Georgette Heyer: Difference between revisions

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* [[The Fundamentalist]]: Constable Glass, [[Up to Eleven]].
* [[The Fundamentalist]]: Constable Glass, [[Up to Eleven]].
* [[Reality Ensues]]: One early chapter includes some of the suspects thinking about how to get some [[IO Us]] out of a safe. Failing completely, they immediately [[Lampshade]] the situation by pointing out how much easier it would be [[Leaning On the Fourth Wall|if they were all characters in a detective novel]].
* [[Reality Ensues]]: One early chapter includes some of the suspects thinking about how to get some [[IO Us]] out of a safe. Failing completely, they immediately [[Lampshade]] the situation by pointing out how much easier it would be [[Leaning On the Fourth Wall|if they were all characters in a detective novel]].
* [[Why Didn't You Just Say So]]: The main conflict in the novel stems from a married couple who'd grown apart, whose rows verge on [[Melodrama]], [[Lampshaded]] by everyone present. [[Slap Slap Kiss|They later reconcile]], spouting dialogue [[Tastes Like Diabetes|so damn soppy]] that everyone lampshades '''that'''!
* [[Why Didn't You Just Say So?]]: The main conflict in the novel stems from a married couple who'd grown apart, whose rows verge on [[Melodrama]], [[Lampshaded]] by everyone present. [[Slap Slap Kiss|They later reconcile]], spouting dialogue [[Tastes Like Diabetes|so damn soppy]] that everyone lampshades '''that'''!


''{{smallcaps|April Lady}}''
''{{smallcaps|April Lady}}''
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''{{smallcaps|Bath Tangle}}''
''{{smallcaps|Bath Tangle}}''
* [[First Love]]
* [[First Love]]
* [[Her Codename Was Mary Sue]]: in-universe example with ''Glenarvon''--Serena considers it [[So Bad Its Good]] and is highly entertained by trying to match the characters to the real people they're based on.
* [[Her Codename Was Mary Sue]]: in-universe example with ''Glenarvon''--Serena considers it [[So Bad It's Good]] and is highly entertained by trying to match the characters to the real people they're based on.
* [[Love Dodecahedron]]
* [[Love Dodecahedron]]
* [[Runaway Fiance]]: Subverted: Serena persuades her to go back to Rotherham, who is highly annoyed at Serena ruining his [[Plan]]
* [[Runaway Fiance]]: Subverted: Serena persuades her to go back to Rotherham, who is highly annoyed at Serena ruining his [[Plan]]
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''{{smallcaps|Beauvallet}}''
''{{smallcaps|Beauvallet}}''
* [[Gentleman Adventurer]]
* [[Gentleman Adventurer]]
* [[Historical in Joke]]
* [[Historical In-Joke]]


