The Grand Sophy (original 1950; edition 2009)

I'm finally cleaning up my currently-reading shelf and this one has been sitting there for too long. As much as I'd love to finish this one, I only have it via Kindle and I own a Nook. (I don't like reading on my giant iPad, so chances are it'll just be a wasted two bucks.) ( )

Heyer is a delightful comic writer and can be gorgeously visual. The image she paints of Sophy rolling up at her relatives front door in a fashion not at all expected is giant. ( )

Even though I recommend this for Jane Austen fans, I must say Georgette Heyer and Jane Austen shouldn't be compared.

Georgette Heyer's novels are simply entertaining, with none of the serious social commentaries that Jane Austen supplied, though her writing style I think is as much sophisticated (and oh-so-English) as Austen's.

The Grand Sophy is my favorite Heyer so far, because it's the one that entertained me the most, particularly Sophy and Charles's chemistry. These two were made for each other. At first I didn't suspect that Charles was the hero in the story, because how could I think that Sophy's cousin would be her future husband? But after I got over that little bump, I thoroughly enjoyed Sophy's and Charles's antics. After all, they did practice marrying first cousins back then, and one of the most romantic real-life marriages for me was Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's.

It's a first-rate Heyer (at least for me, since I've only read 9 of her romances so far, and I intend to read all). I recommend all romance readers to read at least this Georgette Heyer. ( )

Another light, frothy, Heyer Regency romance. This time, we have "dear little Sophia" -- one of the cleverist of Heyer's many heroines, who has an unquenchable desire to help those she likes and to set everything to rights. Nothing much gets in Sophie's way as she manipulates, aids, inches, nudges, and shoves those around her into situations to make them ultimately happy. Sophie is fairly shameless, but she's not perfect, and she's just so human that I find this book is one I can read again and again. She makes me laugh.

The worst I can say about this book -- written in 1950 and set in the early 1800s -- is there are touches of Antisemitism in one section of the book. They are accurate to the period. They are also short and particular, but could upset the sensibilities of those sensitive or concerned about issues of prejudice. However, one can't change history and I thought they were just an example of "stuff we don't do anymore". They don't detract from the book in my opinion if viewed as a product of the research and the time period.


Great rainy afternoon reading, sniffly with a cold reading, or I hate to fly so distract me reading. ( )

THANK YOU to the Goodreads friends who recommended this book! ( )