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Arabella
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Arabella
Unavailable
Arabella
Audiobook10 hours

Arabella

Written by Georgette Heyer

Narrated by Phyllida Nash

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

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Currently unavailable

Currently unavailable

About this audiobook

Perhaps the most deeply cherished novel among Heyer fans, Arabella is the story of a poor girl who captures the heart of a handsome and wealthy bachelor. When Arabella first arrives in London, she has only one mission: to snare a rich husband. She thus pretends to be a rich heiress and soon finds herself pursued by the most eligible bachelors in the city. But she has her sights on one man only: the much-hunted Mr Beaumaris. Our feisty heroine deals the worldly-wise Beaumaris a deft hand in the game of love; at first grudgingly charmed, he soon becomes smitten. However, what will he think of her deceitful charade? Will it ruin her chance to be with the perfect man? Arabella contains some of Heyer's most witty dialogue and romantic banter; with its delightful and laugh-out-loud passages, there's no wonder it remains the fan favourite.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateAug 14, 2014
ISBN9781843798644
Unavailable
Arabella
Author

Georgette Heyer

Georgette Heyer's novels have charmed and delighted millions of readers for decades. English Heritage has awarded Georgette Heyer one of their prestigious Blue Plaques, designating her Wimbledon home as the residence of an important figure in British history. She was born in Wimbledon in August 1902. She wrote her first novel, The Black Moth, at the age of seventeen to amuse her convalescent brother; it was published in 1921 and became an instant success. Heyer published 56 books over the next 53 years, until her death from lung cancer in 1974. Her last book, My Lord John, was published posthumously in 1975. A very private woman, she rarely reached out to the public to discuss her works or personal life. Her work included Regency romances, mysteries and historical fiction. Known as the Queen of Regency romance, Heyer was legendary for her research, historical accuracy and her extraordinary plots and characterizations. She was married to George Ronald Rougier, a barrister, and they had one son, Richard.

