The wit, comedy and well-woven plots of the novels of Georgette Heyer

Summer is perhaps not the time for heavy reading, so prepare for a surprise suggestion. My arm has been twisted in a most unscrupulous manner, to reveal a dark, delicious secret : I am a frequent reader of the novels of Georgette Heyer. Years ago I found my mother’s copy of The Talisman Ring. Since then, I’ve been hooked. Black Sheep, The Grand Sophy, The Quiet Gentleman, A Civil Contract and many of the rest — none of them appears on the downstairs bookshelves. They are discreetly tucked away upstairs, but all of them ready to hand.

There are several reasons for this addiction. The books are obviously fictional and therefore frankly escapist. They are (except in some of the later books where she occasionally becomes too heavy) well written. The dialogue is good and often amusing. The author’s grasp of the details of Regency society made her a recognized expert in her day. They are gloriously predictable — there is one general plot with innumerable variations, smoothly contrived. The characters are well-defined, uncomplicated and psychologically believable. The books are inexpensive and easily available. They take no effort to read. They are moral, kind and cheerful.

If you haven’t tried them and you want to relax by pool, sea or in the shade, then perhaps you should. You may be faintly surprised (and slightly ashamed) at finding that they then become your go-to comfort reading. Well, join the club. No-one else need know. Unless, of course,  the book’s cover gives the game away. Or someone unscrupulous twists your arm.

Ophicleide