that's who I thought of in the way, way back, when I first read the book].

Susan in NC wrote: "I've read this once before and remember it as a five- star read for me. This time I'm reading the Kindle edition until my eyes tire out, then listening to Richard Armitage narrate the audiobook- th..."

Hi Susan! Good to see you. Double check, the Armitage version may be an abridged version. But just listening to him may be worth a few missing words!

I wondered about that- I'm going back and forth between Kindle and audio and couldn't tell! I agree, he's a lovely narrator!

I'm missed out on last month's read along because my family was on vacation and then once we got back I was catching up on work stuff and then we had a family tragedy. My youngest sister committed suicide, she was only 29. Since then I haven't been able to hardly read at all.

I downloaded the audiobook and really want to be in on this read.

Amy wrote: "I'm missed out on last month's read along because my family was on vacation and then once we got back I was catching up on work stuff and then we had a family tragedy."

Oh Amy, hugs to you!! I'm sure I am not the only one to tell you to take care of yourself, first and foremost. This month's book is lovely, but don't force yourself.

Elza. I noticed the grey eyes to! It strikes again. This was one of her earlier novels wasn't it. I'm struggling with the 18 year age difference. 17 to 35

I like the first chapter. Two women with die away sensibilty contrasting with mrs maulfrey's 'worldliness' seen as vulgarity and gruff sensible Horry.

Yes Howard interesting. Tradesman were seen like cockroaches but debts of honour were everything. I was reading in a recent Australian women's weekly magazine how something similar to Pelham happened in 1974. Lord lucan the 7th lord of Lucan had run up huge debts and had a gambling problem. He tried to murder his wife and run from London. He confused the nanny with his wife then disappeared. He was being hounded by creditors when he vanished and loved playing in London clubs.

Amy - I'm so sorry for your loss

Belinda wrote: "Elza. I noticed the grey eyes to! It strikes again. This was one of her earlier novels wasn't it."

Yes, this book was written in 1934, a year before her first Regency era book, aptly titled 'Regency Buck'. She did one more (late) Georgian-era in 1936 ('The Talisman Ring').
Oh, the age difference! Yes, as Horry is not an old soul in a young body...

Amy wrote: "I'm missed out on last month's read along because my family was on vacation and then once we got back I was catching up on work stuff and then we had a family tragedy. My youngest sister committed ..."

My heart goes out to you and your family.

It's understandable that reading a novel is a difficult undertaking right now.

FYI.

This book is in KU, if you are a member.

Barb in Maryland wrote: "[But I'm still going with Audrey Hepburn because that's who I thought of in the way, way back, when I first read the book]. "

I thought of Brooke Shields. Horry clearly does not resemble her fair-haired sisters (except for The Nose!).

Amy, I am so sorry to hear of your terrible loss. Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. Perhaps reading or listening to this book will provide a brief time of escape for you during such a sad and difficult time. I know that last summer after my mother's death, reading was a help for me in that way.

Amy wrote: "I'm missed out on last month's read along because my family was on vacation and then once we got back I was catching up on work stuff and then we had a family tragedy. My youngest sister committed ..."

Amy, so sorry, love to you and your family. Please take care of yourself.

Belinda wrote: "Elza. I noticed the grey eyes to! It strikes again. This was one of her earlier novels wasn't it. I'm struggling with the 18 year age difference. 17 to 35"

Yes, definite ick factor on the age difference...

So sorry for your loss Amy.

I don't mind the age difference in this one, because although Horry is young, and definitely naive in some ways, at the same time she seems to have an 'old soul', or at least a mature and pragmatic outlook on some aspects of life. So an older, mature man is a good match for her in that sense.

Thanks for the comments on the eyebrows. Yes, Brooke Shields or Audrey Hepburn. That helps me create a better picture of Horry.

Amy wrote: "I'm missed out on last month's read along because my family was on vacation and then once we got back I was catching up on work stuff and then we had a family tragedy. My youngest sister committed ..."

Oh Amy I'm so sorry.

Louise wrote: "I don't understand what you mean. isn't this section for discussing chapters 1-11? the proposal is in that section, isn't it? i mean, aren't you supposed to have already read chapters 1-11 before you discuss them? How can you discuss them without having read them?

From my first post in this threadRemember no spoilers - or use spoiler tags. We don't want to spoil a first read for anyone.

From our Group's rules. Group Reads Folder. Usually the group reads have three threads. Please put all spoilers in the spoiler thread or use the spoiler tags. We don't want to spoil a first read for anyone! :) If you want to discuss a different Heyer book or a book by another author in a group read, please use the spoiler tags. Again this is because we don't want to spoil other members' reads. . Writing something like “Warning; spoilers ahead" is not an acceptable alternative. There is a thread showing how to do spoiler tags in the Heyer in General Folder.