''{{smallcaps|Behold, Here's Poison}}'' (detective novel)
''{{smallcaps|Behold, Here's Poison}}'' (detective novel)
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* [[Aloof Big Brother]]: Tracy.
* [[Aloof Big Brother]]: Tracy.
* [[Annoying Younger Siblings]]: A grown-up example in Lavinia and Andrew.
* [[Annoying Younger Siblings]]: A grown-up example in Lavinia and Andrew.
* [[Aw Look They Really Do Love Each Other]]: {{spoiler|Two-for-one example, as Tracy [[Magnificent Bastard|arranges]] for Lavinia and Richard to [[Love Epiphany|stay together]], and [[Meal Ticket|keep him in reach of the Carstares' money]].}}
* [[Aw, Look -- They Really Do Love Each Other]]: {{spoiler|Two-for-one example, as Tracy [[Magnificent Bastard|arranges]] for Lavinia and Richard to [[Love Epiphany|stay together]], and [[Meal Ticket|keep him in reach of the Carstares' money]].}}
* [[Beta Couple]]: [[The Dutiful Son|Richard]] and [[Spoiled Brat|Lavinia]], whose subplot is arguably more entertaining than the main's.
* [[Beta Couple]]: [[The Dutiful Son|Richard]] and [[Spoiled Brat|Lavinia]], whose subplot is arguably more entertaining than the main's.
* [[Clear My Name]]
* [[Clear My Name]]
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* [[Graceful Loser]]
* [[Graceful Loser]]
* [[Handsome Devil]]: Tracy
* [[Handsome Devil]]: Tracy
* [[I Have You Now My Pretty]]: [[Villain Ball|Tried twice]]. [[What an Idiot|Failed.]] [[Just in Time|Twice.]]
* [[I Have You Now, My Pretty]]: [[Villain Ball|Tried twice]]. [[What an Idiot!|Failed.]] [[Just in Time|Twice.]]
* [[Impoverished Patrician]]: The Belmanoirs.
* [[Impoverished Patrician]]: The Belmanoirs.
* [[Poor Communication Kills]]: Justified; they're [[Upperclass Twit|idiots]].
* [[Poor Communication Kills]]: Justified; they're [[Upperclass Twit|idiots]].
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* [[Genre Savvy]]: Abby refuses to pull a [[Parental Marriage Veto]] on Fanny, knowing Fanny will try to elope with Stacey.
* [[Genre Savvy]]: Abby refuses to pull a [[Parental Marriage Veto]] on Fanny, knowing Fanny will try to elope with Stacey.
* [[Humiliation Conga]]: For Stacey Calverleigh.
* [[Humiliation Conga]]: For Stacey Calverleigh.
* [[Sibling Yin Yang]]: Abby and Selina.
* [[Sibling Yin-Yang]]: Abby and Selina.
* [[Virginity Makes You Stupid]]: Fanny.
* [[Virginity Makes You Stupid]]: Fanny.


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* [[Bittersweet Ending]]: Unusually, for a Heyer novel.
* [[Bittersweet Ending]]: Unusually, for a Heyer novel.
* [[First Love]]
* [[First Love]]
* [[Historical in Joke]]: Adam {{spoiler|buying Government stock}} just before Waterloo.
* [[Historical In-Joke]]: Adam {{spoiler|buying Government stock}} just before Waterloo.
* [[It Will Never Catch On]]: Jenny's father warning Adam that Wellington is bound to lose at Waterloo.
* [[It Will Never Catch On]]: Jenny's father warning Adam that Wellington is bound to lose at Waterloo.
* [[My Sister Is Off Limits]]: Parodied: Adam pretends to be doubtful about Brough's intentions.
* [[My Sister Is Off Limits]]: Parodied: Adam pretends to be doubtful about Brough's intentions.
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''{{smallcaps|The Conquerer}}''
''{{smallcaps|The Conquerer}}''
* [[Heroic Bastard]]
* [[Heroic Bastard]]
* [[Historical in Joke]]
* [[Historical In-Joke]]


''{{smallcaps|The Convenient Marriage}}''
''{{smallcaps|The Convenient Marriage}}''
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* [[Attractive Bent Gender]]
* [[Attractive Bent Gender]]
* [[Mistaken for Gay]]: Implicit; and then at the end several [[Innocent Bystanders]] see the hero "ruthlessly" kissing the heroine -- who's still dressed as a boy.
* [[Mistaken for Gay]]: Implicit; and then at the end several [[Innocent Bystanders]] see the hero "ruthlessly" kissing the heroine -- who's still dressed as a boy.
* [[Racefor Your Love]]
* [[Race For Your Love]]
* [[Runaway Fiance]]
* [[Runaway Fiance]]
* [[Sickeningly Sweethearts]]: Parodied.
* [[Sickeningly Sweethearts]]: Parodied.
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* [[Betty and Veronica]]: Subverted: everyone ''thinks'' Gilly is in love with Belinda, but he isn't.
* [[Betty and Veronica]]: Subverted: everyone ''thinks'' Gilly is in love with Belinda, but he isn't.
* [[Coming of Age Story]]
* [[Coming of Age Story]]
* [[Mommas Boy]]
* [[Momma's Boy]]
* [[Shrinking Violet]]
* [[Shrinking Violet]]
* [[Too Dumb to Live]]: Belinda, as [[Lampshade Hanging|lampshaded]] by many, many characters.
* [[Too Dumb to Live]]: Belinda, as [[Lampshade Hanging|lampshaded]] by many, many characters.
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* [[Beauty Is Never Tarnished]]: Subverted: Charles has his arm amputated.
* [[Beauty Is Never Tarnished]]: Subverted: Charles has his arm amputated.
* [[Broken Bird]]
* [[Broken Bird]]
* [[Historical in Joke]]
* [[Historical In-Joke]]
* [[Well Excuse Me Princess]]
* [[Well, Excuse Me, Princess!]]


