Jean Plaidy

Eleanor Alice Burford Hibbert, also known by her pen name Jean Plaidy, was a prolific English author known for her historical fiction novels. She was born on September 1, 1906, in Canning Town, London, England, to Joseph Burford and Alice Louise Burford. Plaidy's father, a dock laborer, instilled in her a love for reading at a young age. Due to poor health, Plaidy received private education at home, which allowed her to develop her writing skills.

Plaidy was a versatile writer who used various pseudonyms for her works in different genres. She wrote historical fiction novels under the name Jean Plaidy, gothic romances as Victoria Holt, and a multi-generational family saga as Philippa Carr. Additionally, she used the pen names Eleanor Burford, Elbur Ford, Kathleen Kellow, Anna Percival, and Ellalice Tate for her light romances, crime novels, murder mysteries, and thrillers. Plaidy's use of different pseudonyms allowed her to explore various genres and reach diverse audiences.

Plaidy's historical fiction novels, particularly those written under the name Jean Plaidy, are celebrated for their accuracy, high writing quality, and attention to detail. Her Tudor Saga series and Stuart Saga series are among her most popular works. Plaidy's ability to combine facts with imagination brought history to life, making it accessible and enjoyable for readers. In 1989, the Romance Writers of America recognized Plaidy's contributions to the genre by awarding her the Golden Treasure award. By the time of her death, Plaidy had written over 200 novels, selling over 100 million copies worldwide in 20 foreign languages. She remains a popular and widely borrowed author in lending libraries.