Georgette Heyer (1902–74) was a British historical romance and
detective fiction novelist. Her writing career began in 1921, when she
turned a story for her younger brother into the novel The Black Moth
(title page pictured). After These Old Shades became popular despite its
release during the General Strike, Heyer determined that publicity was
not necessary for good sales and refused to give interviews thereafter.
She essentially established the historical romance genre and its
subgenre Regency romance. To ensure accuracy, Heyer kept detailed notes
on all aspects of Regency life. While some critics thought the novels
were too detailed, others considered the detail to be her greatest
asset. Beginning in 1932, Heyer released one romance novel and one
thriller each year. Her husband often provided basic plot outlines for
the thrillers, leaving Heyer to develop character relationships and
dialogue. Although many critics describe Heyer's detective novels as
unoriginal, others praise them for their wit and plots. Her success was
sometimes clouded by problems with tax inspectors and alleged
plagiarists. Heyer continued writing until her death; her last book, My
Lord John, was published posthumously.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgette_Heyer>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1792:
Lt. William Broughton, a member of Captain George Vancouver's
discovery expedition, observed a peak in what is now Oregon, US, and
named it Mount Hood after British admiral Samuel Hood.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Hood>
1863:
American Civil War: The Battle of Wauhatchie, one of the few
night battles of the war, concluded with the Union Army opening a supply
line to troops in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Wauhatchie>
1923:
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk became the first President of Turkey, a
new nation founded from remnants of the Ottoman Empire.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey>
1969:
A student at UCLA sent the first message on the ARPANET, the
precursor to the Internet, to a computer at Stanford Research Institute.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARPANET>
1998:
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission presented its report on
Apartheid in South Africa, condemning both the Apartheid Government and
the African National Congress for committing atrocities.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth_and_Reconciliation_Commission_(South_Africa)>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
peri-urban:
Immediately adjoining an urban area; between the suburbs and the
countryside.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/peri-urban>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
There never comes a point where a theory can be said to be true.
The most that one can claim for any theory is that it has shared the
successes of all its rivals and that it has passed at least one test
which they have failed.
--Alfred Jules Ayer
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Alfred_Jules_Ayer>