Publication
Arrow Books (2019), 280 p.
Original publication date
1949
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Description
Updated edition of the beloved classic by the Queen of Regency romance herself, Georgette Heyer, featuring a new Foreword by New York Times bestselling author Eloisa James. Arabella's one little while lie has spread through the ton like wildfire�?� Arabella Tallant, modest daughter of a country clergyman, is on her way to her first London Season when her carriage breaks down outside the estate of the wealthy and bored Mr. Robert Beaumaris. Beau assumes she's simply another young lady throwing herself in his path, which goads the impetuous Arabella into pretending she's an heiress. Much to Arabella's dismay, rather than being brutally set-down, as she intended, Beaumaris is deeply amused. He counters by launching her into high society, which Arabella would enjoy very much if it wasn't for the fortune hunters. Arabella's unpredictable and innocent ways force Beaumaris to start helping others, including a stray dog, an unfortunate urchin, and eventually Arabella's reckless young brother. Along the way, Arabella and Beaumaris become more and more intrigued with each other-which neither will admit, of course, until under extreme duress. "Absolutely delicious tales of Regency heroes�?� Utter, immersive escapism."-SOPHIE KINSELLA "No one has ever matched Georgette Heyer for charm and wit." -LISA KLEYPAS "Utterly timeless charm�?� The dialogue sparkles with wit." -NORA ROBERTS, #1 New York Times bestselling author "Romance, adventure, side-splitting humor-no one writes like Georgette Heyer!" -LAUREN WILLIG, New York Times bestsellin… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member ncgraham
Dash it all! I typically open up my Heyer reviews with snarky comments about pink covers and how said covers may or may not reflect on my manliness. But SourceBooks’ presentation of Arabella is tasteful and conservative, with only a thin band of pink running behind the title. So I suppose I’ll
It has actually been three months since I read this Heyer, and I’m afraid it hasn’t stuck in my mind as clearly as some of her others. This may be an indictment of the novel itself, or it may be simply due to the fact that I didn’t write a review at the time.
Either way, rather than writing a detailed summary and review, I’m just going to list the things that stuck out to me while reading.
First and foremost, I have to mention how very cozy this book is. Most Heyer novels would qualify as “comfort reads,” and indeed I can see myself turning to any number of them when I just need to relax, but Arabella in particular seems this way to me. Maybe it’s the homespun quality of the heroine’s domestic life, maybe it’s the fact that there’s no one truly evil who comes in and tries to botch up the proceedings, maybe it’s just the leading couple’s charm; for whatever reason, it reminded me of a thick, quilted blanket to snuggle up under on a chilly night.
And then there’s the matter of our heroine herself. I actually think that of all the Heyeroines I’ve encountered, Arabella may be my favorite so far (the only real competition coming from Kitty Charing, of Cotillion fame). Due to her upbringing as a parson’s daughter, she has a stronger moral grounding than the typical Heyeroine, and when she makes a mistake her conscience haunts her. But she is also incredibly impulsive, which means that she has plenty to feel guilty about by the time she’s half-way through, I’m afraid. A delightful character.
One could also talk about the brilliantly acerbic and deadpan hero, but I have to say that after the heroine and the downright coziness of the book, the thing that most impressed me was the way Heyer depicted the larger social scene in which Arabella and Mr. Beaumaris move. She has a clever way here, before or after a major scene involving the main characters, of showing minor characters going about their various activities, and reflecting upon what our twosome’s intentions and motivations might be. It was something I did not remember from her other novels, and very much enjoyed.
Is Arabella my favorite Heyer? Probably not. Will I be revisiting it? Most assuredly. And do I recommend it? Yes, yes, yes.
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have to save the snark for some other time.It has actually been three months since I read this Heyer, and I’m afraid it hasn’t stuck in my mind as clearly as some of her others. This may be an indictment of the novel itself, or it may be simply due to the fact that I didn’t write a review at the time.
Either way, rather than writing a detailed summary and review, I’m just going to list the things that stuck out to me while reading.
First and foremost, I have to mention how very cozy this book is. Most Heyer novels would qualify as “comfort reads,” and indeed I can see myself turning to any number of them when I just need to relax, but Arabella in particular seems this way to me. Maybe it’s the homespun quality of the heroine’s domestic life, maybe it’s the fact that there’s no one truly evil who comes in and tries to botch up the proceedings, maybe it’s just the leading couple’s charm; for whatever reason, it reminded me of a thick, quilted blanket to snuggle up under on a chilly night.
And then there’s the matter of our heroine herself. I actually think that of all the Heyeroines I’ve encountered, Arabella may be my favorite so far (the only real competition coming from Kitty Charing, of Cotillion fame). Due to her upbringing as a parson’s daughter, she has a stronger moral grounding than the typical Heyeroine, and when she makes a mistake her conscience haunts her. But she is also incredibly impulsive, which means that she has plenty to feel guilty about by the time she’s half-way through, I’m afraid. A delightful character.
