The Georgette Heyer Podcast

Spoiler alert! The criminally under-estimated Freddy Standen doesn’t rate his own intelligence very highly, but he certainly manages to deploy his common sense to excellent effect, plucking plans from thin air and smoothing Kitty’s path through society during their pretend engagement. But remember, he’s not kind-hearted! Oh no, heaven forbid, he’s been on the town for years! Kitty, however, certainly has a generous heart and ensures that Camille and Olivia, and Dolph and Hannah, can all find love and happiness. Her faith in Freddy and realisation that storybook heroes aren’t all they’re cracked up to be is a delight to witness. And then of course, there’s that extra something special about Cotillion, and it comes in the form of Lord Legerwood. The only man who could possibly supplant Freddy in our hearts. “‘Obliged to take you home in a hack, Kit! Nothing for it!’ ‘You are welcome to take me home in a wheelbarrow!’ She assured him. ‘Wouldn’t do at all!’ said Mr Standen decidedly, ’Sort of thing that would be bound to set people’s backs up. Besides, haven’t got a wheelbarrow!’ She gave a shaken laugh. ‘Oh, Freddy, how can you be so absurd, when you are so wise?’” Instagram: @georgetteheyerpodcast Twitter: @heyerpodcast

Spoiler alert! Sir Gareth Ludlow’s life is turned upside-down in the space of a few hours when his long-standing friend Lady Hester Theale turns down his very flattering proposal, and he finds himself taking charge of the beautiful and ruthless runaway Amanda. Up against this diminutive but cunning strategist, Sir Gareth is led a merry dance around the surrounding countryside trying to keep his opponent safe while eventually coming to a better understanding of Hester’s character and his feelings for her. And Lady Hester herself enjoys quite an adventure, rebelling against her family for the first time, lying about her identity and blossoming into a much happier and more confident woman under the care of the man she loves. “He looked at her, a glimmer in his eyes, and a smile quivering on his lips. ‘Do you know, Hester, in all these years I have held you in esteem and regard, yet I never knew you until we were pitchforked into this fantastic imbroglio?’” Instagram: @georgetteheyerpodcast Twitter: @heyerpodcast

Spoiler alert! Captain John Staple is one of the easiest of Heyer’s heroes to like. Maybe it’s his all-round goodness, but maybe it’s just because he’s so very large. We’re all powerless to resist apparently. Nell Stornoway certainly doesn’t manage it for long, and we don’t blame her. There’s a whole host of fantastic characters in this story, from Sir Peter who still has a trick or two up his sleeve, and Chirk the highwayman who sticks to his own code, to Stogumber the Bow Street Runner with sharp eyes and a pragmatic approach to justice. We get stuck into discussing the tragedy of Sir Peter’s predicament, the morality of murdering wrong ‘uns and the romance between Rose and Chirk (but you’ll have to forgive us for our inability to remember how Staple is supposed to be related to Brean, and how Nell is related to Henry - our brains failed us.) “But the thing is I’ve got no fancy for one of these dashed suitable marriages, where you don’t really care a fig for the girl, or she for you. I don’t mean to offer marriage to any girl who don’t give me a leveller.” Instagram: @georgetteheyerpodcast Twitter: @heyerpodcast

Spoiler alert! Annis Wychwood and Oliver Carleton are two of our more mature Heyer characters. For the readers that means we can enjoy watching two honest and articulate people unpick what it takes to give up their comfortable ways of life and walk into the unknown - throwing in their lot with another person. But where’s the risk really? Annis is beautiful and charming, and Oliver is empathetic and direct (or possibly rude), so we predict a happy future for them travelling the world and only spending time with those sensible enough for Oliver to tolerate (not Miss Farlow then). We also make time to talk about what might lie ahead for young Lucilla and Ninian, how much sympathy we can dredge up for Maria Farlow, and how Amabel Wychwood is a wise and cunning woman, not to be underestimated. "The melancholy truth is that however much I may respect a man's good qualities they don't inspire me with a particle of love for him! I shall either marry a man stuffed with bad qualities, or remain a spinster - which is the likeliest fate to befall me!" Instagram: @georgetteheyerpodcast Twitter: @heyerpodcast

