Georgette Heyer and These Old Shades

Anne here, and today I'm bringing you another Georgette Heyer blog featuring some snippets from The Novels of Georgette Heyer, an upcoming book by Jennifer Kloester, Heyer's biographer. They are, of course, published with Jen's permission. (We'll let you know when the book goes on sale.)

Today we are dipping into These Old Shades, which was my first ever Georgette Heyer. You've probably heard me tell this story, so forgive me if you have and skip this paragraph. I was 11 and my friend Merryn and I, both prolific readers, were fed up with having to stick to the books in the children's library. But the rules said you had to be over 12, so . . . 

It was a dare. Merryn dared me to borrow a book from the adult section. I said, "All right, I will! Which book should I get?" She said her mother liked Georgette Heyer, so I grabbed the first one I saw, which happened to be These Old Shades. It was a weird title and I had no idea what it would be like, but I didn't care. And to our amazement, the librarian didn't bat an eye!

So These Old Shades became my first Heyer, and I not only devoured it, it will always hold a special place in my heart. (Coincidentally it was Jen Kloester's first as well.) Since then, on many different Heyer sites, people often ask, "What was your first Heyer?" I think we remember our first because it ushered us into a whole new reading world, a world to which many of us became, and remain, addicted. 

So, on to Heyer and These Old Shades. Georgette was very close to her beloved father, who was friend and mentor as well as father. On 15 June 1925 George Heyer had a heart attack and died in front of his 22-year-old daughter. 

After that Georgette struggled to write for months. But she had a contract to fulfil, and eventually, she returned to a story she'd begun three years earlier as a kind of sequel to her first book, The Black Moth.

At the time (1923, long before her father's death and in a burst of enthusiasm for the book) she wrote this to her agent:

The sequel is naturally a much better book than the Moth itself, and is designed to catch the public’s taste. I have also tried to arrange it so that anyone who reads it need not first read the Moth. It deals with my priceless villain, and ends awfully happily. Tracy becomes quite a decent person, and marries a girl about half his age! I’ve packed it full of incident and adventure, and have made my heroine masquerade as a boy for the first few chapters. This, I find, always attracts people! 
Georgette Heyer to L.P. Moore, letter, 23 January 1923. 

Interesting, isn't it, how clear-headed she was — and at such a young age — about what readers would respond to. And how determined she was to "catch the public's taste."

But her father's death had devastated her, and for months she wrote nothing. She told her agent, ‘I don’t think I have the heart to write a period novel.’ As well, her mother was grieving badly, and the family was now without the income from her father's work. It soon became clear that much of the financial support of the family, which included her two younger brothers (aged 13 and 17) was going to fall on Georgette.

Enter her own personal hero. Richard Rougier, a former beau, returned from Africa, and proposed, and on the 20th July 1925, a month after her father's death, they were married.

Georgette persevered with the book, and Heinemann published These Old Shades in October 1926. (That's the first edition cover above on the left) From the very first These Old Shades sold well, and in its first ten years, These Old Shades was reprinted almost thirty times — not bad for a 25 year old author.

According to Kloester, completing These Old Shades helped Heyer find her way back to the literary world she loved. And for me, aged 11, it became a gateway to a world I've always loved.

You will notice that I have said very little about the actual story. That's because to explain it would spoil it for new readers, and I hope these posts will entice new readers to read Heyer (and old ones to reread These Old Shades.)  It's not a Regency-era novel, it's set earlier than that, and the hero is dressed in velvets and lace, wears jewels and high-heeled shoes — and is gorgeously masculine.

I will however, point you to a link that will explain the meaning of the title, which puzzled me for years. It's from a poem by Austin Dobson entitled ‘Epilogue', and, in a nutshell, the poet is explaining that he's rejecting the modern world in favor of the old world. 

"Whereas with these old Shades of mine,
Their ways and dress delight me;
And should I trip by word or line,
They cannot well indict me."

The whole poem is here.

So here's a question for you — if you're a Heyer reader, what was the first Heyer you ever read? Was it special to you? And if you're not a Heyer reader, is there a book that opened a new world for you that you never forgot?

