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From Chapter 1

The true Regency lasted only nine years. It began on 5 February 1811 when George, Prince of Wales, was officially sworn in as Regent and ended on 31 January 1820 when he was proclaimed King George IV. Yet the term ‘Regency’ is frequently used to describe the period of English history between the years 1780 and 1830, because the society and culture during these years were undeniably marked by the influence of the man who would become George IV. With the final years of the Napoleonic Wars and the enormous impact of industrialisation the Regency was an era of change and unrest as well as one of glittering social occasions, celebrations and extraordinary achievement in art and literature. Artists such as Thomas Lawrence, John Constable and Joseph Turner created iconic paintings which today constitute a tangible record of some of the people and places of the period, while many of England’s greatest writers produced some of their most enduring works during the Regency. The writings of Jane Austen, Walter Scott, John Keats, Mary Shelley, Samuel Coleridge, William Wordsworth, Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley continue to stand as a testament to the romance, colour and vitality of the times. In many ways the Regency period was also a reflection of the character and personality of the Prince Regent himself who was one of the most flamboyant and cultured of all English monarchs. His passion for art, architecture, music, literature and hedonistic living set the tone for the era and caused his Regency to be for ever linked with the high-living, mayfly class that was the ton.

The Regency world was highly structured and the conventions attached to Regency life were so numerous and intricate that usually only those born and bred into upper-class circles knew and understood them. Above all, it was intensely class-conscious: the ton (from the French phrase le bon ton, meaning ‘in the fashionable mode’ and also known as Polite Society or the Upper Ten Thousand) lived a privileged, self-indulgent life; birth and family were vital to social acceptance, and social behaviour was determined by a complex set of rules of varying flexibility, with different codes of behaviour for men and women. It was an era of manners, fashion and propriety, and yet, for the upper class, it was also a time of extraordinary excess, extravagance and indulgence. By contrast the middle class was more interested in morality than manners and often found it difficult to follow the distinctive behaviour of the upper class.

The Social Ladder

During the Regency the social ladder had a fixed, inflexible hierarchy within the nobility and an almost equally rigid class structure within the rest of the population:

Monarch
Royalty
Aristocracy
Gentry
Middle Classes
Artisans and Tradespeople
Servants
Labouring Poor
Paupers

Class was defined primarily by birth, title, wealth, property and occupation, and there were many distinctions—some subtle, others obvious—within each level of society. While visiting his country seat of Stanyon in The Quiet Gentleman, Gervase Frant, seventh Earl of St Erth, met his near neighbour, Sir Thomas Bolderwood, and was at first unsure of this jovial gentleman’s exact social standing. Although Sir Thomas’s countenance, wealth, title, home and family all indicated good breeding, his manners lacked polish and there was a certain rough quality in his speech, the result—as he informed the Earl—of having spent most of his life in India. Discerning one’s own place on the broader social scale was not all that difficult but knowing the exact position in relation to someone else of the same class was not always easy; although Mrs Bagshot in Friday’s Child was in no doubt about the sudden (and infuriating) elevation in her young cousin Hero’s social status after Hero’s unexpected marriage to a peer. Ancestry was key, as were property and money (most obviously shown by the number of servants and carriages one had), although wealth became a less reliable guide to a person’s breeding after industrialisation and the expansion of the Empire. Acceptance into the ton was often a question of degree, as discovered by the villainous Sir Montagu Revesby in Friday’s Child when his elegant air and address were enough to see him admitted into some fashionable circles but he was still excluded by many of those at the heart of the ton who considered him ‘a commoner’. During the Regency, the advent of the new rich—those industrialists, financiers, merchants, manufacturers, bankers, nabobs and even admirals of the fleet who had garnered enough wealth to buy their way into the upper echelons of society—created a new complication for the class-conscious aristocrat. An heiress was always an attractive prize but marriage between a member of the peerage and a female whose parents ‘smelled of shop’ had to be very carefully considered before any commitment was made. A scion of a noble house might find himself cut off from his inheritance if he persisted in marrying into a much lower social class, as Lord Darracott’s son, Hugh, discovered after he married a weaver’s daughter in The Unknown Ajax.

