VICTORIA HOLT
(1906 — 1993)

Eleanor Alice Burford Hibbert, better known to readers as Victoria Holt, Philippa Carr, and Jean Plaidy, was one of the world's most beloved and enduring authors. Her career spanned five decades and she was heralded as the "Queen of Romantic Suspense."  The evolution of this sub-genre of romance began when her first bestseller, MISTRESS OF MELLYN (labeled "gothic romance"), was published in 1960. Her writing style later influenced other authors of gothic-style romantic suspense.

Eleanor was born on September 1, 1906 in London, England. Although she began writing at an early age, none of her books were published until 1949. Her first historical novel was written under the pseudonym of Jean Plaidy. It did not meet with instant acclaim, but with each succeeding book, her readership grew at a steady pace.

Eventually her writing caught the attention of an American publisher, who believed Eleanor had the potential to become a bestselling author. She was contracted to write a novel that combined romance, suspense, and gothic (dark) elements. MISTRESS OF MELLYN by Victoria Holt was the result, and it was an immediate success.

In the early 1970s, Eleanor adopted the pseudonym of Philippa Carr and the first volume of her ST. BRUNO series, a lengthy family saga, was published. She also continued to write historical fiction under the name of Jean Plaidy and romantic suspense as Victoria Holt—up until the time of her death on January 18, 1993.

Novels by Victoria Holt:

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ORDER — Black Opal, The
ORDER — Bride of Pendorric
ORDER — Captive, The
ORDER — Curse of the Kings, The
ORDER — Daughter of Deceit
ORDER — Demon Lover, The
   N/A    — Devil on Horseback, The
ORDER — House of a Thousand Lanterns, The
ORDER — India Fan, The
ORDER — Judas Kiss, The
ORDER — King of the Castle, The
   N/A    — Kirkland Revels
   N/A    — Landower Legacy, The
   N/A    — Legend of the Seventh Virgin, The
   N/A    — Lord of the Far Island
   N/A    — Mask of the Enchantress, The
   N/A    — Menfreya in the Morning
ORDER — Mistress of Mellyn
ORDER — My Enemy the Queen
ORDER — On the Night of the Seventh Moon
   N/A    — Pride of the Peacock, The
ORDER — Queen's Confession, The
ORDER — Road to Paradise Island, The
ORDER — Secret for a Nightingale
   N/A    — Secret Woman, The
ORDER — Seven for a Secret
   N/A    — Shadow of the Lynx, The
   N/A    — Shivering Sands, The
ORDER — Silk Vendetta, The
   N/A    — Snare of the Serpents
ORDER — Spring of the Tiger, The
ORDER — Time of the Hunter's Moon, The

Links:
Alternate Authors (If You Like Victoria Holt, Try...)
The Carr, Holt, Plaidy Page
Victoria Holt

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Photo by Godfrey Argent