A Civil Contract is a bit unusual amongst Heyer’s usual works and due to the more sober tone and lack of romance, it isn’t one of the most popular of her books. It tells the story of the handsome Adam, Viscount Lynton, who returns from the Napoleonic Wars upon the sudden death of his father to find the family fortunes at a decided ebb. He breaks off an understanding with the girl that he loves, a flighty society butterfly and instead accepts a marriage of convenience with the solemn daughter of a wealthy and rather vulgar ‘cit’.
It’s an interesting piece of social history, reflecting a period when many aristocratic fortunes found themselves in disarray due to the dissolute occupations, drinking, gambling and rolicking of the eighteenth century and had to turn to the more comfortable or ‘plump in pocket’ as Heyer would call them fortunes of the new men who were beginning to populate the city.
The Viscount is initially revolted by his awful kindly but overbearing father in law and dull wife but gradually he grows to love them both and it is this awakening regard that makes this such a memorable book. I would definitely recommend it to anyone considering attempting Heyer – it isn’t as frivolous as many of her more popular books but there is a sweetness and honesty here that is just as compelling.
An enjoyable read A Civil Contract by Georgette Heyer. loved the way you wrote it. I find your review very genuine and original, this book is going in by “to read” list.