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Reviews for Arabella

Rating: 4.101706761450925 out of 5 stars
4/5

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  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Fun but so many descriptions of fashion that I wanted some illustrations to give me an idea what she was talking about.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    A Regency romance from Georgette Heyer.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Adorable, adorable, adorable! I think Arabella is my favorite heroine of all the Georgette Heyer books I've read thus far. She is spunky and impetuous, and the way she comports herself throughout the book is refreshing! The story, too, between her and Robert Beaumaris (Again, I giggled at the name. Beaumaris? I think I preferred Ravenscar...) was unique and charming, and kept me engaged until the very end. It definitely threw me for a loop once or twice (the hero proposing marriage a little more than halfway through the book? What?), but the dialogue sparkled and Arabella as a character definitely kept me coming back for more. To be fair, I wasn't the hugest fan of the Bertram plotline, and there were moments where I felt Beaumaris was being particularly unfeeling towards the whole thing (which made it a tiny bit difficult for me to accept that he'd come around at the end), but nonetheless this is a charming and sweet story, and definitely one of my favorites.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Humorously romantic with fun characters.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    One of Heyer's best. Full of period detail,especially of the London fashions, but also really funny. It's rare that a book makes me laugh out loud, but this one did.The thing I like best about Heyer's characters is their lack of self-deception. In so many romance novels, there are endless variations of characters who fail to spot the obvious: namely that they love the other person and that the other person loves them.Heyer sensibly uses other means to keep her potential lovers separated. A tall story of wealth, created on the spur of the moment to insult a rich man who is well used to women using all kinds of fake accidents and excuses to make his acquaintance, comes back to haunt Arabella when she realises that she could love this man, but will have to confess to her lack of money after the 'heiress' story has spread all around London.The real joy of this tale lies in the fact that Mr Beaumaris spots the lie right from the start, but enjoys playing along with it. It's Araballa's principles, a result of her upbringing in a vicarage that really draw her to Beaumaris's attention. If she believes something to be right, she will do it regardless of what society thinks. To a man who is so rich that he can ignore society himself, but also suffers from everyone always trying to imitate and flatter him, this is entertaining and a big point in her favour.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Reread of an old favourite.
    Arabellla, the oldest in a large family, sets off to London to find and marry an eligible man.
    On the way there, she is led to exaggerate the extent of her fortune, which leads to her being courted by all the eligible and ineligible suitors in the city.
    A young woman of a warm heart and strong convictions, she attracts someone who has been immune to all the match-makers for years, as these Regency heroes always are.
    Fun, light read.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    One of the funnier Georgette Heyers. Listened to the Audible version, which was well done.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I'm on a spree when it comes to Heyer: I went by the library today and picked up five new-to-me Heyer novels. Happyfuntimes. I particularly needed something light yesterday, so Arabella was perfect. I'll confess I wasn't too impressed by the start, and there was a whiff of Pride and Prejudice-ness about it that put me off a bit, but both protagonists grew on me.I had major embarrassment squick at first, with the silly trick Arabella pulls, but as the novel developed and her kindly nature became clearer, I was ready to forgive her -- and her silly mistake was, of course, pretty justified. I took an instant dislike to Robert Beaumaris, but his behaviour over Jemmy and especially Ulysses won me over. Some of the best giggly bits were Robert's 'conversations' with Ulysses.In the end, having fallen for both protagonists, I was more than satisfied by the end. Especially because Robert doesn't quite melt into a puddle of goo! I'm a little disappointed Arabella doesn't convince him to do something about Leaky Peg, though... That would make for an amusing scene.Why I ever disdained reading Georgette Heyer's work, I don't know.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Not bad but she's done better. The first part of the novel was great with all the excitement about the season but she addresses important themes (mainly money) very awkwardly. Her most honest book, probably, since the heroine's sole reason for marriage is financial stability. Arabella's a decent heroine but her suitor's characterization is really lacking.