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Arabella
by
Georgette Heyer
historical romance in a Kindle edition that was published by Sourcebooks Casablanca on September 4, 2018 and has 338 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include These Old Shades, Bath Tangle, Lady of Quality, The Black Moth, Venetia, The Spanish Bride, Simon the Coldheart, Beauvallet, A Civil Contract, Regency Buck, An Infamous Army, Frederica, The Unknown Ajax, Black Sheep, Sprig Muslin, Sylvester or the Wicked Uncle, The Grand Sophy, These Old Shades, Powder and Patch, The Reluctant Widow, The Nonesuch, False Colours, The Corinthian, April Lady
A standalone Regency comedic romance revolving around the spirited Arabella. It was first published 1 January 1949.
My Take
It’s a cute start with the sisters poring over a three-year-old fashion magazine, worrying over what Bella must wear if she is to have a Season in London. Heyer makes it even better, creating a wholesome character in their father who rules over them with “his gentle austerity” and abhorrence for vanity and pleasure-seeking. Their dad does sound like a good man, but thank goodness their mother is more worldly.
We know this from Heyer’s use of third person global subjective point-of-view from the perspectives of a number of characters. Yes, it’s primarily Arabella and Beaumaris, but we also “hear” from Mrs Tallant, Bertram, Lady Bridlington, her son, etc.
Mrs Tallant employs psychology on her husband to encourage him to agree to Arabella having a Season. Hmmm, the reverend is a bit hypocritical when it comes to all the potential beaus he objects to.
Heyer keeps us informed of the difference between the reverend’s income and his brother’s in a very showing manner with no info dumps! Heyer is also brilliant in explaining the culture and mores of the time, the social life of this level of society with all their entertainments — and the plotting involved!
Arabella has her pride and it’s that which causes her to set Beaumaris off with his endorsing her boast. She is a sweet girl with a strong sense of morality, a sense that leads her into such “shocking” actions that attract Beaumaris’ interest. It’s also that sweet naïveté that leads her to enjoy how nice people in London are, lol.
”Not one of Papa’s children would pass by a fellow-creature in distress.”
Beaumaris is highly sought after for parties and as a potential husband, but he’s too much of a flirt. Luckily for Arabella, she’s had experience with flirts. An odd and funny side story is all the “rescues” he affects for Arabella — that Ulysses is such a crack-up with his ragged appearance, poor “manners”, devotion to Beaumaris, and Alphonse’s catering.
Society is full of such cynics, lol, for no one believes Frederick Bridlington’s reasons for coming home . . . nor for his comments that Arabella is not rich.
A side story is Bertram’s fling in London where he quickly learns the fun . . . and the horrors of the City.
Arabella is funny with a high dose of morals and engaging characters. You can’t miss with this enjoyable Regency romance.
The Story
A long-held desire of Mrs Tallant’s comes true when a dear friend offers to host her daughter for a Season in London. Without this offer, her dear Arabella would be confined to the slim marital possibilities in Harrowgate.
In London, well . . . Those possibilities only increase when Arabella, her pride stung, boasts of her wealth when she requests refuge at the cynical Nonpareil’s hunting box.
Bored, Beaumaris encourages her fiction, anticipating an amusing Season for himself as he brings the country Arabella into fashion. Little does he know how very amusing it will be.
The Characters
Arabella Tallant is the oldest daughter upon whom so much depends. Her siblings include James, who is up at Oxford before he takes Orders; eighteen-year-old Bertram; the sixteen-year-old Sophia; the fifteen-year-old Margaret; eleven-year-old Harry; Elizabeth, “Betsy”, the sickly youngest daughter (she’s nine), and baby Jack. Their parents are the Reverend Henry Tallant and the beautiful Sophia Theale with a living at Heythram. Nurse has been with them forever. Joseph Eccles is a farm hand.
The reverend’s brother is the squire, Sir John Tallant. His wife had been Eliza; their sons are Tom and Algernon. In Yorkshire. Miss Maria is the girl the squire has his eye on for his Tom. Thunderer is one of the squire’s horses. Mrs Paignton is the squire’s housekeeper. Aunt Eliza is quite fast. Aunt Emma lives at Arksey.
In London
Arabella Haverhill, a.k.a. Lady Bridlington, is an old, dear friend of Mrs Tallant’s, as well as Bella’s godmother. The bookish and boring Frederick, Lord Bridlington, is her fusty son. The snooty Miss Clara Crowle is her personal maid. Maria and Becky (she’d had the toothache) are housemaids. Becky has a brother Ben.
