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New to Jean Plaidy...where should I start?

(including the other many pseudonyms of Eleanor Hibbert)
LoriKate
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Posts: 2
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New to Jean Plaidy...where should I start?

Post by LoriKate » Tue July 10th, 2012, 2:16 pm

Im 24 years old, love historical romance but have somehow managed to never read any Jean Plaidy books yet.
Any suggestions for her best books and/or best ones to start with?
Is it nessecary to read them in chronological order?
Thanks :)
Last edited by LoriKate on Tue November 22nd, 2016, 11:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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boswellbaxter
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Post by boswellbaxter » Tue July 10th, 2012, 3:50 pm

Welcome, Lori! I'd start with her Tudor books, maybe The Lady in the Tower or The Rose without a Thorn.

With some of her series books, it is better to read them in chronological order. Here's a list here (some of the books have been republished under new titles):

http://jeanplaidy.tripod.com/id18.htm

If you like romance, do bear in mind that Plaidy's novels aren't particularly romance-y--more just straight historical fiction.
Susan Higginbotham
Coming in October: The Woodvilles


http://www.susanhigginbotham.com/
http://www.susanhigginbotham.com/blog/

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sweetpotatoboy
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Location: London, UK

Post by sweetpotatoboy » Tue July 10th, 2012, 4:16 pm

If you want a good old historical romance that's a standalone as a good place to start, I suggest "Beyond the Blue Mountains".
If you enjoy that, you can move on to the straight historical fiction series, such as the Tudors series or the Isabella and Ferdinand series etc.

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princess garnet
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Post by princess garnet » Tue July 10th, 2012, 8:00 pm

I've bought all the Plaidy reissues out, some before the covers were redesigned. Some of her novels are better written than others. Nevertheless I've reveled in each one.

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Nefret
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Favourite HF book: Welsh Princes trilogy
Preferred HF: The Middle Ages (England), New Kingdom Egypt, Medieval France
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Post by Nefret » Tue July 10th, 2012, 10:50 pm

'Queen of This Realm' is my favourite.
Into battle we ride with Gods by our side
We are strong and not afraid to die
We have an urge to kill and our lust for blood has to be fulfilled
WE´LL FIGHT TILL THE END! And send our enemies straight to Hell!
- "Into Battle"
{Ensiferum}

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Mythica
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Post by Mythica » Wed July 11th, 2012, 8:16 am

I started with "Flaunting, Extravagant Queen" - I didn't like it at first but by the end, I was very impressed.

LoriKate
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Post by LoriKate » Wed July 11th, 2012, 7:38 pm

Thanks everyone for all your suggestions so far!

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Alisha Marie Klapheke
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Post by Alisha Marie Klapheke » Sun July 29th, 2012, 2:47 am

You can read them in any order you like. I don't believe it matters much. I personally loved Courts of Love--the one on Eleanor of Aquitaine .

SCW
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Preferred HF: Lately World Two or the time immediately before and after this period
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Post by SCW » Wed September 19th, 2012, 12:00 pm

The series on Catherine De Medici are probably amongst her best novels. They are Madame Serpent, The Italian Woman and Queen Jezebel. Or maybe the Charles II Trilogy

Helen_Davis

Post by Helen_Davis » Sat February 2nd, 2013, 3:11 am

I second the Tudor Recommendations! The Rose Without a Thorn is very haunting-- I think it was her last novel. It made me see Catherine Howard as a flesh and blood woman and not just the little girl who messed around on Henry.

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