Georgette Heyer - historical fiction - 1970 - p. 75

This Regency romance, set in early nineteenth-century England, focuses on a rich and handsome viscount’s ostensibly altruistic mission to “save” the less fortunate Charity Steane, who lives a Cinderella-like existence with her cruel aunt after having been abandoned by her penurious father. The viscount, Ashley, finds Charity after she has run away from home and takes her to her grandfather’s house. The grandfather is of no help, and a number of complications ensue as Charity’s father re-emerges and attempts to interfere in the romance budding between his daughter and Ashley.

Georgette Heyer was a prolific author of detective stories and historical romances. Influenced heavily by Jane Austen, her Regency romances included abundant details about the setting and time period in addition to compelling love stories.

Key elements: Europe, marriage