Georgette Heyer Fans discussion

Most of my favorite Heyers have a key pet character in them - always a dog I think. Like Lufra the Baluchistan Hound in this month's Frederica. One of the books has a mutt rescued by the heroine that becomes the hero's companion and sets a fashion to tool around with one's dog in one's phaeton passenger seat into play.

What are some others? Do you have a favorite and why?

I think it could be fun one year to read all the ones that have a major pet character in them....

Yes, you are referring to when Arabella saves the mutt and then she remembers he probably won't be welcome where she lives so Mr. Beaumaris takes him and names him Ulysses. I love that part of the book. :)
In The Reluctant Widow, Nicky has a dog that won't let Elinore leave the room but I can't remember his name at the moment.

The Baluchistan Hound is my favorite! Venetia has a spaniel that tries to protect her against Damarel in the meet cute scene until he speaks in an alpha voice and the dog falls in love with the alpha male. Venetia's brother, Aubrey, has his dogs too.

Misti wrote: "Yes, you are referring to when Arabella saves the mutt and then she remembers he probably won't be welcome where she lives so Mr. Beaumaris takes him and names him Ulysses. I love that part of the ..."

Ulysses is one of the best characters in that story! He has Beaumaris' entire household nearly overcome with anxiety when he pines for his master!

If we're going to speak of pets, how can we forget Jacko the monkey in The Grand Sophy? And Sophy herself has a greyhound named Tina, but Tina doesn't really figure in the plot.

Doris wrote: "If we're going to speak of pets, how can we forget Jacko the monkey in The Grand Sophy? And Sophy herself has a greyhound named Tina, but Tina doesn't really figure in the plot."

I was just realizing that I last read The Grand Sophy was so many decades ago that I remember little aside from the end. Perhaps if it is one of this year's picks I can reconnect with Jacko!

I think the dog in The Reluctant Widow was named Bouncer.

Anne wrote: "I think the dog in The Reluctant Widow was named Bouncer."
Ah, that sounds familiar.

Venetia starts with a talk about her hens :) and there are lots of horses., some with special character, but I cannot remember a single name.

In Sprig muslin there is a kitten starring in a major role. In Sylvester there is "chien" . Heyer is great in building connections between children and animals.

Not just connections but also animal personalities. I think there's another that features a kitten ... or maybe the Heroine's name is Kitty - oops. It's one I have not reread for a very long time.

In some cases, pets/animals don't provide much action or move the plot, but help to illuminate characters via their interactions.

Jacko does move the plot a little in TGS, but he and Tina serves more to show Charles' character and contrast Eugenia's.

Kitten/Hero has a bird. Lydia in the Corinthian has birds. The birds don't DO anything in the story, but the dealing with the birds help define the two young women.

Lots of interactions with horses. Tom and Phoebe taking care of horses. Phoebe's discussion with Georgiana about favorite horses. Harry recognizing Endymion's not blaming HIS horses.

Ancilla and Charlotte dealing with horses and fish, and Waldo's acceptance of people's preferences.

All of these touches help make the characters in GH world more real and interesting.

She always had dogs herself and must have loved them to include so many in her books.

Big Fan wrote: "In some cases, pets/animals don't provide much action or move the plot, but help to illuminate characters via their interactions.

Jacko does move the plot a little in TGS, but he and Tina serves ..."

And so often someone didn´t think that his horse or horses would be recognized and therefore the complete disguise is blown

Theresa wrote: "Not just connections but also animal personalities. I think there's another that features a kitten ... or maybe the Heroine's name is Kitty - oops. It's one I have not reread for a very long time."

The kitten is in Sprig Muslin, where as Kitten is Hero´s nickname in Friday ´s child

and the box of little chicken at the end of the grand sophy! As all the persons and couples finally come together and regroup in new marriages - in German the title is the three marriages of Sophie - which is rather confusing in itself

Sophie wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Not just connections but also animal personalities. I think there's another that features a kitten ... or maybe the Heroine's name is Kitty - oops. It's one I have not reread for a ..."

chien in Sylvester and the kitten Joseph in Sprig muslin are simply "ordinary" animal youngsters - the connection to the five year old Edmund and the teenage Amanda is the important part for the story

"Chien having expressed the wish to have his portarit painted"

Big Fan wrote: "In some cases, pets/animals don't provide much action or move the plot, but help to illuminate characters via their interactions.

Jacko does move the plot a little in TGS, but he and Tina serves ..."

Thanks I had a feeling there were birds, but I could not remember in which books

Sophie wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Not just connections but also animal personalities. I think there's another that features a kitten ... or maybe the Heroine's name is Kitty - oops. It's one I have not reread for a ..."

I thought I was thinking about Friday's Child... one I keep meaning to re-read. It's probably been 25 years since I last did.

Theresa wrote: "Sophie wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Not just connections but also animal personalities. I think there's another that features a kitten ... or maybe the Heroine's name is Kitty - oops. It's one I have no..."

do! It´s worth rereading - it is a very special story, about love since childhood and the problem to construct a proper marriage. Coming to think of it, this is the one with girls: we get glimpses of Isabella and Hero as children

Glad so many have joined me in this conversation!

I do feel that we need to celebrate the marvels of dear Lufra. I just found Lufra's entire story and involvement to be just the best. One of my favorite scenes is the cows and milk maids. But then I grew up on a dairy farm so should not be surprised.

I remember that this was the first time I had ever heard of cows and dairy maids in a London park - and it really was the case!

The whole story of Lufta saving Jeremy was so sweet and charming.

And that scene when all and sundry show up at Alverstoke's townhouse and the introduction as a Baluchistan Hound...just my favorite section of the book.

Theresa wrote: "Sophie wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Not just connections but also animal personalities. I think there's another that features a kitten ... or maybe the Heroine's name is Kitty - oops. It's one I have no..."
Since I listened to it again a couple months ago, It has become a top 3. The reunion of Kitten and Sherry is so romantic. Combined with the farce at the posting house, it was the perfect ending.

No pet ever illuminated the character of a human more than Ulysses in Arabella. the insights we get into Mr. Beaumaris true character are priceless to the story.

Theresa wrote: "Glad so many have joined me in this conversation!

I do feel that we need to celebrate the marvels of dear Lufra. I just found Lufra's entire story and involvement to be just the best. One of my f..."

We had an Irish Wolfhound called Fionn and it's him I picture everytime Lufra was mentioned 😄

Teresa wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Glad so many have joined me in this conversation!

I do feel that we need to celebrate the marvels of dear Lufra. I just found Lufra's entire story and involvement to be just the b..."

My mental vision goes in that direction too but more of a mutt - some St. Bernard, Great Dane and even. golden retriever mixed in as well.