A Civil Contract

By: Georgette Heyer

Narrated by: Dominic Thorburn

Brought to you by Penguin.

Adam Deveril, the new Viscount Lynton and a hero at Salamanca, returns from the Peninsula War to find his family on the brink of ruin and the broad acres of his ancestral home mortgaged to the hilt. It is Lord Oversley, father of Adam's first love, who tactfully introduces him to Mr Jonathan Chaleigh, a city man of apparently unlimited wealth with no social ambitions for himself, but with his eyes firmly fixed on a suitable match for his one and only daughter.

For more than 50 years Georgette Heyer brought romance and adventure to a wordwide audience, and Civil Contract shows how she continues to be loved today.

©1961 Georgette Heyer (P)2021 Penguin Audio

Wonderful

I havent read this title on over 50 years. It did not appeal when I was romantic teenager. Today it is a wonderfully crafted romance, set in the domestic background of the Napoleonic wars. The family at home continuing with daily routine while waiting for news to trickle back from the front.

best narrator for Heyer readers

I have been reading reviews by heyer readers who object to actors offering a bunch of noise that bears little relation to the books we read and loved--- no problem with that here- this narrator gets everything right- tone character-humor-the chemistry between characters- is really incredibly conveyed- if Dominic Thorburn- had done the narration on other penguin-heyer recordings- I would have bought them all-- this is not one of my favorite Heyer novels- even- though Adam deveril is such a great romantic hero--but to listen to an audiobook where I am not outraged every 5 minutes by a narrator chopping a favorite book to pieces is so delightful- I do not have words to express- I also saw they cut the prices on the penguin offerings- take the hint penguin -your buyers are people who know and love these books- please find someone to read-etc them who also does- you will sell more- I promise

Nice tale but predictable

Heyer always does a nice job. We-rounded characters, interesting situations. I could tell where this was going from the first, though, and it kind of dragged on.

Meh

This is my least favorite of all Georgette Heyer books so far. It felt slow and tedious, and I wasn’t a huge fan of the ending. Not terrible, just not great.

The storyline

Heyer was at her best. Her maturity as an author is evident in this book. She weaves the prominent characters with her usual humor, compassion, and passion for authentic historic details of regency England against the backdrop of Napoleonic wars. If you are looking for a more realistic romance this is one to read.