Victoria Holt was born Eleanor Alice Burford on 1 September 1906 near London. Eleanor left her readers and fans an amazing legacy of written material. She's best know for her pens names "Victoria Holt" and "Jean Plaidy." Today, I though I'd take a look at the reminder of her writing career, and how her writing has resonated with authors today.

Before Eleanor picked up her pen, she went to business college and studied shorthand, typewriting, and languages. She even worked in a jewelry store. In her early twenties, she married George Percival Hibbert and discovered that married life gave her the freedom to writer.

Eleanor's literary heroes included the Bröntes, Charles Dickens, and Victor Hugo. Her earliest work stems from the 1930. She wrote nine novels which focused on a serious psychological study of contemporary life. The novels were not published and she was told to write something that was "saleable" – romantic fiction.

Eleanor's first novel was published in 1941 under her maiden name. She generally wrote contemporaries under this name. Her many pen names include: Elbur Ford, Katthleen Kallow, Ellalice Tate, and Phillipa Carr. Her least known pen name is Anna Percival which used for just one novel.


She took pleasure in collecting dusty old books, reading them, and then interpreting the narratives. Despite her wealth, writing consumed Eleanor. She had a modern flat overlooking Hyde Park where she did the majority of her writing. She had a place she rented in Sandwich and furnished gothic style, but this was too distracting to her writing so she went back to her apartment in London.

Gothic literature, including romantic gothic that she wrote under her pen name, "Victoria Holt," has events that on the surface appear supernatural origins, but upon investigation they have very natural causes. Eleanor once experienced a premonition that deeply affected her. At 1:20 am on 17 DEC 1983, she dreamed of a violent explosion nearby. Exactly 12 hours later, it occurred next to Harrods and was set off by the IRA.

Eleanor wrote 183 books in all. Her stories have influenced a new generations of authors. I'd like to thank the following authors for sharing their thoughts on how Victoria Holt made an impact with them.

I hope you've enjoyed this 3 part series on Eleanor's Burford Hibbet's life.


From Maggie Toussaint
Author of "Muddy Waters"
Website: http://www.maggietoussaint.com/

Victoria Holt was one of the first “grown-up” authors I discovered. After my parents separated, my mom moved us 40 miles away to a coastal island. That first summer was incredibly lonely, but it was just a short walk to the library. There were two librarians and they say that I’d read all the young adult books (though it wasn’t called that then). Since I had read many of the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books multiple times, one librarian went over and pulled a Victoria Holt from the adult section as a suggestion. I walked back on the beach to our rented cottage and spent the rest of the day reading that book. The next day I was back for more.

VH wrote beautiful scenery, and I ended up armchair traveling to places like Greece and Italy. Her genre, I believe, was called suspense. There was usually two men, one good, one out for his own personal gain, and one bewildered but intrepid heroine. I so identified with her lead characters. Here I am years later and those are still the types of story I love best, ones with an element of mystery and danger, along with a smidge of romance.

I went on to read other writers like VH, but she really stood out like a sentinel beacon in my early teen years, guiding me past the emotional turbulence of my life into her safe harbor where a happy ending was guaranteed.

From Maggi Andersen
Author of The Reluctant Marquess
Website: http://www.maggiandersenauthor.com


I discovered Victoria Holt through my mother who loved her books. I came to love them too and read them voraciously along with Mary Stewart, Daphne Du Maurier and Georgette Heyer. As well as wonderful characters, these authors were superb at world creation. Du Maurier and Holt both had a great love of Cornwall. That part of the English coast with all its history fascinated me and I had to visit it although it was years before I did. The inspiration for my Victorian romance, Night Garden -- set in an ancient abbey in Cornwall with touches of the Gothic, came from those author's books: Holt's Mistress of Mellyn, Bride of Pendorric, Menfreya and Du Maurier's Rebecca. Night Garden was also influenced by a mysterious night scene painted by my mother, who was an award-winning artist. A woman in a red dress stands at the lighted doorway of a cottage looking out at the moonlit garden. I have to mention Rosamunde Pilcher another English writer who set her books in Cornwall, like the famous Nancherrow. As I'm sure you are aware, Holt published under other pseudonyms in other genres, but her writings as Victoria Holt were my favorite. A quote from Holt: Never regret. It it's good it's wonderful. If it's bad it's experience.

