Parallels Between Heroes

[selenite0]

Thanks to kd5mdk, I've just gotten to read Venetia by Georgette Heyer. A wonderful, wonderful book, one of my favorite Heyers now. I was laughing out loud all through the book. But I think part of what made it so easy for me to love is that the main characters have a resemblance to two I already know and love.

Let's toss out some descriptions and see who they apply to:

The hero and heroine meet in a place where they didn't expect to see anyone, resulting in a physical assault. They then bond while taking care of a young man under her responsibility. She has a desire to explore while he holds a noble title.

The key tension in the plot is the hero's bad reputation. He'd fallen in love as a young man, but it went bad and ended in dueling. With his reputation at bottom he decides to live down to it and becomes famous for his drunken misbehavior.

They're separated for a while. Eventually she returns under circumstances that trash her reputation back home and finds him drunk. They marry.

Venetia and Damerel? Yes. But that's also Cordelia Naismith and Aral Vorkosigan. There's so many parallels that I can't help wondering if this book was an influence on Lois Bujold as she wrote Shards of Honor.

Comments

[kd5mdk.livejournal.com]

I'm just totally in love with her promises to host orgies. It's such a broadminded book.

[archangelbeth]

I think that Bujold has confessed -- if not to this particular influence -- that she likes Heyer's books, so... Quite possibly, conscious or subconscious.

[celticdragonfly.livejournal.com]

Certainly Heyer is one of the four dedications of A Civil Campaign - there is at least a title nod to A Civil Contract, which I also love. And there's a bit in An Unknown Ajax referring to the sickly grandchild riding his grandfather's spirited horse, that is reminiscent of Miles and Piotr.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

As influences go, I can't think of too many that would be better! "Venetia" is my favourite Heyer novel, and "Shard of Honour" my favourite Bujold. This isn't really random chance.

I like the way you listed the parallels!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Me too. It's such an unexpected touch of risque whimsy. Or something. Venetia is terrific. (And so is Damerel.)

[selenite.livejournal.com]

Certainly makes up for all those years of excessive quiet in the country. There's an NC-17 fanfic in there for someone.

[selenite.livejournal.com]

Venetia also connects to Warrior's Apprentice. Damerel disappointed his father to death the way Miles did his grandfather.

[hornedhopper.livejournal.com]

"And there's a bit in An Unknown Ajax referring to the sickly grandchild riding his grandfather's spirited horse, that is reminiscent of Miles and Piotr."

Yes, that struck me forcibly upon reading it recently. And it was the *pluck* of the sickly Richmond that made his grandsire love him. It certainly felt just like the Count and Young Miles.

[toraks.livejournal.com]

Perhaps I'm a bit thick, but I've never noticed the strong parallels there until you pointed them out. So, very cool, and thanks for pointing them out. I'll enjoy the books much more the next time I read them thanks to your insights. :-)


I do think Lois must have had lots of Heyer floating around in her back brain when writing her books.

Don't forget the humor. Even if there weren't specific and general plot points that correspond between the two authors, I definitely think there some similarity of humor. The humor in both author's works is one of the things that I just love the most.

I think it may be time for a Venetia reread. And perhaps a Vorkosigan series one as well...