One could also talk about the brilliantly acerbic and deadpan hero, but I have to say that after the heroine and the downright coziness of the book, the thing that most impressed me was the way Heyer depicted the larger social scene in which Arabella and Mr. Beaumaris move. She has a clever way here, before or after a major scene involving the main characters, of showing minor characters going about their various activities, and reflecting upon what our twosome’s intentions and motivations might be. It was something I did not remember from her other novels, and very much enjoyed.
Is Arabella my favorite Heyer? Probably not. Will I be revisiting it? Most assuredly. And do I recommend it? Yes, yes, yes.
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LibraryThing member 2chances
One of my favorite Heyer novels. It concerns the lovely (and socially conscious) Arabella, who becomes annoyed when the arrogant Mr. Beaumaris lets slip the fact that he thinks Arabella is angling to marry him for his fortune. Poor-as-a-church-mouse Arabella immediately claims to be the possessor
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of wealth untold, and shortly thereafter finds herself fighting off fortune-hunting suitors with a barge pole. Heyer's Arabella is more than just a pretty face - she is wildly inventive as well as witty, curious, quick-tempered and altogether delightful; reading this delicious re-issue reminded me of eating my favorite meal (Trout Wulfi at Carabba's, if you're interested, with fresh hot bread, a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, and some meltingly-sweet tiramisu for dessert). The happy sigh at the end was the common denominator. Show Less
LibraryThing member exlibrisbitsy
Impetuosity is Arabella’s only fault. That and being young and naive. At the same time she has very strong convictions about right and wrong and follows through on them, again to a fault. She is not a push over, nor is she vapid or overly frivolous. Being young and naive ends up being only
Arabella is one of eight children in a large family living in a country parish. Her father, the Vicar, is a strict man who raises his children to love, respect and care for all of their fellow creatures. She is from a respectable family, but her fortune is very, very small. Through a happy circumstance her godmother writes and says that she is willing to bring Arabella under her wing in London and sponsor her for a London Season!
On her way to London, traveling with a family friend, her carriage breaks down and she goes to a near by house seeking shelter. The man inside, Robert Beaumaris, is at first unwilling to entertain her and finally admits to his friend, inadvertently in her hearing, that he assumes that she was a fortune hunter and, hearing that he was home, made up this story to throw herself in his way. Arabella's impetuosity comes to life and she immediately puts on airs that in fact she is a "great heiress" of "large fortune" and attempts to put Mr. Beaumaris in his place. Soon this news is all over London, and Arabella finds herself the target of every fortune hunter of the Season. Now she somehow has to contrive finding a man that will love her for herself and not her money, and manage to avoid the biggest scandal of the Season on top of it!
This book reminded me a lot of the story Cinderella. The fairy godmother, the journey to the ball Season in a carriage, the poor girl elevated to rich circumstances and falling into the lap of a prince, well not literally a prince, more like a prince of fashion. There the similarities end. I enjoyed this book of Georgette Heyer's because, for the first time, it addressed the concerns of the lower classes. It depicted slums, orphans, abusive masters, and the very real and very harsh lives lead in the underside of London. Throughout the book Arabella tried to help these people even though it was considered scandalous, unbefitting, or beneath a young girl of her class to do so. She may have been considered a great heiress, but she was not a stranger to hard work, dedication to a cause, or to being truly concerned for people other than herself, regardless of their station in life.
I enjoyed reading the witty banter, the well constructed characters, and the engaging plot of this regency era take on the story of Cinderella. If you are all into stories of the regency than I think you will love it too.
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endearing, and her convictions are admirable considering the time and place she is in. Her impetuosity though is what got her into trouble in the first place.Arabella is one of eight children in a large family living in a country parish. Her father, the Vicar, is a strict man who raises his children to love, respect and care for all of their fellow creatures. She is from a respectable family, but her fortune is very, very small. Through a happy circumstance her godmother writes and says that she is willing to bring Arabella under her wing in London and sponsor her for a London Season!
On her way to London, traveling with a family friend, her carriage breaks down and she goes to a near by house seeking shelter. The man inside, Robert Beaumaris, is at first unwilling to entertain her and finally admits to his friend, inadvertently in her hearing, that he assumes that she was a fortune hunter and, hearing that he was home, made up this story to throw herself in his way. Arabella's impetuosity comes to life and she immediately puts on airs that in fact she is a "great heiress" of "large fortune" and attempts to put Mr. Beaumaris in his place. Soon this news is all over London, and Arabella finds herself the target of every fortune hunter of the Season. Now she somehow has to contrive finding a man that will love her for herself and not her money, and manage to avoid the biggest scandal of the Season on top of it!
