Heyer rankings poll

[kate_nepveu]

Because skygiants asked, and because I don't mind using search & replace to generate DW poll code off of Wikipedia's novel list (hence the years, because it would take too long to edit them out): a poll about Heyer's Regency romance novels, what your personal top-tier are and, bonus question, what (if any) one you suspect is probably underrated generally.

Because there are a lot of books and the first question involves ticky boxes, it's behind the cut.

Poll #15180

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 74

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Your personal top-tier of Heyer romance novels consists of . . .

View Answers

The Black Moth (1921)
0 (0.0%)

The Transformation of Philip Jettan (1923) (later republished as Powder and Patch) (1930)
0 (0.0%)

These Old Shades (1926)
16 (21.9%)

The Masqueraders (1928)
16 (21.9%)

Devil's Cub (1932)
21 (28.8%)

The Convenient Marriage (1934)
7 (9.6%)

Regency Buck (1935)
0 (0.0%)

The Talisman Ring (1936)
20 (27.4%)

An Infamous Army (1937)
6 (8.2%)

The Spanish Bride (1940)
2 (2.7%)

The Corinthian (1940)
6 (8.2%)

Faro's Daughter (1941)
13 (17.8%)

Friday's Child (1944)
11 (15.1%)

The Reluctant Widow (1946)
3 (4.1%)

The Foundling (1948)
6 (8.2%)

Arabella (1949)
8 (11.0%)

The Grand Sophy (1950)
31 (42.5%)

The Quiet Gentleman (1951)
5 (6.8%)

Cotillion (1953)
51 (69.9%)

The Toll-Gate (1954)
11 (15.1%)

Bath Tangle (1955)
2 (2.7%)

Sprig Muslin (1956)
11 (15.1%)

April Lady (1957)
2 (2.7%)

Sylvester, or the Wicked Uncle (1957)
20 (27.4%)

Venetia (1958)
31 (42.5%)

The Unknown Ajax (1959)
27 (37.0%)

A Civil Contract (1961)
24 (32.9%)

The Nonesuch (1962)
6 (8.2%)

False Colours (1963)
10 (13.7%)

Frederica (1965)
39 (53.4%)

Black Sheep (1966)
11 (15.1%)

Cousin Kate (1968)
0 (0.0%)

Charity Girl (1970)
1 (1.4%)

Lady of Quality (1972)
3 (4.1%)

The Heyer romance you think is probably underrated, if any, is:

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None/don't know
7 (15.9%)

These Old Shades (1926)
0 (0.0%)

The Masqueraders (1928)
3 (6.8%)

Devil's Cub (1932)
3 (6.8%)

The Convenient Marriage (1934)
0 (0.0%)

Regency Buck (1935)
0 (0.0%)

The Talisman Ring (1936)
6 (13.6%)

An Infamous Army (1937)
2 (4.5%)

The Spanish Bride (1940)
0 (0.0%)

The Corinthian (1940)
0 (0.0%)

Faro's Daughter (1941)
2 (4.5%)

Friday's Child (1944)
0 (0.0%)

The Reluctant Widow (1946)
1 (2.3%)

The Foundling (1948)
0 (0.0%)

Arabella (1949)
1 (2.3%)

The Grand Sophy (1950)
0 (0.0%)

The Quiet Gentleman (1951)
2 (4.5%)

Cotillion (1953)
0 (0.0%)

The Toll-Gate (1954)
4 (9.1%)

Bath Tangle (1955)
0 (0.0%)

Sprig Muslin (1956)
2 (4.5%)

April Lady (1957)
0 (0.0%)

Sylvester, or the Wicked Uncle (1957)
0 (0.0%)

Venetia (1958)
1 (2.3%)

The Unknown Ajax (1959)
3 (6.8%)

A Civil Contract (1961)
2 (4.5%)

The Nonesuch (1962)
0 (0.0%)

False Colours (1963)
1 (2.3%)

Frederica (1965)
0 (0.0%)

Black Sheep (1966)
4 (9.1%)

Cousin Kate (1968)
0 (0.0%)

Charity Girl (1970)
0 (0.0%)

Lady of Quality (1972)
0 (0.0%)

Ticky?

View Answers

Ticky.
29 (46.8%)

It is dreadfully flat here since you have been gone.
9 (14.5%)

I can't imagine why you should say such an extraordinary thing.
8 (12.9%)

We simply must do something!
15 (24.2%)

Kate, you can't fool me, these aren't _Heyer_ quotes!
23 (37.1%)

(If you're curious, it was prompted by this discussion, but don't look until you've answered or you'll prejudice the data.)

Comments

[mariness]

I can't rate Arabella as underrated, since although 90% of that book is brilliant, vintage, Heyer, the ending continues to give me a very creepy feeling.

The Heyer where she's guarded by the dog is The Reluctant Widow.

[wordweaverlynn]

There is so much to like in Arabella, but a very great deal to loathe in it -- and in April Lady. Heroes who let the woman they love suffer needlessly worrying about money do not appeal to me.

[mariness]

April Lady is just a mess all around. According to her biographers Heyer was just recovering from a major bout of illness and financial troubles, and her most recent biographer hints that Heyer found out that her husband was having an affair at about this time. Result: borrowing plot from previous books, a lot of repetition, more jargon than usual, and the hero letting the woman he loves suffer needlessly worrying about money. AUUGH. Not to mention the girl who is like, sure, I'll steal an incredibly valuable set of jewels from the woman I'm supposedly friends with so I can run off with a guy that I'm going to want to divorce in three months anyway.

I laugh all the way through Arabella until I reach the last twenty or so pages and then...auugh.