Authors are always being asked to name their favourite novel, and for me it has to be Georgette Heyer’s The Grand Sophy. It sums up everything I enjoy about Heyer’s Regencies – strong characters, wit, invention and immaculate plotting. Sophy, descends (like another favourite heroine Flora Poste, in Cold Comfort Farm) on an unhappy, dysfunctional family and organises them ruthlessly for their own good – finding the love of her life in the process.Sophy is headstrong, outspoken and has a sense of honour that was expected from a man at the time, but never from a woman. I’m sure all of us would have enjoyed driving the priggish Miss Wraxton past the clubs of St James’ but how many of us would have apologised so bravely afterwards?
Here is a picture that sums up my picture of Charles, liberated from Miss Wraxton and Duty by the irrepressible Sophy.
Louise Allen
Louise's latest book is No Place for a Lady
The liberty of trade...Miss Bree Mallory has no time for the pampered aristocracy! She's too taken up with running the best coaching company on the roads. But a meeting with an earl changes everything...Soon, beautiful Bree has established herself in Society. She hopes no one will discover that she once drove the stage from London to Newbury...or that she returned unchaperoned with the rakishly attractive Max Dysart, Earl of Penrith. Is either any place for a lady?Bree's independence is hard-won: she has no interest in marriage. But Max's kisses are powerfully - passionately - persuasive...! No Place for a Lady (Mills & Boon August 2007), is available from bookshops and online from Amazon by clicking here
1 comment:
The Grand Sophy is a such a powerful character - I love her, but not sure I would want to live anywhere near her!!!
Can fully recommend No Place for a Lady: it's great fun, I devoured it in one go!
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