Victoria Holt Mary Stewart Daphne du Maurier

The old authors we love.
Why?
Recently, I checked back into the Victoria Holt fan club (sounds like a hotel, doesn't it? Or should we say a manor house?). The discussion was on The Shivering Sands and why generally we love those old stories / the hero / the heroine / the setting / the mystery.

The comments came from right around the world, as diverse as Norway to Australia. Jane from Norway infinitely prefers the 'younger, innocent heroine' meeting the older, wiser hero (but too old, mind!). The others agree. There's certainly an attraction having a sharp-witted young lass reforming an erstwhile rake of dubious reputation, often plagued by some dark mystery of his own. Universally, the hero is a good natured chap at heart, though he contends and broods and this makes him magnetic. Magnetic = Irresistible.

The setting invariably attracts too. An historical feel, always a mystery. A place where we can journey, via the landscape and the scenes for a good while to escape the mundane reality of life.
In short: a Fairy Tale of a kind.

Like "Beauty and The Beast."

We All Need a Fairy Tale...



Currently reading..........Jane Aiken Hodge's Maulever Hall. And loving it! Kind of has a Bronte feel to it.....the moors, the beginning, the uncertainty.......