Spoiler alert! How lovely that muscular thighs are guaranteed when your hero is a Corinthian. But it’s not just his legs that make Sir Richard Wyndham such a dashing figure - no, it’s also his romantic streak, intelligence and sense of humour. Plus he even seems capable of giving a pretty good haircut while spectacularly drunk. And who could possibly be the foil to Sir Richard? Why Penelope Creed of course! A young woman not lacking in romantic spirit, as evidenced by her climbing out of a window using bedsheets and dressed as a boy - who yanks Sir Richard out of his ennui and takes him on a life-changing adventure. In this episode we talk about their charming love story, the remarkable and awful Brandon family (with the exception of Cedric who we’d like to see in a spin-off) and the perils of drunk decision-making and stage coach hangovers. “‘I don’t wish to stay rude things about your friends, Richard, but it seems to me very wrong of him - most improper!’ ‘Most,’ he agreed. ‘Even dastardly!’ ‘I think we might call it dastardly.’” Instagram: @georgetteheyerpodcast Twitter: @heyerpodcast

Spoiler alert! And trigger warning. Early on in this episode we talk about the horrors of war, including rape and murder, so do please skip past this episode if that’s not what you need to hear about right now. We also talk about the impact of a novel being based on real people, with details drawn from their memoirs. Take Juana for example… do we truly understand her thoughts and feelings when her character seems to be based on the writings of her husband, rather than her own words? And Harry? Do we really need to know so much about his boils?? And then there’s the whole thorny issue of Juana being 14 when she marries. That’s a tough one for most readers to stomach, especially when you know it actually happened, so we dig into that too. Overall there’s lots to unpick in The Spanish Bride, but we’ve got the tragically heroic Daniel Cadoux to keep us company at least. Also, apologies in advance for the very poor pronunciation of Spanish names, places and phrases. It’s even worse than our French if you can believe that. “Kincaid felt his heart ache for her weariness after long days in the saddle; Harry never weakened her by showing his sympathy. When he came to her with his duty done, he was her lover, but at all other times he was commanding officer, treating her much as he treated his young brother” Instagram: @georgetteheyerpodcast Twitter: @heyerpodcast

Spoiler alert! In this episode we wax lyrical over Sir Waldo. Handsome, charming and kind, an expert in the art of flirtation and a man who’d never abandon his Wretched Brats. No wonder Ancilla Trent falls head over heels for him, despite her best intentions. And just as much as we hope Sir Waldo and Miss Trent will make a match of it, we’re desperately keen that Tiffany Wield doesn’t get her hooks into the lovely Julian. So it’s lucky that Tiffany can never disguise her tyrannical nature for long, and that the virtuous Patience is there to save street urchins and distract Julian. We also ponder what Laurie’s future will hold. Will Sir Waldo manage to form a healthier relationship with him and steer him onto a better path? Of course he will! If he can drive a team of horses to the inch, Laurie won’t be a problem. ‘The names she called me! It beats me where she learned ‘em, I can tell you that ma’am!’ ‘What did she call you, Laurie?’ Enquired Sir Waldo, much interested. ‘I wonder,’ said Miss Trent, in a voice of determined coldness, ‘if you would be so obliging, sir, as to refrain from asking quite unimportant questions? Mr Calver, what can I say but that I am deeply mortified? As Miss Wield’s governess, I must hold myself to blame, but I trust - ‘ ‘Learn them from you, did she, ma’am?’ said Sir Waldo irrepressibly. Instagram: @georgetteheyerpodcast Twitter: @heyerpodcast

Spoiler alert! In this episode we kick things off by discussing whether Sir Maurice and Cleone were reasonable in wanting Philip to change his ways. Is he being asked to put aside his real identity and conform? Or do they want him to broaden his horizons before slipping prematurely into old age? And what about Cleone? A young woman who gets engaged more times in ten minutes than most of us do in a lifetime. Hey, she’s 18, and just keeps on being importuned - we’ve got sympathy for her. But it’s the older generation who are really bringing the romance in this story, so we also talk about that old romantic Tom, and the incomparable Lady Malmerstoke. Some of her views on women are certainly problematic, but when it comes to entertainment value - she’s up there with the very best of the eccentric widows. “Men with chins like his are not safe. I’ve had experience, and I know. He’ll win in the end, if he has a mind to do so.” Instagram: @georgetteheyerpodcast Twitter: @heyerpodcast