This book reminded me a lot of the story Cinderella. The fairy godmother, the journey to the ball Season in a carriage, the poor girl elevated to rich circumstances and falling into the lap of a prince, well not literally a prince, more like a prince of fashion. There the similarities end. I enjoyed this book of Georgette Heyer's because, for the first time, it addressed the concerns of the lower classes. It depicted slums, orphans, abusive masters, and the very real and very harsh lives lead in the underside of London. Throughout the book Arabella tried to help these people even though it was considered scandalous, unbefitting, or beneath a young girl of her class to do so. She may have been considered a great heiress, but she was not a stranger to hard work, dedication to a cause, or to being truly concerned for people other than herself, regardless of their station in life.
I enjoyed reading the witty banter, the well constructed characters, and the engaging plot of this regency era take on the story of Cinderella. If you are all into stories of the regency than I think you will love it too.
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LibraryThing member LyzzyBee
(25 February 2012 – Bookcrossing)
One of the best and most rich Heyers. Impoverished Arabella is sent off to her godmother’s in London to hunt for a husband. On the way she meets Robert Beaumaris, the Nonpareil, who has the power to make or break someone’s launch into society. Jousting with
My copy currently in an omnibus
One of the best and most rich Heyers. Impoverished Arabella is sent off to her godmother’s in London to hunt for a husband. On the way she meets Robert Beaumaris, the Nonpareil, who has the power to make or break someone’s launch into society. Jousting with
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him verbally, an unfortunate untruth escapes her, which is spread by the usual faithful sidekick; she then has a bewilderingly good reception in the capital. But personality will out, and Beaumaris is charmed by Arabella’s kindness to people and animals and … well, you know everything will come out for the best, but we have a lovely time getting there. Lots of great cant and argot, and a very good dog: a real tour de force, showing off the immense amount of research the author did and her facility with inserting it into the text quite naturally.My copy currently in an omnibus
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LibraryThing member gibbon
Mr Beaumaris is one of the author's more charming aristocrats.
LibraryThing member kaulsu
A bit slow at first, but picks up to a delightful middle. A few characters are well developed, but most are kept in the shadows.
LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26
Does every young lady secretly long to marry an English gentleman? Does it really matter? Such is the skill of Georgette Heyer, that be a girl's sentiments on the topic ever-so republican, these charming tales of Georgian hi-jinks and Regency romps will win her round, at least for the duration of
Heyer, who is credited with inventing the "Regency Romance" genre, here spins a tale of the impulsive Arabella Tallant, a poor vicar's daughter, whose one "white" lie - provoked by the arrogance of a certain Mr. Beaumaris - leads to an unexpectedly brilliant London season. Will it also lead to disaster?
Always one of my favorite Heyer novels (along with The Convenient Marriage), Arabella displays the author at her best. Here the reader will encounter a delightful heroine, spirited and high-principled, and a world-weary hero - intelligent, honorable, and surprised by love. Here also are the slightly befuddled but well-meaning friends, the prosy bores, and the nauseating toad-eaters. If these sound like stock characters, it is only because Ms. Heyer's imitators have been legion. But no effort on their part has ever recaptured the magic of the original, and no better example of that enchantment can be found than this story of "Papa's daughter," and how she found love...
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the book...Heyer, who is credited with inventing the "Regency Romance" genre, here spins a tale of the impulsive Arabella Tallant, a poor vicar's daughter, whose one "white" lie - provoked by the arrogance of a certain Mr. Beaumaris - leads to an unexpectedly brilliant London season. Will it also lead to disaster?
Always one of my favorite Heyer novels (along with The Convenient Marriage), Arabella displays the author at her best. Here the reader will encounter a delightful heroine, spirited and high-principled, and a world-weary hero - intelligent, honorable, and surprised by love. Here also are the slightly befuddled but well-meaning friends, the prosy bores, and the nauseating toad-eaters. If these sound like stock characters, it is only because Ms. Heyer's imitators have been legion. But no effort on their part has ever recaptured the magic of the original, and no better example of that enchantment can be found than this story of "Papa's daughter," and how she found love...
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LibraryThing member bacillicide
I feel like every time I finish a Heyer my reaction is "NEW FAVORITE HEYER", and I guess I should just conclude that Heyer is awesome. But I really adored Arabella, perhaps because Mr. Beaumaris is my favorite Heyer hero so far, the only one I've actually fallen in love with. Not to mention
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Arabella is super charming. A MUST read. Show Less
LibraryThing member alana_leigh
For those who enjoy light regency fiction, Georgette Heyer is a staple of the genre. Arabella is an excellent example of the author's renowned skill with creating charming characters and ridiculous scenes that make for a silly read, perfect for when it's either raining or you happen to be sick. (Or
Arabella's titular heroine is the eldest daughter in a vicar's family of eight children. Blessed with a wealthy and socially significant godmother (who has no daughters of her own to fuss over), Arabella Tallant is going to London so that her godmother, Lady Bridlington might present her to society and oversee the girl's first season... which will hopefully be her *only* season, as she needs to make a good match if there's any hope for her younger siblings and the money to get a girl through a London season doesn't grow on trees. No one seems too concerned that Arabella will make a good match, for she's a beautiful young woman and smart enough, with her only real flaw being a bit of an impetuous streak that often results in her acting before she's thoroughly thought on the matter. Unsurprisingly, for the daughter of a clergyman with eight children, she has very little dowry to speak of, but she does at least have a smart mother who has saved for this very occasion, setting by money and keeping her own old items from her youth so that they might be made up new for her daughter. No one need be in any doubt that everything ends well... and that Arabella not only makes a suitable match with a decently established fellow, but that it will be a matter of love, too, and not just acceptability... but at least the road to get to this happily ever after is entertaining.
