The Grand Sophy
by Georgette Heyer
On This Page
Description
Resourceful, adventurous and utterly indefatigable, Sophy is hardly the mild-mannered girl that the Rivenhalls expect when they agree to take her in. Kind-hearted Aunt Lizzy is shocked; stern Cousin Charles and his humourless fiancée Eugenia are disapproving. With her inimitable mixture of exuberance and grace Sophy soon sets about endearing herself to her family, but finds herself increasingly drawn to her cousin. Can she really be falling in love with him, and he with her? And what of his show more betrothal to Eugenia?. show less
Tags
Recommendations
Member Recommendations
Bjace While it's not in the same genre, the books are similiar. Both Sophy and Flora Post are Miss Fix-its, whose practical, problem-solving approach to life is a contrast to the silliness of their relatives. Also, both are delightful reads in different ways.
40
moonsoar The main females in both books are up to the same sort of shenanigans in both books.
Member Reviews
When the lively, loving and very independent Miss Sophia Stanton-Lacy comes to stay with her relatives in Berkeley Square, none of the Rivenhall family, from nervous Lady Ombersley to stern Cousin Charles, have any notion that their lives will never be the same. Soon perceiving that she has come to an unhappy home, Sophy determines that she will set all to rights, whether this entails assisting Hubert with his financial difficulties, helping beautiful Cecilia to find her true love, nursing young Amabel back to health, or disentangling Charles from his obnoxious fiancée.
One of Heyer's most charming Regency Romances, The Grand Sophy features an appealing and admirable heroine, whose sangfroid in the face of her Cousin Charles's frequent show more expressions of outrage is hilarious to observe. This well-written story might, in fact, have ranked among my favorite Heyer novels, had my pleasure in it not been diminished by the unfortunate inclusion of a very ugly and anti-Semitic scene, midway through the book.
I am referring, of course, to the passage concerning the Jewish moneylender, to be found in the eleventh chapter of the book. I have had occasion before this, to feel somewhat uncomfortable with the throwaway comments made in some of Ms. Heyer's novels about "going to the Jews" (frequenting moneylenders), but have always believed them to indicate a broad-based cultural anti-Semitism that would have been current during the time depicted, rather than outright authorial prejudice.
Such cannot be said in this case however, as Mr. Goldhanger's depiction has clear racial overtones. Described as having "long greasy curls, a semitic nose, and an ingratiating leer," his villainous behavior is attributed, not to his profession or personal character, but to his "race." Heyer never actually says he's a villain BECAUSE he's a Jew, but her remarks about the "the instinct of his race" make it plain that such is her implication.
This is a very short passage in an otherwise outstanding novel, and I would not argue that it ruins the book. But reading it left such a nasty taste in my mouth, that it could not be entirely forgotten either. Truly, a sad blemish on Georgette Heyer's name. show less
One of Heyer's most charming Regency Romances, The Grand Sophy features an appealing and admirable heroine, whose sangfroid in the face of her Cousin Charles's frequent show more expressions of outrage is hilarious to observe. This well-written story might, in fact, have ranked among my favorite Heyer novels, had my pleasure in it not been diminished by the unfortunate inclusion of a very ugly and anti-Semitic scene, midway through the book.
I am referring, of course, to the passage concerning the Jewish moneylender, to be found in the eleventh chapter of the book. I have had occasion before this, to feel somewhat uncomfortable with the throwaway comments made in some of Ms. Heyer's novels about "going to the Jews" (frequenting moneylenders), but have always believed them to indicate a broad-based cultural anti-Semitism that would have been current during the time depicted, rather than outright authorial prejudice.
Such cannot be said in this case however, as Mr. Goldhanger's depiction has clear racial overtones. Described as having "long greasy curls, a semitic nose, and an ingratiating leer," his villainous behavior is attributed, not to his profession or personal character, but to his "race." Heyer never actually says he's a villain BECAUSE he's a Jew, but her remarks about the "the instinct of his race" make it plain that such is her implication.
This is a very short passage in an otherwise outstanding novel, and I would not argue that it ruins the book. But reading it left such a nasty taste in my mouth, that it could not be entirely forgotten either. Truly, a sad blemish on Georgette Heyer's name. show less
I adored this book! The Grand Sophy descends upon her cousins, schemes madly to improve their lives and then comes up with an even crazier scheme to fix her mess. Sophy was an absolute delight, a clever roguish heroine, with a heart of gold, capable of driving fiesty horses, firing pistols, matchmaking and planning parties. Georgette Heyer seems to be a genius writer, like Jane Austen gone wild. I was smiling from start to finish. I can't wait to read the rest of her books.