Vonnie Davis,
Author of Storm's Interlude -15 JUL
w/Wild Rose Press
www.vintagevonnie.blogspot.com

I was a teenager when I plucked my first Victoria Holt novel from the library shelf. Even then—then being 1966—I was a voracious reader. After the first couple pages of Mistress of Mellyn, I was drawn in for the emotional ride of Holt’s novel. Classic themes: young headstrong nanny, ignored willful child, handsome aloof father and Lord of the manor, a dead wife—and a secret. All these threads were woven intricately into a lovely English tapestry. So much so, that I became interested in all things English. Over the next ten years I read every Victoria Holt novel I could get my hands on. She taught me romance. She taught me the thrill of gleaning emotions from the printed page. Thank you, Victoria.


Lisa Lickel
Author, website:
http://www.lisalickel.com

OH my goodness – I found Victoria and some of her incarnations when I was in junior high, and still pick up a book of hers now and again. It was taking a vacation to exotic lands, Cornwall and England and Australia. Bride of Pendorric and the Shivering Sands were particular favorites. She introduced me to delicious and passionate romance with such delicacy, always with a bit of mystery and danger. I loved her stories. Of course her own life was so mysterious too, like Agatha Christie. I think those early books influenced the way I like to write, always a little twist, a little of the exotic and, of course, romance.

Carolyn Smith w/a Caroline Clemmons
Caroline Clemmons writes Romance and Adventure
www.carolineclemmons.com

I discovered Victoria Holt after I graduated from Nancy Drew. I knew nothing about genre and thought she was pure mystery. I loved her books and read each one I could find, and continued reading those and books by her other pen names. She had a great style.

Stephanie Burkhart
Author of "The Count's Lair"
http://www.stephanieburkhart.com

I discovered Victoria Holt as a teenager. I loved her novels. I loved the heroine, the dark hero, the dark settings and secrets! What was the secret? Reading Victoria Holt stimulated me. I loved to close my eyes and imagine. That's was Victoria Holt did for me. She made me imagine. In my paranormal writing today I weave in exotic settings and secrets. What's a good paranormal without secrets?

Shay

I fell in love with Victoria Holt and Mary Stewart (the author, not the queen) in the 1960's. I never read any Jean Plaidy books, but I love Victoria Holt's gothic romances. I think that's why I write paranormal romance (ghost stories, not vampires, werewolves etc.) In all but one Victoria Holt/Mary Stewart novel, none of the ghosts were real. When I began writing, I decided, if I'm going to write paranormal (formally known as gothic) romance, my ghosts would be real.

Part 2 of my Victoria Holt Series - The Jean Plaidy Novels

The Jean Plaidy Novels
By: Stephanie Burkhart

Part 2 of my 3 part series about Victoria Holt.

"Never regret. If it's good, it's wonderful. If it's bad, it's experience." – Victoria Holt.

The Queen of Gothic Romance was Victoria Holt. Her stories were populated with secrets, spooky castles/manors, heroines in distress, and 19th Century locales. Through the 1960-1980's she revitalized the gothic romance. Victoria Holt, however was a pen name for Eleanor Hibbert, and while it was her most famous pen name which earned her the most money, I believe Eleanor found the most enjoyment and fulfillment with the Jean Plaidy pen name.

My Own Personal Experience with Jean Plaidy

I had read Victoria Holt in high school, (1982-86) and at the time, I got my fix at the local library. I loved the Manchester, NH library with its open rooms. Then I joined the Army in 1986 and went to Germany for my first assignment.


In July 1988, I discovered my first Jean Plaidy book. I was sent a "care package" and Queen in Waiting was in it. It's the story of George II and Caroline of Ansbach. I took the book to Berlin with me, devouring it on the duty train.

I LOVED this book. To this day, it is one of my favorites. George and Caroline's romantic love story touched a chord in me. Fairytales do come true and while George II was not perfect, what I loved about Plaidy was that she made George II deliciously human and sympathetic, and I, as a reader, appreciated that. When I got back to the states, I went on a hunt for Jean Plaidy books. I simply could not get enough of her wonderful historicals that wove fiction and truth so effortlessly.

Author Jean Plaidy

During World War II, Eleanor Hibbets and her husband lived in Cornwall near a secluded yet picturesque beach called – Plaidy. The beach inspired Eleanor's new pen name: Jean Plaidy.

Her first Jean Plaidy novel was "Together They Ride" in 1945! It was set in the 18th century about Cornish smugglers. It was well written, but not very successful.


Plaidy's next novel was "Beyond the Blue Mountains" and established the relationship between her and her publisher, Robert Hale which would last until her passing in 1993. "Beyond the Blue Mountains" was over 500 pages and was rejected by several publishers before it was published in 1958. It spanned 3 generations of women and began in the mid-18th century.