While traveling to London in her uncle's coach, an accident drives Arabella and her companion to seek shelter at a nearby home... which turns out to belong to the most fashionable man in London, Mr. Beaumaris. Elegant and wealthy, he is tired of women hunting after him and so when this pretty young girl shows up at his door, he is not inclined to think favorably of her. When Arabella hears him saying just as much to his friend, implying that Arabella might be some girl who has traveled just to disturb his peace and create a sham impromptu meeting, Arabella is furious and acts on impulse. She lies and "lets it slip" that she is an heiress, also tired of being hunted for her enormous fortune, and she makes it clear with her demeanor that she has no interest in Mr. Beaumaris whatsoever.
Well, Mr. Beaumaris's friend might have been taken in by Arabella's heiress claims, but the man himself is not... and yet he decides that to set the girl up as the toast of society would be quite amusing. He allows his friend to spread word of the new heiress come to town and Mr. Beaumaris pays special attention to Arabella upon meeting her. With the approval of the most fashionable man in London and the gossip quickly spreading about the enormous Tallant fortune, Arabella quickly becomes the most sought-after girl in town... and she is just as quickly mortified when she realizes that it's all to do with her lie about having a fortune. Mr. Beaumaris continues to spend time with Arabella, realizing that he's never met a girl quite like her, while Arabella keeps her emotional distance, aware that he's probably just trifling with her, but she can use his attention to her advantage in society. Of course, with news about that she's an heiress, she doesn't feel right accepting any proposals of marriage... not even should Mr. Beaumaris himself offer. Of course, what Mr. Beaumaris wants is for Arabella to trust him enough to tell him the truth so that he can find out her true feelings about him and assure her that his feelings are in no way linked to her mythical fortune.
Before we can settle all this, Arabella's younger brother Bertram appears in town and quickly gets in over his head with gambling debts and bills... which provides Mr. Beaumaris the perfect opportunity to swoop in and attempt to settle everything, but not before Arabella contrives of her own ill-conceived plan to get her brother out of debt. It's all quite ridiculous, yes, but when does one read Georgette Heyer for something commonplace?
Mr. Beaumaris is a charming leading man, cut from the same cloth as many Heyer heroes... a bit older, a bit wiser, and under the impression that he's immune to the charms of a fresh young woman. The twist in this relationship is Arabella's tendency to speak her mind, thus saddling with Mr. Beaumaris with the results. First it's an orphan boy who falls through Arabella's chimney that she refuses to hand back over to his "master" -- Mr. Beaumaris surprises even himself when he offers to take charge of the boy and make him useful. Then it's a dog that Arabella sees being beaten and she swoops in to rescue him... only to realize that her godmother probably won't want him in the house so wouldn't Mr. Beaumaris please keep him? The mongrel dog becomes Mr. Beaumaris's bosom companion (much to his dismay) and some of Mr. Beaumaris's funniest moments come as a result of his single-sided conversation with the dog that he names Ulysses as he scolds the worshipful dog for being a "toad-eater" and muses aloud as to what he can do to get Arabella to confide in him. Arabella, meanwhile, can be a bit soppy as she frets about what he father might think of her if he knew all the wicked lie she has told... but her flashes of fury are amusing enough to absolve her of the soppier moments. Plus, it's nice to see a girl who knows how to play the society game, consciously working the innocent angle from time to time to her own advantage. She blatantly uses Mr. Beaumaris for his society connections and doesn't have any scruples in telling him so. As for Bertram and his storyline of debt, I found myself incredibly bored. It was terribly obvious where everything was going and I didn't particularly care for him, but he must be endured so that everything can turn out right in the end... I should have much rather preferred more scenes with Ulysses, though, rather than Arabella's brother.
In the end, Mr. Beaumaris is quite too good a man all of a sudden, but such is the case with this style of novel. A quick and charming read, Arabella is, at least, a feisty young heroine who has quite a conscience (a vicar's daughter could not escape it) and one can sympathize with poor Mr. Beaumaris, who has visions of his future comfort and happiness being constantly disturbed by Arabella's causes... but of course, that is all part of her charm.