Members of the aristocracy and the gentry might be different in birth and title but between them they were the ruling class. A well-bred country squire of ancient lineage but with no more than a baronetcy or a knighthood to his name, if that, might meet a duke or an earl on equal terms (particularly if he was a neighbour) and show him deference only on formal occasions. In Sylvester, Squire Orde met the Duke of Salford on his home ground and, while being perfectly polite, did not hesitate to speak his mind or censure the Duke’s actions. During the Regency the nobility was made up of members of the royal family, peers above the rank of baronet and their families, statesmen and the prelates of the Church of England such as the more powerful bishops and the Archbishop of Canterbury (who took precedence over all ranks after the royal family). The gentry included baronets, knights, country landowners (often incredibly wealthy) and gentlemen of property and good birth but no title. Robert Beaumaris of Arabella was plain Mister but his family’s ancient lineage (his cousin was a duke and his grandmother the Dowager Duchess), his fortune, breeding and address amply compensated for his lack of title and made him one of the most eligible bachelors in England. Apart from manners and breeding, one of the main distinguishing factors between the upper class and the upper levels of the middle class was the need for the latter to actually earn their living.

The middle class was growing fast in Regency England as increasing numbers of financiers, merchants and industrialists were added to the wealthy doctors, lawyers, engineers, higher clergy and farmers who, among others, comprised the upper ranks of the class. To be in the middle ranks of society usually meant ownership of some kind of property—land, livestock or tools—and the ability to earn a regular and reliable income. The number of servants employed in a house and the type of carriage(s) and number of horses one owned were also useful class indicators, although some among the new middle class, such as the affluent merchant Jonathan Chawleigh in A Civil Contract, tended to mistake opulence for elegance and an excess of food or finery as a sign of wealth and status. But the middle class was a very large and diverse group and it also included shopkeepers, teachers, builders, the lesser clergy, members of the government administration, clerks, innkeepers and even some of the servant class. Property was really the main factor that separated the lowest level of the middle class from the better off among the labouring poor.

Jane Austen enthusiasts and readers of Regency romance (and we know who we are) have an excellent new reference in “Georgette Heyer’s Regency World” (Sourcebooks, $14.99).

The half-century of English history beginning in the late 1700s when advantageous marriages and strict social rules dictated the lives of the upper class and gentry has inspired countless books, beginning with novelist Austen’s observations (and implied criticisms) of that hidebound lifestyle. Heyer was among the more recent and prolific authors, producing 27 Regency romances between 1935 and 1972.

Heyer’s careful research captures details of the time and keeps her books from being only heaving-bosom, love-wins-out beach reading.

The new guide, by Jennifer Kloester, links historical fact to points in Heyer’s books. Among questions it answers: Was Beau Brummell real? What was Almack’s, and who chose recipients of the coveted vouchers that gained entry? How did social dictates differ for men and women? What clothes did they wear? What’s a curricle, and how many horses pulled it? What money was used? Where did the wealthy shop?

The guide is a boon to readers who until now have depended on context to clarify the unknown. On its own, it’s interesting. Paired with a period novel, it’s a must-have handbook.


For those who have never read Georgette Heyer’s fiction, Heyer was a prolific author who wrote books set in the Regency period. I’m not sure how many of them I’ve read — maybe 5? I’ve got years and years of Heyer reading ahead of me. Her books are absolutely delightful. Those I’ve read have been light-hearted, romantic, adventurous reads with only one exception and that particular title leaned toward Gothic.

The problem with Georgette Heyer’s books is that she was such a thorough researcher and worked so hard to maintain accuracy that if you don’t know your Regency history her books can be a bit baffling, particularly the lingo. I’ve printed out a few lists of Regency cant and slang to help me with the reading. Like Shakespeare, eventually you will get the drift via context, even if you aren’t able to define a word or two or fifty. But, I’ve wished for a lexicon for quite some time.

Georgette Heyer’s Regency World is not a lexicon, although there are sections with definitions. The book, however, goes way beyond simple definitions and serves as an excellent history lesson on the Regency period. It includes such things as methods of transportation and entertainment, styles of both men’s and women’s clothing, marriage traditions, royalty and other real-life characters and lifestyles of the privileged. Within that text, Kloester uses examples from both real life and Heyer’s fiction.

Truly, Georgette Heyer’s Regency World is an amazing read. I learned so much about the Regency period that my admiration for Heyer has been multiplied ten-fold and I’m certain that, although I’ll undoubtedly refer back to the book, I will go into future Heyer reads with an understanding of the time period that should make her books even more enjoyable.

The bottom line:

Highly, highly recommended for readers of Georgette Heyer’s books, particularly those who know little about the Regency time period. My edition is an ARC and the index is not complete (the page numbers for the index portion had not yet been inserted) but the index looks very thorough and should make it an easy reference book. My only complaint — and it’s minor — is that I would like to see a complete alphabetical lexicon section rather than one divided into topics like money, men’s clothing, clubs, sport, etc.



