As amazing as ever. I love Heyer's books. They are the ultimate escapism in a Regency period with great romances and characters. This was very entertaining and beautiful.

This is only the second book I've read by Georgette Hayers, I didn't realise at the time, The Black Moth was the first book she wrote! I really enjoyed this book - Richard Carstares cheats at cards, but his brother John takes the blame leaving Richards reputation untarnished and free to claim the woman they are both in love with. John becomes a highway man while Richard lives a far more difficult with with his wife Lavinia!! John is an Earl but stays away to protect Richard. Eventually circumstances bring them back together but not before plenty of adventure featuring some real rogues!

We spend a lot of time in this book with Richard and Lavinia and initially I didn't like them a whole lot. However, as the book progresses you can appreciate how they essentially got what they deserved and actually they didn't turn out too badly in the end! The style of writing is fantastic, with plenty of laugh out loud moments. It's hard to believe this was written by a teenage Georgette Heyer. Its insightful, funny, complex and has focus on relationships.

This book is being re-released for its centenary and it is a great read. I'll definitely be reading others by this author!

I think this book deserves praise for the fact that it was a debut novel by a young author. It is great to go back and see the foundations of a great authors work.
However, I find these books in general, difficult to follow. I get lost with the language style and characters. I love the idea of these types of books, I especially love the adventure angle of this one. But I feel like my brain is not made for this writing style.

I think all in all, fans of this genre and this author would get a kick out of this story.

My thanks to Random House U.K. Cornerstone William Heinemann for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Black Moth’ by Georgette Heyer.

‘The Black Moth’ was Georgette Heyer’s first novel, published in 1921 when she was nineteen. She had initially written it when she was seventeen to read to her poorly younger brother.

This Centenary edition contains an introduction by Philippa Gregory that places both the novel and Heyer’s historical romances in context.

While Heyer is best known for her Regency romances, ‘The Black Moth’ is set in the Georgian period; likely the early 1750s based on historical references, including a mention of Madame de Pompadour. So there are sedan chairs, card games, beautiful gowns, elaborate wigs for both men and women, and the occasional highwayman. Heyer is well known for great attention to historical detail, though her focus was high society, the ‘haute ton’, rather than on social issues of the period.

The plot involves a beautiful woman and two men. Yet it’s not a triangle given the honourable intentions of one suitor and the extremely dishonourable ones of the other.

Six years ago, Jack Carstares, the Earl of Wyncham, sacrificed his honour for his younger brother and went abroad. He has now returned to England and assumed the false identity of Sir Anthony Ferndale, who makes his living as a gambler and highwayman (though a polite one).

When he comes across the dastardly Duke of Andover in the midst of kidnapping the beautiful Diana Beauleigh, well of course he must intercede. Yet will the Duke be deterred? Will Jack reclaim his honour and the heart of Diana?

Given Heyer’s original intention of entertaining her brother it is an adventure-packed romp with emphasis upon fencing, duelling and definitely swashbuckling. I naturally thought of the little boy in ‘The Princess Bride’ worried about there being kissing.

I am pleased that Penguin Random House is celebrating the Centenary of the start of Georgette Heyer’s writing career with beautiful new editions of her novels, including producing audiobooks narrated by noted actors. It has given me the opportunity to rediscover the works of Georgette Heyer, who was one of my favourite authors when I was a teenager.

Overall, this was a wonderful, light-hearted romp that is certain to not only please her established fans but delight a new generation of readers.

Highly recommended.

The Black Moth is an early work of Heyer's and in some ways that shows. The pacing at the start is very slow and there are perhaps a few too many subplots taking away from the main action. However, in this work we can see the seeds of what would become her trademark style, with excellent character portrayal and dialogue that is witty and also instrumental in helping to set the scene of the era in which the story takes place. Once things did properly take off in the plot, I found The Black Moth an enjoyable read, with daring highwaymen and epic duels. Plus, of course, a good dose of romance. If you are already a Heyer fan, you'll want to take a look at this book. If you are new to her works, I would recommend starting with one of her later, more accomplished pieces, coming back to this one later.