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    So many people love this one, but I just thought it was enjoyable and pretty good. It's probably the most classically Cinderella-y of the Heyers I've read. I liked Arabella, and liked Beaumaris pretty well, too, but didn't feel a powerful connection between them. I think what I experienced here was mainly a failure of expectations. Beaumaris's grandmother was a favorite. 3.5 stars.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Perfect comfort reading when ill. Arabella is one of my favourite Georgette Heyer Regency Romances - the story plays nicely with the standard romantic formula but Georgette Heyer's knowledge of the Regency world provides a great deal of the charm of this book - try Googling bit-players such as "Poodle" Byng - and much of the rest of the charm comes from the heroine's family background. If you haven't read any Georgette Heyer I'd recommend Arabella as a lovely place to begin.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    While this is not the first of Heyer's novels that I've read, it was the one I was most interested in reading, because it seemed to promise the most repartee, and while it did deliver, most of it was between the lead male, Beaumaris, and the stray dog he picks up. While Arabella has her passion and purity, she sadly lacks the wit I was expecting. I really hate to think that all Heyer leads will be the mice in their feline husbands games. This may be precipitate since this is only my second Heyer novel (the first having been The Convenient Marriage), but I'm suspecting a Heyer "template": Rich bored aristocrat goes all out to win the "enchanting" and impudent female and wins her over by aiding the pockets and reputations of her brother and family. I nearly called Beaumaris "Rule" and Bertram "Pelham". They had not the same character but fit the same mold. While I loved Rule for his irreverence, I think I enjoyed Beaumaris better since he is more the cynic and less the rake. And I have to say that I really dislike how Heyer describes the women, her relations and her toillettes so well and with so much detail but almost entirely neglects the hero's description. I know its supposed to be vague to allow your imagination to run but there's something wrong when I can envision a smart blue coat with lapels and pantaloons, but no real body inhabiting it nor face and head seated above it.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Arabella Tallant is a parson's daughter who is invited to London by her godmother in hope of securing a suitable marriage. Early on Arabella encounters her ideal man, however, as they don't quite hit it off immediately, she lies about her status, claiming to be an heiress. At the time this untruth means little, until word spreads throughout London that the new girl in town is vastly wealthy, when this is far from the case.At times Ms Heyer comes up with some entertaining scenes, but there is also a lot of tedious digression, including over-long descriptions of clothing. For me, this author is at her best when creating character interaction, as her dialogue is sublime, especially from her female characters. She also does a good job in describing a canine character, who is one of the strongest members of the cast.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is a charming book. While a bit slow in the beginning, once it gets going, it introduces utterly fascinating characters and a lively and engaging plot. Arabella is a wonderful heroine - very much a lady, but not so held down by the dictates of society that she is afraid to stand up to society's dictates. Robert is a fantastic character as well - some of my favorite scenes in the book were the ones with him and Ulysses. I really enjoyed this book!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    First I thought that there were so many tropes of Regency Romance in this story and then I realised that this is the source of several of them. The rescued pet, the little lie that grows beyond all recognition, the slow growing romance between the two main characters where they suddenly look up and realise that romance has blossomed despite the two leads trying to resist. Overall it's a sweet story of the daughter of an impoverished parson, Arabella and Robert Beaumaris, the most eligible man about town.It did take me a while to get into it but once I got in I found it hard to put it down.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    A slightly silly and naive heroine, but the hero's relationship with the dog he rescues on the heroine's behalf is cute.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Does every young lady secretly long to marry an English gentleman? Does it really matter? Such is the skill of Georgette Heyer, that be a girl's sentiments on the topic ever-so republican, these charming tales of Georgian hi-jinks and Regency romps will win her round, at least for the duration of the book...Heyer, who is credited with inventing the "Regency Romance" genre, here spins a tale of the impulsive Arabella Tallant, a poor vicar's daughter, whose one "white" lie - provoked by the arrogance of a certain Mr. Beaumaris - leads to an unexpectedly brilliant London season. Will it also lead to disaster?Always one of my favorite Heyer novels (along with The Convenient Marriage), Arabella displays the author at her best. Here the reader will encounter a delightful heroine, spirited and high-principled, and a world-weary hero - intelligent, honorable, and surprised by love. Here also are the slightly befuddled but well-meaning friends, the prosy bores, and the nauseating toad-eaters. If these sound like stock characters, it is only because Ms. Heyer's imitators have been legion. But no effort on their part has ever recaptured the magic of the original, and no better example of that enchantment can be found than this story of "Papa's daughter," and how she found love...