Robert Beaumaris, a.k.a. the Nonpareil, is one of the wealthiest men in England and a leader of society. Mr Painswick is his valet. Clayton is the groom. Ulysses is the mutt Beaumaris agrees to take on. Alphonse is the cook he employs in London. Brough is his butler. Mrs Preston is the housekeeper in London. Mrs Mersey is his housekeeper at his hunting box in Leicestershire. Mrs Buxton lives at Beaumaris’ country house where Wrexham is the head groom. Lady Mary Caldicot had been his mother; she was the daughter of the late Duke of Wigan. The dowager duchess is Beaumaris’ grandmother and greatly feared by many. Lady Caroline is an unmarried daughter and companion. Hadleigh is the duchess’ butler and Mrs Watchet is the housekeeper. Dr Sudbury is her attending physician. Other relatives include the Wainfleets, Louisa is the missus.
Charles, Lord Fleetwood, is best described as a rattle who needs to marry well.
“Mr Anstey” is a friend of the underage Felix Scunthorpe, a friend of Bertram’s from school. Felix hasn’t any brains for school, but does know his way around London. Mr Jack Carnaby is a cardsharp. “Chuffy”, Lord Wivenhoe, becomes a friend of Mr Anstey’s. Unfortunately, Chuffy’s father, the Earl of Chalgrove, holds to Mr Fox’s maxims on gambling. The Red Lion and the Cock in Duck Lane where Joe is the landlord are inns at which Mr Anstey stays. “Leaky Peg” rescues Mr Anstey. Quartern Sue is a beggar.
The Farnworths have no children; Mrs Kirkmichael gives shabby parties; — Maria is her lanky daughter; the Accringtons and Buxtons are delightful; the Charnwoods; the Garthorpes; Mr Catwick; Lord Dewsbury has a daughter; Sir Geoffrey Moreton; Mr Pocklington; Mr Oswald Warkworth is a friend of Fleetwood’s; Lady Terrington has a son; the Duke of Clarence; Princess Mary; the Prince Regent; Lady Somercote has five sons; Sir James and Lady Hornsea have three daughters; the nasty, yet Honorable Mrs Penkridge dotes on her dandyish nephew, Horace Epworth; a Miss Flint is said to be rich; Clayton and Lord Withernsea are from Yorkshire and never heard of Arabella Tallant; the Honourable Frederick “Poodle” Byng; the Duchess of Edgeware; Long Wellesley Pole; Golden Ball; Lord Coleraine, a.k.a. Georgy à Cockhorse; Lord Morton, who rides a long-tailed gray; Tommy Onslow; and, Petersham are all members of the Ton. Lady Sefton, Emily Cowper, and Princess Esterhazy are patronesses of Almack’s. Theresa Howden had been the target of Beaumaris’ flirting and then married Lord Congleton.
Old Mrs Farnham is a neighbor in Yorkshire. Mrs Caterham is another neighbor (with daughters who are friends of the Tallants) who is letting Miss Blackburn, a governess, go. The Tewkesburys has been Miss Blackburn’s employer before the Caterhams; Geoffrey Tewkesbury had been one of the sons. Mrs Calne is Bertram’s unloved godmother. Madame Dupont is a clever dressmaker. Joseph Drayton of Knaresborough comes from a merchant family. Other potentials include young Dewsbury, Alfred Hitchen, Humphrey Finchley, and more. The Faraglini had been a very expensive mistress of Beaumaris’. Lichfield had been selling some horses. Weston and Swindon are tailors in London. Watier’s, a.k.a. the Great Go, is a gentlemen’s club. Tattersall’s holds horse auctions and has a betting room. Ole Grimsby is an abusive chimney sweep. Jemmy is the sweep’s boy who falls into Arabella’s bedroom. Mrs Balham had been Jemmy’s foster mother. Mr Molys was a sweep convicted of murder. Sir Nathaniel Conant is the chief magistrate at Bow Street. Miss O’Neill is an actress. Gentleman Jackson is a retired boxer who opened an exclusive boxing school. I do like that he treats everyone the same. Molyneux the Black was a famous Regency-era boxer. Madame Dumaine is Lady Bridlington’s dressmaker in London.
The Cover and Title
The cover is most unexpected with its mellow yellow background and loose border of flowers and leaves with icons representing parts of the story from the gloves to the writing materials, Ulysses, and a pocket watch. In the center is the author’s name in black with the title in a dark blue tucked into the border at the bottom. At the very top on the left is a golden rectangle with collection information. A testimonial in black and blue is just beneath the border. Just above the author’s name is another info blurb in blue.
The title is our heroine, Arabella.
