Books by Georgette Heyer

Originally published in 1950 and having now sold over 30 million copies, Georgette Heyer’s The Grand Sophy is a must-read book for anyone who liked Bridgerton. The story follows Sophy, daughter of Sir Horace Station-Lacy, who is sent to live with her aunt and cousins in London after her father’s departure to South America on business. Upon arrival in Berkeley Square Sophy is shocked at the sad state of affairs that her cousins find themselves in. Cecilia is besotted with a thoughtless poet; Hubert has fallen out of favour with a foul-tempered moneylender and the Ombersley’s heir Charles is in an unhappy engagement. But as Sophy endeavours to resolve her cousins’ misfortunes, she finds herself obstructed at every hurdle by Charles, who resents her involvement. This humorous Regency romance is a story of intrigue, love, and the resilience of the human spirit.

From our article Books like Bridgerton

“This is a true classic of the golden age, first published in 1941, with the usual country house setting and a festive house party suddenly turned tragic by a murder.” Read more...

The Best Classic Christmas Mysteries

Caroline Crampton, Memoirist

“This book is set during the siege of Badajoz. It is the retelling of a true story of Harry Smith, who was an officer at Badajoz, who saved a 14-year-old girl and eventually married her. In fact, in later life he becomes the governor of the Cape Colony and he founds the town of Ladysmith and names it for his wife. It is a sort of nostalgia for me. It is what I grew up with, under the bedclothes in the middle of the night.” Read more...

The best books on The Regency Period

Stella Tillyard, Historian