Vivian Stuart, née Violet Vivian Finlay (b. January 2, 1914 - d. August, 1986) A British Author from 1953 to 1986.Published under different pen names : Alex Stuart, Barbara Allen, Fiona Finlay, V.A. Stuart, William Stuart Long and Robyn Stuart.
Vivian first wrote romance fiction, she soon devoted her attention to military and historical novels.
In 1960, Vivian founded the Romantic Novelists' Association with Lucilla Andrews and others, Vivian also was the first elected Chairman.
Vivian also had a special interest in Nautical History.
Violet Vivian Finlay born in Berkshire, England on January 2, 1914.Her youth mostly was spent in Burma and India. Studied medicine at the Universities of London and Budapest.She married twice during her lifetime. Emigrated to Australia with her second Husband ..an Hungarian Doctor who she worked with.Joined the Australian Forces during World War 2 and was attached to the IVth Army. Was later transferred to British xiv Army in Burma.Frequently journeyed between Rangoon, Singapore, Java and Sumatra.She died in August, 1986, at age 72.
Writing career
Stuart published her first novels in 1953, under her first married name using her most prolific pen name Alex Stuart.Other pen names : Barbara Allen, Fiona Finlay, V.A. Stuart, William Stuart Long (The Australian Series) and Robyn Stuart.
The novel, "Gay Cavalier" (Alex Stuart) caused trouble between Vivian and her Mills & Boon editors. Vivian featured a secondary story line featuring a Catholic male and Protestant female who chose to marry.This so-called "mixed marriage" touched many peoples nerves in the United Kingdom at the time.
The "Australian Series" (William Stuart Long) is factually and historically accurate.Much historical research went into this series.With extensive research fromThe Mitchell Library Sydney; The National Maritime Museum;British Public Records Office and the New York Public Library.
A number of fictional characters and narrative were added due to the series being written in novel form.
Nurse on Holiday / Country of the Heart / Last of the Logans (1972) (with Catherine Airlie, Rosalind Brett)
Return to Love / Stormy Haven / Nurse to Captain Andy (1972) (with Rosalind Brett, Jill Christian)
Send for Nurse Vincent / Island For Sale / Winter is Past (1973) (with Margaret Malcolm and Anne Weale)
Harlequin Classic Library (1980) (with Elizabeth Hoy, Susan Barrie, Mary Burchell, Juliet Shore, Jean S. MacLeod, Elizabeth Houghton and Jill Tahourdin)
As Barbara Allen
Single novels
Doctor Lucy (1956)
Someone Else's Heart (1958)
The Gay Gordons (1961)
The Scottish Soldier (1966)
As Fiona Finlay
Single novels
Moon Over Madrid (1957)
As V.A. Stuart
Alexander Sheridan Series
Like Victors and Lords (1964) aka Victors and Lords aka Captain of Cavalry
The Sepoy Mutiny (1973) aka Mutiny in Meerut aka Mutiny at Dawn
Massacre At Cawnpore (1973)
Cannons of Lucknow (1974) aka Battle for Lucknow
The Heroic Garrison (1973)
Phillip Hazard Series
The Valiant Sailors (1966)
The Brave Captains (1968)
Black Sea Frigate (1971) aka Hazard's Command
Hazard of Huntress (1972)
Victory at Sebastopol (1973) aka Hazard in Circassia
