Frederica

Rating:
Summary: Classic Regency
Review: Georgette Heyer is the goddess of regency. I have read several of her books 20+ times, this is one of them. It contains humor galore. A light and easy romp by a skilled author. No sappy "Barbara Cartland" style drivel here. Heyer's characters in Fredrica are heartwarming and real.

Rating:
Summary: The creator of the Regency Romance Genre
Review: I first stumbled upon a Georgette Heyer novel when I was 14 and for more than 30 years I have been an avid fan of her books. I got hooked on reading regency romance novels just because of Georgette Heyer books and NOTHING I have read until now (and I HAVE read a lot) compares to her original and sparkling romances. Her characters come alive on every page and there is no one who can write witty dialogue better. Frederica is one of my favorite Heyer heroines and this book has a really funny almost-proposal scene.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best Regency romances that exist
Review: I really feel this book rates 6 stars.

Georgette Heyer researched her books in great detail and they are quite simply in a class of their own. Many people feel she invented the Regency Romance. The dialogue used is often from original sources, this book actually contains one of her very few historical mistakes, Soho in Birmingham not Soho in London is where the foundry was located. There are misunderstandings but ones that seem to occur quite naturally. In this book Felix Fredrica's schoolboy brother with a scientific bent questions practically everything and is quite central to the story. The character descriptions and dialog are excellent and all in all it is one of my favourite Georette Heyers.

From the dust cover of the Bodley Head edition...

Written in Georgette Heyer's lightest vein, this is the story of the adventures in Regency London of the Merriville family: Frederica, riding the whirlwind and directing the storm; Harry, rusticated from Oxford and embarking with enthusiasm on the more perilous amusements pursued by young gentlemen of ton; the divine Charis, too tender-hearted to discourage the advances of her numerous suitors; Jessamy, destined for the Church and wavering, in adolescent style, between excessive virtue and a natural exuberance of spirits; and Felix, a schoolboy with a passion for scientific experiment. In Frederica, Georgette Heyer created one of her most engaging heroines; and in the Marquis of Alverstoke - a bored cynic who becomes involved in all the imbroglios of a lively family -a hero whose sense of humour makes him an excellent foil for Frederica.

Rating:
Summary: Possibly the best Heyer!
Review: I'm afraid bookjunkie said everything so perfectly and eloquently I have very little to add and yet I must add my voice to those who claim this as their favorite Heyer. In Frederica, you have an exquisite heroine - intelligent, humorous, well-looking but not a diamond, kind, and above all totally believable as a woman who could turn the world of an accomplished, arrogant, self-centered rake upside down. Heyer manages beautifully to make our hero, Alverstoke, all those things and yet absolutely marvelous at the same time. As usual, Heyer's secondary characters are perfection - interesting and amusing and so believable you feel she must know these people. This book is a must read for any regency fan - it is one of the best! An added bonus is that it hardly matters how much you pay for it - I don't think I could ever get tired of reading this book; I probably re-read Frederica twice a year: it never loses it's charm.

Rating:
Summary: Possibly the best Heyer!
Review: I'm afraid bookjunkie said everything so perfectly and eloquently I have very little to add and yet I must add my voice to those who claim this as their favorite Heyer. In Frederica, you have an exquisite heroine - intelligent, humorous, well-looking but not a diamond, kind, and above all totally believable as a woman who could turn the world of an accomplished, arrogant, self-centered rake upside down. Heyer manages beautifully to make our hero, Alverstoke, all those things and yet absolutely marvelous at the same time. As usual, Heyer's secondary characters are perfection - interesting and amusing and so believable you feel she must know these people. This book is a must read for any regency fan - it is one of the best! An added bonus is that it hardly matters how much you pay for it - I don't think I could ever get tired of reading this book; I probably re-read Frederica twice a year: it never loses it's charm.

Rating:
Summary: Hooked on Heyer!
Review: I've been a fan of Georgette Heyer's wonderful Regency Romances for 25 years. I've started reading her books when I was 13 and my library of Heyer books is one of my most cherished possessions. Her sparkling dialogue and wonderfully created characters come alive in every page of the book. Frederica has my all time favorite Heyer heroes - The Marquis of Alverstoke is a bored and pampered aristocrat who when he meets Frederica and falls in love with her, finds his humanity and a heart beneath his cold exterior. What's wonderful about this book how warmly Frederica's family is portrayed. This book is full of wonderful romance, humor, and heartwarming joy! If you read this you will become Hooked on Heyer forever...

Rating:
Summary: Regency Romance at It's Best!!!
Review: If you like Regency Romance, you'll love Georgette Heyer. She sure is the creator of the genre and an inspiration for all those who followed. All her books are a joy to read and this one is no exception.

It has all the Heyer ingredients. A really nice heroine with a funny and lovable family and a titled hero that has vowed never to marry. The dialog is witty and fun plays an important part in both the dialog and the plot. This book together with Arabella and The Talisman Ring are among my Heyer favorites.

Rating:
Summary: My favorite Heyer
Review: Like the reader from Seoul, I began reading Georgette Heyer around age 13. I quickly discovered Frederica, and in fact, tried to use a passage from the book for an elocution contest (unsuccessfully). What is it about this book that stays with you over the ages?

I believe it is not just Georgette Heyer's wit, sparkling dialogue, careful historical research (despite the occasional error), or her lively characters. Somehow this book transcends even her usual output. Both the hero and heroine are older and more mature, with Frederica believing that she is fit only to be a chaperone. The Marquess is bored, cynical, and shows more affection for his secretary than for any member of his family. And of course, he values his horses above them all, as famously said by his sister. While his intentions for taking up Frederica and her family are hardly benevolent, his continued interaction with her and her irrepressible younger brothers Felix and Jessamy gradually humanize him. In that sense, this is the Heyer book closest in spirit to Pride and Prejudice, my all-time favorite. Perhaps that is why I love them both.

There is a thrilling chase after a balloon which results in near-tragedy, the usual minor characters who act in ways designed to exasperate the hero and heroine, and two sub-plots with two other couples falling in love during the book. The latter half of the book takes place with Frederica very preoccupied with family concerns. If you want a book full of drama and chases, this might disappoint you. However, this is the very part which shows me how much Alverstoke has changed. The part about the pork jelly is priceless, but I will leave it to the reader to find that out.

In conclusion, if you like the mature Georgette Heyer with the older hero and heroine, this is probably going to become one of your favorites.

Rating:
Summary: Keep them coming
Review: Six of Georgette Heyer's books will be coming out in re-print. Fans have been waiting for this day. Frederica is a great start to this series. It satisfies on many different levels; from the thawing of a cold aristrocrat, the addition of eccentric characters, and wonderful dialog. I stayed up all night to finish the book and ended up bursting out in laughter more than once.