The Grand Sophy

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Summary: The Grand Georgette
Review: This book was voted one of the 400 best novels ever to come out of the 20th century; chosen out of Heyer's entire oeuvre to represent the best of her work. They made the best choice. Heyer invented a genre, that of the Regency Romance, which became cheapened by countless imitators and emulators as well as many very good authors who got lost among the dross and the sweeping statements which consigned the Regency Romance to an undeservedly low-rated place. The Grand Sophy shows Heyer at her very best - it is a outrageously funny book that still has me laughing out loud (I had to stop reading it on the train because other passengers began to complain), it presents a cast of strongly drawn and complex characters, premier among whom is the titular Sophy - Sophia Stanton-Lacy, the irrepressible, indefagitable young woman with a personality the size of all England. From her extravagant arrival at her aunt and uncle's house accompanied by a monkey, a parrot, an Italian greyhound, and a very fine horse - to say nothing of her strong managing nature and charisma, she takes her rather hare-brained cousins in hand, sorting out their entanglements, scandals and romantic peccadilloes in a helter-skelter way. A book for those who always know the best for everyone else, unless you don't want to encourage them. It is a fast-moving, extravagantly amusing, richly detailed and satisfyingly convoluted novel in which Heyer skilfully draws myriad loose ends together with an incredible lightness and sureness of hand - her great talent. Many imitators tend to do so with too heavy and ponderous a style. Buy, borrow or beg this novel - but don't read it in public unless you're good at suppressing laughter. And even better - unlike several of Heyer's best novels, where the language can be somewhat offputting, this book is among one of the most immediately accessible for the novice to Heyer.

Rating:
Summary: A MASTERPIECE!!!
Review: This is probably my favorite Heyer. Sophy steals the show with her masterful personality and ingenious, if unconventional, schemes to "rescue" her cousins from their various entanglements. With a dreamy poet, a villainous money-lender (who turns out to be a mere "dead bore"!),and a tiresome know-it-all bluestocking (who is REALLY a dead bore!), this story is anything BUT a dead bore! The plot moves swiftly from one outrageous episode to the next, with hilarious dialogue and unexpected turns along the way. A must read!!!

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Summary: By all that's wonderful, it's the Grand Sophy!
Review: This was my first introduction to the world of Georgette Heyer and what an introduction it was. I still laugh to this day at Sophy's delightful unconventionality and at the way her poor bewildered cousins learn to deal with her. A wonderful, wonderful book with great period detail and a light-hearted touch that makes it refreshing and non-sentimental at the same time. Read it. I'll not spoil the enchantment for you but beware...Sophy (and in consequence Heyer herself) is very addictive. You might just find yourself craving more.

Rating:
Summary: Heyer's best?
Review: Trying to pick the best Georgette Heyer is a hard task, but if I had to do it, then I'd chose The Grand Sophy. 'Little' Sophy turns out to be anything but little when she descends on her unsuspecting relatives and sorts them all out. Bringing humour and common sense to their tangled lives, she ends up not only sorting out their lives, but also her own. A hugely enjoyable, humorous read.

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Summary: Regency setting - 21st century girl who CAN and DOES!
Review: Whenever I need real laughter, and a picture of courage in the face of all that life tends to bring to one's door, I read this marvelous portrayal of a young woman expected to stay quietly, serenely, decoratively, in the background. It is with exquisite language, and superior descriptions that Georgette Heyer takes a bit of a departure into courage, great good humour, and descriptions that complete disarm and entertain. I most particularly enjoyed the late night kitchen scene complete with helplessness against unfamiliar cooking utensils and recently born "livestock". Do read this book, it is simply superb.