The Black Moth: A Romance of the XVIIIth Century

"The Black Moth: A Romance of the XVIIIth Century" by Georgette Heyer is a historical novel written in the early 20th century. The story is set in the 18th century and revolves around themes of romance, adventure, and social intrigue. The narrative introduces intriguing characters such as Hugh Tracy Clare Belmanoir, Duke of Andover, and Lord John Carstares, whose lives intertwine amidst scandal and deception in Regency England. The opening of the novel presents a vivid prologue featuring the Duke meticulously writing a letter, showcasing his complex character with references to past romantic entanglements and personal rivalries. The scene shifts to a quaint inn, where John Carstares, living under a false identity as Sir Anthony Ferndale, is discovered by his solicitor, Mr. Warburton. They discuss John's past disgrace connected to a gambling scandal involving his brother, Richard. The tension between the brothers and John's reluctance to return home, along with hints of an uncertain future filled with both danger and redemption, sets the stage for a compelling story filled with intrigue and dramatic stakes. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Georgette Heyer was an English novelist and short-story writer, in both the Regency romance and detective fiction genres. Her writing career began in 1921, when she turned a story conceived for her ailing younger brother into the novel The Black Moth. In 1925 Heyer married George Ronald Rougier, a mining engineer. The couple spent several years living in Tanganyika Territory and Macedonia before returning to England in 1929. After her novel These Old Shades became popular despite its release during the General Strike, Heyer determined that publicity was not necessary for good sales. For the rest of her life she refused to grant interviews, telling a friend: "My private life concerns no one but myself and my family."