Heyer was noted for the thorough historical detail she invested in her works – unlike her literary predecessors, who typically lived in the eras they wrote about, Heyer had to enliven the past for her contemporary readers she thus endeavored to research every available aspect of her chosen plot settings. After 1940 her output consisted mainly of Regency novels, a collection of works that totaled 26 by the time of her death in 1974. Gradually, Heyer developed a 'distinct, light-hearted' style, and her 1940 Regency novel The Corinthian established elements common in her future works: clever plotting, light comedic elements, and a writing style reminiscent of the Regency era. The first, Regency Buck, became a best-seller when it was published in 1935, and featured a wealthy heiress from the English countryside, whose sense of independence causes her to clash with London's social norms, but eventually conform to them – qualities seen in many other Heyer heroines.

Heyer's fame stemmed mainly from her Regency novels, which made her a household name. The Black Moth was popular with readers and Heyer continued to publish more Georgian novels until the release of Faro's Daughter in 1941.

The Georgian novel, which featured an earl who turns to outlawry in the 18th century, set the template for many of her future stories – romance, a historical setting, characters from the nobility, and a 'saturnine' male lead. īorn in Wimbledon, London, the nineteen-year-old Heyer published her first novel, The Black Moth, in 1921 from a story she had written for her hemophiliac younger brother Boris. A best-selling author, Heyer's writing career saw her produce works from a variety of genres in total she published 32 novels in the romance genre, 6 historical novels, 4 contemporary novels, and 12 in the detective fiction genre. Georgette Heyer (1902–1974) was an English author particularly known for her historical romance novels set in the Regency and Georgian eras.

These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer