Georgette Heyer: Pistols for Two

Pistols for Two, published by Signet in November 1984, is a collection of Georgette Heyer's short stories. They are tales of love and romance set during regency times and it's fun to read them and wonder how a longer story would have flushed out. My favorites are Pink Domino and A Husband for Fanny.

Allan Kass illustrated a scene in one of the stories also called Pistols for Two. We see the heroine embracing the hero while interrupting a duel with another gentleman. Note the early morning sunlight in the wooded area since duels were against the law and done in quiet, obscure places.

Georgette Heyer: The Nonesuch

Georgette Heyer's The Nonesuch was published in the late 1970's by Fawcett. It had an earlier paperback publication date, but this copy is a newer edition.

Sir Waldo Hawkridge has inherited Broom Hall and the locals are excited to have an eligible bachelor in their area! Especially the young and beautiful Tiffany Wield, who has yet to attach the man of her choice! Unfortunately for her, Waldo's eye falls on her governess/companion, Miss Ancilla Trent!

This is a gorgeous cover by Allan Kass! We see our sporting hero with his red coat and whip looking down at the heroine, organizing flowers in the church. It's as if he's interrupted a quiet, pensive moment as she twirls a flower in her hand. The dark brown stone of the church is a pleasing setting to this quiet introduction.

Georgette Heyer: The Masqueraders

The Masqueraders, by Georgette Heyer, is a Georgian romance and adventure about two siblings, Prudence and Robin Lacey. They masquerade as the opposite sex in order to foil political enemies, but the fun begins when they fall in love with others under this masquerade.

Allan Kass shows us one of the "couples" with our heroine dressed as a man and presumably the hero is the man with whom she has fallen in love. Note the bright yellow and red colors which wouldn't have been used in men's dress during the regency, unless it was part of a uniform.

Georgette Heyer: Lady of Quality

Lady of Quality by Georgette Heyer was published by Signet in August 1992. Annis Wynchwood is happy being a Bath spinster until she helps out Oliver Carleton's niece, Lucilla, and realizes that there may be more to life than being a maiden aunt!

This cover by Allan Kass is just beautiful. I love everything about it: the colors, the couple, and the detail. The couple look just as I imagined them to be and I like the blue/gray color of the heroine's dress, which blends into the blue painted room. The orange flowers give an exotic look to the cover.

Georgette Heyer: An Infamous Army

An Infamous Army, by Georgette Heyer,  has two copies which Allan Kass illustrated. The Signet edition is dated September 1984 and the Fawcett edition is from approximately 1977.

Lady Barbara Childe is a beautiful, scandalous widow who shocked all Brussels by accepting the hand of Colonel Charles Audley on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo. After a disastrous first marriage, she is wary of his love and really wonders if what she feels for him is love.

My favorite is the first cover done for Signet. I think it captures the beauty and elegance of our heroine while showing us our dashing hero. We almost feel as if we've intruded onto an intimate scene.

The Fawcett cover shows the ballroom and its occupants talking about our couple. The heroine looks a bit more dashing with her green eyeshadow and low cut gown while our hero is elegant in his military uniform. It's an interesting juxtaposition of the different scenes in a ballroom.

Georgette Heyer: The Grand Sophy

The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer is a Berkley publication dated May 1976.  Sophy Stanton-Lacey is sent to live with her London relatives while her diplomatic father travels to Brazil. Once there, she begins to turn this family upside down as she solves problems and makes matches. It is one of my favorite books and definitely one to track down and read if you haven't given yourself the pleasure!

This cover, by Allan Kass, looks like something Sophy would have worn while driving or traveling. Our heroine is dashing in her fur lined driving coat and matching muff. In the distance we see our hero and the grounds of an estate. I like the subtle variations of color in the sky and that the heroine is prominent on this cover.

Georgette Heyer: Friday's Child

Friday's Child, by Georgette Heyer, is a paperback Berkley edition from May 1975.  Lord Sheringham, jilted by a beauty, vows to marry the next female he sees, which is his childhood friend, Hero Wantage! Their runaway marriage is the talk of the town and this romance is an amusing tale of friends, family, and love.

Allan Kass's cover shows our heroine shopping in the fashionable part of town and wearing a dashing bonnet and carrying a bandbox on her arm. We see a gentleman watching her, but he doesn't look like the youthful Sherry of our story! The background shows St Paul's Cathedral and a riding coach.