by Georgette Heyer
ages: adult
First sentence: “The Saloon, like every other room in Arnside House, was large and lofty, and had been furnished, possibly some twenty years earlier, in what had then been the first style of elegance.”
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Now this is quintessential Georgette Heyer. Silly, fun, captivating, and all-around good times: the Georgette Heyer that I would happily recommend to everyone.

Kitty is the ward of a grumpy, miserly old man, who has bequeathed his fortune to her under one condition: that she marry one of his grand-nephews. It doesn’t sound like a bad deal — Kitty thinks she’s in love with one of them already — except that the one that Kitty likes doesn’t show up at his uncle’s command to offer for her. She attempts to run away, and then runs into Freddy — another grand-nephew — and talks him into offering for her, mostly because she wants to visit London. Freddy — an all-around good guy, and plain hilarious in the book — agrees, they both away to London, where all sorts of adventures, misadventures and happenings, well, happen.

I did this one as a buddy read with Corinne at The Book Nest and we chatted a bit about it.

Melissa: A bit of background: I noticed that Corinne had had a less-than-positive experience with a Georgette Heyer book (as did I recently), and I thought it’d be fun — since I was reading one for my in-person book group — to see if we could both have a better experience with Heyer. We searched our collective libraries for a common book, and decided upon Cotillion (which I think was recommended to me by Heather at A High and Hidden Place). So… what did you think overall?

Corinne: OH HO HO!! I can now see why people are thrilled with Heyer this was a complete gem. Full of frivolity and love and match-making and characters that made me laugh out loud. Really, out-loud laughing.

Melissa: I totally agree! There were parts that just had me in tears… and I absolutely LOVED Freddy. He killed me. I loved the way he talked, though it occurred to me when I finished that he was a bit more 1920s than 1820: he reminded me of Bertie Wooster! (I dog-eared this quote as quintessential Freddy: “Dash it, Jack!” said Freddy, stung. “Any girl would rather marry me than Dolph or Hugh! No use saying Dolph’s an Earl: he’s run off his legs, besides being dicked in the nob! As for Hugh–lord!”)

Corinne: I didn’t think of Bertie, but of course! I totally agree. It slayed me every time he said someone was “touched in the upper works,” or “buffle-headed.” And of course, there ARE those characters that actually were “touched” – as Freddy says – Heyer’s characters felt perfectly caricatured and yet…NOT annoyingly predictable. At first I worried that Kitty would be too simpering for me – but what a lovely surprise to have her be so scheming and forthright!

Melissa: That’s a great point. They are pretty caricatured — the innocent girl, the annoying rector, the simpering Earl, the frivolous lady, the cad (ooh, we must talk about Jack!). But I loved them all. And I loved how they interact with each other, too. There were some great character dynamics going on in the book. Did you have a favorite character?

Corinne: Freddy – to be sure, for reasons already mentioned. He’s a riot, but deeper than you’d think. And to be honest, Uncle Matthew was also a favorite. Maybe I just have a soft spot in my heart for crabby and penny-pinching old uncles, but lines like this: ‘Man’s an idiot!’ said Mr. Penicuik. ‘Small fire be damned! Not when I’m going to sit here myself, clodpole!” We didn’t get to see him much in the book, but I enjoyed our time with that guy. So, what did you think of Dolph, though? And Jack? Can you imagine a more opposite pair of cousins?

Melissa: No, I can’t! I felt sorry for Dolph, being pushed around by his mother so much. And maybe he was a bit “dicked in the nob” but he was sweet, and he meant well. And, Jack, well… actually, I was surprised at what a cad he was. One of the things I find interesting about Heyer (as opposed to, say, Jane Austen) is her willingness to delve into the seamier side of Edwardian society. The fact that it was well known that Jack was a, um, libertine, was pretty surprising to me. Aren’t they supposed all supposed to be pure and unsullied?

Be sure to check out her blog for the second half of the conversation!