I was lucky and thrilled to review Jennifer Kloester’s new book, Georgette Heyer’s Regency World: The definitive guide for all fans of Georgette Heyer, Jane Austen, and the glittering Regency periodThis book is a A MUST HAVE for writer’s of Regency!!! For reader’s if you wanted to learn more about the Regency world and how Heyer’s books, Austen’s books, and any other of the classic writer’s during that time period—up and including your favorite authors of today—and characters that fall into it, this is a fantastic resource! and characters that fall into it, this is a fantastic resource!

I was in near delirium with delight and excitement as I read this book—in one day! (Or should I say night, since my husband kept rolling over and groaning for me to please turn out the light!)

I own several Regency world guide books, but this one went more in depth on particular topics like clothing, shopping, food, men, carriages, entertainments, finances, slang... Pretty much everything you could ever want to know!

Ms. Kloester, huzzah, for a job well done! The research was top-notch, not only into the Regency world itself, but for the breadth and depth she went into studying Heyer’s work. Heyer is the wonderful author of 26 Regency historicals, who also happened to be fanatical about her research, but in her books, the information graced the pages with such ease and skill, you don’t realize that you are reading more than just a story—you’re unknowingly getting a history lesson on culture as well. Ms. Kloester brings those characters into her guide book, giving you an inside look not only at Heyer’s book but how they correlated to Regency living. The clever thing about that is, I have not yet had the chance to read all of Heyer’s books, and now I know several more than I need to purchase!


Author: Jennifer Kloester

Genre: History, Non-Fiction

About: This is truly everything you ever wanted to know about Heyer’s Regency world and beyond!

Descriptive Words: factual, fun, lists, great illustrations

Thoughts: I wanted to read this one because I’ve read a few of Heyer’s Regency romance novels and thought it would be fun to try to understand the customs, rules, clothes, food, and the monarchy from that time period. This book does not disappoint at all. There are so many aspects from the Regency era that it can be a little mind-boggling at the beginning. I recommend that you read this book in chunks, because there is so much information that your head may explode.... SERIOUSLY! I can tell you one thing... I would never be allowed into the upper crust because I wouldn’t be able to remember all of the rules of etiquette! My favorite chapters were:

The Gentle Sex- everything a young lady needs to know and oh, so much more!
Up and Down the Social Ladder- this was great information as to how the class system was dictated.
On the Town-how to get in with the very best Patronesses so that you will marry well! Oh, and after you’re married and have produced an heir, you may have as many affairs as you want as long as you don’t flaunt them! O’ la la!!
Eat, Drink, and Be Merry- no wonder the rich were fat!!They ate all of the time!
Who’s Who in the Royal Family- I really enjoyed this one. I don’t know the monarchy and this was a much needed chapter!!
If you’re a fan of information the appendix is awesome!!!

Source: Danielle of Sourcebooks, Inc.

Recommend? I would, especially to fans of Heyer, Austen, and the Regency time period. This has everything you would ever need to know and while I was reading it, I found myself filling in some questions that I had while reading their books.

Rating: 4/5

I confess herewith to a miserable lacuna in my otherwise generally comprehensive literacy: I have never read a single one of Georgette Heyer’s twenty-six Regency novels, published from 1935 to 1972, and forming what is surely one of the more beloved and impressive oeuvres in modern literature. So I embarked upon my survey of Georgette Heyer’s Regency World—an explication, exploration, loving tribute to, and erudite partial concordance of those sacred texts and the historical soil from which they sprung—with a timorous yet bold humility akin to that of a penniless suitor approaching the rich and landed gruff male guardian of the beautiful young heiress whom he dared to worship.

But inspiration instantly struck, in the form of a whispered appeal from the book’s Appendix 6, wherein Kloester engagingly summarizes all two dozen-plus Heyer novels. Having swotted up my facts from her précis, and steeped myself in the mannered ambiance of the plots, I was able to appreciate the elegant corpus of the book in the eager yet bemused fashion of an anticipatory virgin eavesdropping on the anecdotes of a rakish hellion.