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if you're recovering from reading a violent novel and there are no kittens on hand to comfort you.) One always knows what to expect from Heyer's endings (and, indeed, most of the middle, too), but if a light romp is what you want, then look no further.Arabella's titular heroine is the eldest daughter in a vicar's family of eight children. Blessed with a wealthy and socially significant godmother (who has no daughters of her own to fuss over), Arabella Tallant is going to London so that her godmother, Lady Bridlington might present her to society and oversee the girl's first season... which will hopefully be her *only* season, as she needs to make a good match if there's any hope for her younger siblings and the money to get a girl through a London season doesn't grow on trees. No one seems too concerned that Arabella will make a good match, for she's a beautiful young woman and smart enough, with her only real flaw being a bit of an impetuous streak that often results in her acting before she's thoroughly thought on the matter. Unsurprisingly, for the daughter of a clergyman with eight children, she has very little dowry to speak of, but she does at least have a smart mother who has saved for this very occasion, setting by money and keeping her own old items from her youth so that they might be made up new for her daughter. No one need be in any doubt that everything ends well... and that Arabella not only makes a suitable match with a decently established fellow, but that it will be a matter of love, too, and not just acceptability... but at least the road to get to this happily ever after is entertaining.
While traveling to London in her uncle's coach, an accident drives Arabella and her companion to seek shelter at a nearby home... which turns out to belong to the most fashionable man in London, Mr. Beaumaris. Elegant and wealthy, he is tired of women hunting after him and so when this pretty young girl shows up at his door, he is not inclined to think favorably of her. When Arabella hears him saying just as much to his friend, implying that Arabella might be some girl who has traveled just to disturb his peace and create a sham impromptu meeting, Arabella is furious and acts on impulse. She lies and "lets it slip" that she is an heiress, also tired of being hunted for her enormous fortune, and she makes it clear with her demeanor that she has no interest in Mr. Beaumaris whatsoever.
Well, Mr. Beaumaris's friend might have been taken in by Arabella's heiress claims, but the man himself is not... and yet he decides that to set the girl up as the toast of society would be quite amusing. He allows his friend to spread word of the new heiress come to town and Mr. Beaumaris pays special attention to Arabella upon meeting her. With the approval of the most fashionable man in London and the gossip quickly spreading about the enormous Tallant fortune, Arabella quickly becomes the most sought-after girl in town... and she is just as quickly mortified when she realizes that it's all to do with her lie about having a fortune. Mr. Beaumaris continues to spend time with Arabella, realizing that he's never met a girl quite like her, while Arabella keeps her emotional distance, aware that he's probably just trifling with her, but she can use his attention to her advantage in society. Of course, with news about that she's an heiress, she doesn't feel right accepting any proposals of marriage... not even should Mr. Beaumaris himself offer. Of course, what Mr. Beaumaris wants is for Arabella to trust him enough to tell him the truth so that he can find out her true feelings about him and assure her that his feelings are in no way linked to her mythical fortune.
Before we can settle all this, Arabella's younger brother Bertram appears in town and quickly gets in over his head with gambling debts and bills... which provides Mr. Beaumaris the perfect opportunity to swoop in and attempt to settle everything, but not before Arabella contrives of her own ill-conceived plan to get her brother out of debt. It's all quite ridiculous, yes, but when does one read Georgette Heyer for something commonplace?
Mr. Beaumaris is a charming leading man, cut from the same cloth as many Heyer heroes... a bit older, a bit wiser, and under the impression that he's immune to the charms of a fresh young woman. The twist in this relationship is Arabella's tendency to speak her mind, thus saddling with Mr. Beaumaris with the results. First it's an orphan boy who falls through Arabella's chimney that she refuses to hand back over to his "master" -- Mr. Beaumaris surprises even himself when he offers to take charge of the boy and make him useful. Then it's a dog that Arabella sees being beaten and she swoops in to rescue him... only to realize that her godmother probably won't want him in the house so wouldn't Mr. Beaumaris please keep him? The mongrel dog becomes Mr. Beaumaris's bosom companion (much to his dismay) and some of Mr. Beaumaris's funniest moments come as a result of his single-sided conversation with the dog that he names Ulysses as he scolds the worshipful dog for being a "toad-eater" and muses aloud as to what he can do to get Arabella to confide in him. Arabella, meanwhile, can be a bit soppy as she frets about what he father might think of her if he knew all the wicked lie she has told... but her flashes of fury are amusing enough to absolve her of the soppier moments. Plus, it's nice to see a girl who knows how to play the society game, consciously working the innocent angle from time to time to her own advantage. She blatantly uses Mr. Beaumaris for his society connections and doesn't have any scruples in telling him so. As for Bertram and his storyline of debt, I found myself incredibly bored. It was terribly obvious where everything was going and I didn't particularly care for him, but he must be endured so that everything can turn out right in the end... I should have much rather preferred more scenes with Ulysses, though, rather than Arabella's brother.