Spoiler alert! In this episode we talk about a very dysfunctional family and deep-rooted resentments that might prove deadly. There’s intrigue, danger and mystery galore, plus delightfully prosaic heroine, Drusilla, who knows just where to place a problematic epergne. Our hero, St Erth, faces multiple attempts on his life, and perhaps even more frighteningly, must live under the same roof as his stepmother and short-tempered half-brother Martin. At least he’s got his sensible cousin Theo on hand to offer him sage advice and keep him safe. Right?! ‘What happened to me?’ he asked. ‘You met with a slight accident, but it is of no consequence. You will be better directly.’ ‘Oh!’ His eyelids were drooping again, but he smiled, and murmured: ‘You are always coming to my rescue!’ Instagram: @georgetteheyerpodcast Twitter: @heyerpodcast

Spoiler alert! Heyer pulls off quite the feat in An Infamous Army - capturing the horrors of war through the love story of dashing Charles Audley and rebellious Barbara Childe. While Heyer’s research into the Battle of Waterloo has long been respected, we also take a moment to appreciate how she builds an atmosphere. We’re right there with the ton in Brussels, swept up in the mad rush to cram in as much pleasure as possible. And we’re still with them as they confront a pivotal moment in history and the devastating loss of life that brings. It feels like a ‘big’ novel, so we’re grateful to be accompanied by old friends in the form of Judith and Worth, Mary and Dominic, and (to a slightly lesser extent) Peregrine. So join us on the battlefield and in the ballroom in our latest episode. “No one could foretell what the future held; but everyone knew that these weeks might be the last of happiness. Except when news crept through of movement on the frontier, war was not much talked of. Talking of it could not stop its coming; it was better to put the thought of it behind one, and to be merry while the sun still shone.” Instagram: @georgetteheyerpodcast Twitter: @heyerpodcast

Spoiler alert! Have you ever been tempted to slap someone with a glove à la Sir Anthony Fanshawe? While we’d never condone violence, to be honest we do see the appeal. In this episode we talk about the magnetism and audacity of the Old Gentleman, the all-accepting love of the Large Gentleman, the stoicism of Prudence, and the Princess Bride levels of swashbuckling shown by Robin. Also we surprised ourselves by only very rarely stumbling over our Robins/Peters/Prudences/Kates. Happy listening our little cabbages, as Lady Lowestoft might say. “‘I say, Mr Rensley, that you dare not meet me now or at any time,’ Sir Anthony replied, to the astonishment of his friends. His hand came up, and he struck Mr Rensley lightly across the mouth with the glove he held.” Instagram: @georgetteheyerpodcast Twitter: @heyerpodcast

Spoilers ahead! Why does it take so long for Viscount Desford and Henrietta Silverdale to get together? We’ve got theories… They’ve both enjoyed a few years of freedom and frivolity of course, which makes a nice change. Des’s father is still alive and kicking (and perfectly capable of a delivering a fine trimming) so there wasn’t any need for Des to assume responsibility early like some of our other heroes. And Hetta? We suspect her heart was engaged before Des’s was, but she didn’t seem to be pining away, merely keeping herself entertained with an array of suitors while Des shook off some youthful racketyness. So all it needed was the perfectly lovely Mr Cary Nethercott and Miss Cherry Steane to make our lovers realise they wouldn’t be happy to see their best friend with anyone else. Perhaps that means they settled down at just the right time. We like to think so. And woven in amongst this lovely journey from best friends to lovers, we have the joy of meeting the irascible and loyal to the last, Simon Carrington, Lord Nettlecombe and his lady housekeeper wife, and of course Wilfred Steane, or should we say Baron Monte Toscana? Fascinated, Simon said: ‘Do you - do you carry different cards, sir?’ ‘Certainly! I find it convenient to use one card here, and another there, for you must know I am domiciled abroad, and spend much of my time in travel. But this card,’ he said, handing it to Simon with a flourish, ‘bears my true name, and will doubtless explain to you why I have sought you out!’ Instagram: @georgetteheyerpodcast Twitter: @heyerpodcast

