Lady of Quality

Good, clean, Regency fun!

I love Georgette Heyer's books--the characters are quirky and totally unique, her storylines are always fresh, and her use of Regency slang makes me want to toss around terms like "ape-leader", "blue devil", "wet goose", and "cock up one's toes" in my everyday conversation. I don't usually, but I'm tempted. Lady of Quality is a prime example of Heyer at her best. At twenty-nine, Annis Wynchwood is considered firmly on the shelf. Strong-minded and independent, she's set up her own establishment in Bath to avoid being the "maiden aunt" in her brother's home. In Bath she enjoys making her own decisions, running her own household, and deciding how and with whom she will spend her time. Well, there is one exception--her cousin, Maria, who her brother suggested she engage as her companion to lend her respectability, and who also tends to drive Annis (and anyone else who spends five minutes with her) completely crazy. Other than that, though, Annis is fairly content with the life she's made for herself. At least she thinks she is--until the day she encounters a broken-down carriage on the road. Annis meets Lucilla Carelton, a young girl who has escaped her aunt's house and the pressure to marry her childhood friend Ninian (who, incidentially, doesn't want to marry her either, and is actually helping her to escape). Annis takes the young girl under her wing and manages to become her temporary chaperone, much to the annnoyance of her brother, her companion Maria, and Lucilla's co-guardian, Oliver Carelton, the "rudest man in England." Mr. Carelton is so put out with Annis's presumption that he travels to Bath to determine just what Miss Wychwood's motives could possibly be. He stays in town, much to Annis's annoyance, since the two are constantly at loggerheads. Or are they? Mr. Carelton admits almost at once to Annis that he finds her both beautiful and fascinating. Annis, though exasperated beyond belief every time she encounters Lucilla's ward, can't help being fascinated by him. She is constantly torn--does she want to see him or avoid him? Encourage him or push him away? Does she loathe him, or love him? You can pretty much figure out where the story will end up from these two characters' first scene together, but as always, the journey Heyer takes us on to get them there is a whole lot of fun!

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

outstanding comedy, outstanding romance

The witty stories written by Ms. Heyer have been favorites of mine for over forty years. Theses are stories you reread over and over. In 'Lady of Quality' I always imagine Hepburn and Tracey in the lead roles.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.