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The daughter of a country clergyman, Arabella gets the chance to go to London stay with her rich godmother in hopes of finding a good husband. After being snubbed by the arbiter of fashion known as the Nonpareil, she pretends to be an heiress in a fit of pique. Soon all the fortune hunters in London are after her, and so is one very rich man - the Nonpareil himself. He's convinced himself he's just helping launch her onto the town to enjoy the spectacle, she's convinced that the accomplished rake is just flirting with her. But neither of them are right...
    The beginning of this book had a similar feeling to Anne of Green Gables, or Emily of New Moon, or even Little Women, one of those stories of the plucky young heroine and her home life, which I loved in its own right, and then once Arabella went to London it morphed into more a classic Heyer. I loved the chemistry between Arabella and Beaumaris, I loved how on one hand she seems so perfect - beautiful, good and generous, but on the other hand, she's impetuous, hasty and does a lot of really stupid things she should have thought out better. And Mr. Beaumaris may be one of my favorite of Heyer's heroes - the stuck uparbiter of fashion, but also with an amazing sense of self deprecation and the ridiculous. I adored the way he talked to Ulysses, it was so funny.
    I was sad the book ended when it did, because I want to read more about them.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I feel like every time I finish a Heyer my reaction is "NEW FAVORITE HEYER", and I guess I should just conclude that Heyer is awesome. But I really adored Arabella, perhaps because Mr. Beaumaris is my favorite Heyer hero so far, the only one I've actually fallen in love with. Not to mention Arabella is super charming. A MUST read.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Another very pleasant Heyer novel. Arabella is very sweet. I liked her brothers and sisters and her love interest was dashing and intelligent. I do like a happy ending.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    For those who enjoy light regency fiction, Georgette Heyer is a staple of the genre. Arabella is an excellent example of the author's renowned skill with creating charming characters and ridiculous scenes that make for a silly read, perfect for when it's either raining or you happen to be sick. (Or if you're recovering from reading a violent novel and there are no kittens on hand to comfort you.) One always knows what to expect from Heyer's endings (and, indeed, most of the middle, too), but if a light romp is what you want, then look no further.Arabella's titular heroine is the eldest daughter in a vicar's family of eight children. Blessed with a wealthy and socially significant godmother (who has no daughters of her own to fuss over), Arabella Tallant is going to London so that her godmother, Lady Bridlington might present her to society and oversee the girl's first season... which will hopefully be her *only* season, as she needs to make a good match if there's any hope for her younger siblings and the money to get a girl through a London season doesn't grow on trees. No one seems too concerned that Arabella will make a good match, for she's a beautiful young woman and smart enough, with her only real flaw being a bit of an impetuous streak that often results in her acting before she's thoroughly thought on the matter. Unsurprisingly, for the daughter of a clergyman with eight children, she has very little dowry to speak of, but she does at least have a smart mother who has saved for this very occasion, setting by money and keeping her own old items from her youth so that they might be made up new for her daughter. No one need be in any doubt that everything ends well... and that Arabella not only makes a suitable match with a decently established fellow, but that it will be a matter of love, too, and not just acceptability... but at least the road to get to this happily ever after is entertaining.While traveling to London in her uncle's coach, an accident drives Arabella and her companion to seek shelter at a nearby home... which turns out to belong to the most fashionable man in London, Mr. Beaumaris. Elegant and wealthy, he is tired of women hunting after him and so when this pretty young girl shows up at his door, he is not inclined to think favorably of her. When Arabella hears him saying just as much to his friend, implying that Arabella might be some girl who has traveled just to disturb his peace and create a sham impromptu meeting, Arabella is furious and acts on impulse. She lies and "lets it slip" that she is an heiress, also tired of being hunted for her enormous fortune, and she makes it clear with her demeanor that she has no interest in Mr. Beaumaris whatsoever.Well, Mr. Beaumaris's friend might have been taken in by Arabella's heiress claims, but the man himself is not... and yet he decides that to set the girl up as the toast of society would be quite amusing. He allows his friend to spread word of the new heiress come to town and Mr. Beaumaris pays special attention to