It's 1816 and Sophia Stanton-Lacy, the daughter of diplomat Sir Horace, has come to London to stay with her aunt's family, the Ombersleys. Sir Horace assures Lady Ombersley that his "little Sophy" will be no trouble at all (this, of course, is the tip-off that Sophy is going to be boatloads of trouble, and savvy readers will turn the pages more quickly to find out just how).
Well, it starts with monkeys and ends with marriages. Sophy arrives in grand style to find that the Ombersley household is not an entirely happy one. There's Lord Ombersley, who divides his time between adulterous affairs and gambling, putting the family deeply in debt. There's Lady Ombersley, who reads like a slightly more perturbable Lady Bertram, ineffective and show more easily overruled. The oldest son, Charles Rivenhall, condemns his father's ways and can enforce his will as the result of a wealthy uncle's legacy, while the oldest daughter, Cecelia, is infatuated with an aspiring poet by the name of Augustus Fawnhope. The second son, Hubert, has secret troubles of his own, and there are several younger children who just want to play with the monkey in the schoolroom. Add to all this Charles's pretentious, politely malicious fiancee Eugenia Wraxton, and you have the perfect recipe for a Regency tangle. And who better to sort things out than Sophy?
Sophy is quite a fun character, and the rest of the cast plays up to her beautifully. She's sweet and charming, but she has to be the only Regency heroine who packs a pistol in her muff and beards crooked moneylenders in their own dens. Without seeming to do anything of the kind, Sophy manipulates events so that the other characters' natural tendencies lead them to make the choices she wishes. Sophy's system isn't perfect, however, and occasionally someone does something quite outside of her plan (like get married to the wrong person). But sometimes even Sophy cannot foresee what is best for everyone, and despite the unexpected nuptials a happy ending is had by all. Even the insufferable Miss Wraxton finds herself indebted to Sophy's generous and farseeing machinations!
The minor characters are fun too; you have to love a lady who is so lazy that she falls asleep under the very eyes of her guests. And yet when she is roused, Sancia, the Marquesa de Villacañas, can make a delicious dinner from the most doubtful ingredients and under the most inauspicious conditions. One of those inauspicious conditions is the presence of the poet, Augustus Fawnhope. To my delight he is everything his name promises: utterly clueless, wrapped up in composing his inane poetry, and deliciously oblivious to just about everything else. He is even adept at interrupting passionate love scenes without in the least realizing it (all in quest of ink for his latest epic). And don't forget Lord Charlbury, who had the unutterable stupidity to go and catch the mumps during a most interesting stage of his courtship of Cecelia! There is simply no excuse for a man like that.
The Grand Sophy is often hailed as one of Georgette Heyer's finest Regency romances, and I can see why. I certainly enjoyed this story and would rank it as one of Heyer's more conspicuous successes, but I admit that all the hype surrounding this particular title did lead me to expect something more from it. Other titles like Friday's Child and Cotillion remain my favorites. Still, of course, this is quite a fun read and I'd recommend it to readers new to the genre. show less
Well, it starts with monkeys and ends with marriages. Sophy arrives in grand style to find that the Ombersley household is not an entirely happy one. There's Lord Ombersley, who divides his time between adulterous affairs and gambling, putting the family deeply in debt. There's Lady Ombersley, who reads like a slightly more perturbable Lady Bertram, ineffective and show more easily overruled. The oldest son, Charles Rivenhall, condemns his father's ways and can enforce his will as the result of a wealthy uncle's legacy, while the oldest daughter, Cecelia, is infatuated with an aspiring poet by the name of Augustus Fawnhope. The second son, Hubert, has secret troubles of his own, and there are several younger children who just want to play with the monkey in the schoolroom. Add to all this Charles's pretentious, politely malicious fiancee Eugenia Wraxton, and you have the perfect recipe for a Regency tangle. And who better to sort things out than Sophy?
Sophy is quite a fun character, and the rest of the cast plays up to her beautifully. She's sweet and charming, but she has to be the only Regency heroine who packs a pistol in her muff and beards crooked moneylenders in their own dens. Without seeming to do anything of the kind, Sophy manipulates events so that the other characters' natural tendencies lead them to make the choices she wishes. Sophy's system isn't perfect, however, and occasionally someone does something quite outside of her plan (like get married to the wrong person). But sometimes even Sophy cannot foresee what is best for everyone, and despite the unexpected nuptials a happy ending is had by all. Even the insufferable Miss Wraxton finds herself indebted to Sophy's generous and farseeing machinations!