Comments

[robyn enlund]

This was my first too, and my mother's favourite. I can still remember her handing it to me at the Coburg library, saying 'You might enjoy this'.
It was my first adult book too! My sister is named after the heroine :-) She is just as beautiful and spirited!

[GrowlyCub]

Mine was Arabella around age 11ish. I didn't read TOS for many yrs bec the German title was 'Der Page und die Herzogin' (the page boy and the duchess). I was clearly a snob even back then bec that did not sound like anything I would want to read ;) thankfully I got over that eventually.

[Catherine Kullmann]

My first Heyer was The Reluctant Widow. What a tour de force the opening chapters are! I'm saying no more, so as not to spoil them for anyone who hasn't yet read it.

[Carla Horan]

I don’t remember the first Georgette Heyer I read. I know I was about 12 when I started reading her, Barbara Cartland, and a third author I can’t remember. (This was about 1971). I do remember that I didn’t like “Theses Old Shads” because the hero was older than my father. (My father was only 20 years older than me and I still have an issue with an age difference greater than 12 years). I have since re-read “These Old Shades” many times and love the characters but can’t quite get over the age gap

[Mary Jo Putney]

SYLVESTER! That's still a favorite of mine, with the stern duke, ditzy widow, and shy but perceptive writer heroine. I've loved most Heyer books (obviously!), but These Old Shades is low on my list, largely because of the age difference, But apart from that, it's a rousing good story.

[Caryn Lennon]

Me too! My favorite aunt was a huge Heyer fan and she started me off with The Reluctant Widow. I’ve reread it many times over the years. The trio of These Old Shades, Devil’s Cub and An Infamous Army is one of the best series ever written in the Regency genre. They were gateway books to Jo Beverley, Mary Balogh, Mary Jo Putney, Grace Burrowes, and so many others who bring that time period to life.

[Robyn B]

Georgette Heyer was my Mom's favourite author and I was about 12 when she handed me "The Talisman Ring". I loved it and have been reading, re-reading and listening to Heyer's books ever since.

[Mike]

Back in the 1950s an important – and I guess now mostly forgotten - part of the British literary scene were the reprint book clubs. These printed cheap (utilitarian but well made) hardbacks a few months after the original editions and well before any paperback came out, and provided the publishers with a guarantee of tens of thousands of extra sales. The clubs’ output comprised both fiction and nonfiction, the latter being mostly historical accounts of the recent war. My parents subscribed to two or three of these clubs, so there were always new books to around the house and from the age of nine or ten I was reading almost everything on my parent’s bookshelves (I bounced off “Pilgrims Progress” and “The Mill on the Floss”, and I recall that “Lorna Doone” was a bit of a struggle). All the non fiction gave me a lasting taste for history, though when it comes to Heyer, the most useful reading was Arthur Bryant’s popular history trilogy covering the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars – I actually understood all those references to the Peninsular War that were slipped into her novels.

So, to get round to the actual subject of the posting, my first Heyer was determined by the output of the Companion Book Club and was “The Quiet Gentleman”. Definitely not as romantic as “These Old Shades” – more a ‘plot to murder for an inheritance’ mystery in fact - but I loved it, including the low key romance. I searched the shelves for more and found one that my father had given to my mother for Easter 1947, namely “The Reluctant Widow” which became my second Heyer. Oddly enough, also not particularly romantic, more of a spy comedy which descends to farce whenever the dog takes a hand. I didn’t realise at the time, but it has the most convincing espionage plot I’ve ever read in a Regency Romance.

As for “These Old Shades”, it was a long time before I read it, though by then I had acquired a copy of “Devil’s Cub” that was being discarded by my school library, and I am almost afraid to admit that I prefer the sequel to the original and think Mary Challoner a better heroine than Leonie.

I have to agree with Mary Jo Putney about “Sylvester”. I can never decide on a “Best Heyer”, though based on re-reads it might be one of "Sylvester", “Faro’s Daughter”, “Regency Buck”, “The Nonesuch”, “Venetia”, “The Masqueraders” or “The Corinthian” (in no particular order, and realising that some of these titles do not normally get much mention, though the last two do match ”These Old Shades” when it comes to girls dressed as boys).

