In 1954, Perth, Western Australia’s now-defunct newspaper the Western Mail ran the following story about Georgette Heyer in their “Books and Authors” section. Ostensibly a review of The Toll-Gate, it is in fact a commentary on Heyer’s famously private nature:

EVEN though you may be an ardent reader of best-selling novelist Georgette Heyer, it is a fairly safe bet you don’t know much about the author herself. But, if that’s so, it is not unusual. Few people outside Miss Heyer’s own personal friends know much about her.

In fact, it is said that Miss Heyer is the despair of her publishers, William Heinemann Ltd., because she declines to reveal details of her private life (for publication) and steadfastly refuses to have her picture published.

All we will say here about Miss Heyer is that she is middle-aged, is married to a barrister, and lives near Piccadilly in London.

But though she is one of the most modest of present-day novelists, Miss Heyer also is one of the most successful. She concentrates mainly on Regency novels, but for every two or so of these, she throws in a thriller for good measure.

And Miss Heyer’s novels — Regency or thrillers — sell in many parts of the world. They are particularly well-received in the British Commonwealth and America. Miss Heyer’s 33rd novel — The Toll-Gate — has just been published.

The Toll-Gate, a Regency novel, is about an adventurous captain of the Dragoon Guards who, after Waterloo, left the army because he feared boredom — and immediately plunged into undreamed-of excitement. It is exciting, entertaining and… well, everything you would expect from Georgette Heyer.

How fascinating, that a reluctance to be interviewed would lead to articles about her… reluctance to be interviewed. Marvellous.

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