What Kloester offers is nothing less than a sweeping and entrancing social history (dull politics and war, religion and commerce, begone!) of the period from 1780 to 1830, the reign of the dashing Prince of Wales, later King George IV, or, as we in the bon ton fondly call him, "Prinny." She begins by outlining the distinctive strata of British society. She moves onto the domestic scene, including household staff and appurtenances. She meanders gaily and exhaustively through sports, courting, gambling, fashion, travel, dueling, dining and the dozen other mundane enterprises which occupied the daytime and nightlife hours of the privileged male "tulips" and female "prime articles." We are introduced to the famous icons of the age—both historical and deriving from Heyer’s fiction—and the scandals and triumphs they embraced. Particularly engrossing is the amusing and juicy vocabulary of the period: a lady’s maid was an "abigail;" a woman of easy virtue was a "Cyprian." And so forth. As a member of longstanding in Grub Street, I deem this book an essential resource for both writers and readers enamored of this yeasty time.

And finally, we cannot depart this fervent encomium without complimenting the robust yet delicate work of the associated pensman, Graeme Tavendale, whose perfect vignettes, at once vintage and modern, brilliantly evoke this vanished world.

To end on a queer note: because Regency England reads to us today so much like an alien world, something out of Jack Vance perhaps, the period has inspired a contemporary branch of fantasy known as "mannerpunk," in which warped analogues of the etiquette and protocols and social structures of Heyer’s favored period are blended with fantastical conceits. Long live Prinny’s exotic milieu!


I know what you are thinking; Lizzy is not the typical non-fiction reader. I must admit this book is the ultimate guide to anything related to Georgette Heyer and the era known as The Regency period. It is a very complicated time period that is one of the most intimidating in my mind is right up there with Eleanor of Aquitaine. During the regency in England there were a large variety of social classes that are very complicated to understand. The most alluring factor of the Regency to readers is that is was a time when manners were most important and Jane Austen broke through to deliver to the masses her eloquent vision of a proper romance.

From the ups and downs of the social latter all the way down to a who’s who of the regency this read has it all. This will satisfy any Regency thirst for knowledge. You might as well call this book the regency lovers dictionary. For a newbie to this period I found the first section “Up and Down the Social Latter” very helpful, it cleared up many of the things I did not understand that were the norms of the time.

The “At home in Town and Country” section was a real treat. Not only did it cover all of the key Regency locations it even covered what the Vauxhall Gardens served for its popular dinner service. In case you were wondering customers had a choice between the best chicken and ham in town, which ever took your fancy. The sections went on farther to a mans world, the gentle sex, on the town, the pleasure haunts of London, the fashionable resorts, getting about, what to wear, shopping, eat drink and be merry, the sporting life, business, military, and finally the most important the who’s who in the regency. The best feature of this book is not just the beautiful pictures that accompany the sections. The fact that each one of Heyer’s books is referenced and tied into locations, events, dresses, and anything else that was relevant in the books.

3/5 I liked it and enjoyed the read but it made me sad to realize how little I knew of this time period and Georgette Heyer’s books. I really need to read more of her books I loved “Arabella”. I would have to recommend this book to the Heyer and regency enthusiast. This would be an excellent wealth of regency knowledge for an aspiring author.


In Georgette Heyer’s Regency World Kloester covers a wide-range of information pertaining to the Regency period; from deciphering the convoluted social class order of the day (wowza!), to what they wore, where and what they ate, where they shopped, the daily life of regency men and women, and my favorite, the hottest entertainment destinations to see and be seen! Also included is a who’s who in the Regency, a chapter that gives a small bio of the big players of the day, a list of newspapers and magazines that were being printed, a timeline of the Regency period and a bibliography of Heyer’s novels. One thing I really enjoyed was the way the author referenced scenes from Heyer novels that directly tie in with what she is discussing. I thought that really brought a lot to the book and showcases the author’s meticulous research. For example:

“Executing steps such as the chasse, jette, coupe, balote, glissade or the pas de basque with elegance and grace required a high degree of skill. Marianne Bolderwood at her first ball in The Quiet Gentleman found that she had to concentrate carefully on the steps of the quadrille, while her partner, Gervase, executed even the most difficult steps with considerable grace.”

What’s great about this book is that you can either read it all the way through or just pick it a chapter or subject at a time, whatever tickles your fancy that day or if you’re reading a book and come upon something you would like to have explained. Kloester has obviously done her homework, and I feel that I’m walking away knowing a LOT more about the Regency period than I did before and it’s also renewed my love for Georgette Heyer!

Passages to the Past highly recommends!!