Seven long years ago, Jack Carstares, the Earl of Wyncham, sacrificed his honour for his brother and has been in exile ever since. Returning to England, Jack pretends to be a gentleman named Sir Anthony Ferndale but makes his living in a most ungentlemanly fashion, as a highwayman and a gambler. When Jack encounters his nemesis, the Duke of Andover, in the midst of kidnapping Diana Beauleigh, the two old enemies come to blows.
This was the author’s first book & it’s celebrating its centenary. I love the author's books. I adored Jack who gave up all for his undeserving brother. Diana is feisty & determined to avoid the Duke of Andover. The characters aren’t as developed as the ones in her later books but they still have depth. I loved this melodramatic romp
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

The Black Moth was Georgette Heyer's first novel, and is a well written book, with lots of intricate plot, and characters who you enjoy cheering on or booing.

Jack Carstates is a highwayman, having been exiled by his family for cheating at cards, and lived abroad for years, but now he is back in England.  

Diana Beauleigh is a beauty, and the Duke of Andover has decided that she should be his, and so arranges a kidnapping that a certain highwayman interrupts.

I've loved Georgette Heyer since I discovered her in my late teens.  They are books that sweep you off on adventures, and always have some form of misapprehension about someone's identity, or their intentions, and the Black Moth doesn't disappoint!

 The Black Moth  was first published in 1921, and so this is the centanuary edition, which was published on 26th August 2021, and is available from  Amazon ,  Waterstones  and  Bookshop.org .

Georgette Heyer wrote a great many regency romances, and also detective fiction, and so here is a link for her on  GoodReads .

If you've been enjoying The Bridgerton TV series or books, then I would highly recommend you try Georgette Heyer!

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to  Penguin Cornerstone .

This is only my second book by this author and I have to say that it was a rather different sort of reading experience that was more challenging than the typical modern romance. It isn't the language as being a brit i don't struggle with that it's the way it's written. It doesn't concentrate on what should be the main character's as in a typical romance but spends just as much time on other character's such as the brother and the villain. Indeed the title refers to the villain and has nothing to do with either of the people involved in the central romance. It's a totally different style of writing to anything being written today.

The Black Moth by Georgette Heyer is a great historical romance that kept me entertained from beginning to end.

This is the first novel I have read by this author (and apparently it was her debut novel!) and I really did enjoy it.

A witty, sassy, and engaging narrative that takes place in England during the Georgian period, I was fully immersed into life, culture, and activities that took place during that time.

There was mystery, suspense, romance, action, and a well-proportioned character cast.

I would definitely read more from this author in the future.

4/5 stars

Thank you NG and Random House UK/Cornerstone for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and Waterstones accounts upon publication.

It's 100 years since the first publication of The Black Moth and it is safe to say that the Regency novels of Georgette Heyer are every bit as popular today as they were back in 1921 and to celebrate the event there is a beautiful 100th anniversary edition.

It's been interesting to step back in time to revisit The Black Moth, which I first read far too many years ago when I was in my mid teens. The story is as enticing as I remember with characters who leap off the page and with a Georgian setting which is so reminiscent of the period it's as though Georgette Heyer is actually sitting writing at her escritoire in the mid-eighteenth century rather than the early twentieth.

The mood is captured instantly with the tale of two brothers, the elder, Jack Carstares sacrificed his own reputation in order to save the family honour and protect his younger and more irresponsible brother but when Jack, now Earl of Wyncham, returns from exile he discovers his old adversary, the Duke of Andover, is about to abduct, Diana Beauleigh a society beauty. From card games, to sword fights and with a little swashbuckling highwayman in between, The Black Moth is a great romp through the great, and the good, of Georgian England.

Interesting to think that Heyer wrote The Black Moth when she was in her early teens, ostensibly, to amuse her younger brother who was sick at the time. It certainly sets the course for her future writing career which lasted until her death in 1974.

It is hard to believe Heyer wrote this at 17. I have read many of her books in luring her crime novels over the years but had missed this one. It is a riotous rollicking romp through the 18th century with highway men, disguised aristocrats, damsels is in distress and heroines perfectly capable of taking care of themselves. Many of the characteristics of Heyer's later works can be found here. It combines humour and adventure and is a great introdu tion to her historical romances.
Well worth a read!

