The Game of Hearts
From glossy costume dramas to gripping reads, the glamorous world of Regency London’s Bon Ton is synonymous with romance – a place where dashing heroes and independently minded heroines flirt, fight and side-step scandal, all while in pursuit of the perfect match. But who were the real women who went looking for love in the age of elegance, and what were their lives really like?
Taking us behind drawing room doors and into high society ballrooms, The Game of Hearts follows six leading ladies and their family, friends, and contemporaries as they move from matchmaking to matrimony and beyond. Candid insights into the competitive world of the marriage mart; real stories of rakish husbands and rich heiresses; and true tales of lost and long-lasting love, reveal not just Regency courtship customs, but truly captivating lives.
Using diaries, letters and stories of scandal from the newspapers, author Felicity Day pieces together a rich and intimate view of this most beloved period of British history, showcasing the voices and opinions, hopes and desires of the real women who lived and loved in the Regency era.
“The real world of Jane Austen is brought vividly to life in this beautifully written, endlessly captivating and often surprising account of Regency women. Not to be missed”
— Tracy Borman
“A thoroughly researched, often tantalising, account of the occasional ups and horrifying downs of the Georgian marriage market.”
— Gill Hornby
“More scandal than Bridgerton’s Lady Whistledown”
— Helena Kelly
“A lovely book, lovely cover. Very informative about the Regency era. A great read.”
— Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“An excellent introduction to the social history of the Regency upper classes”
— Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“A fascinating account of the lives of titled and wealthy Regency women”
— Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