I’ve already reviewed Venetia for this blog, but my purchase of a new Folio Society copy seemed like a good excuse to reread it.
Venetia Lanyon has lived an isolated life, mostly with only her brother Aubrey for company. Her late father having refused her a London season when her aunt offered one, she has only attended a few local dances. However, she has two suitors—Edward Yardley, a worthy neighbor, and Oswald Denny, a quite young man who emulates Lord Byron in his careless dress and sulky manner. Venetia is interested in neither of them and plans to make a home for Aubrey, a studious teen with a bad hip, after her older brother Conway returns from the wars to take up his position as head of household.
But two incidents complicate this plan. One is her encounter with Lord Damerel, a neighbor she and her brothers called the Wicked Baron when they were children because of his unnamed crimes that made his family disown him when he was young.
Although Demerel, mistaking her for a village girl, offers her an insult, he is taken aback by her reaction, and she soon finds him to be a companion who shares her sense of humor. When he rescues Aubrey from a bad fall, the three of them begin a comfortable friendship.
Then strangers arrive. Without so much as a letter of warning, Conway has married a shy, biddable girl and sent her before him with her extremely unpleasant mother to establish his household.
Now, we’re set up for Heyer’s usual romance with lots of striking characters, a good deal of lively, funny dialogue, and an engaging, sparkling heroine with an unconventional mind.
What? Me Read? 
I have the 3 Georgette Heyer books published by the Folio Society – Arabella, Frederick and Venetia. (Oh why did they stop there?!) Of the 3, I have to say that Venetia is my least favourite. Having said that, it is by Georgette Heyer, which straight away makes it brilliant: as always, there are wonderful characters, loads of wit and the satisfyingly happy ending, it’s just Damerel is not my favourite hero. Give me a Beaumaris any day!
I have the same three books. I agree! Why don’t they print more? The other two will be coming up in a while. I like Venetia better the more times I read it. That being said, it isn’t one of my favorites of all her books. As I get older, I tend to prefer some of the sillier ones, because they make me laugh out loud.
Gosh, it’s so long since I read this I really couldn’t remember if I actually had, until you mentioned Lord Damerel! Sounds like a good one for a re-read. Are the Folio copies illustrated?
Yes!