The Toll-Gate

Book by Georgette Heyer

The Toll-Gate

First edition

Author| Georgette Heyer
Cover artist| Arthur Barbosa[1]
Country| United Kingdom
Language| English
Genre| Regency, Romance, Detective novel
Publisher| William Heinemann

Publication date

| 1954
Media type| Print (Hardback and Paperback)
Pages| 288 pp

The Toll-Gate is a Regency novel by Georgette Heyer, which takes place in 1817.[2] Unlike many of Heyer's historical novels which concentrate on a plucky heroine, this one follows the adventures of a male main character, an ex-captain in the British Army who has returned from the Peninsular War and finds life as a civilian rather dull. The setting for this detective/romance story is in and around a Toll-Gate in the Peak District, vastly different from the elegant backgrounds of London, Bath, Brighton, or some stately home, which characterize most of Heyer's Regency novels.

## Plot introduction[edit]

After acting as an aide-de-camp at the Battle of Waterloo, Jack Staple is finding civilian life tedious. Following a formal (and somewhat boring) dinner party in honour of his cousin's engagement, Jack sets out by himself on horseback to visit a more congenial friend some 60 miles away. After getting lost in the dark and rain he reaches a toll-gate where a frightened 10-year-old lad is acting as toll collector in the absence of his father. A combination of curiosity, compassion, tiredness, and dampness lead him to stay at the toll house overnight with a view to sorting out the situation in the morning.

Over the next few days Jack's circle of acquaintances rapidly expands to include a highwayman, a Bow Street runner, and the local gentry plus their devoted retainers. Other complications include a dead body, stolen treasure, and some masked villains. In the process of preventing a scandal, Jack also manages to identify the murderer, deal with the villains, retrieve the treasure, satisfy the law, provide for his friends, and resolve his own romance.

## Characters in "The Toll-Gate"[edit]

### Major characters[edit]

* Jack (John) Staple, ex-Captain of Dragoon Guards, 29 years old, tall and strong.
* Sir Peter Stornaway, local squire, bed-ridden following a stroke.
* Nell Stornaway, granddaughter to Sir Peter, 26 years old, tall.
* Jerry Chirk, highwayman.
* Gabriel Stogumber, Bow Street Runner.

### Minor characters[edit]

* Henry Stornaway, grandson and heir to Sir Peter, cousin to Nell.
* Nathaniel Coate, friend to Henry.
* Gunn, servant to Nathaniel.
* Wilfred Babbacombe, friend to Jack, an ex-Army colleague.
* Edward Brean, toll-gate keeper, missing from his post.
* Ben Brean, son to Edward, 11 years old.
* Mr Willitoft, trustee of the Derbyshire Tolls

### Devoted retainers[edit]

* Rose Durward, maid to Nell
* Huby, butler to Sir Peter
* Winkfield, valet to Sir Peter
* Joe Lydd, groom to Sir Peter and to Nell

## References[edit]

1. ^ Regency Art and Regency Artists
2. ^ See http://www.georgette-heyer.com/chron.html

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Novels by Georgette Heyer

Historical novels|

* The Great Roxhythe (1923)
* Simon the Coldheart (1925)
* Beauvallet (1929)
* The Conqueror (1931)
* Royal Escape (1938)
* My Lord John (1975)

Romance novels|

* The Black Moth (1921)
* Instead of the Thorn (1923)
* The Transformation of Philip Jettan (1923)
* Powder and Patch (1930)
* These Old Shades (1926)
* The Masqueraders (1928)
* Helen (1928)
* Pastel (1929)
* Barren Corn (1930)
* Devil's Cub (1932)
* The Convenient Marriage (1934)
* Regency Buck (1935)
* The Talisman Ring (1936)
* An Infamous Army (1937)
* The Spanish Bride (1940)
* The Corinthian (1940)
* Faro's Daughter (1941)
* Friday's Child (1944)
* The Reluctant Widow (1946)
* The Foundling (1948)
* Arabella (1949)
* The Grand Sophy (1950)
* The Quiet Gentleman (1951)
* Cotillion (1953)
* The Toll-Gate (1954)
* Bath Tangle (1955)
* Sprig Muslin (1956)
* April Lady (1957)
* Sylvester, or the Wicked Uncle (1957)
* Venetia (1958)
* The Unknown Ajax (1959)
* A Civil Contract (1961)
* The Nonesuch (1962)
* False Colours (1963)
* Frederica (1965)
* Black Sheep (1966)
* Cousin Kate (1968)
* Charity Girl (1970)
* Lady of Quality (1972)

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