Cotillion

Heyer's most charming

Cotillion is my favorite of ALL Georgette Heyer's works. One needs to read it often, to discover those tidbits of dialog and laugh out loud.

I discovered Georgette Heyer's books in 1964, as they were publish in Germany. I wish BBC would discover these gems and delight us with series that could go on forever.

Although not as entertaining as Devil's Cub and These Old Shades, this book was very enjoyable. Kitty must choose between 5 cousins in order to inherit from her adoptive parent. One is a slightly retarded Earl, one an overbearing rector, one an absent military man, one a gamester and womanizer and Freddy who isn't seen as very bright. She chooses Freddy Standen and makes a pact with him to break the engagement later. They travel to London and have several interesting encounters. This story was lots of fun.

brightly funny

Kitty is fostered by the wealthy, crotchety, and tight-fisted best friend of her parents when they die. She stands to inherit Great Uncle Matthew's entire fortune when he kicks it, but only if she marries one of his five eligible blood-related great-nephews. So he calls them all together and tells her to pick one. My, my but what is a girl to do----especially when the one she wants doesn't show?
One of the things I absolutely love about Georgette Heyer is that she gives everyone a chance. Unlike some authors, whose characters are carbon copies of one another, Heyer doesn't stick to just one favorite type of man or woman when she tells a story. Take her heroes: the hot-tempered hellion in "Devil's Cub" is the polar opposite from the mild-mannered, pampered duke in "The Foundling." Vivacious Sophie (The Grand Sophie) stands in opposition to the naively innocent "Friday's Child." And in "Cotillion" we see another fine example of Heyer's ever-expanding definition of a great catch.
Without giving away too much plot detail, suffice it say that this story is an unexpected treat. I think I'm especially happy to have re-read it since the first time left me feeling underwhelmed. I think I expected a different ending, or something. So reading it again was like a revelation: I giggled and chortled aloud repeatedly (luckily, no one was near enough to hear), and even read a passage or two aloud to my mom so she, too, could be in on the joke. It's sweet, and funny, and entertaining, and heart-warming.