The Grand Sophy

I'll make it unanimous. This is a great production, terrific reader, nice music, and a decent abridgement. But We Want the Whole Thing!

"The Grand Sophy," "Venetia," and "Frederica" are considered by many to be the "big three" of Georgette Heyer's Regency Romances. I'd add "Cotilliion" and "Bath Tangle" to those, and for those who like a touch of mystery, "The Quiet Gentleman" and "Regency Buck." Only some of these are available here, and I hope Audible gets unabridged versions of all of them (and of any other Heyers that aren't already here).

This version is beautifully done, and I love Clare Wille's narration, but the abridgement will disappoint those who will miss many of their favorite scenes and confuse those who haven't read the book. If Naxos was going to put this much effort into the book, why not do the whole thing? This novel certainly warrants it.

I was happy to see this released yesterday so that I could download it to soothe a head cold, but even with Naxos Audiobooks sound quality and a good narrator, a Heyer novel just becomes silly with only the broad story line exposed in an abridgement. It might be good nostalgia for those who loved the novel in print. What a waste - Heyer can be such good diversion, unabridged.

I have to agree with the previous reviewer, Heyer abridged is a shadow of the real thing: and I think it is nostalgia for the original book that makes me like this so much, mentally adding the depths of character that were washed out with the abridgment. I am not sorry I bought this, the narrator is terrific, but if they find an unabridged version I will buy that as well.

The narrator was absolutely wonderful and Georgette Heyer's Grand Sophy abridged is better than not at all. However, as wonderful as it was, it simply made me long for Sophy unabridged with the wonderful Clare Wille at the helm again. I had listened to the original unabridged version on cassette and though I wanted to like it, the narrator did not impress me. Ms. Wille, on the other hand, was perfection in my opinion and I would buy the unabridged version again if she were the narrator. Hopefully the publisher/producer is paying attention to our comments.

I am so disappointed The Grand Sophy was released abridged. Please Please released the unabridged version.

Clare Wille did a fine job of giving voices to the various charactors in the book.

Please release an unabridged version of the Grand Sophy. I bought this because I love the original story and could not resist, but it was a disappointment, not because of the reader, but because all the little nuances and some of the original story were left out. The author's original intent is lost in an unabridged book.

Please release some of the Georgette Heyer Mysteries in unabridged form (Duplicate Death, Footsteps in the Dark, etc). Unabridged!!

This abridged version is very good, but I know the excellent, amusing stories that have been omitted because I have heard an unabridged version on cassettes and read the print version. The Grand Sophy without the kittens is like drinking weak tea.

Sophy's arrival.

Sophy

Absolutely!

I would love to have the unabridged performance by Clare Wille available.

This is a horrible travesty of Georgette Heyer! Her estate should never allow such hacks to decimate her work! The editor pulled out all the subtle nuances that added so much depth and texture and humor to this book. I will NEVER purchase an edited version again!

Finally! my favorite Heyer book. And then it has to be adbridged. The Grand Sophy comes to London and sets a whirlwind going. In the end, everyone is happy and in love. Sophy is definitely a 21st century girl in a 19th century world (it's set just after Napoleon's defeat). The editor's did a pretty good job of abridging it. They did cut out some of the parts where you see the softer/funnier side of Charles. Somebody do an unabridged version! Somebody do a movie! Viva la Grand Sophy!

Somehow I missed the note that this is an abridged version. It's one of my favorite Heyer stories, but in taking out details to curtail the length they took out some of the best wit and converstaion, and fair amount of the underlying story.

NO. I suggest you go for an unabridged edition.