I'm currently going through a phase of reading Georgette Heyer novels (great fun) and of the fifteen or so that I've read to date, this is definitely my favourite.

Once again, Heyer provides a quiet heroine who wins the hero through her intelligence and manner, rather than astonishing beauty. In this book, the Astonishing Beauty gets her come-uppance.

Waldo Hawkridge is perhaps rather less flawed than most human beings, but the gentle romance between him and Ancilla Trent is lovely to read.

The usual cast of amusing characters, great language and amusing escapades makes this book well worth reading. I heartily recommend it.

something reader." (Long Island, NY)-This is the story of Sir Waldo Hawkridge, known in social circles as "The Nonesuch" for his unparalleled skill as a sportsman. Sir Waldo has just inherited a country estate from a distant relative, and shocks his family when it's learned that he plans to turn the country estate into a home for impoverished orphans. He leaves London for the countryside to inspect the estate, causing quite a buzz amongst the villagers. He's accompanied prone cousin, Laurence Calver. Needless to say, every matchmaking mama and young lady is out to snare them for their very own. One of these young ladies is the beautiful Tiffany Wield, newly emerged from the schoolroom. Although her physical appearance is without fault, her personality leaves a lot to be desired; she's selfish, stuck-up, and narcissistic. She's determined to marry into the Peerage, and Lord Lindeth is her target. There to curb the foolhardy and hasty actions of her ward is Ancilla Trent, the genteel governess-companion of Tiffany. Ancilla Trent has resigned herself to shepherding young misses, and spinsterhood, but could there be love in store for her?

This is not one of the stand-out Heyer romances, in my opinion. I felt that there was too much of a focus on Tiffany's tempestuous behavior, and not enough focus on the relationship between Ancilla and Waldo. I've read a lot of Heyer novels and, I must say, Tiffany has got to be the most spoiled and aggravating character in any of Georgette Heyer's novels. At least the characters Leonie (from "These Old Shades") and Amanda Smith (from "Sprig Muslin"), who were also young and impetuous, possessed a speck of human decency and remorse for their hasty actions. Tiffany exhibited no sense of empathy, and was only concerned with her own self-interest. She continually throws a tantrum when she doesn't get her way, and doesn't seem to have grown emotionally by the end of the book. I think it could have possibly been a better book if Heyer had edited out some of Tiffany's exploits. I kept expecting Ancilla Trent to pack up her bags and leave; it would have been the smart thing to do. Ancilla deserves sainthood. In the Heyer tradition, the actual romance between Ancilla and Waldo is wonderful, but it stalls halfway through the book in order to concentrate on Tiffany. The romance picks up again in the last two chapters, but it felt too rushed as a result. A good book, but not one of my favorites.

What follows is not a review - just a few thoughts about The Nonesuch.I would think anyone looking at the reviews here probably knows the plot anyway!

I really think that the whole of my adult reading life has been spent looking for something to fill in the gap left on Georgette Heyer's death.I first read Austen in high school and discovered Heyer in my freshman year at university when someone suggested to me that she was "the next best thing to Austen".I guess that was a truth self-evident.

I've read thousands of romances, sandwiched in between the serious history and biography I adore, on buses, trains, in the car, in waiting rooms, during hurried lunch hours and in bed at night to relax after another stressful, hectic day.But, really, if I am honest with myself, there are just a very, very few authors that are on my keeper shelf.Hundreds of authors have come and gone for me.Some I have dismissed after reading a chapter as too puerile, too facetious, too ill-researched, too derelict in the simple use of the English language.

Heyer, however, rarely disappointed.I adore her later books, filled with characters of great wit, insight, morality and self-knowledge who mature and come together through real life experiences - all conveyed in prose of the very highest standard.I guess that's it - Heyer's exquisitely wrought prose telling stories of genuine human emotional experience, all carefully and perfectly set in the Regency world - immaculately researched and painted for the eager reader.

The Nonesuch is, of course, one of my favourites - and I expect I would say that about most of her works.But Sir Waldo and Ancilla so perfectly epitomise adult love, good works and social constraints and decent moral standards that you have to love them.Village life is portrayed beautifully - so much remains the same!

Rant, rant, rant.Every time I go back to Heyer, I am demoralised when I pick up a modern "wanna be".What to do about that?