Venetia

By: Georgette Heyer

Narrated by: Gemma Whelan

Brought to you by Penguin.

In all her 25 years, Venetia Lanyon has never been further than Harrogate.

Nor has she enjoyed the attentions of any man aside from her two wearisomely persistent suitors.

Then, in one extraordinary encounter, she meets a neighbour she knew only by reputation - the infamous Jasper Damerel.

Before she realises it, Venetia is encouraging a man whose way of life has scandalised the North Riding for years.

©1958 Penguin Audio (P)2021 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"One of my perennial comfort authors. Heyer's books are as incisively witty and quietly subversive as any of Jane Austen's." (Joanne Harris)

"Absolutely delicious tales of Regency heroes.... Utter, immersive escapism." (Sophie Kinsella)

"Rapturously romantic." (Katie Fforde)

If we can’t have…

To my mind the perfect casting for this superlative story would have been young Jean Simmons and Stewart Granger in the late 1940s when they did the British film Adam and Evelyn. But this reader does wonderfully. Can’t wait to listen again.

Outstanding!

One of my favorite GH novels and was surprised by the excellent narration. The narrator was very good and understood the story and characters.

One of my favorite GH novels and I have read them all.

love this story. Both characters are likeable and original. Their story is fun with a number of unexpected twists and turns. The narrator does a wonderful job of interpretation. One of my favorite GH novels.

Excellent narration!

I’m a new Heyer reader and this was my first. I really enjoyed the story, but I have to say it was the narrator who is the star. Gemma Whelan is just excellent. I have listened to some of my favorite books narrated by popular actors who did such a wretched job I couldn’t enjoy the listen. Narration is another skill set entirely apart from acting, and I am glad to report that Whelan passes with flying colors. I’m now searching all books narrated by Gemma Whelan in great hopes that she’s done many more Heyer books!

One of Heyer’s best!

VENETIA is one of Heyer’s best and funniest novels. While I’m glad to see it return in a new print and audio edition, it deserves a better narrator than this one—someone who’s fully conversant with pronunciation and early 19th century terminology. Still worth a listen!