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The Grand Sophy

Questions About The Grand Sophy

by Georgette Heyer

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Answered Questions (8)

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Susan I wondered this too. And do you think the broken engagement caused Dolby and Charles to have a special license small wedding?
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Thu Nguyen
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Ann Brookens Jenny: they still had the post chaise that Sophy and Charlbury arrived in. Sophy's carriage, Sancia's, Cecelia's, and Charles': Cecy left in the one s…moreJenny: they still had the post chaise that Sophy and Charlbury arrived in. Sophy's carriage, Sancia's, Cecelia's, and Charles': Cecy left in the one she arrived in; Charles and Sophy left in his. That leaves Sancia's and Sophy's.(less)
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Seems like every one of Heyer's dozens of characters speaks a different dialect of Regency English. Is this historically accurate?
Jenny H Well, not every one of them, but different kinds of people speak in different ways.
Social class makes a big difference, for one thing: servants and o…moreWell, not every one of them, but different kinds of people speak in different ways.
Social class makes a big difference, for one thing: servants and other working people speak differently from the upper class characters. Ladies are much more restricted in how they are allowed to speak compared to gentlemen - they're not allowed any kind of slang and practically any kind of expletive beyond "Oh dear!" is too shocking for them. And the young gentlemen of fashion have not only their own slang but an affected, abbreviated style of speech that I believe is genuine - you see the same kind of thing a bit later in the C19th if you look at old Punch cartoons.
GH is very good at adapting her dialogue to character, too: twittery, neurotic ladies, pompous windbags, mischievous boys, drama queens enacting Cheltenham tragedies ... they all have their own ways of talking.
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