Georgette Heyer’s Regency World is an interesting nonfiction book of the do’s and don’t of life in the Regency period of England, the time of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer’s world that is so popular today . This is actually a guide that is helpful to the reader of Georgette Heyer’s novels if the reader wants to know more about that period in time. Upon reading this book you will learn what was worn, the food eaten, most important how to behave, what class you belong to and even to what kind of carriage you drove. Spread through out the book are illustrations of the time with a great attention to detail. The book includes a Who’s Who in the Regency, a glossary of common phrases of the Regency, an appendix of newspapers and magazines of the time with a brief description, books written by Heyer also with a description. A timeline and bibliography rounds off the book. I felt that this book was very well researched and meticulously put together. For the fan of Georgette Heyer’s Regency novels and Jane Austen, this book makes a great companion. I enjoyed it and even learned a few things about that era.


This book is exactly what the blurb above says it is. Everything you ever wanted to know about the Regency period is described in this book. What they ate, the major social players, different types of carriages, places of interest, how they dressed, everything is in this book. Each chapter covers a specific topic, and beautiful pictures or sketches accompany some of the descriptions. One of my favorite sections was the skinny on the infamous Almack’s. There were 7 women or patronesses who were responsible for setting the tone and allowing admission to this prestigious club. I always wondered who these women were, and Kloester gave me the necessary information. The birth of Almack’s back in 1763 and how it evolved is also described.

There was also a section on etiquette with a sample listing of some of the rules. Sheesh! I hope I never accidentally wake up in the Regency, because I can’t remember names very well, let alone rules. I like to break rules anyway, so I am sure I would have been cut in society eventually.

The book reads very well and not like a dry, boring non-fiction book. It was easy to pick up and down and since it wasn’t a "story" I never lost my place or forgot what was occurring. One thing that did annoy me after a while, was Kloester’s reference to people or events in Heyer’s novels when she described or explained something. I understand that this work relates back to Heyer’s novels, but these were particular books I never read. It also seemed like Kloester was referring to the same five books time and time again. I didn’t actually keep tally, but lets just say that Cotillion, Friday’s Child, and A Civil Contract are moving up on my reading list. Fortunately, there is a handy appendix in the back listing all of Heyer’s novels which I will be sure to refer to in the future.

Overall this was a great read and would make an excellent reference for anyone wishing to know more about the Regency, or who may plan on writing a Regency novel themselves. I would also recommend memorizing the etiquette list as well, you know, in case you suddenly find yourself in Regency England. One can never be sure :)

Whether or not one has read a Georgette Heyer novel (if not, what are you waiting for?), Georgette Heyer’s Regency World by Jennifer Kloester gives the reader an in depth look into life in a time period written about by many novelists, including Georgette Heyer. Historically, the Regency era was only nine years, however the common held belief is the Regency period extends from 1780 until 1830. I have heard many readers say they do not care for this time period because they find the books difficult to get into or understand, with Georgette Heyer’s Regency World, novices and experts alike can find interesting tidbits from sketches of the various modes of transport to dresses and hats. One learns about the hierarchy of the living during this time, common phrases and terms, descriptions of service staff to members of the Regency, Kloester has it covered. I found Georgette Heyer’s Regency World to be a well-written, in-depth look into how people lived, worked, behaved, dressed and spoke during the Regency period and was thrilled at how much I learned. I am a huge Georgette Heyer fan, but I also read many other authors who write in this time period and now I have an even deeper appreciation for the descriptions. For anyone who enjoys reading about the Regency Period or has shied away due to not understanding the odd phrases and terms, I highly recommend Georgette Heyer’s Regency World as not only an enlightening read, but also an excellent, easy to use reference book to this extraordinary time period.

I received a complimentary copy of Georgette Heyer’s Regency World by Jennifer Kloester from Sourcebooks. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.


While engrossed in the pages of a delightful Jane Austen or Georgette Heyer novel have you ever come across something you didn’t quite understand? Like what is the difference between a barouche and a phaeton? Have you ever thought about places mentioned in these novels like Almacks, Hyde Park, Carlton House,Vauxhall Garden and wondered if their renderings were true? Or are you fascinated by the Regency Era and interested in learning all you can about it? If you are anything like me, you would probably love to have a cumulative and accessible resource in which to find the answers to these and many other Regency related questions. Good news! One does exist!

Broken down into fourteen distinct chapters and with six valuable appendixes, Georgette Heyer’s Regency World by Jennifer Kloester is a fantastic resource for understanding the Regency World. The chapters are categorized by topic and include manly pursuits (The Pleasure Haunts of London and The Sporting Life), areas of feminine interests (Shopping and The Gentle Sex), and historical places and people (The Fashionable Resorts and Who’s Who in the Regency). It was interesting to learn that many characters from Ms. Heyer’s novels were real people, such as Almack’s patroness Lady Sefton and famous physician, Dr. Matthew Baillie. It would appear that Ms. Heyer has deftly woven fiction with history in her novels!