[Misti]

My first Heyer was actually one of her mysteries when I was a teenager: Behold, Here's Poison. It was fine, but didn't wow me enough to read more until I was much older. Since then, I have really loved some of Heyer's romances, but I do have a soft spot for her mysteries as well.

[Jeanne Behnke]

The Black Moth was my first. My Aunt (& Godmother) was an avid reader & also a single, career woman. For a couple weeks during the summer for a few years my sister & I plus a few other female cousins would stay with her. We probably aged from about 12 to 14 -old enough to be left alone while our Aunt was at work. She lived in Madison WI & there were lots of bookstores to explore. We found Georgette Heyer & all bought various titles & passed them around with each other. We loved the stories & the covers. None of us had read that genre or time period before. What a great discovery! That being said - I don’t remember reading These Old Shades. I know- weird. I will have to remedy that!

[Beverly Abney]

I am 90 years old now, and it has been a long time since I first discovered Heyer, but I think it was A CIVIL CONTRACT, and it remains a favorite. I just took it off the shelf and may read it again now. Marriages of convenience always make an interesting romance in my opinion.

[Joanna]

My mother gave me her copy of The Grand Sophy to read when I was about 12. After that I read her other titles and loaned the rest from the library.

[Janice J.]

I can't remember which one it was, but it was one of the US Ace reprints back in the 1960s - whichever one came out first.

I had started looking at romance paperbacks because I had two friends then who loved gothics. I had learned to like 19th century style writing in university and they would pass along similar style books to me (I don't think they ever kept books for rereads). So when I saw the infamous Jack Gaughan covers on the Ace paperbacks, I was intrigued. They didn't look like standard romances, which I did not care for. Those covers are hated and ridiculed by most fans, but they did their job; they got me to pick up the books.

I'm thinking it was Arabella, but I could be wrong; I glommed them as I found them and I still have them :)

[Anne Gracie]

What a cool story, Robyn — your mother has class! My mother also enjoyed Heyer, but I introduced her to the books.

[Anne Gracie]

LOL on the "I'm not going to like that" — titles can put you off a book, I agree. It was years before I understood the meaning behind the title of These old Shades. But the page boy and the duchess seems wrong to me. Avon was a Duke. Oh well, I suppose it made sense to the publisher at the time.

And "the rich Miss Tallant" and Ulysses is another favorite of mine.

[Anne Gracie]

Thanks, Catherine — I'm going to have to reread The Reluctant Widow with closer attention to the opening chapters. It's quite a different experience, I find, rereading a book at a writer, not simply as a reader. Sometimes it spoils a book, bit with a good book it just makes me admire the writer more.

[Anne Gracie]

Caryn, what an excellent aunt you had. And yes, Heyer was/is a gateway to many writers of Regency-era novels. I would argue, in fact, that she invented the regency subgenre.

[Anne Gracie]

Thanks, Carla — yes the age difference bothers a lot of people, but it wasn't unusual in those days. And at least Avon resisted it at first, and Leonie was adamant in what she wanted — unlike many real life situations, where it was the man who chose and the woman/girl who had no choice.

[Anne Gracie]

Mary Jo, I adore Sylvester and it might well become my next Heyer blog, As for the age difference between Avon and Leonie, it didn't bother me in the least as a young reader, but later I did. But as I said in response to Carla (above) at least it was Leonie's choice and Avon did try to resist at first.

[Anne Gracie]

What an excellent Mon! You know, the Talisman Ring wasn't a favorite when I was younger, though I enjoyed it. But it wasn't one that became a frequent reread, until a few years ago, when I bought it again on kindle, and I appreciated it so much more. I suspect when I was a kid, reading it, I missed all the lovely dry irony. These days it reduces me to admiration of Heyer's wit and talent.

[Anne Gracie]

Thanks, Mike. As a child I read everything I could get my hands on, mostly through libraries, but I think I learned most of my history through reading historical novels, not non-fiction books. I needed a story to make we want to read on.

I agree with you about Devil's Cub — Mary Challoner is a brilliant heroine. But I do love the way Avon steals a scene at the end.

I can never pick a favorite Heyer either — but would add The Unknown Ajax to your list.