In the end, Mr. Beaumaris is quite too good a man all of a sudden, but such is the case with this style of novel. A quick and charming read, Arabella is, at least, a feisty young heroine who has quite a conscience (a vicar's daughter could not escape it) and one can sympathize with poor Mr. Beaumaris, who has visions of his future comfort and happiness being constantly disturbed by Arabella's causes... but of course, that is all part of her charm.
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LibraryThing member Anniik
This is a charming book. While a bit slow in the beginning, once it gets going, it introduces utterly fascinating characters and a lively and engaging plot. Arabella is a wonderful heroine - very much a lady, but not so held down by the dictates of society that she is afraid to stand up to
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society's dictates. Robert is a fantastic character as well - some of my favorite scenes in the book were the ones with him and Ulysses. I really enjoyed this book! Show Less
LibraryThing member Stacey42
The daughter of a well bred but impoverished clergyman, with many brothers & sisters, Arabella goes to London to marry money. While traveling she has a carriage accident & meets Richard Beaumaris. She overhears him assuming she has manufactured the meeting because she is after his money so she lies
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about being a very well off heiress. This lie follows her to London & problems ensue. It’s a sweet story & entertaining. Show Less
LibraryThing member runaway84
This is by far the most cleverest plot that Georgette Heyer has created. Granted, I wouldn't call myself someone who has read a great part of her novels yet, but I'm getting there.
Arabella is headed to London to stay with her godmother who is going to introduce her into society. On the way there,
Beaumaris wasn't born yesterday. He has been bamboozled into meetings with marriage-seeking ladies who conveniently get into 'accidents' just to meet him for years. Mortified, Arabella - a daughter of a Vicar - concocts a clever story that she is a wealthy heiress. Figuring this is false, Beaumaris decided to play along due to boredom. But boredom eventually leads to something more.
A lie such as that can only bring about shenanigans from there. Once word gets out that a heiress is town, every fortune seeking bachelor is vying for her affections.
Arabella is witty story that brings with it a lot of laughs. A sweet, strong heroine and a devilishly clever hero and a strong plot makes this a definite Heyer must read.
Arabella is headed to London to stay with her godmother who is going to introduce her into society. On the way there,
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her carriage breaks down and while waiting for help to arrive (where's a gas station when you need one?) she takes shelter in a nearby home that belongs to none other than the infamous Nonpareil Robert Beaumaris.Beaumaris wasn't born yesterday. He has been bamboozled into meetings with marriage-seeking ladies who conveniently get into 'accidents' just to meet him for years. Mortified, Arabella - a daughter of a Vicar - concocts a clever story that she is a wealthy heiress. Figuring this is false, Beaumaris decided to play along due to boredom. But boredom eventually leads to something more.
A lie such as that can only bring about shenanigans from there. Once word gets out that a heiress is town, every fortune seeking bachelor is vying for her affections.
Arabella is witty story that brings with it a lot of laughs. A sweet, strong heroine and a devilishly clever hero and a strong plot makes this a definite Heyer must read.
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LibraryThing member justchris
This is a reread from my youth, though I didn't remember much about Arabella. It was moderately charming. The heroine is the eldest daughter of a parson who is respectable but not rich, given his numerous offspring. Her godmother agrees to sponsor her for a season in London. The whole family is
This romance falls into the comedy of errors and misunderstandings category. Our hero of course guesses the truth immediately but goes along with the game (and even eggs it on), charmed by Arabella's innocence and integrity and waiting for her to trust him. She doesn't know how to confess her lie and can't accept any of the marriage proposals under false pretenses, so she's in quite a quandary. In the meantime, she embroils Beaumaris in various scrapes, and when her brother decides to acquire some town polish while on break from college, the scrapes only get worse. Of course, it all comes right in the end, thanks to our masterful hero and despite the naive heroine. Not my favorite style of romance, and this doesn't compare to April Lady in terms of naivete and romp.
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depending on her to contract a good marriage so that she can bring out her younger sisters. En route, her borrowed carriage breaks down outside the hunting lodge of Mr. Beamarais, our hero. He's got everything--wealth, looks, high social standing. He's also got the attitude to go with it, so when she overhears him complaining to his friend of the lengths women go to when chasing him, she gets angry and pretends to be a fabulous heiress. The word gets out and suddenly she's the most sought after debutante.This romance falls into the comedy of errors and misunderstandings category. Our hero of course guesses the truth immediately but goes along with the game (and even eggs it on), charmed by Arabella's innocence and integrity and waiting for her to trust him. She doesn't know how to confess her lie and can't accept any of the marriage proposals under false pretenses, so she's in quite a quandary. In the meantime, she embroils Beaumaris in various scrapes, and when her brother decides to acquire some town polish while on break from college, the scrapes only get worse. Of course, it all comes right in the end, thanks to our masterful hero and despite the naive heroine. Not my favorite style of romance, and this doesn't compare to April Lady in terms of naivete and romp.