My favorite aspect about this book is that it could be read two ways: cover to cover for a full immersion of Regency history and life, or in conjunction with a Regency fiction novel, serving as a reference/guide. With chapters divided into subtopics and a detailed index in the back the reader can look up any question or topic with ease and convenience. Another aspect I greatly enjoyed was the black and white illustrations. I found them to be very helpful visual aids, I only wish there were more of them! Lastly, I took pleasure in reading the appendixes where there is a glossary of “Cant and Common Regency Phrases,” as well as other informative lists and indexes.

There are many allusions and references to Georgette Heyer’s Regency novels interspersed throughout this text. If you have read several of her novels, then these references will make sense. I haven’t read any of Georgette Heyer’s Regency novels, I have read two of her Georgian novels, so the references to Mr. Beaumaris of Arabella or the Taverners in Regency Buck went right over my head! However, this did not deter my enjoyment of this book and when I do read some of Ms. Heyer’s Regency novels I am sure I will understand and appreciate these references.

So, who would enjoy this book? Readers of Regency novels, of course, especially Georgette Heyer and Jane Austen novels! In addition, this book would be great for first time Regency readers who may not understand some of the language or etiquette of the era. Lastly, this book would be a tremendous resource for authors trying to write in this time period. I know the next time I read a Regency novel by Jane Austen or Georgette Heyer, I will keep Jennifer Kloester’s book close by and most likely turn to it often!

Immerse yourself in the resplendent glow of Regency England and the world of Georgette Heyer....

From the fascination slay, the elegant fashions the precise ways the bon ton ate, drank, danced and flirted, to the shocking real life scandals of the day, Georgette Heyer’s Regency World takes you behind the scenes of Heyer’s captivating novels.

As much fun to read as Heyer’s own novels, beautifully illustrated, and meticulously researched, Jennifer Kloester’s essential guide brings the world of the Regency to life for Heyer fans and Jane Austen fans alike.

Thoughts: Being a fairly new reader of Historical Romance I had no clue who Georgette Heyer was until last year (feel free to laugh ;)). But it’s true she was a new author to me when I was offered to review The Grand Sophy, which I automatically fell in love with. During the span of her career Ms. Heyer wrote 26 books that were set during the Regency period, her books are popular through out the world. If you didn’t know the Regency period lasted from 1811-1820. Such a short period of time, but a very much loved one. It has inspired many writers to set their story in this time.

Georgette Heyer’s Regency World is a detailed companion of everything you’d want to know about the Regency period. I don’t read non-fiction much, but I really enjoyed this guide. I love this time period and learned so much more about a different array of topics. The information is in abundance. This book is a good tool to have when you are reading one of Ms. Heyer’s book. Some of the topics that are discussed are the Social Ladder, the Marriage Mart, Gretna Green to fashions of the time, shopping, military- A Who’s Who in the Regency, plus many more subjects that will delight readers. Whether your a fan of Georgette Heyer or just a fan of the Regency period you’ll find yourself enthralled with this book.

Score: 4 Stars


During her prolific fifty-three year writing career, British author Georgette Heyer (1902-1974) wrote fifty-six historical fiction, Regency romance and detective fiction novels. She was a pioneer in Regency romance, and is generally attributed by many for establishing the sub-genre that is flourishing today. Stylish, witty and historically accurate, her humorous plots and memorable characters continue to be the benchmark for new Regency romance writers today.

In her lifetime Heyer publisher twenty-six Regency-era novels, many of which are again available in new editions by Sourcebooks and Harlequin Books. Renowned for her historical detail, to read a Heyer Regency romance is to be truly entrenched in the bon ton lifestyle in England from 1811 to 1820. Even though readers can enjoy her novels without understanding the entire historical context or nuanced meanings behind social customs and colloquialisms of the time, it is even more entertaining if you do. Georgette Heyer’s Regency World: The definitive guide for all fans of Georgette Heyer, Jane Austen, and the glittering Regency period, by Jennifer Kloester offers an incredible resource for historical fiction enthusiasts and Regency-era novelists.

Readers will find detailed cultural information on the society and customs of the early nineteenth-century aristocrats and gentry that populate Heyer’s drawing room comedies. Learn the importance of social strata and the right connections, where to live in Town and the country, how to dress, eat and conduct yourself properly in polite society, where to shop for a fashionable frock, what type of carriage to tool down St. James Street in, which pleasure haunts to frequent in London, and, most importantly, who to be seen with and who to avoid socially. Also included are appendixes on de rigueur Regency era cant and common phrases that Heyer’s characters frequently use, a very helpful historical time-line and other pertinent information on the English Regency period and its colorful characters.