[Anne Gracie]

Thanks, Misti. I confess I've never fallen in love with Heyer's mysteries, though I've read them. But it seems to me she— and therefore the reader— had more fun in the writing and plotting of her romances.

[Anne Gracie]

Thanks, Jeanne. I know I read The Black Moth, but it's not one I've reread, and I have only hazy memories of the plot. I do remember being a bit shocked and slightly disbelieving when I heard that the villain of The Black moth was the hero of These Old Shades. But there it is in Heyer's own words in that letter, so I might have to reread them both and notice the transformation process.

Isn't it lovely hearing how so many people were introduced to Heyer by beloved female relatives?

[Anne Gracie]

Thanks, Beverley. I know A CIVIL CONTRACT is quite a few people's favorite, but I've always itched to write my version of the story and give Jenny a better romance. I know she was content to be a good wife and that Adam came to appreciate her, but I want her to have more than that — some real romance!
And I also am a sucker for a Marriage of Convenience plot.

[Anne Gracie]

Lovely that you found Heyer and still have those books, Janice. I had a lovely time digging out various versions of the covers of These Old Shades, but Typepad doesn't like too many images being posted so I had to be content with the first edition cover. There were some real shockers, too, but I'm sure no matter how good or bad the covers, the books will be treasured by the owners because of the stories inside.

I would love to know what Heyer thought of the various covers though. I'll see if Jen as any thoughts on that.

[Anne Gracie]

Thanks, Joanna. The Grand Sophy is a lot of people's favorite, I know, and would certainly entice you to read more. And here's another example of an excellent mother introducing a daughter to Heyer.

[Josie Noble]

I think Sylvester was the first GH that I read, and I quickly gobbled up every book of hers I could find - and I turned mother onto them too. I loved These Old Shades as the precursor to Devil’s Cub - I liked the saga aspect. I was also mortally offended by a Barbara Cartland blatant rip-off of These old Shades. It was just dreadful, and the addition of her signature ellipses made me vow that I would never waste another quarter on Barbara again! Only the real deal Georgette Heyer for me! For a while Regency romance writers abounded, but you and Mary Balogh can always be depended on for new plots, great characters, and a good, fun read.

[Susan Lee]

My first was The Masqueraders, not a classic regency.

[Julie Hart]

As a voracious reader, I honestly can’t remember which book was my first Heyer. Loved some more than others; but I appreciate the Georgians, the Regencies, and the mysteries. My favorites changed over time as I began to appreciate The Quiet Gentleman and “the Mountain” in the Masqueraders, over Kitty and Sherry, whom I liked when I was younger. But they’re books you can read over and over, enjoying a visit with old friends.

[Betty Schulz]

My first Georgette Heyer was Devil’s Cub. I was and still am a fan. I recently heard the audio book of Black Moth - and just like that I have discovered a new way to enjoy her books.

[GrowlyCub]

Both refer to Leonie, starting out as Avon's page and becoming his duchess, so it does make sense after you've read the book but I was all 'no grubby cross-class shenanigans'. In my defence I was a pre-teen who was into the princess fantasy bit. 😂

[GrowlyCub]

Please do, Anne! Jenny deserves *so* much better!

Love MoC it's my fave trope! Heyer did it beautifully in The Convenient Marriage.

[Christine Ernest]

My older sister introduced me to Georgette Heyer. I don't remember which one or how old I was, but I was probably about 9 or 10.I'm not a big fan of audiobooks, but I did get a couple of Heyer books from the library that were read by Richard Armitage and loved them!

[Anne Gracie]

Oh, thanks -- I get it now.

[Shelagh Merlin]

The Black Moth was my first Heyer novel and, while I love These Old Shades, The Moth remains my sentimental favourite.

[Paula]

These Old Shades was my first Georgette Heyer. It was an honor book at the library and I loved it so much I really didn't want to return it. It's still my favorite.

[Anne Gracie]

Thanks, Josie. I've never read that Cartland ripoff of These Old Shades, but I confess I'd love to read it, just out of curiosity. Heyer's writing is so vivid and lively, and those books of Cartlands that I've read are pallid by comparison.
And thanks for your kind words.

