Georgette Heyer Fans discussion

About half way ... thoughts?

Arabella appeals so strongly, I think, because she is both passionate and intelligent. Her defense of Jemmy is completely spontaneous and shows her at her best -- clearly it has a powerful influence on Mr. Beaumaris. Yet she is shrewd enough to keep careful control over her feelings for him (for now), knowing how valuable his influence is. She uses him to her own advantage, and freely admits as much to him.

Her strong moral compass is her most endearing quality, and while it shows up the shallow selfishness of the fashionable people around her, it also creates a serious inner conflict because of her own deception. One of Heyer's most interesting characters. I'm glad I'm getting acquainted with her again.

Emr wrote: "Arabella appeals so strongly, I think, because she is both passionate and intelligent. Her defense of Jemmy is completely spontaneous and shows her at her best -- clearly it has a powerful influen..."

What an excellent analysis of Arabella !

Emr wrote: "Arabella appeals so strongly, I think, because she is both passionate and intelligent. Her defense of Jemmy is completely spontaneous and shows her at her best -- clearly it has a powerful influen..."

She loves to have fun, but never at the expense of her conscience, and as she begins to realize that her deception does involve not only her own self but others, she really does have a "serious inner conflict"! I love how you put it!

I love the description in Chap 12 of how the mounting costs of the ball is an issue for Lord Bridlington who is gratified by the success of the ball, but very worried about the financial implications! It is also a very good example of the quantity and quality of research GH did for her books, because all the details such as using Gunter's to provide additional food would be accurate.

Carolien wrote, “It is also a very good example of the quantity and quality of research GH did for her books . . .”

A recurrent fantasy of mine is getting access to her trove historical research! What a shortcut that would be!

Karlyne wrote: "Emr wrote: "Arabella appeals so strongly, I think, because she is both passionate and intelligent. Her defense of Jemmy is completely spontaneous and shows her at her best -- clearly it has a powe..."

Arabella is quite a complex heroine. She appears to be a sweet ingenue, but she has a temper & also a compassionate side.

I think I am so much more impressed with Arabella this time around but the first time I read the book. Her father would be so proud of her.

Even though she's in London and surrounded by wealth and beauty and it would be so easy for her to lose touch of what she really believes and she hasn't. She still is sticking with her true values. And I love that she is taking Mr. Beaumaris along for the ride.

It seems as if each has the potential to improve the other’s character.

Abigail wrote: "It seems as if each has the potential to improve the other’s character."

Exactly! & she is saving Robert from a life of boredom!

I love how we all see the disaster the Bertram is creating coming but the characters don't. It is so much tension. I just want to shake him and tell him that he is going to ruin everything.

I really like the Bertram's friend (can't remember his name and I'm listening to an audiobook so I can't look it up) too. GH writes such a good "he's an idiot but overall a good guy" character.

RE: “idiot but overall a good guy” characters, there’s a hilarious crew of them in Friday’s Child. Had me in stitches the last time I read that one.

Abigail wrote: "RE: “idiot but overall a good guy” characters, there’s a hilarious crew of them in Friday’s Child. Had me in stitches the last time I read that one."

I kept thinking of that crew also! My favorite cast of supporting misfits.

Since Mr. Beaumaris doesn't have a title but his grandmother does - does that mean his father wasn't of the aristocracy? Or could his father just have been a younger brother of a Lord and therefore no title? I know this might be a very complicated question I'm asking.

Amy wrote, “Since Mr. Beaumaris doesn’t have a title . . .”

I think if Beaumaris were the younger brother of a lord, he would be the Honorable Mr. Beaumaris, so I doubt his family was titled. But the French-sounding (i.e., Norman) name implies that his family has been major landowning gentry for a very long time but stayed out of politics, which would make them less likely to have received a title. Kinda like Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice.

Such families definitely existed (e.g., the Lee Steeres in Surrey) and may in some ways have been considered even more respectable than aristocrats, for having avoided wading into the dirt and vagaries of politics. The men would often marry daughters of aristocrats (and their daughters often married into the aristocracy) and they moved in the same circles, Eton, Oxbridge, the London Season.