The minor characters are fun too; you have to love a lady who is so lazy that she falls asleep under the very eyes of her guests. And yet when she is roused, Sancia, the Marquesa de Villacañas, can make a delicious dinner from the most doubtful ingredients and under the most inauspicious conditions. One of those inauspicious conditions is the presence of the poet, Augustus Fawnhope. To my delight he is everything his name promises: utterly clueless, wrapped up in composing his inane poetry, and deliciously oblivious to just about everything else. He is even adept at interrupting passionate love scenes without in the least realizing it (all in quest of ink for his latest epic). And don't forget Lord Charlbury, who had the unutterable stupidity to go and catch the mumps during a most interesting stage of his courtship of Cecelia! There is simply no excuse for a man like that.
The Grand Sophy is often hailed as one of Georgette Heyer's finest Regency romances, and I can see why. I certainly enjoyed this story and would rank it as one of Heyer's more conspicuous successes, but I admit that all the hype surrounding this particular title did lead me to expect something more from it. Other titles like Friday's Child and Cotillion remain my favorites. Still, of course, this is quite a fun read and I'd recommend it to readers new to the genre. show less
Fluffy and amusing, with the striking exception of the egregious anti-Semitism. Cousin Sophy was a very Modern female protagonist, and her various matchmaking machinations entertained. I can't really rate the book more highly, though, because of the repulsive portrayal of a Jewish criminal money-lender, that trucked in virtually every negative anti-Semitic stereotype.
“The Grand Sophy” by Georgette Heyer delivered exactly what I expected: a sparkling, if somewhat dated, Regency romance. At times, it felt stuffy and blustery, especially in the dialogue, where I found myself struggling with the verbosity of certain characters.
»*Really, Horace, I must say that I think that most unjust of you, for how could he help it? It is so mortifying for him! And, what is more, excessively unfortunate, because I don’t doubt that had he been able to attach Cecilia… But no one can deny that nothing could be more ill-timed than Charlbury’s mumps!*«
This type of rambling speech made the beginning of the book feel quite slow for me. The social dynamics and constant talk of marriages seemed quaint and show more twee—typical of early 20th-century historical fiction, yet it grated on me initially. However, as the story progressed and Sophy’s vivacious nature took centre stage, the novel became utterly irresistible. From orchestrating romantic entanglements to causing delightful mayhem, Sophy is a force of nature.
Though it’s tempting to dismiss such stories as too formulaic or predictable, Heyer demonstrates masterful pacing. Her truly witty writing, far better than many imitators in the Regency romance genre, propelled the latter half of the book to become a page-turner of the highest degree. Compared to Heyer’s *Venetia*, I found *The Grand Sophy* more energetic. While old-fashioned in certain areas, it holds up far better than many of her contemporaries.
Four out of five stars.
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Mastodon | Instagram | Pinterest | Medium | Matrix | Tumblr
Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam show less
»*Really, Horace, I must say that I think that most unjust of you, for how could he help it? It is so mortifying for him! And, what is more, excessively unfortunate, because I don’t doubt that had he been able to attach Cecilia… But no one can deny that nothing could be more ill-timed than Charlbury’s mumps!*«
This type of rambling speech made the beginning of the book feel quite slow for me. The social dynamics and constant talk of marriages seemed quaint and show more twee—typical of early 20th-century historical fiction, yet it grated on me initially. However, as the story progressed and Sophy’s vivacious nature took centre stage, the novel became utterly irresistible. From orchestrating romantic entanglements to causing delightful mayhem, Sophy is a force of nature.
Though it’s tempting to dismiss such stories as too formulaic or predictable, Heyer demonstrates masterful pacing. Her truly witty writing, far better than many imitators in the Regency romance genre, propelled the latter half of the book to become a page-turner of the highest degree. Compared to Heyer’s *Venetia*, I found *The Grand Sophy* more energetic. While old-fashioned in certain areas, it holds up far better than many of her contemporaries.
Four out of five stars.
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Mastodon | Instagram | Pinterest | Medium | Matrix | Tumblr
Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam show less
I had a great ride with The Grand Sophy, by Georgette Heyer. Thank you for the recommendation, Ilana! I had read a Heyer mystery, and liked it well enough, but it had none of the wit and sass of this one. The Grand Sophy is labeled a "Regency romance", but to me it is a comedy of manners, one that reminded me at times of Wodehouse with its humorous plot twists.
Lord Ombersley has badly handled the family finances, and son Charles, favored financially by a relative, has to take charge. He dominates the family by necessity, as he tries to extricate them from their difficulties. Nice Lady Ombersley lives in fear of Charles' opinions, brother Hubert, well in debt himself, is afraid of Charles, and sister Cecilia is frustrated by Charles' show more desire that she marry a financially sound wooer, rather than the Adonis-like poet she admires. In keeping with his upright, responsible views, Charles has become engaged to Miss Wraxton, a model of rectitude and an expert at depressing everyone.