Over the course of the next 15 years, Plaidy turned her attention to bringing history to life. Her earlier stories involved Jane Shore (Edward IV's mistress, I believe), Katherine Parr, (Henry VIII's 6th wife) and Henry VIII's sisters, Mary and Margaret.

Plaidy's career reached its height between 1960-70's, and she became one of Britain's most popular and accomplished authors. While fictionalized history, her novels were methodically and carefully researched. She loved reading dusty old history books and putting scenes into her words, making them vivid and exciting.

Eleanor described her writing as "pure entertainment," but she believed it was nicer to be read than to receive reviews.

One article in the Sunday Times summed up her success as such: "Jean Plaidy, by skillful blending of superb storytelling and meticulous attention to authenticity of detail and depth of characterization, has become one of the county's most widely read novelists."

For me, looking back, this is exactly why I enjoy Plaidy's novels.

The bulk of Plaidy's historical works is extensive. From 1967-1971 she wrote the Georgian Saga (which I've read) and in the 1970's she wrote the Plantagenet Saga (15 books! I've read most) and in the 1980's she wrote the Queens of England, which I've enjoyed.

So how historically correct was Plaidy? Very. She researched her writing well and if she mentioned a little known fact in her novels, then there was a historical basis for it. One of the most fascinating little tidbits I read? In "The Queen's Secret" about Henry V and Katherine of Valois, Plaidy mentions that a fortune teller told Henry V if his son was born at Windsor Castle then his son would live long, but lose everything Henry V won. If his son was NOT born at Windsor Castle, he would not live long, but would hold onto what Henry had won. Henry V believed this down to his bones and when Katherine was pregnant, sought out her reassurances often that she would not have their children at Windsor Castle. Katherine's favorite castle however, was Windsor Castle. She firmly intended to honor her husband's request not to have the child at Windsor, but stayed too long. A winter storm struck, and she had the child at Windsor. When Henry V was told, he fell to his knees and wept. He died 8 months later.

His son, Henry VI, was haunted by what we now know was schizophrenia. He lived long, but lost everything Henry V had won in battle.

You rarely find this depth of research in other historical novels.

Starting in 1952, Plaidy published 2 novels a year, but in 1981, raised her output to 3 novels a year. In 1983, Eleanor was in her late 70's. Her last Plaidy novel was "William's Wife" about Queen Mary II, which was released in 1992.

Do you have a favorite Jean Plaidy book? What drew you to Eleanor's Jean Plaidy pen name?

NEXT: Part 3 of 3: Eleanor Hibbets other pen names and her legacy.

History Saturday - Victoria Holt, Part 1

Never regret. If it's good, it's wonderful. If it's bad, it's experience.
Victoria Holt

******

By: Stephanie Burkhart

One of the first authors I read as a teenager that left a resonating impression with me was Victoria Holt. And while I sheepishly admit that I can't remember my first Victoria Holt novel, I recall that I loved the ambience of her novels, the gothic settings, the spooky mansions, and the clever heroine. These elements of storytelling echo in my own paranormal romances.

So who was Victoria Holt? Enjoy this first part of a three part series.

Victoria Holt was a pen name for Eleanor Alice Burford. She was born on 1 September 1906 near London. Young Eleanor claimed to have inherited her love of reading from her father, Joseph Burford.

Eleanor loved London and considered herself lucky to have lived there. As a young woman, she went to business college and studied shorthand, typewriting, and languages. She also worked for a jeweler.

In her early 20's, Eleanor married George Hibbert. Married life gave her the freedom to follow her writing.

In 1961, Eleanor created the Victoria Holt pen name. Her first novel as Holt was "Mistress of Mellyn." Her intention was to revive the once popular genre of gothic romance. Very deliberately, she set her stories in gloomy old manors and usually in the 19th century. Most of Holt's gothic romances are told in the first person by the heroine who is usually a governess or a ladies companion.

What made Eleanor stand out is that she carefully researched these novels to capture a certain degree of authenticity. The Victoria Holt pen name was her biggest money earner.

Despite her wealth, Eleanor lived a simple life. Her only hobby was generally to take a 2-3 month cruise in the winter. Typically, she wrote 5 hours a day, 7 days a week, beginning at 7:30 am. She usually had finished 5,00 words by noon. In the afternoon, she personally replied to fan letters. It's amazing to believe that Eleanor never had a chance to use a word processing computer program and that she typed her novels on typewriters!

Eleanor loved her writing, even taking her typewriter on her cruises. She died 18 JAN 1993 while on a cruise ship during her winter vacation.

Next: Eleanor's early novels and Jean Plaidy.

Question: Do you remember the first Victoria Holt novel you read? Do you have a favorite?