Amy - the answer is in Ch. 11 when he visits his grandmother, the Dowager Duchess. Robert's mother was the daughter of the Duke of Wigan.

Only GH could make Arabella's rescue of a climbing biy into a comical situation. It's truly magnificent and I admire Arabella for sticking to her guns and doing the right thing. I love how she even confronted old Grimsby on her own. Not a very 19th century ladylike thing to do but it made me like her even more.

The scene where Arabella and Beaumaris rescue the dog is my favorite. I would have done the same thing. Beaumaris reveals his true character by rushing in to help and being so kind and gentle with the dog. I do not believe that he would have drowned the dog if Arabella hadn't been there. I think he would have taken the dog home just as he does. He only thinks he's doing it to please Arabella. A dog always knows a sucker when they see one. They do not always know a rescuer means to be kind to them though so I think it shows that Beaumaris has a softer side he doesn't let show.

Bertram's friend Mr. Scunthorpe may be intellectually slow but he's smart about London ways. I predict Bertram is going to find himself in big trouble. He seems happy enough to see his sister though. I love how Beaumaris skillfully gets information out of Bertram about his hometown but nothing on Arabella. Bertram may be young and naive but at least he doessn't spill the beans.

I love the confrontation between Poodle Byng's poodle and Ulysses and the two owners. The only other writer who handles the comic animal scenes with nearly the same skill is Barbara Metzger.

By the end of this section, Beaumaris realizes he's in love with Arabella, but it might be too late because of his firtation. She's been warned against him so many times that even if she thought he was serious, I'm sure she'd say no.

There's a lot of snobbery in this novel: foreigners don't know how to manage children; Arabella may be from a trade background though she doesn't "smell of the shop."

I have read Arabella several times and it is one of my favorites, I like the comment describing her as having a strong moral compass. Both the main and minor characters in GH's novels are described so well and are so distinct. Even the dogs! Ulysses is great fun.

Abigail wrote: "Carolien wrote, “It is also a very good example of the quantity and quality of research GH did for her books . . .”

A recurrent fantasy of mine is getting access to her trove historical research! ..."

Yes, I was very disappointed that the recent biography did not give much information about this, although I understand that Jennifer Kloester did have access to it. Her previous book, Georgette Heyer's Regency World, appeared to me to be based entirely on the published books.

I'm a little late to the party, but I wanted to share my thoughts on my first read through this.
Heyer is so clever in everything she does. It didn't hit me until after our hero had asked his grandmother if he would make a good husband that his surname basically meant that very thing! Beau maris = good/handsome husband.
The historical details are always staggering - and copious! It's hard to believe Heyer lived a full century after the Regency Era she so adroitly portrayed.
My very favorite Heyer moments must be when she lets us in on the emotional awakening of her often rather hardened heroes. I especially love it when there is an actual "aha!" moment for these stricken fellows as I believe was the case for Mr Beaumaris in chapter 9: "Mr . Beaumaris .... when confronted by the vision of Arabella fighting for the future of her unattractive protege, had undergone an enlightenment so blinding as almost to deprive him of his senses...."
He knows he's done for. It's so brilliantly written in subtle phrases, yet with blaring clarity and impact.
This passage had me grinning while I read.

Trudy wrote: "I'm a little late to the party, but I wanted to share my thoughts on my first read through this.
Heyer is so clever in everything she does. It didn't hit me until after our hero had asked his gran..."

Well said, Trudy! I agree with all your excellent points.

Trudy wrote: "I'm a little late to the party, but I wanted to share my thoughts on my first read through this.
Heyer is so clever in everything she does. It didn't hit me until after our hero had asked his gran..."

"He knows he's done for." That made me grin, Trudy!

love it, Trudy!

another aha moment was in The Grand Sophie when Charles sees her selflessly caring for his sick little sister.

Beau maris = good/handsome husband

that is just awesome, can't believe I never noticed that!

Jackie wrote: "love it, Trudy!

another aha moment was in The Grand Sophie when Charles sees her selflessly caring for his sick little sister."

Yes!! I absolutely love that one. The impact on Charles is profound and somewhat startling to him. It's one of the most moving scenes I've read in Heyer's work.