Then Sophy crashes onto the scene, and disrupts everything. The daughter of Lady Ombersley's peripatetic and successful brother Horace, she has been raised to assert herself and trust her instincts, and her instinct here is to fix the mess this family is in. Clever and filled with common sense, she outmaneuvers frustrated Charles at every turn, and begins to guide the family and others toward a more satisfying alignment.
Charles fights back.
“Let me tell you, my dear Cousin, that I should be better pleased if you would refrain from meddling in the affairs of my family!”
“Now, that,” said Sophy, “I am very glad to know, because if ever I should desire to please you I shall know just how to set about it. I daresay I shan’t, but one likes to be prepared for any event, however unlikely.”
Sophy is indomitable, and hilarious. She's not fond of Miss Wraxton, and vice versa.
“I shall be much obliged to you, cousin, if you will refrain from telling my sisters that she has a face like a horse!’
‘But, Charles, no blame attaches to Miss Wraxton! She cannot help it, and that, I assure you, I have always pointed out to your sisters!’
‘I consider Miss Wraxton’s countenance particularly well-bred!’
‘Yes, indeed, but you have quite misunderstood the matter! I meant a particularly well-bred horse!’
Sophy is an extremely capable free spirit, able to handle horses and guns and men and women with dexterity and elan. “Is it not unsupportable to be held down to a canter when you long to gallop for miles?” She frustrates the heck out of poor Charles, and raises jiggery pokery to a high art.
“It is abominable, Sophy!"
“Yes, if the motive were not pure!”
Her joyfulness is irresistible, and we root for her to vanquish the villains and save the Ombersleys from themselves. There is one unfortunate hiccup with the stereotyping of a Jewish moneylender. Other than that, once Sophy appears on the scene, this one is a high-spirited gallop from start to finish. show less
Lord Ombersley has badly handled the family finances, and son Charles, favored financially by a relative, has to take charge. He dominates the family by necessity, as he tries to extricate them from their difficulties. Nice Lady Ombersley lives in fear of Charles' opinions, brother Hubert, well in debt himself, is afraid of Charles, and sister Cecilia is frustrated by Charles' show more desire that she marry a financially sound wooer, rather than the Adonis-like poet she admires. In keeping with his upright, responsible views, Charles has become engaged to Miss Wraxton, a model of rectitude and an expert at depressing everyone.
Then Sophy crashes onto the scene, and disrupts everything. The daughter of Lady Ombersley's peripatetic and successful brother Horace, she has been raised to assert herself and trust her instincts, and her instinct here is to fix the mess this family is in. Clever and filled with common sense, she outmaneuvers frustrated Charles at every turn, and begins to guide the family and others toward a more satisfying alignment.
Charles fights back.
“Let me tell you, my dear Cousin, that I should be better pleased if you would refrain from meddling in the affairs of my family!”
“Now, that,” said Sophy, “I am very glad to know, because if ever I should desire to please you I shall know just how to set about it. I daresay I shan’t, but one likes to be prepared for any event, however unlikely.”
Sophy is indomitable, and hilarious. She's not fond of Miss Wraxton, and vice versa.
“I shall be much obliged to you, cousin, if you will refrain from telling my sisters that she has a face like a horse!’
‘But, Charles, no blame attaches to Miss Wraxton! She cannot help it, and that, I assure you, I have always pointed out to your sisters!’
‘I consider Miss Wraxton’s countenance particularly well-bred!’
‘Yes, indeed, but you have quite misunderstood the matter! I meant a particularly well-bred horse!’
Sophy is an extremely capable free spirit, able to handle horses and guns and men and women with dexterity and elan. “Is it not unsupportable to be held down to a canter when you long to gallop for miles?” She frustrates the heck out of poor Charles, and raises jiggery pokery to a high art.
“It is abominable, Sophy!"
“Yes, if the motive were not pure!”
Her joyfulness is irresistible, and we root for her to vanquish the villains and save the Ombersleys from themselves. There is one unfortunate hiccup with the stereotyping of a Jewish moneylender. Other than that, once Sophy appears on the scene, this one is a high-spirited gallop from start to finish. show less
The Grand Sophy is what brought me to Georgette Heyer, and it's still a deeply satisfying read. It feels polished and hilarious and utterly charming. Sophy is wonderfully independent and her dialogue makes me laugh out loud. The introductory monkey scene is a marvel and a wonder, and it begins as it means to go on.
