I heard wonderful things about Georgette Heyer and decided to give one of her novels a whirl. I heard Heyer wrote mostly Regency romances, so I was surprised to see that this one is actually a Georgian romance. I am not a big fan of the Georgian period because I don't like the elaborate clothing and I have a difficult time picturing men wearing powdered wigs, tights and corsets, but The Convenient Marriage is one of the most endearing and most hilarious period pieces I have ever read! Heyer had me in stitches during some scenes. The Earl of Rule feels it is time to get married and asks for society darling Lizzie Winwood's hand in marriage. Lizzie isn't interested in Lord Rule. She does want to marry a wealthy man, but she also wants to be in love with whoever she decides to marry. So her sister Horatia (Horry) takes her place. Horry isn't your typical heroine. She has a very bad stutter, is plain in appearance and has a rather particular sense of humor. Will those qualities endear her to Lord Rule or will he run a mile? There are many hilarious twists throughout the novel.

I have never laughed so much reading a period novel. Since most authors have to keep with the times, attempts at humor in historicals aren't as funny as contemporary efforts. This isn't the case here. There are so many funny moments that I still smile when I think of them. Horry is such a wonderful heroine. Her sense of humor is compelling and she is remarkable in spite of her plainness. It is always refreshing to read about a plain heroine instead of a drop-dead gorgeous one. Her stuttering was difficult to follow at times and became annoying after a while though. Lord Rule is also great. I fell in love with him. He's my idea of the perfect man. Crosby Drelincourt is an awesome character as well. He made me laugh during various scenes. The language of the novel is quite interesting. Even though it is set during the 1770s, the novel reads more like a Regency romance instead of a Georgian one, something I found odd. I wouldn't say the historical references aren't accurate, more like she made the period sound a little too festive, not unlike Regency England. All in all, this is a wonderful historical romp and I am glad I gave this wonderful author a whirl. I heard Georgette Heyer was an author during the 1930s and was born around the turn of the twentieth century. I had no idea about this until I read her bio. So, I suppose her novels are probably considered classics then. I shall give all of her books a whirl.

Before Georgette Heyer found the Regency period she wrote Georgians - and this is one of them. The Conveninent Marriage is set in the last couple of decades of the eighteenth century - when coach roads were still muddy morasses, highwaymen lurked on the outskirts of London, and men and women were corseted, laced, fringed, feathered, bewigged, powdered and patched to within in inch of their lives.

The book starts right into the thick of things - The Earl of Rule is looking for a wife and it looks as though he will offer for society beauty, Lizzie Winwood. Lizzie is not enamoured of this idea - she wants to marry some worthy suitor whom she actually loves. Luckily it is her practical, straight talking younger sister, Horatia (better known as Horry) who steps into the fray instead. The interview in which Horry presents the revised plan to the Earl of Rule is hysterical.

Horry is still rather young, and the Earl (who I instantly fell in love with) finds that he needs to rouse himself out of his usual langour to save her from herself. In the midst of all this there is a fiendish plot afoot to break up the marriage, Horry's well-meaning brother Pelham attempting to help Horry, a spare highwayman or two and some good old fashioned romping.

The characters are generally so likeable and fun. The only problem I had is that Horry has a stutter - and they just don't make good reading (I think). A fun, quick read.

and a stammering heroine! As always, Heyer's dialogue is spot on, her characterisation warm and powerful, and her characters very strongly drawn. The Convenient Marriage is considered in some circles to be one of the finest ever examples of a romance that portrays a flawed and unorthodox heroine, with its portrayal of the stammering, plain Horatia, and her marriage of convenience to the extremely handsome Earl of Rule, thus releasing her sister from any obligation to marry Rule. How Rule discovers the truth of his heart, and that he loves his funny, extravagant little wife, makes for moving reading, whilst Heyer gives us abundant humour in her portrayal of the mincing, petulant dandiprat Cros its readability, exuberance and humour make it an excellent book for a potential introduction to the world of Georgette Heyer. However, this book is NOT a Regency Romance, but a Georgian Romance, and if you don't think it's as historically accurate as she usually is, consider that it is set in 1770 - about 50 years earlier than usual! It's still a lot of fun.