3 British Gothic Romance Authors
Holt, Eden and Stewart Rekindled Interest in Romantic Suspense in UK
Gothic and romantic suspense novels by British authors Victoria Holt, Dorothy Eden, and Mary Stewart were in the height of their popularity in the 1960s and 1970s.
Along with their American counterparts-- Virginia Coffman, Phyllis Whitney, and Barbara Michaels--these three women British women set the stage for a new wave of romantic suspense, which followed the tradition of such earlier works as Jane Eyre, WutheringHeights and Rebecca.
Victoria Holt
Victoria Holt was born Eleanor Buford in 1906 in London. A prolific author, she wrote under eight different pseudonyms. Her first novel in 1941 was published under her own name. She published 32 novels under the name Eleanor Buford before adopting several pen names. Her most well-known pen names besides Victoria Holt were Jean Plaidy and and Philippa Carr. She wrote several historical series based on British royalty under the name Jean Plaidy, including The Tudor Saga, the Plantagnet Saga, and the Queens of England Series. Under the name Philippa Carr she wrote the Daughters of England Series.
Under the name Victoria Holt that she penned many her gothic romance. Some of her numerous titles include Mistress of Mellyn (1960), Bride of Pendoric (1963) Legend of the Seventh Virgin, Shadow of the Lynx (1971), Pride of the Peacock (1974), and Lord of the Far Island ,1975. She died in 1993 after a long and successful career.
Dorothy Eden
Dorothy Eden was born in new Zealand in 1912. In 1954 she moved to England. She wrote historical suspense and gothics as well as short stories for popular women’s magazines. Her first novel, The Singing Shadows, was published in 1940. Some of her numerous popular gothic titles of the 60’s 70s include Whistle for the Crows (1962), The Shadow Wife (1968) and Melbury Square (1970). She also wrote two books under the pseudonym Mary Paradise. Ms. Eden died in 1982 at the age of 69.
Mary Stewart
Mary Stewart was born in 1916 in Sunderland, England. She graduated from Durham University. In 1945, she married Sir Frederick Stewart. Her books are characterized by their unique settings. Many of her novels are set in Scotland, Greece, Spain and France. Several of her books have been adapted to film and television, and her work has translated into many languages. In addition to her gothics, she is well-known as the author of the Merlin series. She brought a touch of magical enchantment to her romantic suspenses, which are a blend of mystery and love story. Her gothics include Nine Coaches Waiting, (1958), This Rough Magic, (1964) and Touch not the Cat (1976).
Though gothic romances are not as popular as they once were, the genre still has many fans.
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