Strange but true—I, a historical romance lover both as a reader and a writer, had never heard of Georgette Heyer until a few months ago. And that was through someone who mentioned how Julia Quinn took inspiration from Heyer’s books to write her Bridgertons (a series of which I’ve only read the first book and, well, haven’t been tempted to read more so far).
Authoress of over fifty books, Georgette Heyer is one of the best-known and best-loved historical novelists, making the Regency period her own. Her first novel, The Black Moth, published in 1921, was written at the age of nineteen to amuse her convalescent brother.
This fast-paced, swashbuckling story, set around 1751, centres on Lord Jack Carstares, the rightful Earl of Wyncham, who lives as a highwayman after taking the blame for his younger brother Richard’s cheating at cards years earlier to protect the family honour.
Heyer’s characteristic attention to period detail and authentic dialogue, which would later define the Regency romance genre she essentially invented, is present even in this early work. It is indeed an impressive debut.
While I enjoyed this book—for its use of the ‘damsel in distress’ trope, and even more for how wonderfully it portrayed Jack’s love and respect, fully requited, for his mare Jenny—I can’t say it’s one of my favourites. The characters didn’t make me fall for them, and the plot felt a little exaggerated and incredible.
However, I’ll definitely read some of Heyer’s later works.
Have you read this book? Have you read anything else from this authoress? Let me know in the comments :)