Spoiler alert! It’s cold and dark here in London so the perfect time to get a little gothic with Cousin Kate. It doesn’t seem to be a universally popular novel, but we tapped into our inner torment and really enjoyed it. We will acknowledge however that this isn’t the most comfortable of reads - what with all the violent deaths and animal cruelty. In this episode we talk about the chilling gothic elements in this story, and how the ratcheting tension is cut through with the refreshingly straight-talking Nidd family, and the absolutely charming love story (with a real cracker of a proposal scene). Everyone falls under the spell of Kate Malvern of course. She’s an intrepid heroine who grew up following the drum, isn’t above working to support herself, and is quite capable of slapping her employer’s lecherous relative. And Philip, with his loyalty and kindness, proves himself worthy of her. Minerva, Torquil and Sir Tim on the other hand are much more dubious figures (unless you’ve got more sympathy for Sir Timothy than we have). Machiavellian machinations and murder galore in that unhappy little triumvirate. We end up discussing whether Sir Tim had a happier ending than he deserved, and how Heyer forces us to feel sympathy for Torquil. And then there’s Minerva - you know we love dissecting a good baddie, and she certainly gives us plenty to get our teeth into. “He addressed himself to Kate, saying, in his stateliest manner: ‘I beg your pardon, miss, but since her ladyship is unwell I feel it my duty to inform you that Mrs Thorne has seen fit to Prophesy!’” Instagram: @georgetteheyerpodcast Twitter: @heyerpodcast

Spoilers ahead. It’s time for a very domestic story in this episode as we quietly cheer on the growing closeness between lovelorn Adam and the ever-practical Jenny. Jenny might be the least likely heroine in the Heyerverse but she marries a man hopelessly in love with another, just because it’s the only thing she can do to help him. That makes her a hero in our eyes - although we could wish she set a slightly lower standard in wifely behaviour, because she’s making the rest of us look bad. She certainly makes a better wife than Julia - the ethereal beauty who swoons at parties, and pointedly sings sentimental songs at a married man. Rockhill deserves better, but evidently even clever men are susceptible to fleeting beauty (the Mrs Bennet effect). But not only are we treated to the bittersweet, and often unflinchingly honest, relationship between Adam and Jenny, we also have the absolute delight of Jonathan Chawleigh - a self-made man with a tendency to show up with a lobster for his hostess. He’s such a juicy character, and the contrast this forceful and emotional family man presents against the restrained and cool Lyntons gives a fascinating insight into class and family life. All-in-all it’s a complex and subtle story, so we stubbornly make no apologies for the run time of this episode - we were having a ball! “But I was never one for reading those old romances and legends that Julia dotes on,’ said Jenny apologetically. ‘I do know that he likes his eggs boiled for four minutes exactly, and won’t touch muffins.” Instagram: @georgetteheyerpodcast Twitter: @heyerpodcast

Spoilers ahead. Poor Lady Bellingham! Running a profitable yet respectable gaming house is harder than it appears. Especially since her niece refuses to form a connection for such a base purpose as financial security. And then there's the cost of green peas to consider. If only there was a handsome green pea farmer for Deb to marry, but sadly it's down to Max Ravenscar's deep pockets to save the day. Can this pair get past Max's blistering tongue and Deb's determination to win their battle at any cost? Join us in this episode as we scrabble to uncover Max's finer points, discuss well-turned ankles, and whether the secondary characters in this book cut the mustard. (Also if you'd like more Heyer podcasts in your life, give Heyer Today a listen: https://fablegazers.wordpress.com/binge-our-podcasts-now/ you will learn sooo much.) "I will say this for you, Deb: you may lock people up in the cellar, and fling thousands of pounds in their faces as though it was mud, but you don't cry!" Instagram: @georgetteheyerpodcast Twitter: @heyerpodcast

Spoilers ahead. Kit's got quite the moral maze to navigate in False Colours - pretend to be his AWOL twin to avoid offending his possible-future-wife's grandmother, but without accidentally letting possible-future-wife fall in love with him before his twin returns. It's a good job he's got some serious diplomatic chops, and that Cressy Stavely is quite the diplomat herself. In fact this couple has all the political nous and charm of Regency Obamas. But as lovely as their romance is, a special mention has to go to Sir Bonamy Ripple, bon viveur and loyal cicisbeo. Only the combination of his deep pockets and chivalry is enough to keep Lady Denville out of debt. And we couldn't bear to see Lady Denville kept in anything less than opulent style. A middle-aged woman with the ability to effortlessly enthrall young men is truly an inspiration. Although we possibly find ourselves relating a little too much to her concerns about haggard necks. Join us in this episode where we discuss the slightly soppy endearments employed by our young couple, whether Evelyn should have a better fate than the saintly but dull Miss Askham, and we ask just how entrapped was Sir Bonamy? 'Sir Bonamy Ripple enjoys a good tipple, Spanish fritters, partridge and pike. But if he eats too much turtle, he’ll soon turn quite purple, for his corset’s as tight as you like.' "Would you believe it? - the instant she clapped eyes on me, she said that she saw I had taken to dyeing my hair! I was never more shocked, for it is quite untrue! It is not dyeing one's hair merely to restore its colour when it begins to fade a little!" Instagram: @georgetteheyerpodcast Twitter: @heyerpodcast