I read this book long time ago and thoroughly enjoyed it as I'm a fan of Georgette Heyer. Even if it's her first book it's highly entertaining and well written.
The language could be considered a bit date but this story also shows she was a master storyteller since the beginning.
All the elements of her future novels are already present and I was happy to re-read it.
The forewords was an interesting look at her work and at historical fiction.
You can read this book as a delightful romp or as a historical document.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I last read this book over 30 years ago when I was first introduced to the world of regency Britain as a teenager.
Re reading this book now, makes me remember just what skilled author Georgette Heyer was. She stands heads and shoulders above the rest. I found the introduction to this book really interesting - I had no idea that this was her first book nor that she started so young.
If you haven’t yet read any of Georgette Heyer novels, then start now with this book. It’s entertaining and absorbing with lots of added detail.

This is not my usual choice of book but it was enjoyable for a change.

Set in regency times I found it interesting although a little hard to get into.

Not my usual style but I was tempted at the reprint after a century. A romp through Regency life in the upper classes. Disgraced John Carstares takes himself off for years to avoid bringing disgrace on his family. His adventures during that time are somewhat amusing, and of course, he is the hero "My Lord" of the novel. I understand this was written when the author was a young teenager, for her younger brother and I imagine they would have been amused by the Highwayman antics, and the sword fights, but swooning romance must have been a bit odd for a young boy to read. I did enjoy the story once I got past the language of the time, and found it mildly amusing. #theblackmoth #netgalley

Its quite remarkable that this book was written 100 years ago when Georgette Heyer was just 17. It is written in a style of its time but it soon flows perfectly. Ive read and loved a few of this authors books and this one is just as good. I enjoyed being transported back in Regency times. Its a light read where you get to know the characters whom i liked. Very entertaining and very enjoyable.

I know I had read this book as a teenager but couldn't remember much about it, in fact I read a copy of this found in a box of my mother's books last week rather than the kindle version I downloaded. That aside, I struggled a little and found that this book was not so accomplished or polished as Georgette's later works being her first book written whilst she was a naïve teenager herself. It was a little disjointed in part and the characters not particularly likeable although the old fashioned language didn't detract. For a period piece though and being the first of many novels it's interesting to see how the author developed over time to become one of our best loved Historical Romantic writers

Unfortunately although I tried, I found it difficult to get involved with this novel as I did not appreciate Georgette’s style of writing. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read and give an honest review of this book, which I know other readers will probably enjoy.

This is the centenary edition of Georgette Heyer's first novel, written when she was 17 years old in order to amuse her convalescent brother. It benefits from an excellent introduction to Heyer's work written by Philippa Gregory which delves into the writings of the time, putting the novel into context.

It almost feels wrong to criticise the story as it's Heyer's first but she hadn't quite yet captured the wonderful wit which dazzles in her later books. The hero, Jack Carstares, takes the blame for his brother's cheating at cards and becomes a social pariah and from there a highwayman albeit one with a 'Robin Hood' attitude. His sister-in-law, Lavinia, is shallow and selfish but over the course of the book matures and is definitely one of the major players in the story.

There is a villain, a heroine and a wonderful best friend all in the best Heyer style. This book is definitely not one of her best but is an amazing feat of writing for someone so young. A good story which keeps you glued to the page but without the laugh-out-loud moments of some of her other romances.

My thanks to Random House UK, Cornerstone. and Netgalley for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Firstly, my sister is a HUGE fan of Georgette Heyer, and she was intrigued to see how I would like her work. She did tell me she wasn't sure I would like it, seeing as they 'are written in the style of the time' and I find it a challenge to read this style sometimes. I have to really concentrate (which irks me as I want to relax when reading) and it does take me time to adjust to the prose. So, I went into this book tentatively.
The writing is wonderful, made even more special by the fact it was a DEBUT, written when Heyer was just 17.
The plot is smooth and interesting, although I wouldn't use the word gripping. The characters are also interesting to a degree, and not necessarily likeable for the entire book.
A mixed bag for me, but I am intrigued and want to try Heyer's other books. I also have an audiobook of Venetia, due to be published on the same day as The Black Moth, so I look forward to this one!
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