Frederica by Georgette Heyer

Every now and then I find the need to read a Georgette Heyer regency.  They are engaging, entertaining, witty and never alarming or gloomy.  Perfect fodder when you need a bit of a lift.

This time I resorted to Frederica which Goodreads rates as one of the best ones.  And I wasn't disappointed with my re-reading.  It is a sparkling gem.  If you haven't tried a Georgette Heyer before, this one would be a good place to start.  I found myself laughing helplessly at the ending – it was so fabulously funny.

Heyer wrote over 60 novels – this one dates to 1965.  She wrote a slightly tongue in cheek  pre-publication blurb for the book at the insistence of her publisher – this is it

"This book, written in Miss Heyer’s lightest vein, is the story of the adventures in Regency London of the Merriville family: Frederica, riding the whirlwind and directing the storm; Harry, rusticated from Oxford and embarking with enthusiasm on the more perilous amusements pursued by young gentlemen of ton; the divine Charis, too tenderhearted to discourage the advances of her numerous suitors; Jessamy, destined for the Church, and wavering, in adolescent style, between excessive virtue and a natural exuberance of spirits; and Felix, a schoolboy with a passion for scientific experiments. In Frederica, Miss Heyer has created one of her most engaging heroines; and in the Marquis of Alverstoke, a bored cynic who becomes involved in all the imbroglios of a lively family, a hero whose sense of humour makes him an excellent foil for Frederica."