When I posted my review of Friday’s Child a few weeks ago, I mentioned that I had a choice of three Heyer novels to read next and asked for some help in deciding which one to choose. The Corinthian received more recommendations than Faro’s Daughter and An Infamous Army so I knew it would have to be my next Heyer…and what a great choice it was! Published in 1940, it’s one of her earliest Regency novels and although I think she wrote better books, I did find this one thoroughly entertaining and fun to read.
Are you wondering what a Corinthian is? Well, it is defined in the dictionary as “a man about town, especially one who lives luxuriously or, sometimes, dissolutely”. The Corinthian of the title is Sir Richard Wyndham, a twenty-nine-year-old ‘Man of Fashion’ who, at the beginning of the novel, is under pressure from his mother and sister to marry the Honourable Melissa Brandon. Despite their insistence that she will make the ideal wife, Sir Richard knows that Melissa is only interested in his money – a thought which makes him so depressed he goes out and gets drunk (or ‘a trifle disguised’ as Heyer likes to call it).
On his way home, he looks up to see a young man attempting to descend from a window down a rope of knotted bed-sheets. Going to offer his assistance, Richard makes the discovery that the young man is actually a young woman: seventeen-year-old Penelope – or Pen – Creed. Like himself, Pen is being forced into a marriage not of her own choosing and has decided to escape by dressing as a boy and running away to the home of her childhood friend in Somerset. Because he is drunk and because it gives him an excuse to avoid Melissa, Richard finds himself volunteering to accompany her – but he is not prepared for the drama and adventure that awaits them on the journey!
I won’t say too much more about the plot, but you can expect a wonderful blend of comedy, action and mystery as Richard and Pen stumble from one farcical situation to another. Not only do they become entangled with jewel thieves, murderers and Bow Street Runners, they also have several encounters with various members of Pen’s family, as well as Melissa’s brother, the hilarious Cedric. As for Pen and Richard themselves, I found them both very likeable. Richard is sophisticated, bored and cynical, but also kind hearted, intelligent and competent, while Pen may be young and innocent but she’s not lacking in courage and is less silly than some of Heyer’s other very young heroines.
One of the great things about Heyer’s Regency novels is how fully they immerse us in the period. This one is no exception but it does have a different feel from the last Heyer Regency I read, Friday’s Child – that one was set mainly in London, in a whirlwind of masquerade balls, high-stakes card games, visits to the theatre and evenings at Almack’s Assembly Rooms, but this one takes us out of the city, with a lot of time spent on the road travelling towards Somerset. I loved the descriptions of what it was like to undertake a long journey by public stagecoach and the various coaching inns Pen and Richard stayed at along the way.
Having enjoyed this book so much, I am now about to start Faro’s Daughter and hoping it’s going to be another good one!
She Reads Novels 
I’ve never read a Heyer book but this sounds like a lot of fun so I think I’m going to have a look for one 😊
Heyer is always fun to read. I have read about half of her books now and loved almost all of them.
Once I started reading Heyer I couldn’t stop till I had read them all. (Well, I stalled on a couple of the “straight” historicals). I just reread this one as well and it was a terrific romp. Enjoy your further explorations!
I loved this one – I’m glad you enjoyed rereading it. I still have about half of Heyer’s novels to read and haven’t tried any of the straight historicals yet.
I need to read more of Heyer’s books! They’re always so much fun. 🙂
I love Heyer – whenever you pick up one of her books you know you can expect a fun, entertaining and well-written read.
I have this one waiting in my TBR pile. I’ll bump it up the queue now.
I hope you like it as much as I did. 🙂
I think I’ll have to re-read more of Georgette Heyer’s romances. I read them all so long ago that I can’t remember each individual story. Your review brings back pleasant memories of this one.
I hope you enjoy Faro’s Daughter.
Thank you – I’m sure I will enjoy Faro’s Daughter. I am still working through all of Heyer’s novels for the first time, but I know I will want to re-read some of them in the future.
Ah, every time you review a Heyer, I immediately want to re-read it! I only have the vaguest memory of this one, but I also always loved the ones that took us out of London.
Yes, I like the ones which have a slightly different setting – and the ones with a bit of mystery and adventure as well as romance.
So glad we all got this right and you enjoyed it so much!
And thank you for the recommendation! 🙂
I couldn’t quite remember which one this was when you asked before, but as soon as you mentioned the boy climbing out the window, it all came back to me. I especially liked tomboy Pen’s reaction to Piers’s fiancée.
Yes, I liked the scenes where she meets Piers and his fiancee too.
I am so glad you enjoyed this one! Now I want to re-read it again! 😀
Georgette Heyer’s books are so much fun to read!
Helen, this sounds like delightfully good fun 🙂
Yes, it is! Georgette Heyer’s books are always entertaining, but this one was particularly fun to read. 🙂
The Corinthian is my favourite because of the sparkling dialogue, especially when Cedric is on the scene. Heyers modern detective novels are well worth a read, perhaps not quite in Agatha Christie’s style but will keep you guessing.
Yes, I loved this one, particularly Cedric’s scenes! I have read a few of Heyer’s detective novels and I agree that they are worth reading.
I was introduced to Georgette Heyer’s novels at age 14 and have been an admirer ever since.There are few authors who capture her witty dialogue.
I’m sure I would have loved Heyer’s novels as a teenager but sadly I wasn’t introduced to them until later in life. At least it means I still have so many of them to look forward to reading for the first time.