[Anne Gracie]

No, Susan, not a classic regency, but a good one, all the same. I had no problem with Prue's disguise, but I couldn't buy her brother as a lovely girl and l'inconnu. And oh, The Mountain! sigh.

[Anne Gracie]

Yes, indeed Julie, the "old friend" analogy is spot on for me too. I still love Sherry and Kitten — the Nemesis conversation never fails to make me laugh, just as much as it did when I was a teenager.

[Anne Gracie]

I haven't really started on the audio books, Betty, but I'm certain it's a real pleasure. My first and only experience of Heyer via audio was years ago, and it was recorded onto cassette tapes by one of the members of the Georgette Heyer email group — a talented amateur. I've forgotten which book it was now. The tapes were mailed from member to member, and when it was my turn, I remember being amazed how many lines I was able to speak along with the narrator.

[Anne Gracie]

Christine I've heard that those Richard Armitage audio books are wonderful. It's a pleasure I look forward to.

[Anne Gracie]

Shelagh, that's the same for me with These Old Shades — and I'm sure most Heyer fans list their first as a sentimental favorite.

[Anne Gracie]

Paula, I understand why you didn't want to return it. When a book means so much to you, it's hard to give it back. It took me years to amass my collection of Heyers, having read so many as library books originally.

[Karen F.]

So These Old Shades was also my first Heyer novel, only I read it just Two months ago at the ripe old age of 59!! I loved it and have been on a mad search through local bookstores to find more of her books. I had been reading novels by Anne Stuart, and who I understand was influenced by Heyer (although her books are a lot racier) and thought I would give Heyer a shot. I am so glad I did! Her heroes are morally gray and so swoon-worthy!

[Karen S. Clift]

Interesting, Anne, I never had trouble buying Robin's disguise. He was described as slim & not that tall; Prue got the height. Plus the makeup in that era and he had obviously inherited his father's acting ability--but Pop was unmatched for wit! Machiavellian would describe his mental rounds! and yes, I loved the Mountain! And when we met his sister--good laugh!

[Karen S. Clift]

Devil's Cub was my first Heyer & remains one of my top favorites. Such a wonderful heroine & she did shoot him! I didn't realize there was a book telling Avon's & Leonie's story but I surely loved them when they showed up in Devil's Cub. It was a very long time before I discovered These Old Shades & didn't realize the relationship until a ways in.

My 2nd Heyer was Talisman Ring & i remember laughing like crazy thru that one--the need that someone must gallop "ventre a terre" to prove their love, etc. Ahh, teenagers! The same everywhen! And the search in the dining room--yep, I'm chuckling now & may have to go reread!

[Ann Looker]

These Old Shades was my first Heyer as well. My older cousin lent it to me in 1954 or thereabouts when I was 14. It appealed to my teenage sense of romance. I became addicted to Heyer and quickly read everything else of hers that was available. My love affair with Georgette Heyer has lasted for 70 years.

[Patricia Franzino]

I am a big Heyer fan. The first book I came across was "Simon the Coldheart." Her gift for writing medieval war scenes is impeccable.

I went on to her Regency novels, which I loved as well.

I have yet to read any of her mystery novels, but I will get to them.

[Annette N]

The first Georgette Heyer book I read was Footsteps in the Dark. The second book was Why Shoot A Butler.

I now have quite a few Heyer books including those two mysteries.

When I read the mysteries, I realized what a talented author this woman was and that is when I started getting more of her books.

Now, I have been blessed enough to know that Georgette Heyer was simply a marvelous author. Thanks for this post.

[Teresa Broderick]

When I was in my thirties I read in my weekly magazine, The People's Friend about an author called Georgette Heyer and it named some of her books. About two weeks later I was in a second hand book shop and there on the shelf was The Black Moth!! It was meant to be. It was the only Heyer in the shop. I bought it, read it and fell in love. I collected all her books as soon as I could after that. At one stage they brought out a collection of six of her books and the following year six more and so on. It's how I got most of them.
My favorite has always been The Nonesuch but it's hard to just pick one. I'm in the Heyer group on GoodReads and last months read was These Old Shades. I didn't get a chance to read it but it's never been a favorite so I wasn't too worried.
Her books are marvelous and a real pick me up if I'm in a reading slump or just feeling down in the dumps. I'll never get tired of re-reading them.

