Jo on Heyer

[sartorias]

Over at Tor.com today, Jo Walton talks about why she likes Georgette Heyer. Interesting discussion and comments.

Though I've rambled about Heyer and silver fork novels I still keep trying to figure out why Heyer's more upbeat romances work as well as they do. (The serious ones are really, really awful

Comments

[estara]

Don't forget The Spanish Bride!!! - of course, Heyer was lucky in that Harry Smith had actually published his diaries so she was able to use those as the basis for the story. I think this is her strongest Napoleonic War book, personally.
I heard Harry and Juana Smith eventually ended up as Viceroys in Southafrica or something?

Off-topic but a pleasant link to share in case you haven't seen it:
http://thebooksmugglers.com/2012/03/book-review-a-posse-of-princesses-by-sherwood-smith.html

[sartorias]

I should try to reread it--I found it almost impossibly stiff and awkward when I first attempted it, ditto The Conqueror. I found the memoirs better.

Thank you for the link--that really made me smile! :-)

[estara]

The intense drama between Harry and Juana and the matter of factness of their life on the road just contrasted really well with the battle descriptions for me, especially when friends of Harry's were involved. An Infamous Army on the other hand never has really worked for me, heh ^^.

You're welcome ^^.

[desperance]

I heard Harry and Juana Smith eventually ended up as Viceroys in Southafrica or something?

He was a provincial governor. Twice. Ladysmith is actually named after Juana. (As Harrismith is named after Harry, but no one's ever heard of that.)

[estara]

As in... Ladysmith Black Mambazo... if I spell and remember that correctly? The brilliant group that Paul Simon used on the Graceland album?

Cool!

[desperance]

Yup, 'zackly as in that.