pictish
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Rediscovering Jean PlaidyI read a million of her books when I was about 12/13 and it was really what got me interested in history I think  Anyway they started reprinting them again about 3 years ago and I tried them and thought they were quite dated  However I tried them again recently and sort of got used to the different style and am really enjoying them. They are very well researched and written and more credible historically than the way Philippa Gregory writes though obviously not as racy  There are a few bits that seem a bit dated in the style but they're still worth a look esp if you like the Tudor period as they are amongst her best. Generally speaking the earlier it was written, the better it will be as I think some of the ones she wrote when she was getting on a bit are a bit thin 
I've recently read The Thistle & The Rose about Margaret, sister of Henry VIII who marries James IV of Scotland, St Thomas's Eve about Henry VIII & Thomas More and am currently finishing Murder Most Royal about Anne Boleyn & Catherine Howard.
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Wildpurl
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Oooh I loved Jean Plaidy when I was young too! I remember The Thistle and The Rose. Maybe I should have a look on Amazon...
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pictish
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I liked that one as I'm not as familar with Scottish history apart from Mary Queen of Scots.
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gilraen
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An old favourite of mine too!!! She wrote under Phillipa Carr and Victoria Holt.
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pictish
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I think I read all of those as well!!! 
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gilraen
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Me too!!! I knew more about Tudor England than the student teacher in form 2 at achool because of Jean Plaidy. 
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pictish
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I was very disappointed with school history in comparison and when I later in life ended up teaching it at 'A' level, I always included some of the bits I found more interesting
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Oblonsky
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I also read Jean Plaidy at the same sort of age and enjoyed them at the time. Not read any recently tho.
Another writer of historical fiction I really enjoyed was Anya Seton. I particularly enjoyed Katherine.
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pictish
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Oh yes LOVE Katherine - I read that again about a year ago and still enjoyed it!!! It's a classic I read all her others too back then.
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Auntie Noo
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Victoria Holt was my first "grown up" author - I can still remember the book was called Pride of the Peacock, and I read it about aged 11 or 12, and then again every summer until the book fell apart!!! Don't think I ever read her alter ego though?
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pictish
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I think the Victoria Holt ones were a bit gothicky weren't they with dark castles on Cornish cliffs etc - a bit Daphne du Maurier - I loved them!!!! I remember one called The Shivering Sands and another called Menfreya 
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terri
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I vaguely remember reading "The lute player", I think that was voctoria holt too Might have to have a look on amazon, I really like daphne du maurier
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pictish
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They might be reissuing the Victoria Holt books at the same time terri - they are definitely reprinting a lot of old historical novels at the moment as there's so much interest - I've picked up lots of remaindered stuff in The Works 3 for £5 recently - they had some Elizabeth Chadwicks the other day (about 5 of hers including a couple of very recent ones) and some by Norah Lofts who I've not read but was a contemporary of Jean Plaidy. I LOVE The Works for things like that
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terri
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oooo, I'll have to have a look if I'm near a works!!!! I really like elizabeth chadwick! I read the two about william marshall on holiday last year
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pictish
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Well one of the ones I saw was A Place Beyond Courage which follows on from those books
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Oblonsky
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I love Elizabeth Chadwick too
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pictish
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I am rationing her books rather than reading them one after another cos I like them so much
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