Georgette Heyer Books In Order

Publication Order of Inspector Hannasyde Books

Publication Order of Inspector Hemingway Books

Publication Order of Alastair-Audley Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas

Publication Order of Short Story Collections

Publication Order of Anthologies

A pioneer in both the historical romance and the detective fiction genres, British author Georgette Heyer was well known for unique brand of literature. Creating a vast body of work during her lifetime, she left behind a legacy that was regarded very highly. This legacy carries on to this day, as it continues to inspire her many contemporaries who follow in her footsteps.

Early and Personal Life

A legend in her time, British author Georgette Heyer was well known for her legacy building up the historical romance genre as a whole. Born on the 16th of August, 1902, her career finished on the 4th of July, 1974, when she passed away from cancer. It was only in her obituaries that her many fans were to finally learn her full married name for the first time after being a secret for many years.

Brought up in Wimbledon in London, she gained a large amount of insight from her surrounding environment, using it to establish both the tone and the style of work later on. Attending the Royal College of Music, she was to gain a classical music education that would help inspire her creatively throughout much of her career. She begun writing from the young age of seventeen though, as she would create short stories to amuse and entertain her brothers. This was something that she would continue over the years, building a legacy that was to become highly regarded in due course. She would also marry George Ronald Rougier after meeting him on a family holiday in the month of December, 1920. Over the years they built their relationship as she built her career which was to become an extremely formidable one.

Writing Career

Famous for her regency romances, she is well known for creating fiction with a historical angle. This was something that carried on throughout her career as she she sought inspiration from the past to help inform both her and her material. Starting with short-stories from the young age of seventeen, she begun by writing them to help amuse her and her brothers. This then progressed to a more effective and in-depth take on the genre of romance which she helped to build over the many years. Reading from a very young age too, she would consume all manner of novels as her parents were never known to censor any books, allowing her to immerse herself in new and exciting narratives.

Thrillers soon became another facet of Heyer’s writing career, as she began to write a whole variety of novels focused on the genre. ‘The Conqueror’ was a book of hers that was released in 1931 to much acclaim and was to mark a somewhat different direction for her, yet still successful allowing her readers to embark on something new and interesting. Known for accuracy and historical research, she would thoroughly examine the lives of those she was writing about, creating rich and intricate worlds for them to inhabit. She was particularly known for her vast and extensive knowledge of historical figures, who she’d bring to life within her stories. Leaving behind a highly influential legacy, she is just as highly regarded today as she was back in her time, bringing forwards the medium and the genre as a whole.

The Black Moth

This was the very impressive debut for the author Georgette Heyer which she made at the very young age of only seventeen. First published on 1st of January, 1921, it was to mark the introduction of a highly singular and extremely powerful voice in the world of literature. Setting up the tone for what was to come, it helped establish what readers were to expect from both her stories and her writing as a whole in the many years to come.

The Duke of Andover is a tall, thin and highly manipulative gentleman who’s nickname is in the book’s title. His real name is Tracy Bemanoir and he looks to kidnap Diana Beauleigh, a young girl from her aunt in Bath who is called Betty. She is in love with another though, not the Duke as he wants to have it, as her heart is already taken by someone else. That person happens to be Jack Carstares, a most generous and noble highwayman who she loves with all her heart. First she must contend with the problem of the Duke though who wants to capture her and make her his against her wishes. Jack himself has become a heir and he shouldered the blame for his card-cheat of a brother seven years prior. This is something which he has always carried with him and will continue to do so in the many years to come. The brother, Richard, married the Duke’s sister Lavinia, who then drains the money of Richard. Will they all manage to solve their multitude of differences before it’s too late? Can they overcome the vicious intentions of the Duke? What will become of Diana as she works to fend off the advances of the Black Moth?

The Great Roxhythe

Published on the 1st of January, 1923, this was a different direction for author Georgette Heyer, as she took another tone that was to help inform her much later work. Developing her voice and style even further, it allowed her to find a voice that was new and different. This was something her many readers would also come to appreciate over the many years as well.

Featuring a spy story, it sets up its protagonists in 1668 as it runs all the way up to the year of 1685. Looking at the life of a spy who is loyal to Charles the second, it examines his life and times along with the many mishaps he manages to get into over the years. Although Heyer herself had many reservations about this book as she felt it not to be her best work, it still holds up as an artifact charting the great British author career and progress over the years. It is a must for any fans or followers of her work as it allows a rare insight into her development, showing another side to the writer that was previously unseen before.