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Black Sheep
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Review
This will not be my last Georgette Heyer novel. I look forward to reading some of her other books, but Black Sheep has definitely found its way onto my keeper-shelf.
--This text refers to the
edition.
About the Author
The late Georgette Heyer was a very private woman. Her historical novels have charmed and delighted millions of readers for decades, though she rarely reached out to the public to discuss her works or private life. It is known that she was born in Wimbledon in August 1902, and her first novel, The Black Moth, was published in 1921.
Heyer published 56 books over the next 53 years, until her death from lung cancer in 1974. Heyer's large volume of works included Regency romances, mysteries and historical fiction. Known also as the Queen of Regency romance, Heyer was legendary for her research, historical accuracy and her extraordinary plots and characterizations. Her last book, My Lord John, was published posthumously in 1975. She was married to George Ronald Rougier, a mining engineer, and they had one son together, Richard.
27/05/2005
The first time I read this novel, I wasn't too impressed. It's true that Heyer does use Black Sheep's plot (or one VERY similar to it) in another book, Lady of Quality. However, I think Black Sheep accomplishes much more than Lady of Quality and is one of Heyer's best works, both in terms of romance and in terms of memorable characters. My second reading of the book caused me to fall in love with it. In my opinion, Black Sheep is probably the most romantic of Heyer's novels because the couple falls in love early on in the novel, and you can then see how they progress. Miles Calverleigh is wonderful, and his humor, together with Abigail's, is spot on. If you are a Heyer fan, this is certainly on a Must Read book list, and if you are Regency England fan, then Heyer is a Must Read author list.
20/06/2001
uk" (Canada) -
It's always good to return to Georgette Heyer once in a while. I hadn't read Black Sheep for several years, and it made a delightful read. As I'm getting a little older myself, I'm coming to appreciate, and much prefer, Heyer's older heroines, such as Abyear-old niece.
For Fanny, the niece, has fallen in love with a man everyone - except Fanny and Ab can see is no more than a fortune-hunter. But Fanny simply won't listen to reason, and Ab including that of an abortive elopement with the woman who became Fanny's mother! - was sent to the Indies. There, he worked hard and made his fortune, but on his arrival in Bath he does not appear to have lost any of his disregard for convention. He is utterly careless of propriety, and insists that he feels no sense of obligation to family - therefore he refuses to help Abpurses, the upright type who disapprove of anything and everything. And who could avoid falling in love with Miles?
A side note - I am appalled that the editorial review above managed to spell the main characters' names incorrectly.
09/07/1999
Black Sheep is very likely my favorite of Miss Heyer's remarkable books. Abigail is proper, but not cardboard - responsible, but not hidebound. She is the perfect foil for Miles and his complete disregard for the manners and perceived obligations of his class. They are entirely enchanting in their irresistible attraction to each other; and, of course, Miss Heyer's dialogue is deliciously funny. If you like Heyer, you'll love this one (I enjoy it more each time I read it!).
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