Hibbert, Eleanor Alice

▪ 1994

      (VICTORIA HOLT; JEAN PLAIDY), British novelist (b. 1906/1910?, London, England—d. Jan. 18, 1993, at sea between Athens, Greece, and Port Said, Egypt), published more than 200 popular romance novels under half a dozen pseudonyms. Although some critics dismissed her work as escapist trash, others recognized the deft storytelling, well-researched historic detail, and strong female characters that brought Hibbert fame, fortune, and millions of devoted readers in some 20 languages. Hibbert, who kept her birth date and most of her personal life a closely guarded secret, decided to be a novelist at an early age, but she did not publish her first book, Beyond the Blue Mountains, until 1947. It was the first of more than 90 historical romances written under the pen name Jean Plaidy. Her U.S. agent later suggested she write a new series of Gothic romances, the first of which, Mistress of Mellyn, appeared in 1960 under the nom de plume Victoria Holt. (The 32nd Victoria Holt novel, The Black Opal, was published posthumously.) She wrote two Jean Plaidy romances and one Victoria Holt per year until 1972, when she added The Miracle at St. Bruno's, the first of a 17-novel family saga published under the pen name Philippa Carr. Hibbert also wrote under her maiden name, Eleanor Burford, and the pseudonyms Elbur Ford, Kathleen Kellow, and Ellalice Tate.

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