What elevates this book beyond a collection of historical facts is its organization and that the author places many of Heyer’s novels and characters in context to the categories and descriptions within the text. For example, Hero the young and naïve bride in Friday’s Child soon learns the importance of proper language when she asks her husband Lord Sheringham about his ‘opera dancer’ and is quickly’ put right’ on the ways of the world by a brotherly friend. Unbeknownst to Hero who had received a negligent upbringing, young ladies vocabulary was strictly regulated and a slip such as asking her husband about his mistress could ruin her reputation if the conversation had been overheard outside the family. If you do not know what an ‘opera dancer’ is, or their reputation for becoming the mistresses of the bon ton, then you missed an important aspect of Hero’s personality and Lord Sheringham’s position in society. The book is full of similarly helpful insights and I found myself learning more about Regency culture and developing a greater appreciation for Georgette Heyer’s skill as an historian and writer as the book progressed. What a treasure!

Originally published in the United Kingdom in 2005 by William Heinemann, this new edition is being re-issued on August 1st, 2010 by Sourcebooks and available in North America for the first time. Gentle Readers, since Sourcebooks is publishing it, we know it is ‘bang up to the mark’ and the definitive guide to all things in Heyer’s world.

4 out 5 Regency Stars


This extremely interesting compendium of insights and knowledge came my way by One Who Knows how much a fan of Georgette Heyer and Jane Austen I am. Neatly organized into chapters by topic, Kloester provides basic information on the life upper class men and women lived in the Regency Era. Using the historical knowledge she accrued while writing her dissertation on Georgette Heyer, she provides the background on what the Regency was. In Chapter 14, she writes brief, pithy biographical sketches of the Royal family, as well as other real people who appear throughout the Heyer Regency books: Edward Hughes “Golden Ball” Hughes, Sally Jersey, Lady Castlereagh, George Bryan (Beau) Brummell, and noted authors of the day. Her sketches of the Royals are most helpful, for this was an era filled with Royal siblings, offspring and mistresses.

I also enjoyed the chapters on fashion and shopping; the sketches of the various outfits will be most helpful to those readers who do not have a strong foundation in the history of fashion. While men’s fashions began their evolution into the suits of today, women during the Regency enjoyed a rare period of less constriction and heavy underpinnings. Definitions and sketches of pelisses, morning and promenade dresses give good clues to what the characters wear.

Throughout the book, Kloester clarifies definitions by referring to some of Heyer’s Regency novels. So we are reminded that Abigail Wendover first appears to us in Black Sheep dressed in the latest thing in carriage dresses, and that Freddy Standen’s perfectly cut coat and satin knee breeches were identified as just the thing for an appearance at Almack’s. That fine institution of the Marriage Mart is also explained and clarified with references to Cotillion, The Grand Sophy, Friday’s Child, Regency Buck, and Frederica. These references give a nice context to a somewhat dry discussion, and keep the reader engaged in the book.

It is a helpful source of information for the fan of Heyer, for her books are set strongly within the period; Heyer was a meticulous researcher and avid historian. While she defines terms contextually, readers may need a little more information than Heyer provides. Kloester gives it in good doses, enlivened by references to books they may have read, or will be likely to read soon.

It is not, however, the definitive guide for all fans of Austen and Heyer it purports to be. Jane Austen does not set her books in the Beau Monde, or ton, as does Heyer, and her references to clothing, furnishings, and travel are sparse. She is writing in the period, not of the period, and is more interested in the people and their actions than the stuff of their lives. The book does not cite references beyond the mentions in the Heyer books, although Kloester does include an extensive list of resources for someone who wishes to pursue Regency research in Appendix 5. It is not a scholarly work, but an informative one. Her Heyer citations are helpful, if one has read the particular book, and only informative of where to find such an object or how the neck cloth is tied, if not. That being said, the book is filled with tasty little nuggets of information. I enjoyed her brief insights and explanations on the wide-ranging topics.


The first time I read a Georgette Heyer novel I was struck by two things; someone other than Jane Austen is queen of the Regency period, and what do those funny expressions or “Regency speak” in her novels mean?! Well, Georgette Heyer’s officially biographer, Jennifer Kloester has written a guide to the Regency period that any Heyer or Austen fan is sure to enjoy.