Spoilers ahead. Possibly the most romantic of all Heyer novels, in this episode we fall under the spell of Dameral - a young Classics nerd turned rake, rejected by his family and society; and Venetia - pragmatic, brave, witty and kind despite a lifetime of loneliness. Theirs is an uncommon love, and we absolutely luxuriate in it. But it's not all about the love story, because when Mrs Scorrier and Edward Yardley are on the scene the red mist of anger descends upon us. We simply cannot bear to see these domineering and outrageous figures persecute our lovely heroine. But of course, it's always fun to have villains you can happily hate. Finally, apologies for making precisely zero references to any of the many literary allusions scattered throughout the book. We ran out of time and Flurry ate our homework. Instead we stick to our usual level and discuss Regency orgies and take bets on Dameral's faithfulness (in summary: we think he's clearly reformed). "The thing is that even if you were to hold an orgy here the chances are he would only think it pretty tame, compared to the Romans, not to mention the Bacchae, who, from anything I can discover, were precisely the sort of females one would wish a boy not to know about!" Instagram: @georgetteheyerpodcast Twitter: @heyerpodcast

Spoilers ahead. A deathbed marriage, Bonaparte agents, a secret stairway, and Bouncer the much-maligned guard dog all play a part in this high-stakes adventure. We wonder if Elinor would have found herself embroiled in it if she wasn't making decisions when hungry. Perhaps she should have had some of Dr. Ratcliffe's Restorative Pork Jelly - it seemed to keep Francis Cheviot strong enough to devise numerous devious plots (and we do like seeing the famous pork jelly get a mention). But of course, Francis Cheviot is no match for the Carlyon brothers. We really enjoy the brotherly squabbling between sensible John and exuberant Nicky, and we commiserate with Elinor as everyone around her bows down to the unstoppable will of Ned Carlyon. And naturally, our thoughts go out to Mrs Macclesfield - forced to rear her own children in the absence of a governess. "She could not but acknowledge that it was the part of a loyal Englishwoman to do her possible to frustrate the enemies of her country, however ruthless these might be. But she wished she had not been the appointed Englishwoman." Instagram: @georgetteheyerpodcast Twitter: @heyerpodcast

In this episode we talk about how Horry and Rule - two charming and capable individuals - are made even more likeable because of their vulnerability when it comes to affairs of the heart. It’s a vulnerability that allows our trio of villains (with distinct Dangerous Liaisons vibes) to interfere in their path to happiness. But there’s nothing like getting dunked in a pond to take a man down a peg or two. And because we can’t have our Heyer novels too dark, we’ve got the risk-taking Pel, the ever-punctilious Pom, and the relatively level-headed Captain Heron becoming the most beset gang of highway robbers that we’ve ever heard of. ‘Marcus, is the girl a minx?’ She asked. ‘No,’ he answered. ’She is not, Louisa. I am not at all sure that she is not a heroine.’ Instagram: @georgetteheyerpodcast Twitter: @heyerpodcast

Smugglers, murder plots, punch ups and a priest hole - it's quite the Famous Five adventure for Sir Tristram, Sarah, Ludovic and Eustacie (and Sir Hugh to make up the numbers). In this episode we talk about the morbid flights of fancy of teenage girls, the allure of athletic gentlemen, and the skill required to shoot candelabras. Su also demonstrates that she understands neither French nor horse riding. And amongst all that adventure we enjoy the sparkling chemistry between Sir Tristram and Miss Thane. Considering they're both well able to throw a devastating punch, we think they're a perfect match. In fact they'll be as happy as Sir Hugh in a wine cellar. "Unfortunately, you, Sir Tristram, knowing nothing of me, and being possessed of a tyrannical disposition - I beg your pardon?' 'I did not speak,' replied Sir Tristram, eyeing her frostily. Miss Thane met his look with one of liquid innocence. 'Oh I quite thought you did!' 'I choked,' explained Sir Tristram. 'Pray continue! You had reached my tyrannical disposition.' Surprise bonus content! In this episode we imagine Shield sitting down to draw horses for Miss Thane's sketchbook - a vital part of their ruse to uncover the priest hole. Well... Su thought it would be fun to try writing that scene herself, and Rach encouraged her: Read it here. Instagram: @georgetteheyerpodcast Twitter: @heyerpodcast