''{{smallcaps|Lady of Quality}}''
''{{smallcaps|Lady of Quality}}''
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''{{smallcaps|My Lord John}}''
''{{smallcaps|My Lord John}}''
* [[Author Existence Failure]]: Heyer died while writing it.
* [[Author Existence Failure]]: Heyer died while writing it.
* [[Very Loosely Based On a True Story]]: John of Lancaster.
* [[Very Loosely Based on a True Story]]: John of Lancaster.


''{{smallcaps|The Nonesuch}}''
''{{smallcaps|The Nonesuch}}''
* [[Uncle Pennybags]]
* [[Uncle Pennybags]]
* [[Well Excuse Me Princess]]
* [[Well, Excuse Me, Princess!]]


''{{smallcaps|Penhallow}}''
''{{smallcaps|Penhallow}}''
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''{{smallcaps|The Quiet Gentleman}}''
''{{smallcaps|The Quiet Gentleman}}''
* [[Historical in Joke]]
* [[Historical In-Joke]]
* [[The Mole]]
* [[The Mole]]


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* [[Bookcase Passage]]: Actually in a closet, but close enough.
* [[Bookcase Passage]]: Actually in a closet, but close enough.
* [[MacGuffin]]: The missing document.
* [[MacGuffin]]: The missing document.
* [[One Dialogue Two Conversations]]: A hilarious one between Elinor and Carlyon at the start of the book, non-sexual for once. Carlyon thinks Elinor has [[Mail Order Bride|answered his advertisement for a woman to marry his cousin]], while she thinks he's discussing a governess position.
* [[One Dialogue, Two Conversations]]: A hilarious one between Elinor and Carlyon at the start of the book, non-sexual for once. Carlyon thinks Elinor has [[Mail Order Bride|answered his advertisement for a woman to marry his cousin]], while she thinks he's discussing a governess position.
* [[Secret Path]]: The hidden entrance to Highnoons.
* [[Secret Path]]: The hidden entrance to Highnoons.
* [[Secret Relationship]]: The cover story for why Eustace suddenly has a wife.
* [[Secret Relationship]]: The cover story for why Eustace suddenly has a wife.


''{{smallcaps|Royal Escape}}''
''{{smallcaps|Royal Escape}}''
* [[Historical in Joke]]
* [[Historical In-Joke]]
* [[King Incognito]]
* [[King Incognito]]


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''{{smallcaps|The Spanish Bride}}''
''{{smallcaps|The Spanish Bride}}''
* [[Historical in Joke]]
* [[Historical In-Joke]]
* [[Very Loosely Based On a True Story]]
* [[Very Loosely Based on a True Story]]


''{{smallcaps|Sprig Muslin}}''
''{{smallcaps|Sprig Muslin}}''
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''{{smallcaps|The Toll-Gate}}''
''{{smallcaps|The Toll-Gate}}''
* [[Altar the Speed]]: John and Nell are...unexpectedly...married by Sir Peter's bedside because he's decided he wants it done before he dies.
* [[Altar the Speed]]: John and Nell are...unexpectedly...married by Sir Peter's bedside because he's decided he wants it done before he dies.
* [[Historical in Joke]]
* [[Historical In-Joke]]
* [[Stranger in A Familiar Land]]
* [[Stranger in A Familiar Land]]