Arabella upon meeting her. With the approval of the most fashionable man in London and the gossip quickly spreading about the enormous Tallant fortune, Arabella quickly becomes the most sought-after girl in town... and she is just as quickly mortified when she realizes that it's all to do with her lie about having a fortune. Mr. Beaumaris continues to spend time with Arabella, realizing that he's never met a girl quite like her, while Arabella keeps her emotional distance, aware that he's probably just trifling with her, but she can use his attention to her advantage in society. Of course, with news about that she's an heiress, she doesn't feel right accepting any proposals of marriage... not even should Mr. Beaumaris himself offer. Of course, what Mr. Beaumaris wants is for Arabella to trust him enough to tell him the truth so that he can find out her true feelings about him and assure her that his feelings are in no way linked to her mythical fortune.Before we can settle all this, Arabella's younger brother Bertram appears in town and quickly gets in over his head with gambling debts and bills... which provides Mr. Beaumaris the perfect opportunity to swoop in and attempt to settle everything, but not before Arabella contrives of her own ill-conceived plan to get her brother out of debt. It's all quite ridiculous, yes, but when does one read Georgette Heyer for something commonplace? Mr. Beaumaris is a charming leading man, cut from the same cloth as many Heyer heroes... a bit older, a bit wiser, and under the impression that he's immune to the charms of a fresh young woman. The twist in this relationship is Arabella's tendency to speak her mind, thus saddling with Mr. Beaumaris with the results. First it's an orphan boy who falls through Arabella's chimney that she refuses to hand back over to his "master" -- Mr. Beaumaris surprises even himself when he offers to take charge of the boy and make him useful. Then it's a dog that Arabella sees being beaten and she swoops in to rescue him... only to realize that her godmother probably won't want him in the house so wouldn't Mr. Beaumaris please keep him? The mongrel dog becomes Mr. Beaumaris's bosom companion (much to his dismay) and some of Mr. Beaumaris's funniest moments come as a result of his single-sided conversation with the dog that he names Ulysses as he scolds the worshipful dog for being a "toad-eater" and muses aloud as to what he can do to get Arabella to confide in him. Arabella, meanwhile, can be a bit soppy as she frets about what he father might think of her if he knew all the wicked lie she has told... but her flashes of fury are amusing enough to absolve her of the soppier moments. Plus, it's nice to see a girl who knows how to play the society game, consciously working the innocent angle from time to time to her own advantage. She blatantly uses Mr. Beaumaris for his society connections and doesn't have any scruples in telling him so. As for Bertram and his storyline of debt, I found myself incredibly bored. It was terribly obvious where everything was going and I didn't particularly care for him, but he must be endured so that everything can turn out right in the end... I should have much rather preferred more scenes with Ulysses, though, rather than Arabella's brother.In the end, Mr. Beaumaris is quite too good a man all of a sudden, but such is the case with this style of novel. A quick and charming read, Arabella is, at least, a feisty young heroine who has quite a conscience (a vicar's daughter could not escape it) and one can sympathize with poor Mr. Beaumaris, who has visions of his future comfort and happiness being constantly disturbed by Arabella's causes... but of course, that is all part of her charm.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Arabella is delightful heroine, whose temper and impetuosity lead her to try and put the wealthy Robert Beaumaris in his place by masquerading as a rich heiress. But Mr Beaumaris spots the deception and, amused, plays along and soon all of London is playing court the wealthy Miss Tallant. Along the way Arabella manages to convince Mr Beaumaris to shelter Jemmy, a young chimney sweep, and adopt an adoring mongrel, Ulysses, who manages to charm even Alfonse, Mr Beaumaris's temperamental chef. Another sparkling Regency romp from Heyer.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    While this is not the first of Heyer's novels that I've read, it was the one I was most interested in reading, because it seemed to promise the most repartee, and while it did deliver, most of it was between the lead male, Beaumaris, and the stray dog he picks up. While Arabella has her passion and purity, she sadly lacks the wit I was expecting. I really hate to think that all Heyer leads will be the mice in their feline husbands games. This may be precipitate since this is only my second Heyer novel (the first having been The Convenient Marriage), but I'm suspecting a Heyer "template": Rich bored aristocrat goes all out to win the "enchanting" and impudent female and wins her over by aiding the pockets and reputations of her brother and family. I nearly called Beaumaris "Rule" and Bertram "Pelham". They had not the same character but fit the same mold. While I loved Rule for his irreverence, I think I enjoyed Beaumaris better since he is more the cynic and less the rake. And I have to say that I really dislike how Heyer describes the women, her relations and her toillettes so well and with so much detail but almost entirely neglects the hero's description. I know its supposed to be vague to allow your imagination to run but there's something wrong when I can envision a smart blue coat with lapels and pantaloons, but no real body inhabiting it nor face and head seated above it.