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LibraryThing member SophieCale
While this is not the first of Heyer's novels that I've read, it was the one I was most interested in reading, because it seemed to promise the most repartee, and while it did deliver, most of it was between the lead male, Beaumaris, and the stray dog he picks up. While Arabella has her passion and
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purity, she sadly lacks the wit I was expecting. I really hate to think that all Heyer leads will be the mice in their feline husbands games. This may be precipitate since this is only my second Heyer novel (the first having been The Convenient Marriage), but I'm suspecting a Heyer "template": Rich bored aristocrat goes all out to win the "enchanting" and impudent female and wins her over by aiding the pockets and reputations of her brother and family. I nearly called Beaumaris "Rule" and Bertram "Pelham". They had not the same character but fit the same mold. While I loved Rule for his irreverence, I think I enjoyed Beaumaris better since he is more the cynic and less the rake. And I have to say that I really dislike how Heyer describes the women, her relations and her toillettes so well and with so much detail but almost entirely neglects the hero's description. I know its supposed to be vague to allow your imagination to run but there's something wrong when I can envision a smart blue coat with lapels and pantaloons, but no real body inhabiting it nor face and head seated above it. Show Less
LibraryThing member riverwillow
Arabella is delightful heroine, whose temper and impetuosity lead her to try and put the wealthy Robert Beaumaris in his place by masquerading as a rich heiress. But Mr Beaumaris spots the deception and, amused, plays along and soon all of London is playing court the wealthy Miss Tallant. Along the
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way Arabella manages to convince Mr Beaumaris to shelter Jemmy, a young chimney sweep, and adopt an adoring mongrel, Ulysses, who manages to charm even Alfonse, Mr Beaumaris's temperamental chef. Another sparkling Regency romp from Heyer. Show Less
LibraryThing member Apolline
Arabella is the daughter of an impoverished country parson in the Yorkshire area. With three sisters and three brothers, it is her mother's wish to see her married with a respectable and wealthy man. Arabella is lucky enough to have a rich Godmother in London, who, with no daughter of her own,
On Arabella's way to London, her carriage breaks down outside the hunting cabin of London's Nonpareil, Robert Beaumaris. Arabella and her escort, is invited in to wait for a new carriage, but as soon as Arabella is out of the Nonpareils eye shot, he accuses her of planning the stop and being just another girl after his wealth. Arabella finds herself provoked in such a degree, that she chooses to tell Mr. Beaumaris and his company a lie to prove him wrong. And so the story unfolds, with parties, fancy dresses and misunderstandings, all is set for a little drama, but also love.
This was my first encounter with Georgette Heyer’s writing, and definitely not the last. This book had every aspect of a good historical romance. Supposedly Heyer established the historical romance genre and the subgenre Regency romance. The fact that Georgette Heyer was deeply inspired by Jane Austen did shine through in Arabella. I registered several similarities to, especially Pride and Prejudice, but not in a degree that I found it problematic. Quite the contrary I found the story sweet, entertaining and charming. I caught myself thinking of Arabella and the book several days after I finished it. I take that as a good sign and I can heartily say that I enjoyed the book very much.
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willingly takes Arabella under her protective wings as a débutante among London's finest social elite.On Arabella's way to London, her carriage breaks down outside the hunting cabin of London's Nonpareil, Robert Beaumaris. Arabella and her escort, is invited in to wait for a new carriage, but as soon as Arabella is out of the Nonpareils eye shot, he accuses her of planning the stop and being just another girl after his wealth. Arabella finds herself provoked in such a degree, that she chooses to tell Mr. Beaumaris and his company a lie to prove him wrong. And so the story unfolds, with parties, fancy dresses and misunderstandings, all is set for a little drama, but also love.
This was my first encounter with Georgette Heyer’s writing, and definitely not the last. This book had every aspect of a good historical romance. Supposedly Heyer established the historical romance genre and the subgenre Regency romance. The fact that Georgette Heyer was deeply inspired by Jane Austen did shine through in Arabella. I registered several similarities to, especially Pride and Prejudice, but not in a degree that I found it problematic. Quite the contrary I found the story sweet, entertaining and charming. I caught myself thinking of Arabella and the book several days after I finished it. I take that as a good sign and I can heartily say that I enjoyed the book very much.
