h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Like others, I got introduced to Georgette Heyer by my mother, perhaps unintentionally. By the time she caught me reading them, at what I now realize might have been an inappropriate age, it was too late. After that, I looked out for new releases for her.

Thank you for such a thorough treatment, Ben! You have brought up books I have never heard of, and can't wait to try and find.

I think the attraction of Heyer's style of writing is that she not only attempted to get her characters "right" as people in their eras, she did more homework on the historical periods in which she set them. I got hooked on English history (at least as far as Elizabeth I is concerned) when I was 11, and Georgette Heyer was at least part of the reason. Again, thanks.

Diane

Why thank you. I enjoyed writing this entry, (at 3.00am in a very Bavarian hotel in Munich, of all places!) And I enjoyed the "research" which went into it.

Which is your favourite? I have to say mine is Venetia. Demerel, eh? *sigh* Lucky lucky girl!

Ben

I loved "Venetia", and I was also quite fond of "Frederica". I'm a sucker for intelligent men, even if they're ones I'd probably never date! I don't currently have any of Heyer's novels at this time, I gave the 3 I had to a friend of mine when I moved 8 years ago.

I also remember reading some of Heyer's mysteries, too. "Why Shoot a Butler?" and "Some Call It Poison". My mother passed away 14 years ago, and when I went home, I couldn't find any of her Heyer books around the house. Don't know what she did with them. "..Butler" was a good mystery, though.

D

Oh, I dated someone very like Demerel, though our thing was puns not quotations. He was also the best in bed, and made me laugh both in bed and out of it. In fact anyone who makes me laugh is 3/4 of the way into my knickers.

*sigh*

I have read some of the thrillers. There is one I am trying to find. Pendennis or Penmarric or something like that. It starts "Jimmy the bastard was cleaning shoes in the butler's pantry" - which is *such* a fabulous first line for a book.

Ben

I think you must mean "Penmarric" -- it rings a bell.

That line you quoted sounds like one of the ones that ends up winning the Bulwharton prize each year. Think that what it's called anyway -- awards given to the most overwrought prose. Some of the prose is purple indeed -- and great fun!

Know what you mean about a man who can make you laugh. My husband was a funny, witty guy. He picked me up in a club by telling me about a tour he'd taken of an old turn of the century office building in downtown Los Angeles called the Bradbury Building (it's been in movies a lot -- Blade Runner comes to mind). NOT your usual approach, and very entertaining. Sure beats "what's your sign?" or anything featuring the words "hey, honey"....

Diane