So I love historical fiction and I have often read on these forums and other places how wonderful Jean Plaidy is. Well I finally read one of her books, The Queen's Secret, and I found it to be rather poorly written.  It was more like a romance novel than historical fiction. Does anyone else deal this way?

Judy,

I have read quite a few of Jean Plaidy's books. the writing style is much different than our more modern HF writers like Elizabeth Chadwick. Some of her books are better than others generally there are some good historical facts in them https://www.goodreads.com/series/list?id=6590.Jean_Plaidy

My favorite by here is Courts of Love.

alice

Nope.  I know several PBS members have a hard time with the writing style.  For me, Victoria Holt/Phillipa Carr/Jean Plaidy will always hold a special place in my heart because I was introduced to them nearly 40 years ago by a beloved family friend.  Never knew at the time that I was reading HF, just that I loved the historical facts and details.  No hatin' here, we are a tolerant group!  Often thought about going back and reading a JP , just to see the differences between writing styles, but my TBR shelves just keep calling me.....  

Oh gosh, how boring would it be if we all loved everything?    I'm dating myself, but I devoured Victoria Holt and Phillipa Carr as a teen--but I didn't like Plaidy as much.  It's been many years since I've read her, and like Jan, my TBR pile is standing in my way!  I think writing styles have definitely evolved over the years, and what was popular then may not be "in fashion" now.  

Well I'm glad to know that I'm not hated for feeling this way. I like all kinds of hf writters Anya Setton, Phillips Gregory and Geraldine Brooks are just a few. I will probably give Jean Plaidy another chance but if it feels like a romance novel again that will be it for me as I have never been a fan of romance novels.

I think I echo the prevailing sentiment. Victoria Holt holds a very special place in my heart because she was one of the first authors I read from the "adult" section of my public library. And I read them with wild abandon and adored every one of them! My daughter has read a couple and has enjoyed them, but for the most part, that was writing for another time and a much (much) younger age.

Thinking specifically about books written under the name of Jean Plaidy, I'm not sure I've actually read any. 

(Welcome to the forum, Judy! So nice to see you posting in the HF forum. Hope we'll see more of you!)

Kelly