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LibraryThing member thatotter
So many people love this one, but I just thought it was enjoyable and pretty good. It's probably the most classically Cinderella-y of the Heyers I've read. I liked Arabella, and liked Beaumaris pretty well, too, but didn't feel a powerful connection between them. I think what I experienced here was
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mainly a failure of expectations. Beaumaris's grandmother was a favorite. 3.5 stars. Show Less
LibraryThing member shojo_a
The daughter of a country clergyman, Arabella gets the chance to go to London stay with her rich godmother in hopes of finding a good husband. After being snubbed by the arbiter of fashion known as the Nonpareil, she pretends to be an heiress in a fit of pique. Soon all the fortune hunters in
The beginning of this book had a similar feeling to Anne of Green Gables, or Emily of New Moon, or even Little Women, one of those stories of the plucky young heroine and her home life, which I loved in its own right, and then once Arabella went to London it morphed into more a classic Heyer. I loved the chemistry between Arabella and Beaumaris, I loved how on one hand she seems so perfect - beautiful, good and generous, but on the other hand, she's impetuous, hasty and does a lot of really stupid things she should have thought out better. And Mr. Beaumaris may be one of my favorite of Heyer's heroes - the stuck uparbiter of fashion, but also with an amazing sense of self deprecation and the ridiculous. I adored the way he talked to Ulysses, it was so funny.
I was sad the book ended when it did, because I want to read more about them.
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London are after her, and so is one very rich man - the Nonpareil himself. He's convinced himself he's just helping launch her onto the town to enjoy the spectacle, she's convinced that the accomplished rake is just flirting with her. But neither of them are right...The beginning of this book had a similar feeling to Anne of Green Gables, or Emily of New Moon, or even Little Women, one of those stories of the plucky young heroine and her home life, which I loved in its own right, and then once Arabella went to London it morphed into more a classic Heyer. I loved the chemistry between Arabella and Beaumaris, I loved how on one hand she seems so perfect - beautiful, good and generous, but on the other hand, she's impetuous, hasty and does a lot of really stupid things she should have thought out better. And Mr. Beaumaris may be one of my favorite of Heyer's heroes - the stuck uparbiter of fashion, but also with an amazing sense of self deprecation and the ridiculous. I adored the way he talked to Ulysses, it was so funny.
I was sad the book ended when it did, because I want to read more about them.
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LibraryThing member pgchuis
One of the funnier Georgette Heyers. Listened to the Audible version, which was well done.
LibraryThing member Jillian_Leigh
A slightly silly and naive heroine, but the hero's relationship with the dog he rescues on the heroine's behalf is cute.
LibraryThing member RubyScarlett
Not bad but she's done better. The first part of the novel was great with all the excitement about the season but she addresses important themes (mainly money) very awkwardly. Her most honest book, probably, since the heroine's sole reason for marriage is financial stability. Arabella's a decent
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heroine but her suitor's characterization is really lacking. Show Less
LibraryThing member Helenliz
Ahh, Arabella is a girl after my own heart. She's outspoken, hot headed, not always wise in the way of others. She gets sent to London for a season, sponsored by her godmother. She's a country lass, from somewhere in the vicinity of Knaresborough & Harrogate - which was where I was while reading
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this! It didn't take us a week to get down the Great North Road (we came down the A1 in a few hours), and we didn't have our carriage break north of Grantham. At that point she meets Robert Beaumaris, who will play an important role in her story. She overhears him sets her down and she takes umbrage. This causes an unwise boast that she spends the rest of the book trying to sort out. Her heart and her loyalty to her family come into conflict and it nearly ends in tears - but not quite. Thoroughly satisfying. Show Less
LibraryThing member rmaitzen
This was sweet and amusing -- just right for a tired person on a stressful flight home! It wasn't laugh-out-loud funny, or not very often, but I enjoyed it a lot, especially Beaumaris with Ulysses the dog.
LibraryThing member PhilSyphe
Arabella Tallant is a parson's daughter who is invited to London by her godmother in hope of securing a suitable marriage. Early on Arabella encounters her ideal man, however, as they don't quite hit it off immediately, she lies about her status, claiming to be an heiress. At the time this untruth
At times Ms Heyer comes up with some entertaining scenes, but there is also a lot of tedious digression, including over-long descriptions of clothing. For me, this author is at her best when creating character interaction, as her dialogue is sublime, especially from her female characters. She also does a good job in describing a canine character, who is one of the strongest members of the cast.
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means little, until word spreads throughout London that the new girl in town is vastly wealthy, when this is far from the case.At times Ms Heyer comes up with some entertaining scenes, but there is also a lot of tedious digression, including over-long descriptions of clothing. For me, this author is at her best when creating character interaction, as her dialogue is sublime, especially from her female characters. She also does a good job in describing a canine character, who is one of the strongest members of the cast.
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LibraryThing member sammii507
This is a charming book. While a bit slow in the beginning, once it gets going, it introduces utterly fascinating characters and a lively and engaging plot. Arabella is a wonderful heroine - very much a lady, but not so held down by the dictates of society that she is afraid to stand up to
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society's dictates. Robert is a fantastic character as well - some of my favorite scenes in the book were the ones with him and Ulysses. I really enjoyed this book! Show Less
Language
Original language
English
ISBN
9781787468221