Regency Romance Standard: Georgette Heyer’s Heroes

Over the past few months, I’ve found myself a little bored with current Regency romance. So, I decided it was time to enjoy myself by rereading the gold standard in Regency romance: Georgette Heyer.

The Regency romance standard: Heyer’s heroes

Nothing beats Georgette Heyer’s heroes.

For example, here’s Charles Rivenhall, from The Grand Sophy:

“The Honourable Charles Rivenhall was twenty-six years old, but a rather harsh-featured countenance, coupled with a manner that combined assurance with a good deal of reserve, made him give the impression of being some years older. He was a tall, powerfully-built young man, who looked as though he would have been better pleased to have been striding over his father’s acres than exchanging civilities in his mother’s sitting-room.”

Heyer’s heroes: which do you enjoy most?

Here are three more of my favorites.

Richard Wyndham, from The Corinthian:

“From his Wind-swept hair (most difficult of all styles to achieve), to the toes of his gleaming Hessians, he might have posed as an advertisement for the Man of Fashion. His fine shoulders set off a coat of superfine cloth to perfection; his cravat, which had excited George’s admiration, had been arranged by the hands of a master; his waistcoat was chosen with a nice eye; his biscuit-coloured pantaloons showed not one crease; and his Hessians with their jaunty gold tassels, had not only been made for him by Hoby, but were polished, George suspected, with a blacking mixed with champagne.”

The Earl of Worth, from Regency Buck:

“He was the epitome of a man of fashion. His beaver hat was set over black locks carefully brushed into a semblance of disorder; his cravat of starched muslin supported his chin in a series of beautiful folds; his driving-coat of drab cloth bore no less than fifteen capes, and a double row of silver buttons. Miss Taverner had to own him a very handsome creature, but found no difficulty in detesting the whole cast of his countenance.”

Max Ravenscar, from Faro’s Daughter:

“He was very tall, with a good pair of legs, encased in buckskins and topboots, fine broad shoulders under a coat of superfine cloth, and a lean, harsh-featured countenance with an uncompromising mouth and extremely hard grey eyes. His hair, which was black, and slightly curling, was cut into something perilously near a Bedford crop.”

Regency romance: elegance, style, and wit

Georgette Heyer published her first Regency romance, Regency Buck, in 1935. To readers’ relief, her novels have never been out of print. Now they’re available in digital form, for established fans and for new readers to discover.

I discovered Georgette Heyer in high school. A friend recommended her novels; I started reading and haven’t stopped.

If you’re finding that you’re losing interest in the Regency, read (or reread) Georgette Heyer. You won’t be disappointed, and your affection for Regency romance will be rekindled.

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