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Georgette Heyer (2013)

by Jennifer Kloester(Favorite Author)

3.88 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

1402271751 (ISBN13: 9781402271755)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Sourcebooks

review 1: My mother first introduced me to Georgette Heyer's Regency novels in my teens and they became some of my favourite reads. I enjoyed reading about familiar titles, again in this biography. It was undoubtedly very well researched with impressive sources, references lists of her publications in both UK and USA and engrossing photographs. I have to say I did not warm to Georgette. She came from a middle class family, was devastated by the death of her father, and writing became her life, as her mother and younger brothers looked to her for support in post WW1 Britain. I felt sorry for her only son Richard who came in second if not third place, leading a solitary life with a governess before being sent to boarding school. I also had little sympathy for her husband Ron... moreald who as a mining engineer found it difficult to find a later niche in life until, supported financially by his wife, he studied law. Finances were a major preoccupation for Georgette and spurred on her writing - yet it did not seem to stop the family from spending on lengthy holidays, domestic help, and frequent house moves in and around London. Her relationship with her publishers formed a major part of the book. She complained about Heinemann, in particular for not promoting her books, but on the other hand firmly retained her privacy in terms of not consenting to photographs and interviews. The ending in many ways was sad. I persevered through much of the copious detail in the biography and certainly emerged with a picture of a talented, hardworking and very focussed writer - if not altogether likeable.
review 2: I've loved Georgette Heyer books since I was in high school and I re-read them on a regular basis. I enjoyed this new biography, including the updates available now that apparently Jane Aitken Hodge did not have access too. I already knew enough about Georgette Heyer to know she wasn't the most appealing character in person but nevertheless she wrote funny, entertaining books and the author wrote a very informative book. less

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