Where to start reading Georgette Heyer
Before Bridgerton was even a twinkle in Julia Quinn’s eye, there was Georgette Heyer. Born in the early 1900s, this author essentially created the historical romance genre. Her Regency romances have stood the test of time, however, because they’re the perfect pick-me-up without ever resorting to artificial gloop, and are filled with delectable heroes, witty heroines and rollicking good plots. It’s no surprise that many have compared her to Jane Austen.
Not much is known about Heyer – she was very private, and died only in 1974, aged 71. However, we do know that she meticulously researched the history of her literary worlds. Her forensic attention to detail means that every reader feels completely at home in a world that’s far from their own yet instantly recognisable. Her heroines, while rooted in such detail, are firmly 20th-century in their outlook and spirit.
If you’ve got the historical romance bug and want to delve further into this genre, you might feel initially intimidated by Heyer’s back catalogue: she wrote 52 best-selling novels and numerous short stories. That’s why we’ve pulled together the below list of recommendations on where to start with Georgette Heyer’s work, including the best books to give you a taste of her writing style, favourite themes, and trademark characters.
Which Georgette Heyer book should you read first?
Which books should you read next?
Frequently asked questions
Do you need to read Georgette Heyer’s books in order?
The short answer is no. All of Georgette Heyer’s books are standalone, meaning there is no specific order you need to read them in for continuity’s sake.
However, there are some sequences to look out for. For instance, the Alastair-Audley books – These Old Shades, Devil’s Club, An Infamous Army and Regency Buck – are not officially a series, but there are some links in the stories, namely the Audley family name, that connect the books together. Think of them more as companions that are set in the same world.
What are Georgette Heyer's books in publication order?
Georgette Heyer was a prolific writer and wrote over 50 books in her lifetime. Here are her novels in publication order, along with details of the time periods and genres they belong to:
- The Black Moth (1921) (Georgian)
- The Great Roxhythe (1923) (Restoration)
- The Transformation of Philip Jettan (later republished as Powder and Match) (1923) (Georgian)
- Inside the Thorn (1923) (Contemporary)
- Simon the Coldheart (1925) (Medieval)
- These Old Shades (1926) (Georgian)
- The Masqueraders (1928) (Georgian)
- Helen (1928) (Contemporary)
- Beauvallet (1929) (Elizabethan)
- Pastel (1929) (Contemporary)
- Barren Corn (1930) (Contemporary)
- The Conqueror (1931) (Norman Conquest)
- Devil's Cub (1932) (Georgian)
- Footsteps in the Dark (1932) (Detective)
- Why Shoot the Butler? (1933) (Detective)
- The Convenient Marriage (1934) (Georgian)
- The Unfinished Clue (1934) (Detective)
- Regency Buck (1935) (Regency)
- Death in the Stocks (1935) (Detective)
- Behold, Here’s Poison (1936) (Detective)
- The Talisman Ring (1936) (Georgian)
- They Found Him Dead (1937) (Detective)
- An Infamous Army (1937) (Regency)
- A Blunt Instrument (1938) (Detective)
- Royal Escape (1938) (Restoration)
- No Wind of Blame (1939) (Detective)
- The Spanish Bride (1940) (Regency)
- The Corinthian (1940) (Regency)
- Faro’s Daughter (1941) (Georgian)
- Penhallow (1943) (Detective)
- Friday’s Child (1944) (Regency)
- The Reluctant Widow (1946) (Regency)
- The Foundling (1948) (Regency)
- Arabella (1949) (Regency)
- The Grand Sophy (1950) (Regency)
- Duplicate Death (1951) (Detective)
- The Quiet Gentleman (1951) (Regency)
- Detection Unlimited (1953) (Detective)
- Cotillion (1953) (Regency)
- The Toll-Gate (1954) (Regency)
- Bath Tangle (1955) (Regency)
- Sprig Muslin (1956) (Regency)
- April Lady (1957) (Regency)
- Sylvester, or the Wicked Uncle (1957) (Regency)
- Venetia (1958) (Regency)
- The Unknown Ajax (1959) (Regency)
- A Civil Contract (1961) (Regency)
- The Nonesuch (1962) (Regency)
- False Colours (1963) (Regency)
- Frederica (1965) (Regency)
- Black Sheep (1966) (Regency)
- Cousin Kate (1968) (Regency)
- Charity Girl (1970) (Regency)
- Lady of Quality (1972) (Regency)
- My Lord John (Unfinished) (1975) (Middle Ages)
Georgette Heyer also wrote short stories, which were published in the following order:
- A Proposal to Cicely (1922)
- The Bulldog and the Beast (1923)
- Linckes’ Great Case (1923)
- The Horned Beast of Africa (1923)
- Runaway Match (1936)
- Lady, Your Pardon (1937)
- Incident on the Bath Road (1937)
- Pursuit (1939)
- Pistols for Two (short stories collection) (1960)
- Snowdrift and Other Stories (short stories collection) (1960)
- Acting on Impulse (short stories collection) (1960)
What is Georgette Heyer’s most famous book?
The Grand Sophy is probably Georgette Heyer’s best-known book. It’s frequently at the top of best-of lists for Heyer’s work, has been reviewed extensively, and has been in print for over 70 years.
Its quintessential Heyer heroine, Sophy Stanton-Lacy, is one of the reasons for its enduring popularity. She is the pinnacle of Heyer’s Regency female leads – witty, bold, endearing and at odds with the Regency period’s strict social code, making her a truly compelling character.
What is the funniest Georgette Heyer book?
It’s generally agreed that The Grand Sophy is Heyer’s funniest book. There’s just something about the way our heroine interferes with everyone’s business that is so audacious, yet wonderfully practical, that it can’t help but raise a chuckle. Sophy’s sharp wit and ability to outsmart everyone, especially those in authority, contrast with the time period’s social expectations. Characters’ responses to Sophy range from sheer exasperation to complete disarmament, making her antics even funnier.
How many Regency novels did Georgette Heyer write?
Georgette Heyer wrote 26 Regency-based novels between 1935 and 1972. She finished the last one just a couple of years before she passed away.