The Black Moth is a Georgian (set around 1751) romance novel by Georgette Heyer

Georgette Heyer

Georgette Heyer 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. In 1925 Heyer married George Ronald Rougier, a mining engineer...

. This was her first novel.

Plot summary

Jack Carstares, oldest son of the Earl Wyncham, disgraced six years earlier, returns home and becomes a highwayman so that he is able to live in the land he loves without detection. One day while out riding he foils an abduction plot mastered by the infamous Duke of Andover. Injured while rescuing the damsel in distress, he is taken home by the thankful Diana Beauleigh and her Aunt Betty, to recover. Mystery and intrigue continue to the melodrama's end.

Main characters

• John Anthony St. Ervine Delaney Carstares, Earl of Wyncham - protagonist
• The Hon. Richard 'Dick' Carstares - brother of John
• Lady Lavinia Carstares (née Belmanoir) - wife of Richard
• Hugh Tracy Clare Belmanoir, Duke of Andover - Lavinia's favourite brother
• Lord Andrew Belmanoir - Lavinia's brother
• Diana Beauleigh - young lady of Sussex
• Jim Salter - John's servant
• Sir Miles O'Hara - John's best friend

Heyer continues their stories in These Old Shades

These Old Shades

These Old Shades is a Georgian romance novel written by British novelist Georgette Heyer . It was an instant success, and established her as a writer.-Plot summary:...

. The names of her characters have changed, but she hints to their histories and personalities.

External links

• Celebration of Women Writers: e-text (1921 edn)