Georgette Heyer

Georgette Heyer, (pronounced "hair"), (August 16 1902 ? July 4 1974) was a historical romance and detective story novelist.

Related Topics:
August 16 - 1902 - July 4 - 1974 - Historical - Romance - Detective story - Novelist

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Born in Wimbledon, London, her first published work, inspired by the Baroness Orczy, was The Black Moth, and was written while she was seventeen to amuse her convalescent brother. She became an increasingly popular writer, supporting her family through her work.

Related Topics:
Wimbledon, London - Baroness Orczy

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Heyer created her most popular work when she started setting her novels during the English Regency, a period which she made uniquely her own. Novels from this period include The Unknown Ajax, Frederica, and The Black Sheep. She did a tremendous amount of research on this period but glossed over the bleaker realities of life when she wrote. Her writing in this genre has influenced all subsequent writers.

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She also wrote mysteries set contemporaneously in England between World War I and World War II which are classic country-house murder mysteries. (See also whodunit.) In all, she published over 60 works. Her writings were mainly Regency romances, but she also wrote a number of detective novels plus short stories and a radio play based on one of her books. From her royalty income, she was able to put her husband through law school.

Related Topics:
England - World War I - World War II - Whodunit - Regency romance - Detective novels

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There have been three significant books on Heyer's life:

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• The Private World of Georgette Heyer by Jane Aiken Hodge (1984)
• Georgette Heyer's Regency England by Teresa Chris (1989)
• ' by Mary Fahnestock-Thomas (2001)
 
Georgette Heyer: Bibliography ►