Arabella

by Georgette Heyer

A BELOVED CLASSIC FROM THE QUEEN OF THE REGENCY ROMANCE

'Absolutely delicious tales of Regency heroes . . . Utter, immersive escapism' SOPHIE KINSELLA

'One of my perennial comfort authors. Heyer's books are as incisively witty and quietly subversive as any of Jane Austen's' JOANNE HARRIS
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A fiery debutante. An ill-tempered bachelor. A romance for the ages.

Arabella, the daughter of an impoverished country parson, dreams of a new life in London. But her beauty and charm will only get her so far - and when Arabella embarks on her first London season armed with nothing but a benevolent godmother and her own notoriously short temper, she quickly runs afoul of Robert Beaumaris.

He's the most eligible bachelor of the day, with a personality as strong and combative as hers - and Arabella cannot abide him thinking of her as just another pretty girl after his wealth. So she allows herself to be provoked into a game of deception - one that could have unexpected consequences...

Arabella is a rich, dashing romance from Georgette Heyer, the legendary creator of the beloved Regency romance genre.
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'Wonderful characters . . . rapturously romantic' KATIE FFORDE

'A wonderful wit . . . I've read her over and over and over again' STEPHEN FRY

'Triumphantly good . . . Georgette Heyer is unbeatable' INDIA KNIGHT

• ISBN10: 0434328189
• ISBN13: 9780434328185
• Publish Date: 11 March 1952
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 12 June 1997
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Cornerstone
• Imprint: William Heinemann Ltd
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 315
• Language: English

Reviews

[jamiereadthis]

Now this is how you write a story with none of the mixups and miscommunications that make characters seem like idiots. She lies; he knows; he loves her for it; the book thrives off that instead of insipid mistakes. How can a book written seven decades ago still feel smarter, fresher, and funnier than 80% of the books written today? It delights in the ridiculous, which means it delights me.

The fifth star is for the magnificent Ulysses, tough competition for the best thing in the book.

[wyvernfriend]

So many trope sources

[ladygrey]

Arabella is a delightful romantic comedy. I love that [author:Georgette Heyer] writes it with such an archaic voice. Admittedly, this means it's a bit difficult to follow at times but its also fun to read something that is written so differently from most of what I read. And the characters are so true to the Regency era that their reactions are off kilter to a modern audience, but that's also one of the things I love about them. I love that they haven't been modernized. Which is not to say I don't like a good modern regency romance from time to time. I do thoroughly enjoy [book:The Season]. But I also really like a good, authentic regency romance.

Arabella is mostly a delightful heroine; smart and beautiful and appropriately strong willed and compassionate. She did turn a little foolish at the end but Mr. Beaumaris more than makes up for it. I like that he's charming and smart and confident enough to take the appropriate action. He is the sort of hero that makes the story. And I love that as much as the story is a comedy, he's never portrayed as a fool.

I didn't love Bertram's storyline because it was quite uncomfortable for a good portion of it. But, like the rest of the story, it ended well enough that it's not much of a detraction.

I enjoyed the conversations and the politics of the season and the flirtations that are so unique and delightfully high handed. I could have used a bit more dancing but otherwise this is a lovely book.