Norah Lofts, néeNorah Robinson, (27 August 1904–10 September 1983) was a 20th century best-selling British author. She wrote over fifty books specialising in historical fiction, but she also wrote non-fiction and short stories. Many of her novels, including her Suffolk Trilogy, follow the history of a specific house and the residents that lived in it.
Lofts was born in Shipdham, Norfolk in England and died in 1983 in Bury St Edmunds. She also wrote under the pen names Peter Curtis and Juliet Astley. Norah Lofts chose to release her murder-mystery novels under the pen name Peter Curtis because she did not want the readers of her historic fiction to pick up a murder-mystery novel and expect classic Norah Lofts historical fiction. However, the murders still show characteristic Norah Lofts elements. Most of her historical novels fall into two general categories: biographical novels about queens, among them Anne Boleyn, Isabella I of Castile, and Catherine of Aragon; and novels set in East Anglia centered around the fictitious town of Baildon (patterned largely on Bury St. Edmunds). Her creation of this fictitious area of England is reminiscent of Thomas Hardy's creation of "Wessex"; and her use of recurring characters such that the protagonist of one novel appears as a secondary character in others is even more reminiscent of William Faulkner's work set in "Yoknapatawpha County," Mississippi. Norah Lofts' work set in East Anglia in the 1930s and 1940s shows great concern with the very poor in society and their inability to change their conditions. Her approach suggests an interest in the social reformism that became a feature of British post-war society.
Several of her novels were turned into films. Jassy was filmed as Jassy (1947) starring Margaret Lockwood and Dennis Price. You're Best Alone was filmed as Guilt is My Shadow (1950). The Devil's Own (also known as The Little Wax Doll and Catch As Catch Can) was filmed as The Witches . The film 7 Women was directed by John Ford and based on the story Chinese Finale by Norah Lofts.
Norah Lofts has a devoted international following, notably on the Goodreads website
The Road to Revelation, London: Davies, 1941; reprinted, Corgi Books, 1976; reprinted Winter Harvest New York: Doubleday, 1955; reprinted, Fawcett, 1976..
The Brittle Glass, London: Joseph, 1942; New York: Knopf, 1943; reprinted, Fawcett, 1977.
Michael and All Angels, London: Joseph, 1943; published as The Golden Fleece, New York: Knopf, 1944; reprinted, Fawcett, 1977.
Jassy, London: Joseph & New York: Knopf, 1944; reprinted, Fawcett, 1979.
To See a Fine Lady, London: Joseph & New York: Knopf, 1946; reprinted, Fawcett, 1976.
Silver Nutmeg, London: Joseph & New York: Doubleday, 1947; reprinted, Corgi Books, 1974.
A Calf for Venus, London: Joseph & New York: Doubleday, 1949; published as Letty, Pyramid Publications, 1968, reprinted under original title, Corgi Books, 1974.
Esther, New York: Macmillan, 1950; reprinted, Corgi Books, 1973.
The Lute Player, London: Joseph & New York: Doubleday, 1951; reprinted, Fawcett, 1976.
Bless This House, London: Joseph & New York: Doubleday, 1954 (as Literary Guild selection); reprinted, Queens House, 1977.
Queen in Waiting, London: Joseph, 1955; New York: 1958; as Eleanor the Queen: The Story of the Most Famous Woman of the Middle Ages, New York: Doubleday, 1955; reprinted under original title, Fawcett, 1977.
Afternoon of an Autocrat, London: Joseph & New York: Doubleday, 1956; published as The Deadly Gift, Pyramid Publications, 1967; published The Devil in Clevely, London: Morley Baker, 1968; published under original title, Hodder & Stoughton, 1978.
Scent of Cloves, New York: Doubleday, 1957; reprinted, Queens House, 1977.
The Suffolk Trilogy:
The Town House, London: Hutchinson & New York: Doubleday, 1959; reprinted, Fawcett, 1976.
The House at Old Vine, London: Hutchinson & New York: Doubleday, 1961; reprinted, Queens House, 1977.
The House at Sunset, New York: Doubleday, 1962; London: Hutchinson, 1963; reprinted, Fawcett, 1978.
The Concubine: A Novel Based Upon the Life of Anne Boleyn, New York: Doubleday, 1963; London: Hutchinson, 1964; published as Concubine, London: Arrow Books, 1965.