On a side note, any hint as to when Jennifer Kloester's new book will be out? A rough estimate.

[Anne Gracie]

Thanks, Karen. Quite a lot of romance writers — modern as well as historical — were influenced by Georgette Heyer. When my first book came out, a number of the Harlequin writers in Australia read it, and at my next conference several of them told me they could tell I was influenced by Heyer and went on to tell me how much they loved Heyer and which were their favorites.

[Christina Courtenay]

I found Georgette Heyer in my high school library and devoured every single one they had! They kind of blur in my mind now, so I'm not sure which one came first, but it could have been These Old Shades. I know I loved it so much I wanted to name my first daughter Leonie (especially as we are both Leos), but sadly my husband vetoed that.

[Anne Gracie]

Karen, yes it's a pleasant moment in Devil's Cub when Avon appears and then Leonie, isn't it? As for the Talisman Ringer I had to be an adult before I perceived how very funny was the contrast between the "ventre a terre" pair and the older couple. The dialogue is brilliant, as is everything else.

[Anne Gracie]

I think that's how Heyer works for some of us, Ann — she grabs us and never lets us go. I really don't understand those who don't like her books, but it takes all kinds, doesn't it?

[Anne Gracie]

Patricia, I also enjoyed Simon the Coldheart, and loved how his real nature was revealed by the little pages and dogs. Do you know, it's so long since I read it that I'm quite hazy on the contents — I don't remember the war scenes. Perhaps I skipped over them. I have a bad habit of skipping pages when it's something I'm not interested in. Luckily our tastes change as we grow older, and these days I'd read the war scenes with interest.

[Anne Gracie]

Annette, yes, she is indeed a marvelous author. I have a vague idea that her husband helped with the plotting of the mysteries, but I'm not sure.

[Anne Gracie]

Oh, the Nonesuch, another fave of mine. The Beautiful Miss Wield. LOL
What a lovely way to discover Heyer, and getting them in half-dozen batches sounds brilliant.
Back when I was first starting to write there was only one Heyer group on line, and I met some people through that that I'm still in contact with (pauses to wave to Janice) But sadly that group split, I think because of in-fighting. Now there are so many groups on line it's hard to keep up.

As for Jen's new book, no I don't have a definite date. I gather it's still in the hands of the editor/publisher, and Jen is travelling — and is possibly in the UK now, after riding on camels and suchlike in various parts of the Orient. Camels don't do very well with wifi, I gather.
But as soon as I have a date, I'll let everyone know.

[Anne Gracie]

Robyn 's mother(first comment) named Robyn's younger sister after Leonie, so maybe you can borrow her occasionally.
It's lovely that high school libraries had Heyer on the shelves. Mine didn't. But my local libraries did, mostly in those pale green hardbacks, and oh the joy when I entered a new library and saw a whole line of that pale green.
Then when we moved to the city and I travelled to school through the city centre, I found an antique shop that sold all kinds of old books for 20c each, and I was able to start my own Heyer collection.

[Karin]

I don't remember which Heyer I read first, but I do know I read Devil's Cub before These Old Shades. I still prefer Devil's Cub, although it's wonderful to see Avon and Leonie show up in that book, many years into their marriage.
It strikes me that the original cover of These Old Shades is very modern looking. It seems like we've come full circle, because it looks something like the illustrated covers on recent books, with simple color block images.

[Teresa Broderick]

Thanks Anne for the info. Only a matter of time before camels come with built in wifi :):)

[Diane Peterson]

I honestly don't remember which Heyer I read first. However, These Old Shades and Devil's Cub are probably my favorites. I loved seeing them with their son. Leonie was such a unique character and a fascinating mother. Thanks for the background information!

[Laura Lee]

I don't remember which Heyer book I read first, but I only read her mysteries. And liked them. My first memorable book was also a mystery: Crocodile on the Sandbank--Elizabeth Peters--I fell in love with her main characters. I've read it often so maybe that's why it's memorable. I discovered Ms. Heyer later.