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Georgette Heyer virtually invented historical and regency romance. Her witty writing and carful plotting forever changed readers expectations. These Old Shades was originally conceived of as a sequel to her first novel The Black Moth. Ultimately she decided that since These Old Shades was not a melodrama it wouldn't work as a sequel to The Black Moth; so she reworked the book as a stand alone novel and changed many of the characters' names.
A delightful change of station novel that Shakespeare and Dickens would have approved of. Léonie has been disguised as a boy all of her life. When a great lord shows up at her brother's tavern and buys her to train as his page her life is forever changed.
About the author
Georgette Heyer was an English novelist and short-story writer, renowned for her works in both the Regency romance and detective fiction genres. Born on August 16, 1902, in Wimbledon, London, Heyer began her literary career in 1921. She initially wrote The Black Moth, a novel inspired by a story she created for her ailing younger brother. The success of this book marked the beginning of her prolific writing career. Over the years, Heyer became famous for her witty, well-researched Regency romances, set in the early 19th century, and her detective novels. Her works are marked by their lively characters, sharp dialogue, and keen understanding of historical settings.
In 1925, Heyer married George Ronald Rougier, a mining engineer, and they had one child, a son named Richard Rougier. She continued writing until her death on July 4, 1974, in London. Despite her significant success and popularity, Heyer's works were often underappreciated in literary circles, though she had a large, devoted readership. Today, she remains one of the most beloved authors of historical romance, particularly for her Regency novels.