How Far to Bethlehem? London: Hutchinson & New York: Doubleday, 1965.
The Lost Ones, London: Hutchinson, 1969; as The Lost Queen, New York: Doubleday, 1969.
Madselin, London: Corgi Books, 1969; New York: Bantam, 1970.
The King's Pleasure, New York: Doubleday, 1969; London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1970.
Lovers All Untrue, London: Hodder and Stoughton & New York: Doubleday, 1970.
A Rose for Virtue: The Very Private Life of Hortense, London: Hodder and Stoughton & New York: Doubleday, 1971.
Charlotte, London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1972; published as Out of the Dark, New York: Doubleday, 1972.
The Maude Reed Tale, New York: Dell, 1972.
Uneasy Paradise 1973; published as Her Own Special Paradise, London: Transworld Publishers, 1975.
Nethergate, London: Hodder and Stoughton & New York: Doubleday, 1973.
Crown of Aloes, London: Hodder and Stoughton & New York: Doubleday, 1974.
Checkmate, London: Corgi Books, 1975; New York: Fawcett, 1978.
Walk into My Parlour, London: Corgi Books, 1975.
Trilogy:
Knight's Acre London: Hodder and Stoughton & New York: Doubleday, 1975.
The Homecoming, London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1975; New York: Doubleday, 1976.
The Lonely Furrow, London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1976; New York: Doubleday, 1977.
Haunted House, London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1978; published as The Haunting of Gad's Hall, New York: Doubleday, 1979.
The Day of the Butterfly, London: Bodley Head, 1979; New York: Doubleday, 1980.
A Wayside Tavern, London: Hodder and Stoughton & New York: Doubleday, 1980.
The Claw, London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1981; New York: Doubleday, 1982.
The Old Priory, London: Bodley Head, 1981; New York: Doubleday, 1982.
Pargeters, London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1984; New York: Doubleday, 1986.
Short Story Collections
I Met a Gypsy, London: Metheun & New York: Knopf, 1935.
Heaven in Your Hand and Other Stories, New York: Doubleday, 1958; London: Joseph, 1959; reprinted, Fawcett, 1975.
Is There Anybody There? London: Corgi Books, 1974; published as Hauntings: Is There Anybody There?, New York: Doubleday, 1975.
Saving Face and Other Stories, London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1983; New York: Doubleday, 1984.
Other Publications
Women in the Old Testament: Twenty Psychological Portraits, London: Sampson Low & New York: Macmillan, 1949.
Eternal France: A History of France, 1789-1944, with Margery Weiner, New York: Doubleday, 1968; London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1969.
The Story of Maude Reed (for children), London: Transworld, 1971; published as The Maude Reed Tale, New York: Nelson, 1972.
Rupert Hatton's Tale (for children), London: Carousel Books, 1972; published as Rupert Hatton's Story, New York: Nelson, 1973 (Junior Literary Guild selection).
Domestic Life in England, London: Weidenfeld & Nicholson, 1976; New York: Doubleday, 1977.
Queens of Britain, London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1977; published as Queens of England, New York: Doubleday, 1977.
Emma Hamilton, London: Joseph & New York: Coward McCann, 1978.
Anne Boleyn, London: Orbis & New York: Coward McCann, 1979.
Novels Published under the Pseudonym Juliet Astley
The Fall of Midas, New York: Coward McCann, 1975; London: Joseph, 1976.
Copsi Castle, London: Joseph & New York: Coward McCann, 1978.
Novels Published under the Pseudonym Peter Curtis
Dead March in Three Keys, London: Davis, 1940; published as No Question of Murder, New York: Doubleday, 1959; published as Bride of Moat House, by Norah Lofts, New York: Fawcett, 1975.
You're Best Alone, London: Macdonald, 1943, reprinted, Corgi Books, 1971; published with Requiem for Idols, in Two by Norah Lofts, New York: Doubleday, 1981.
Lady Living Alone, London: Macdonald, 1945.
The Devil's Own, London: Macdonald & New York: Doubleday, 1960; published as The Witches, London: Pan Books, 1966; published as The Little Wax Doll, New York: Doubleday, 1970; published as Catch as Catch Can.
