Cotillion

by Georgette Heyer

To escape the unwelcome attentions of greedy suitors, a wealthy heiress pretends to become engaged to Freddy Stanton, a modest and resourceful young Regency Beau. The problems caused by this sham engagement are the focal point of a romantic novel set at the height of the Regency period.

• ISBN10: 0330201506
• ISBN13: 9780330201506
• Publish Date: December 1968 (first published 5 January 1953)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 8 April 1992
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Pan Macmillan
• Imprint: Pan Books
• Format: Paperback (A-Format (178x111 mm))
• Pages: 336
• Language: English

Reviews

[MurderByDeath]

I was in the mood for a light read and while I was perusing my TBR piles, boxes, and shelves, I came across this and remembered that Lillelara had recently read it and enjoyed it.

I definitely enjoyed The Grand Sophy better, but this one got me through without complaint.  I struggled to really feel invested in the story or any of the characters though; it seemed to missing just that little bit of depth - or else my reading slump had dulled my reading sense, rendering everything a bit duller.  Given Heyer's hit and miss record, either is possible.  Or perhaps a bit of both:  the final scene at Rattray's rectory perked me right up; in that moment, the characters popped to life for me and I cared about what happened next.

I haven't read even close to Heyer's entire backlist, but I'd firmly place this midway on a scale of those I've read so far.

[jamiereadthis]

Now I get why anybody who talks about Georgette Heyer says, “Freddy!” FREDDY! Between Freddy and Dolphinton and Fish and Meg and of course Kit, how this hasn’t been made and remade into a dozen movies by now I have no idea.

“You don’t mean it?” exclaimed Freddy, much struck. “Of course he ain’t a lunatic! Got no brains, that’s all. Well, I ain’t got any either, but you wouldn’t say I was a lunatic, would you?”

“No, and you have got brains, Freddy!” said Kitty indignantly.

Mr. Standen, already shaken by having his hand rubbed worshipfully against a lady’s cheek, goggled at her. “You think I’ve got brains?” he said, awed. “Not confusing me with Charlie?”

“Charlie!” uttered Miss Charing contemptuously. “I daresay he has book-learning, but you have— you have address, Freddy!”

“Well, by Jove!” said Mr. Standen, dazzled by this new vision of himself.