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''{{smallcaps|Venetia}}''
''{{smallcaps|Venetia}}''
* [[Annoying Younger Sibling]]: Aubrey to an extent, although Venetia's older brother is far worse despite never actually appearing
* [[Annoying Younger Sibling]]: Aubrey to an extent, although Venetia's older brother is far worse despite never actually appearing
* [[Brother Sister Team]]: Aubrey and Venetia have elements of this
* [[Brother-Sister Team]]: Aubrey and Venetia have elements of this
* [[Cool Big Sis]]: Venetia
* [[Cool Big Sis]]: Venetia
* [[Its Not You Its My Enemies]]: Damerel sends Venetia away due to the irreparable damage that would be done to her reputation if they married
* [[Its Not You Its My Enemies]]: Damerel sends Venetia away due to the irreparable damage that would be done to her reputation if they married

Revision as of 14:41, 8 January 2014

One of the most successful romance novelists of the 20th century, Georgette Heyer's books were famous for her intelligent comedy, the genuine sweetness of her romances and her meticulous research on the Regency period. She also wrote a few detective novels here and there, but these aren't nearly as well-known, which is a shame.

Heyer's heroes and heroines (occasionally dubbed Heyeroes and Heyeroines) tended to come in two types each:

Hero #1: Tall, usually dark, and definitely handsome. Almost always has a past. While highly unlikely to actually mistreat the heroine, they're not above scaring her into submission (however, as they're often dealing with Heroine #1, it's unlikely to work).

Hero #2: This is the consummate gentleman, who invariably comes up with the perfect response to any situation. Their usual role is to provide the heroine with an escape from any difficulties, whereas Hero #1 is frequently the cause of those difficulties.

Heroine #1: A lively young woman. She naturally gets herself into many a social scrape, from which the hero must rescue her, and either bounces back or feels humiliated deep down inside that he saw her in such a state.

Heroine #2: Overlooked and ignored, she may seem quiet. However, once the hero talks to her, or needs help, Heroine #2 comes into her own and reveals Hidden Depths.

Heyer was not above mixing and matching types, as well as subverting the expectations of her readers. In Sylvester, for example, the eponymous hero appears to be a Hero #1, whereas he's actually a Hero #2 (he merely has an unfortunate pair of eyebrows).

Heyer used a lot of tropes in various ways, so listing them by novel seems the best way to go.

Present in Most Heyers

  • Asshole Victim: Always present in her whodunnits.
  • Author Appeal Expect at least one kiss to be described as "crushing".
  • Deadpan Snarker -- Hero #1 almost certainly; frequently Hero #2 as well. Less common but far from unknown among the heroines; it may come up as part of Heroine #2's Hidden Depths.

A Blunt Instrument

April Lady

Arabella

Bath Tangle

Beauvallet

Behold, Here's Poison (detective novel)

The Black Moth

Black Sheep

Charity Girl


A Civil Contract

The Conquerer

The Convenient Marriage

The Corinthian

Cotillion

  • All Girls Want Bad Boys: Subverted.
  • Le Beau Geste: Parodied: Camille makes extravagant proclamations of what he would do to save Olivia, but is surprised when practical Freddy suggests simply eloping with her. Also played subtly straight with Freddy submitting to a day of sightseeing with Kitty.
  • Converting for Love: It's mentioned in passing that Olivia will probably have to become a Catholic to marry Camille.
  • Genius Ditz: Freddy.
  • Hands On Approach: Freddy and Kitty dancing.
  • I Want My Beloved to Be Happy: Freddy tries to do this for Kitty, despite genuine reservations about Jack beyond simple jealousy.
  • Kick the Dog: Jack blackmails Camille and insults Freddy.
  • Loving a Shadow: Kitty's realisation that she only ever loved her childhood hero, not Jack himself.
  • Masquerade Ball: Kitty has a miserable time at one of these until Freddy rescues her.
  • Operation Jealousy: Kitty tries one of these on Jack.
  • Poirot Speak: Camille.
  • Reformed Rakes: Subverted: not only is Jack not planning to reform for Kitty's sake, he's actively trying to seduce a friend of hers while courting her.
  • Runaway Fiance: Sort of: Kitty is running away from the possibility of being forced into an engagement to please her guardian, before coming up with a better plan.
  • Secret Relationship: Freddy and Kitty pretend to have one of these.
  • Shut Up Kiss
  • Wrong Guy First

Cousin Kate

Detection Unlimited {detective story, duh.)