Advanced Readers Copy provided by Edelweiss.
Advanced Readers Copy provided by Edelweiss.
Members
- Recently Added By
Published Reviews
ThingScore 75
"By now entrenched in the Regency subgenre she had created, for her next novel, The Grand Sophy, Georgette Heyer created a protagonist able to both challenge its rules and manipulate its characters, and a tightly knitted plot whose final scene almost begs for a stage dramatization. The result is either among her best or most infuriating books, depending upon the reader. I find it both."
added by lquilter
Lists
Favorite Georgette Heyer Novels, Ranked
49 works; 29 members
Best Historical Fiction
620 works; 257 members
Comfort Reads
221 works; 39 members
Top Five Books of 2013
1,564 works; 716 members
Historical Fiction
889 works; 89 members
Books I've Read More Than Once
602 works; 49 members
Recommend the 20 best books you've read in the last five years
2,167 works; 601 members
Best Family Stories
241 works; 22 members
Top Five Books of 2014
1,064 works; 398 members
TML 200 Best Books 1950-1999
202 works; 10 members
Comedy of Manners
73 works; 1 member
Books We Love to Reread
688 works; 296 members
Books We Couldn't Put Down
443 works; 197 members
Books Read in 2025
4,090 works; 97 members
Books Read in 2023
5,547 works; 145 members
Favorite Romance Fiction
247 works; 115 members
Books We Want To Read Again For The First Time
384 works; 160 members
Books that are a victim of Cancel Culture
46 works; 3 members
Books Read in 2020
4,379 works; 124 members
Books Read in 2021
5,361 works; 113 members
Fiction with Women's Names in the Title
378 works; 15 members
Five star books
1,755 works; 108 members
Books Read in 2019
4,052 works; 110 members
Books Read in 2018
4,360 works; 110 members
Books on my Kindle
162 works; 3 members
Books Read in 2016
4,666 works; 197 members
1950s
340 works; 22 members
A Novel Cure
742 works; 23 members
One Book, Many Authors
441 works; 40 members
The Modern Library (The Two Hundred Best Novels....
202 works; 1 member
Top-Rated Books on LibraryThing
272 works; 117 members
Author Information
127+ Works 77,951 Members
Georgette Heyer was born on August 16, 1902 at Wimbledon, London. She wrote The Black Moth as a story for her brother Boris. Her father, impressed with his daughter's imagination, suggested that she prepare it to be published, which it was by Constable in 1921. Having scored an instant success with The Black Moth at the age of nineteen under her show more own name, Georgette Heyer, she experimented with a pseudonym, Stella Martin, for her third book, published by Mills & Boon. She continued writing and in 1925 she married Ronald Rougier, a mining engineer. After reasonable but not spectacular sales from her first few books the instant success of These Old Shades in 1926 brought her a solid source of income which was very necessary at the time since the family relied to a large extent on the income from Georgette Heyer's writing. She wrote over fifty books during her lifetime and created the Regency England genre of romance novels. She died on July 4, 1974 at the age of 71. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Some Editions
Awards and Honors
Series
Belongs to Publisher Series
rororo (531)
Work Relationships
Is contained in
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title*
- Adorable Sophie
- Original title
- The Grand Sophy
- Original publication date
- 1950
- People/Characters
- Sophia Stanton-Lacy 'Sophy'; Charles Rivenhall; Cecilia Rivenhall; Hubert Rivenhall; Eugenia Wraxton; Augustus Fawnhope (show all 12); Lord Charlbury; Doña Sancia, Marquesa de Villacañas; Sir Horace Stanton-Lacy; Elizabeth Rivenhall, Lady Ombersley 'Lizzy'; Lord Ombersley; Amabel Rivenhall
- Important places
- London, England, UK
- First words
- The butler, recognizing her ladyship's only surviving brother at a glance, as he afterward informed his less percipient subordinates, favored Sir Horace with a low bow, and took it upon himself to say that my lady, although n... (show all)ot at home to less nearly connected persons, would be happy to see him.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)'I don't: I dislike you intensely!' he said savagely.
Entranced by these loverlike words, Miss Stanton-Lacy returned his embrace with fervor, and meekly allowed herself to be led off to the stables. - Blurbers
- Roberts, Nora; James, Eloisa; Heath, Lorraine; Doyle, Elizabeth
- Original language
- English
- Canonical DDC/MDS
- 823.914
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 3,199
- Popularity
- 5,371
- Reviews
- 140
- Rating
- (4.22)
- Languages
- 10 — Dutch, English, Estonian, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 60
- UPCs
- 1
- ASINs
- 54