Venetia

by Georgette Heyer

In all her twenty-five years, lovely Venetia Lanyon has never been further than Harrogate. Then she meets her neighbour, Lord Damerel, and before she knows better, she is egging on a libertine whose way of life has scandalized the county for years.

• ISBN10: 0434328243
• ISBN13: 9780434328246
• Publish Date: 10 November 1958
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 13 July 1995
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Cornerstone
• Imprint: William Heinemann Ltd
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 312
• Language: English

Reviews

[jamiereadthis]

This might be the first Georgette Heyer— well, maybe The Grand Sophy— that I’ve wished was shorter, but only because the first half is scrumptious, and I love Aubrey best, even with stiff competition from Damerel and Venetia— who both love Aubrey best— but then the complications arrive in the form of busybody relations-by-marriage and I’m pretty sure I’d rather just keep reading about Venetia romping over the countryside and hatching plots with her bff Damerel and Aubrey in love with Damerel’s library, because let’s face it, who wouldn’t be, and the three of them forming a happy little family, getting into mischief, provoking the ton, happily ever after. Also, Venetia would totally be into the orgies. I’m just saying.

But then of course the last two chapters arrive, and they’re so splendid that I couldn’t wish the book shorter after all:

She looked at Damerel. “Well, my dear friend?”

“Well, my dear delight?” he returned, a glint in his eyes.

“Do you think you will make me unhappy?”

“I don’t — but I will offer you no promises!”

“No, pray don’t!” she said seriously. “As soon as one promises not to do something, it becomes the one thing above all others that one most wishes to do!” She turned her head towards her uncle again. “You mean to warn me that he may continue to have mistresses, and orgies, and — and so on, don’t you, sir?”

“Particularly so on!” interpolated Damerel.

“Well, how should I know all the shocking things you do? The thing is, uncle, that I don’t think I ever should know.”

“You’d know about my orgies!” objected Damerel.

“Yes, but I shouldn’t care about them, once in a while. After all, it would be quite unreasonable to wish you to change all your habits, and I can always retire to bed, can’t I?”

“Oh, won’t you preside over them?” he said, much disappointed.

“Yes, love, if you wish me to,” she replied, smiling at him. “Should I enjoy them?”

He stretched out his hand, and when she laid her own in it, held it very tightly. “You shall have a splendid orgy, my dear delight, and you will enjoy it very much indeed!”

[MurderByDeath]

I ended up enjoying this book much more than I thought I would have after chapter 1.  That bramble scene left me extremely sceptical - I could see no way Heyer would be able to adequately redeem Lord D. and make me buy into this romance.  But the dialog was intelligent and snappy, and I liked Aubrey, but most importantly, I'd challenged Bookstooge to read a romance and it would be poor sport to back out myself.

Comic relief comes into the first half of the book with Oswald, a wannabe suitor of Venetia's who has embraced Byron's work a bit too passionately; today he'd be called a fanboy.  Venetia's other suitor, Edward... I hate this man as much as any fictional character can be hated.  He is the stuff stalkers and abusive men are made of, while all the while everyone talks about how kind he is and what a good husband he'd be.  I kept hoping he'd die of complications from chicken-pox.

We soon come to a mini-crises, a necessary excuse to bring Lord D. and Venetia back together and on terms that would force them to spend time together.  I liked the scene in the dining room because Heyer didn't try to pull anything grand, or racy, or shocking; it was just a dinner between two people treating each other as new friends.  The ordinariness and subtly of the scene was its appeal for me and I found it put them both to better advantage in my eyes.

From there, we have what I think of as the "bluebirds of happiness" moment - when Venetia wakes up in her room and the whole thing feels like a scene out of a Disney movie (Cinderella or Snow White, I forget which).  My first reaction to this scene was always going to be to roll my eyes a tiny bit, but if I'm also being completely honest, Heyer nailed what it feels like to realise you've found an actual, real friend; not an acquaintance or even a buddy, but a true friend who 'gets' you.

But of course, this happiness can not be allowed to last; things cannot go on as they are as we are sorely lacking in misery and angst.  Well, Heyer righted the listing ship with the introduction of Charlotte and Mrs. Scorrier.  With Mrs. Scorrier, lots of other authors would have grossly overcompensated, but Heyer uses this opportunity to not only introduce the tension, but also the entertainment.  Scorrier is a dragon met constantly by the dampening influence of other dragons, getting better than she gives.  The verbal sparring was the highlight of the book, in my opinion.

Soon, things come crashing down around Venetia as Lord D. does, as she hoped, fall in love with her.  Only the result of this is anything but what Venetia would have asked for.  Instead of an offer, she is cajoled by her uncle into going to London to live with her aunt, with Lord D.'s support; he is fully aware that his scandalous past ensures no dignified future with Venetia - even as he works to get his personal affairs in order in preparation to propose marriage.  His idiotic I know best / I must martyr myself attitude is sadly cliched but he gets bonus points for pragmatically accepting it was time to reap what he'd sown and do so with a minimum of melodrama.

But!  Such a twist!  So crafty is fate!  The very thing meant to separate Venetia and Lord D. offers up the very tool she needs to ensure their future togetherness, and Venetia is not one to lose the advantage when it's handed to her.  Unfortunately, this ending felt much rockier, much clumsier than the rest of the book; I can't quite put my finger on what exactly didn't work - maybe it was rushed? Maybe it went that tiny bit too far into unrealistic?  I don't know.  I didn't hate it, but I didn't think it was quite up to snuff.  The best part of it, for me, the very best part, was the final scene between Venetia and Edward.  I'd only have wished for her to have more opportunity to really let him have it with both guns blazing.

Overall, the book surprised me and I'd happily agree that this is one of Heyer's better books.

[Stephanie]

Venetia is not your average girl. She's incredibly smart and uncommonly outspoken. Venetia's life has been what most people consider abnormal. Her mother died when she was only nine years old and no one in the house was allowed to refer to her. Her father's grief was so deep that he locked himself away in a wing of the house and would not allow house guests. Sir Francis also did not pay his children much attention. When it was time for Venetia to be brought out she was not allowed to go to London to her aunt. When Sir Francis passed, Venetia's older brother Conway was in the war and could not be bothered to come home or to take care of affairs through regular correspondence. Venetia couldn't bring herself to leave her younger brother Aubrey alone so she stayed at her home in Undershaw. She managed the estate in Conway's absence. Venetia hasn't had much experience with the world and doesn't worry too much about appearance and everything a lady of her day should.


Lord Damerel is Venetia's neighbor but is rarely in residence. When she runs into him while picking berries one day she is quite surprised. His reputation proceeds him and she knows herself to be in the company of a rake. Venetia also knows, that while there may be some truth to the stories that surround Damerel, that there must be some exaggeration in the stories. Venetia entertains Damerel's company and Damerel is quite fond of Aubrey. Before either Venetia or Damerel is aware of what has happened they've fallen in love with each other. Damerel wishes to reform for Venetia but doesn't believe himself to be worthy.Venetia is a determined girl and won't have just anyone.


I loved Venetia. It was a comfortable read. Venetia is incredibly likable and her interaction with Damerel is witty and enjoyable. Damerel is the perfect reformed rake. He retains just enough of his bad boy ways to make him seductive and sexy. He has a streak of honor that he doesn't get enough credit for. Venetia and Damerel's relationship is unique in historical romance and it's refreshing. If you're a fan of Jane Austen-esque fiction take my advice and do not miss Georgette Heyer or Venetia!