Thanks, HJ and Karlyne, for your replies. I just love it when a man 'is done for' over a woman. ;)

Trudy wrote: "Jackie wrote: "love it, Trudy!

another aha moment was in The Grand Sophie when Charles sees her selflessly caring for his sick little sister."

Yes!! I absolutely love that one. The impact on Charles..."

This is one of the best scenes in Heyer's books, I think, when they're both in her room in the middle of the night and coax her to drink her milk out of the cup with roses on it.

HJ wrote: "Trudy wrote: "Jackie wrote: "love it, Trudy!

another aha moment was in The Grand Sophie when Charles sees her selflessly caring for his sick little sister."

Yes!! I absolutely love that one. The ..."
From The Grand Sophy? I don't remember that specific part.

It's when Amabel is very seriously ill, and Sophy takes over her nursing. Charles is away at first, and comes back to find her in charge, ably assisted by Cecelia and Nurse. One evening after the danger has passed but Amabel is still very weak and fretful, Charles goes quietly in to see her, thinking that Nurse will be looking after her. He is surprised to find Sophy. She heats up some milk on the fire and together they coax Amabel into drinking it from her cup with roses which Cecelia has given her, each talking gentle nonsense to her.

Then Sophy tells her a story of her time in the Pyrenees until she falls asleep. Sophy looks up and meets Charles's eyes.

"He was staring at her, as if a thought, blinding in its novelty, had occurred to him. Her gaze remained steady, a little questioning. He rose abruptly, half-stretched out his hand, but let it fall again, and, turning, went quickly out of the room."

Yes, that's the exact 'aha' moment I remember, but I didn't recall the details with the cup. Thanks for the excerpt! "Blinding in its novelty" are the magic words here. He's done for. ;)

Definitely done for!

I agree that "blinding in its novelty" clinch his done-for-ness!

he is done for and, as a Gentleman, he can't do anything about it: he is engaged to that Sour woman..what was her name? Eugenia, I think. always making trouble, doesn't like pets, yuck.

Jackie wrote: "he is done for and, as a Gentleman, he can't do anything about it: he is engaged to that Sour woman..what was her name? Eugenia, I think. always making trouble, doesn't like pets, yuck."

Yep, Eugenia Wraxton. Gotta love the scene when Sophy drives her down St James's Street, because her credit is good enough to carry Sophy off when doing such an outrageous thing!

"Sour woman"- I always picture her with her lips pursed very firmly!

yep, like she's been sucking on a lemon!

Amy wrote: "Abigail wrote: "RE: “idiot but overall a good guy” characters, there’s a hilarious crew of them in Friday’s Child. Had me in stitches the last time I read that one."

I kept thinking of that crew a..."

Amy wrote: "Abigail wrote: "RE: “idiot but overall a good guy” characters, there’s a hilarious crew of them in Friday’s Child. Had me in stitches the last time I read that one."

I kept thinking of that crew a..."

Mr. Beaumaris does not come from a titled family. His grandmother (the Dowager Duchess of Wiggen) mentions this fact, but she goes on to say that if his family hadn't been one of the best, she wouldn't have let Maria marry into it no matter what settlements the Beaumarises had offered for her hand.

To go back to comment 22 and the next few, is anyone here familiar with Dorothy Dunnett's Lymond series? Anyone who is will probably know what I'm thinking of, but just in case, it's in The Ringed Castle, after Lymond has returned to England.

Re Eugenia Wraxton, I always envision her wearing pince-nez, although I don't even know whether they existed at that time.

MaryC wrote: "To go back to comment 22 and the next few, is anyone here familiar with Dorothy Dunnett's Lymond series? Anyone who is will probably know what I'm thinking of, but just in case, it's in The Ringed..."

I am, but haven't read it for a while so can't place what you're thinking of - can you explain a bit?

Jenny, remember the episode in which Lymond and Philippa and some others go to a place where theatrical props and costumes were stored?

Oh, I see what you mean - I was thinking more literally of a sick-bed scene

"And languish locked in L!" :)

LOL!

You got it, Margaret! (Too late too late, too late.")