My Poor Devil: Georgette Heyer’s
The Black Moth at 100
20th November 2021
In November, Romancing the Gothic is organising its first conference. The conference will be online and open to all. Details for signing up will be released when the final details of the timetable are available.
Keynote Talk
Our keynote will be delivered by Jennifer Kloester, Heyer expert and author of Biography of a Bestseller.
Roundtable – Queering Heyer
For our roundtable, we are joined by five amazing authors – Zen Cho, Rose Lerner, Cat Sebastian, K J Charles, Olivia Waite. The panel will look at the ways in which Heyer has influenced the Regency Romance and the ways in which these authors expand Heyer’s Regency world. Each writer writes within a Regency setting including communities largely absent or vilified in Heyer’s work, including queer communities, people of colour, the working class and Jewish people.
Other Activities
It wouldn’t be a Heyer conference without other activities and sessions to look forward to. Dancing classes, a workshop on 18th century fashion and more! Part of the day will be a Heyer quiz with a range of legitimately exciting prizes… brush up on that knowledge! More information will be available as we communicate with partners!
1921 saw the publication of a 19-year-old Georgette Heyer’s first novel The Black Moth. This tale of romantic highwayman, demonic rakes, abduction, ravishing beauties, betrayal and deceit set in the 18th century began a career which spanned over 50 years. Heyer published over 50 novels in a number of genres, including mystery, crime and historical, but is most famous for her romances and particularly her Regency Romances. Sometimes referred to as ‘The Queen of Regency Romance’, her influence in both creating and popularising the Regency Romance is undisputed, her works continue to be published and widely consumed to this day and she is a named influence on many writers. Known for her humour, complicated plots, delightful characters, attention to linguistic detail and historical research, there is much to both celebrate and explore in her work. Her legacy is not, of course, without its problems – the world she created has its limitations, its prejudices and its biases. This one-day online conference on 20th November 2021, will seek to explore Heyer’s work and her legacy with a spirit both of celebration and of critical enquiry.
Romancing the Gothic 