The Conqueror by Georgette Heyer

Vanessa · Post by **Vanessa** » Thu December 4th, 2008, 8:04 am

[quote=""amyb""]The Conqueror is one of six historical novels written by Georgette Heyer, who is best known for her Regency Romances,
[/quote]

Which ones are her historical novels? I can't find a list anywhere.

amyb · Post by **amyb** » Thu December 4th, 2008, 12:40 pm

There's An Infamous Army, Simon the Coldheart, My Lord John, The Spanish Bride and Royal Escape. You can find their descriptions on Amazon.

Vanessa · Post by **Vanessa** » Thu December 4th, 2008, 1:17 pm

Thanks, Amy. I've made a note of them.

Michy · Post by **Michy** » Mon August 8th, 2011, 5:28 pm

[quote=""amyb""]There's An Infamous Army, Simon the Coldheart, My Lord John, The Spanish Bride and Royal Escape. You can find their descriptions on Amazon.[/quote] I bought all of Heyer's "historicals" last year. I haven't read all of them yet (My Lord John and Simon Coldheart are still on my TBR) of those I have read The Conqueror is by far my favorite. I really enjoyed it and it is a keeper -- but then, I am particularly drawn to that time period. An Infamous Army was "ok", Royal Escape was slightly less "ok", and The Spanish Bride was a total dud: dry as a bowl of cornflakes without milk, and I couldn't even finish it.

ejays17 · Post by **ejays17** » Tue August 9th, 2011, 12:43 am

I read somewhere once - maybe in one of the critical works on her? - that Heyer didnt' like Simon the Coldheat at all, and wouldn't let it be republished once the inital print-run had finished. It wasn't republished until after she died - if I'm remembering things correctly, of course!

It's also the first Heyer I ever read, not knowing anything about her reputation as a regency romance writer when I read it at 14-ish. It was quite a surprise to me much later when I found out that she wasn't particularly known for the straight-historicals, as I really enjoyed it.

Ive got some of her other historicals, but haven't read them yet, my TBR is slowly taking over the spare bedroom, and it doesn't look like getting smaller any time soon...

annis · Post by **annis** » Tue August 9th, 2011, 1:00 am

Funny thing, Michy, I loved The Spanish Bride - so much so that I tracked down a copy of Sir Harry Smith's memoirs and read them as well, and very readable they are too. Sir Harry writes in an informal, energetic style which gives an excellent picture of the man himself.

I enjoyed The Conqueror as well, and I think I've mentioned elsewhere how much its style owes to the Victorian medieval revival movement - there's more than a whiff of Sir Walter Scott about it. I still think John Wingate's William the Conqueror is the best fictional portrayal of William that i've read so far, though. Still waiting on Carol Wensby-Scott's novel about William and Matilda called The Proud Conquest- I thought her Lion of Alnwick series was terrific and have high hopes of PC.

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Tue August 9th, 2011, 1:33 am

Still waiting on Carol Wensby-Scott's novel about William and Matilda called The Proud Conquest- I thought her Lion of Alnwick series was terrific and have high hopes of PC.

I have a copy of PC as well. When I will get around to reading it is another story..

Michy · Post by **Michy** » Tue August 9th, 2011, 2:03 am

[quote=""annis""]Funny thing, Michy, I loved The Spanish Bride - so much so that I tracked down a copy of Sir Harry Smith's memoirs and read them as well, and very readable they are too. Sir Harry writes in an informal, energetic style which gives an excellent picture of the man himself.[/quote] In The Spanish Bride the focus is definitely on the Napoleonic War, with most of the attention given to Harry Smith's military life and the various battles he was involved in. The domestic side of his life was relegated to brief scenes in-between. I think to enjoy the book you have to like this type of military focus. I don't, so I didn't enjoy the book at all.

I still think John Wingate's William the Conqueror is the best fictional portrayal of William that i've read so far, though.

I've had this on my wishlist for quite some time. Hopefully I'll get my hands on a copy one of these days....

SGM · Post by **SGM** » Tue August 9th, 2011, 5:51 pm

I enjoyed The Spanish Bride and really enjoyed Infamous Army. I read The Conqueror when I was really young and found it OK but haven't read it since (one of the few that hasn't had a re-read). Simon, again, I was really young when I read it and found it OK. Royal Escape I will really try to get round to re-reading again as it is set in a period I am interested in. I didn't get on with Lord John but, again, I was very young so I wouldn't put much store in that. Jane Aiken Hodge's book on Heyer was interesting about Heyer's problems with writing Lord John particularly the dialogue.

annis · Post by **annis** » Tue August 9th, 2011, 6:06 pm

I liked Royal Escape - Heyer clearly was a bit in love with Charles II and makes him a man anyone would want to follow, charming and charismatic but struggling at times to come to terms with the disaster at Worcester. Jane Lane, who helped Charles escape, plays quite a large part in RE and I see she has her own story now- Gillian Bagwell has written a novel about her called The September Queen