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    One of my favorite Heyer novels. It concerns the lovely (and socially conscious) Arabella, who becomes annoyed when the arrogant Mr. Beaumaris lets slip the fact that he thinks Arabella is angling to marry him for his fortune. Poor-as-a-church-mouse Arabella immediately claims to be the possessor of wealth untold, and shortly thereafter finds herself fighting off fortune-hunting suitors with a barge pole. Heyer's Arabella is more than just a pretty face - she is wildly inventive as well as witty, curious, quick-tempered and altogether delightful; reading this delicious re-issue reminded me of eating my favorite meal (Trout Wulfi at Carabba's, if you're interested, with fresh hot bread, a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, and some meltingly-sweet tiramisu for dessert). The happy sigh at the end was the common denominator.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    This is a reread from my youth, though I didn't remember much about Arabella. It was moderately charming. The heroine is the eldest daughter of a parson who is respectable but not rich, given his numerous offspring. Her godmother agrees to sponsor her for a season in London. The whole family is depending on her to contract a good marriage so that she can bring out her younger sisters. En route, her borrowed carriage breaks down outside the hunting lodge of Mr. Beamarais, our hero. He's got everything--wealth, looks, high social standing. He's also got the attitude to go with it, so when she overhears him complaining to his friend of the lengths women go to when chasing him, she gets angry and pretends to be a fabulous heiress. The word gets out and suddenly she's the most sought after debutante.This romance falls into the comedy of errors and misunderstandings category. Our hero of course guesses the truth immediately but goes along with the game (and even eggs it on), charmed by Arabella's innocence and integrity and waiting for her to trust him. She doesn't know how to confess her lie and can't accept any of the marriage proposals under false pretenses, so she's in quite a quandary. In the meantime, she embroils Beaumaris in various scrapes, and when her brother decides to acquire some town polish while on break from college, the scrapes only get worse. Of course, it all comes right in the end, thanks to our masterful hero and despite the naive heroine. Not my favorite style of romance, and this doesn't compare to April Lady in terms of naivete and romp.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is by far the most cleverest plot that Georgette Heyer has created. Granted, I wouldn't call myself someone who has read a great part of her novels yet, but I'm getting there.Arabella is headed to London to stay with her godmother who is going to introduce her into society. On the way there, her carriage breaks down and while waiting for help to arrive (where's a gas station when you need one?) she takes shelter in a nearby home that belongs to none other than the infamous Nonpareil Robert Beaumaris.Beaumaris wasn't born yesterday. He has been bamboozled into meetings with marriage-seeking ladies who conveniently get into 'accidents' just to meet him for years. Mortified, Arabella - a daughter of a Vicar - concocts a clever story that she is a wealthy heiress. Figuring this is false, Beaumaris decided to play along due to boredom. But boredom eventually leads to something more.A lie such as that can only bring about shenanigans from there. Once word gets out that a heiress is town, every fortune seeking bachelor is vying for her affections.Arabella is witty story that brings with it a lot of laughs. A sweet, strong heroine and a devilishly clever hero and a strong plot makes this a definite Heyer must read.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is a charming book. While a bit slow in the beginning, once it gets going, it introduces utterly fascinating characters and a lively and engaging plot. Arabella is a wonderful heroine - very much a lady, but not so held down by the dictates of society that she is afraid to stand up to society's dictates. Robert is a fantastic character as well - some of my favorite scenes in the book were the ones with him and Ulysses. I really enjoyed this book!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Not my absolute favourites but Georgette Heyer is always good
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    As usual, the author exceeds expectations with a great character study, interesting phrasing, and quick moving plot! Highly recommend!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I enjoyed this although I don’t think it’s one of her best. It is a rarity amongst Georgette Heyer novels for showing that the Regency era wasn’t so pleasant for the poor or for animals. The pace seemed a little slow to me. Arabella and her siblings are delightful. I thought Lady Bridlington could have been a Jane Austen creation. I didn’t like the hero to begin with but he grew on me as the novel progressed. His relationship with Ulysses the dog was very funny.