I think you would find it easier to just post in the spoiler thread Louise C.

I enjoyed the depiction on who was happy and who was appropriately unhappy at the wedding.

I love games. Contract bridge is a favorite of mine. But I find pure games of chance to be boring. And I am way to cheap to want to bet big money. (I also don't want to impoverish someone else by winning their big money).

Obviously, lots of people love big stakes gambling.

So many Heyer characters are addicted to big money games of chance. From my perspective (which could be very biassed), I see this as a condemnation of their class. They did nothing to diserve being elite, it was all chance. So why not run the course? (Do any Heyer self-made successes gamble?)

Howard wrote: "I love games. Contract bridge is a favorite of mine. But I find pure games of chance to be boring. And I am way to cheap to want to bet big money. (I also don't want to impoverish someone else by w..."

Agree wholeheartedly, Howard - good points! Can't think of any self-made Heyer successes who gambled big, but I don't know all the plots/ characters as well as some...

Among Heyer's characters, it's sometimes hard to sort out which ones are actual gambling addicts, and which are the ones who do it basically because all their friends are doing it or they want to be part of the in crowd. Though Stacey Calverleigh in Black Sheep seems to be a hardened addict (he is incredulous that his uncle Miles could find no attraction in gambling), whereas IIRC we find eventually that Sherry in Friday's Child is really more of a social gambler, who can quit.

Amy wrote: "I'm missed out on last month's read along because my family was on vacation and then once we got back I was catching up on work stuff and then we had a family tragedy. My youngest sister committed ..."

My heart felt sympathies go out to you Amy. It must be a dreadful time for all your family. We're all here for you if you need to off load. Never forget you're not alone.

Amy wrote: "I'm missed out on last month's read along because my family was on vacation and then once we got back I was catching up on work stuff and then we had a family tragedy. My youngest sister committed ..."

My heart felt sympathies go out to you Amy. It must be a dreadful time for all your family. We're all here for you if you need to off load. Never forget you're not alone.

Margaret wrote: "Though Stacey Calverleigh in Black Sheep seems to be a hardened addict (he is incredulous that his uncle Miles could find no attraction in gambling)"

Miles is the epitome of Heyer characters who succeeded by his own efforts. He was neither interested in gambling, nor getting society's approval of his status.

Barb in Maryland wrote: "the Armitage version may be an abridged version. But just listening to him may be worth a few missing words!"

Richard Armitage is one of the best narrators I have ever heard and his version of TCM is a delight. I have listened to it many times. I also own the unabridged version read by Caroline Hunt which is also very good.

So, I'm trying to get my head around the Rule/Horry relationship. The age difference is a big deal, and admittedly makes me feel a little squicky. We don't know how long Horry's father has been dead, and Pelham is obviously useless in that regard, so there is the idea of Rule as a father figure, for sure.

We know that Horry amuses him. And he makes it clear immediately to others that he will defend her -- as he should. I keep asking myself, though: why does he agree to marry her? Is he that determined to get married, or that resigned to the necessity of it, and just doesn't want to go to the bother of choosing a wife himself?
His sister takes the credit: "It was she who had urged him to marry. ... It was she who had indicated Miss Winwood as a suitable bride." Plus, she wants to get rid of (view spoiler)[the undesirable, wannabe Countess, Lady Massey (hide spoiler)].

I just find it hard to believe that a man like Rule would get married only because his sister wants him to. But that means Heyer is asking us to believe that he has fallen in love with Horry in the course of one conversation, or even that he is intrigued enough to commit himself -- for life.
At this point (just finished Chapter 8) I'm not sure I see that. For Horry, marriage means freedom -- to dress, and spend, and play as much as she likes. It is clear that she likes Rule, but (view spoiler)[has no idea of any deeper relationship. (Did her mother tell her anything about marriage?) If he feels more, he is not showing it. He treats Horry with courtesy, but not much more than that. (hide spoiler)]

Oho! We have just had the pleasure(?) of viewing Rule's cousin Crosby in all of his foppish splendor. I was holding it together through the description of the coat, vest and non-cravat; but I burst out laughing over the striped pants and then the wig and hat did me in completely. 'Macaroni' indeed!

I've been really enjoying it but now at chapter eight it suddenly seems to have taken another turn and suddenly it seems kinda seedy. Maybe I'm wrong. I hope so.

Rule wanted to marry someone. Do his duty, get an heir, and surprise people who hoped he wouldn't do so.

Without being in love, one sister is as good as the other for that purpose.