 There are some who may believe that this book is about them. They are, in fact, mistaken.

Devil's Cub

False Colours

Faro's Daughter

The Foundling

Frederica

Friday's Child

  • Alpha Bitch: Isabella could be, but most of her unpleasant moments are also her most sympathetic.
  • Beta Couple: George and Isabella, Gil and Ferdy.
  • The Bro Code: Essentially the reason why Sherry throws a fit at the idea of George and Hero having an affair - that, and he's in love with Hero, of course.
  • Byronic Hero: Invoked and parodied - George would love to be this.
  • Cloudcuckoolander: Hero, Ferdy.
  • Coming of Age Story: Sherry, Hero to an extent.
  • Defrosting Ice Queen: Isabella.
  • Friendless Background: Hero seems to have only had two friends in her life prior to marrying Sherry, one of whom was him, the other being Isabella, and neither of them seem to have paid her much attention.
  • Kick the Dog: Revesby, first when he rejects his discarded, pregnant mistress and second when he arranges for Hero to get into debt.
  • Lovable Coward: Ferdy, who Sherry can't even stay angry when he finds out Ferdy hid his wife from him for weeks because Ferdy is so shamelessly trying to placate him.
  • Marry for Love: Isabella eventually cracks and admits that this is what she wants.
  • Masquerade Ball: Hero gets into trouble at one of these as a result of Sherry ditching her.
  • Meet Cute: While not a first meeting, Sherry accidentally comes across Hero crying on a wall and proposes marriage.
  • Reformed Rakes: Part of Sherry's Character Development.
  • Relationship Upgrade: Sherry elopes with Hero in the first few chapters.
  • Shrinking Violet: Hero.
  • Tsundere: Isabella.
  • Victorious Childhood Friend: Hero.

The Grand Sophy

The Great Roxhythe

An Infamous Army

Lady of Quality

The Masqueraders

My Lord John

The Nonesuch

Penhallow

Pistols For Two

  • Accidental Marriage: In "Hazard", the hero is so drunk when he wins the card game that he and the heroine are halfway to Gretna Green when he wakes up the next morning.
  • Arranged Marriage: The hero of "Hazard" is about to go through with one of these; luckily for him, he has a Runaway Fiance.
  • Lost Him in A Card Game: "Hazard".
  • Platonic Life Partners: Annabella and Tom from "Full Moon", who are very fond of each other and plan to elope only because Annabella is so horrified at the idea of marrying an old man.
  • Repetitive Name: Carlington Carlington in "Hazard".
  • Right in Front of Me: Annabella and Tom complain bitterly to a friendly stranger about the "horrid old friend" of Annabella's father whom she's expected to marry. Neither of them have ever met him, leading to predictable results.

Powder and Patch

The Quiet Gentleman

Regency Buck

The Reluctant Widow

Royal Escape

Simon the Coldheart

The Spanish Bride

Sprig Muslin

Sylvester

The Talisman Ring

The Toll-Gate

These Old Shades

The Unfinished Clue (detective story)

The Unknown Ajax

Venetia

Why Shoot A Butler? (detective story)

  • Amateur Sleuth: Frank Amberley - the person who solves the mystery - is a barrister, although it's noted in the story that he has some experience rounding up major criminals, having helped the police at least once.
  • Crazy Prepared: When the Big Bad tries to get away via a motorboat, Frank just happens to have a motorboat of his own ready. Justified in that he'd done some research during the previous day, and figured that would happen.
  • Police Are Useless: Averted. the police are just at sea because there are no clues to go on, and Amberley has quite a few of them... not that he tells the police most of them.
  • Slap Slap Kiss: It doesn't help that Frank is something of a Troll throughout the whole book, and not just to the girl.
  • Smug Snake: Frank Amberley is this, making him something of a Designated Hero.
  • Title Drop: In the second chapter, no less!

…Oh, and Happily Ever After usually comes in somewhere... unless it's Penhallow.

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