Venetia (Heyer novel)

1958 novel by Georgette Heyer

Venetia

First edition

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

Publication date

| 1958
Publication place| United Kingdom
Media type| Print (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages| 336 pp

Venetia is a Regency romance novel by Georgette Heyer set in England in 1818.[2]

## Plot summary

[edit]

The beautiful Venetia Lanyon, thanks to a reclusive and over-protective father, grew up in the country, away from the world with only her younger brother Aubrey, bookish and lame, for company. Her peace and quiet is one day disturbed by the rakish Lord Damerel, who arrives to spend time at his ancestral home next to the Lanyons' house. At first, she sensibly keeps away from him, but when Lord Damerel finds an injured Aubrey and not only takes him into his home to recover but also treats him with great kindness and strikes up a friendship with the awkward young man, she revises her first opinion of him and they soon become the best of friends.

When Venetia and Lord Damerel fall in love, however, Damerel is convinced that marriage with him would cause Venetia's social ruin and insists that it would be wrong to inflict this upon her.

When Venetia's older brother's wife and mother-in-law, about whom he had failed to inform the family, descend on the Lanyons, Venetia's domestic situation becomes intolerable and she is invited to stay for a London season with her aunt and uncle as a way to escape the awkwardness and also to find a husband. During this time, she discovers through a chance encounter that the mother she had been led to believe was dead is actually very much alive and had simply left her father for another man when the children were very young. Venetia realises that this is the cause of her relatives' over-protectiveness - they are concerned that she might follow in her mother's footsteps.

Venetia, however, still very much loves Damerel and sets about creating her own happy ending, seeking the help of her disgraced and estranged mother to persuade both her uncle and Damerel that the marriage should take place.

## Characters

[edit]

* Miss Venetia Lanyon - the eponymous heroine, lives at her family seat, Undershaw in Yorkshire, 25
* Mr Aubrey Lanyon - Venetia's scholarly brother, has a diseased hip, studying for a fellowship to Cambridge, 16
* Sir Conway Lanyon - absent Master of Undershaw, educated at Eton, 22, in the -nth foot
* Sir Francis Lanyon - Venetia's father, reclusive former Master of Undershaw, died of a stroke shortly after Waterloo
* Jasper, Lord Damerel - Master of Elliston Priory, known as 'The Wicked Baron' due to his rakish behaviour, 38
* The Reverend Julius Appersett - the vicar and self-appointed tutor to Aubrey
* Mr Oswald Denny - 19, aspirant to Venetia's hand
* Sir John and Lady Denny - Oswald's parents
* Miss Clara Denny - Conway's childhood sweetheart
* Miss Emily Denny - Oswald's younger sister
* Mr Edward Yardley - Master of Netherfold, aspirant to Venetia's hand, an only child who lives with his mother
* Mrs Priddy - the Lanyon's nurse, an old retainer, bitter rival of the housekeeper
* Mrs Gurnard - the housekeeper, bitter rival of nurse
* Ribble - the butler at Undershaw
* Powick - steward of Undershaw
* Flurry - Venetia's spaniel
* Rufus - Aubrey's high-spirited horse
* Fingle - Aubrey's groom
* Marston - Damerel's Valet
* Mr & Mrs Imber - servants at the Priory
* Nidd - Damerel's groom
* Croyde - Damerel's bailiff
* Dr Bentworth - Aubrey's doctor in York
* Charlotte, Lady Lanyon - Sir Conway's bride
* Mrs Scorrier - Charlotte's mother
* Miss Trostle - Charlotte's dresser
* Mr Mytchett - lawyer to the Lanyon family and one of Venetia's trustees
* Maria, Mrs Philip Hendred - Venetia's Aunt, wife of Mr Philip Hendred, has five daughters, Theresa etc, and three sons, at Oxford, Eton, and in the nursery
* Mr Philip Hendred - Venetia's Uncle and principal trustee. Lives in Cavendish Square
* Aurelia, Lady Steeple - Sir Francis Lanyon's 'deceased' wife, mother of Venetia, daughter of General Chiltoe
* Sir Lambert Steeple - a roué and Venetia's stepfather

## 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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