Anne here, reporting an event that took place in London a few days ago, when Georgette Heyer's house in Wimbledon was given a prestigious English Heritage blue plaque. I wasn't there (sob!) but my friend, Dr Jennifer Kloester, Georgette Heyer's biographer (and an honorary Word Wench) flew over for the opening, and has kindly supplied the photos and much of the information for this blog.
The English Heritage blue plaque scheme, founded in 1866, and thought to be the oldest of its kind in the world, identifies and celebrates "the architecture of London's streets and the diversity and achievements of its past residents."
According to Jennifer Kloester, "An English Heritage Blue Plaque is a prestigious thing. They are awarded to those people who are deemed to have made a contribution to the nation's history. Georgette Heyer has now been admitted to the ranks of those authors who have made a significant contribution to the creative and cultural life of Britain."
This is Jen's report of the day (written especially for the WordWenches):
Both the fans and the sun came out as a crowd gathered outside 103 Woodside in Wimbledon, the house where Georgette Heyer was born on 16 August 1902. The semi-detached Edwardian still looks as it would have when she was child and it looks even better now with its beautiful blue plaque attached and looking as though it had always been there.
It was a wonderful day of celebration kicked off by Professor Martin Daunton of Cambridge University and vice-chair of English Heritage who mentioned the long process every blue plaque nominee must go through before being given the green light.
As biographer and blue plaque proposer I was asked to speak and was delighted to do so - although I confess I was more nervous about this than about any other Heyer talk I have ever given! To the extent that I carefully wrote out my speech and read it word for word. I got a little emotional at the end - probably not surprising given the excitement of the day. I really felt as though finally I had achieved what I had always wanted for Georgette Heyer - official public recognition of her achievements. I smile every time I think of that blue plaque and what it means. Awesome! (Jen's speech will soon be published in full on her website.)
Georgette's nephew, retired major-general Jeremy Rougier, spoke about his formidable Aunt Georgette, how terrified he was of her in his youth and of how warm and kind and generous she could be.
Susanna, Lady Rougier (Heyer's daughter-in-law, seen laughing at a funny story in Maj-Gen Rougier's speech) told us how Georgette used to ring her every morning for a good 'bitchy' gossip which they both used to enjoy and then abruptly there would be no more calls for a couple of months and Susie knew her mama-in-law was writing a new book. Just as abruptly the calls would start again and they would all go out to the Allegro or the Connaught for a celebratory dinner.
Stephen Fry, who did the honours of pulling the cord to reveal the plaque in all its glory, spoke brilliantly about his love of Heyer's novels, her wit, her language and especially her dialogue. He gave us several examples from the books and remarked on her extraordinary ability to bring the past to life. He was obviously delighted to be there and it was a great moment when he pulled the cord.
Anne interjects to say, Stephen Fry was quoted thus in the Guardian newspaper: “She is a fabulous, witty writer who captured the life and language of Regency England superbly,” said the actor, writer and broadcaster. “I am delighted to see her honoured with an English Heritage blue plaque.”
Jen finished with: The plaque itself is gorgeous and looks absolutely brilliant up on the house with those marvellous words: GEORGETTE HEYER NOVELIST WAS BORN HERE.
She added: Oh, and I should have ended my few words with the moment when Susie and Jeremy both said how pleased Georgette would have been with the plaque - only she would never have admitted it! :D
Anne again: The unveiling of the plaque was followed by a fabulous afternoon tea organized by my friend, Jenny Haddon and others. There were several more speeches, personal reminiscences, and a number of readings from Heyer's works. (Jenny wrote Harlequins as Sophie Weston and as Sophie Page wrote a wonderful royal romance that Mary Jo and I still reread.) A former Chair of the Romance Novelists Association (and an honorary Word Wench) Jenny Haddon also created a Heyer Walk -- a personally conducted wonderful walking tour of the various places in London where Georgette Heyer lived, worked and wrote about.
The The Guardian newspaper said: "The author Jenny Haddon called Heyer’s writing “utter bliss”. “She can turn a scene from farce to tragedy – and the reverse – in a single word. One of the greatest delights, of course, is that she doesn’t expect you to know the conventions of her Regency or Georgian drawings rooms – unlike Jane Austen who was writing contemporary stories – so she draws it in for you, but so lightly that it is as if she’s reminding you,” said Haddon.
Jenny wrote a personal account of the blue plaque day here. She also provided a link to another excellent account of the day by novelist Elizabeth Hawksley which gives some lovely personal insights into Heyer -- well worth reading. And if you'd like to read a truly entertaining and intelligent essay on Heyer, there's one here.
Wench Jo Beverley wrote about the proposed blue plaque last year and posted quotes from a wide range of authors about Heyer's influence on them.
Jennifer Kloester has been a guest on WordWenches several times, here and here and here. If you're attending the Romance Writers of America national conference in New York in July, don't miss her special anniversary presentation on Georgette Heyer.
So are you a fan of Georgette Heyer? And if so, which was your first Heyer and where/how did you discover her?