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

I realise this entry has been here for ages, but I´m so happy to have found it! Top work!

I´ve been a closet fan of Heyer since I was a teenager and discovered my grandmother´s collection during school holidays.

These Old Shades was an early favourite, altho I prefer Devil´s Cub (mainly for Mary Challoner vs the french girl - name?) but Venetia is one of my favourite novels of all time, and probably remains my ideal of flirtatious interaction!

I love the novels which portray strong, intelligent women (Frederica is another favourite) and while they are a touch formulaic, are very witty and possess an intriguing historical context, as well as being delightful and easily read escapism for a rainy afternoon

A reference in Venetia which intrigued me is the poem she quotes in part (the 2nd verse), thinking from Damerel´s point of view.

Since there’s no help, come let us kiss and part;
Nay, I have done, you get no more of me,
And I am glad, yea glad with all my heart
That thus so cleanly I myself can free;
Shake hands for ever, cancel all our vows,
And when we meet at any time again,
Be it not seen in either of our brows
That we one jot of former love retain.
Now at the last gasp of Love’s latest breath,
When, his pulse failing, Passion speechless lies,
When Faith is kneeling by his bed of death,
And Innocence is closing up his eyes,
Now if thou wouldst, when all have given him over,
From death to life thou mightst him yet recover.

Michael Drayton (1563-1631)

Blimey!

Venetia is by far my favourite, with "A Civil Contract" a close second for entirely opposite reasons. But you are right, the dynamic between Demerel and Venetia is a seductive benchmark, isn't it?

I do think Georgette Heyer is an undervalued National Asset, (I wouldn't put it as far as being a National Treasure), and I value the first line of one of her thrillers, which starts: "Jimmy the Bastard was cleaning boots in the scullery" - what a wonderful first line for a book is that!

Ben