The information is this book is extensive and well organized with everything you could possibly want to know about that time: its slang, fashion, etiquette, food, social statuses, venues, and much more. Black and white illustrations are also scattered throughout the book.


As a writer who not only loves to read Regency novels, but also needs to research that era for my second novel, I appreciated this book as a well-written reference. It’s easy to use with 14 chapters divided into subtitles, making the search for a specific topic short. If this book truly piques your interest, a bibliography for additional reading is included as well as six interesting appendixes. Now, when I read my next Heyer novel (there are 26 in all) I could look up an expression I do not understand, the name of a newspaper or place I’m unfamiliar with, find out who the best-selling authors of the time were, see what a pelisse looked like, learn why Almack’s was one of the most exclusive venue in Regency London and find out who’s who in Society.


Whether you are a Heyer fan, a general reader, a writer, or simply interested in the history of the Regency period, you will find this book useful and a pleasure to read.


Georgette Heyer’s Regency World contains a wealth of information about the Regency era. It can be used for more than just Heyer’s Regencies, but any Regencies.



I read it once through, but this is the type of book that can be used for reference. It’s separated into countless different sections, so it’s easy to look up something real quick that you come across in whatever Regency you are reading. Sections having to do with fashion, leisure, sports, travel, food shopping, etc. Not to mention a brief bio of all the major players during the era and a glossary of common phrases used. Reading a Heyer and a character is using slang that you have no idea what the devil he/she is talking about it? Look it up here!


This is a handy dandy book to come to again and again for a quick Regency refresher course.

Anyone looking for the definitive guide to all things Regency must get a copy of GEORGETTE HEYER’S REGENCY WORLD. It is an impressive compilation of facts, figures, and drawings that leaves no stone unturned and discusses every aspect of Regency life.

Whether searching for the answer to a question regarding dress or dining, or just curious about the pleasure haunts around London, this is the place to look. I was surprised, enlightened, and entertained by the depth of this guide, and learned more about Regency England than I ever thought to know! A wonderful addition to any Regency lover’s reference library, GEORGETTE HEYER’S REGENCY WORLD is one for the keeper shelf.


While Jane Austen is the godmother of the traditional Regency romance, she was, of course, at the time writing contemporary romances. It is Georgette Heyer who was writing historical romances as she created dozens of beloved Regency romances during the twentieth century, including The Nonesuch (2002) and Regency Buck (2008). Heyer is also responsible for establishing many of the genre’s literary conventions. Kloester, a British literary critic who is in the process of writing an official biography of Heyer, delivers a wonderfully entertaining and informative guide to the Regency era, its people, places, manners, and customs along with apropos references to Heyer’s own romances. From fashion and food to sporting events and social outings, Kloester’s lively book will delight died-in-the-wool Regency readers and give those new to the genre a better understanding of the enduring appeal of Austen’s world and Heyer’s classic books. As they would have said in Jane’s time, Georgette Heyer’s Regency World is all the crack!

Meticulously researched yet splendidly entertaining, Kloester’s comprehensive guide to the world of upper-class Regency England is a must-have for both Heyer readers and those generally interested in the society and customs of the early 19th-century. With chapters addressing everything from the inside-out details of period costume to the different methods of harnessing horses to carriages and the proper method of table service, even experts on Regency society will find invaluable new information, while the casual reader will find useful context and an answer for nearly every imaginable question about Regency society. Drawing on Heyer’s own extensive research notes, Kloester gives a thorough overview of the period, from politics to food production to the pastimes of the ton. Charts and appendixes list Regency slang, periodicals, and the hierarchy of household servants. Small maps of fashionable areas of London and the resort towns of Brighton and Bath accompany extensive coverage of the popular shops, hotels, taverns, and residential neighborhoods. Kloester’s prose is not as glittering as the period she covers, and it’s disappointing that the many illustrations are modern "adaptations" of period originals. Yet no fan of the period or writer of stories set in the era should be without this guide to the Regency period. (Aug.) STARRED REVIEW

Anyone looking for the definitive guide to all things Regency must get a copy of GEORGETTE HEYER’S REGENCY WORLD. It is an impressive compilation of facts, figures, and drawings that leaves no stone unturned and discusses every aspect of Regency life.

Whether searching for the answer to a question regarding dress or dining, or just curious about the pleasure haunts around London, this is the place to look. I was surprised, enlightened, and entertained by the depth of this guide, and learned more about Regency England than I ever thought to know! A wonderful addition to any Regency lover’s reference library, GEORGETTE HEYER’S REGENCY WORLD is one for the keeper shelf.