For my next #1962club read I’m once more taking a trip back into my past reading, albeit with the slight difference that today’s book is not a re-read! Back in my early teens we didn’t have a lot of money to buy books, and so I tended to grab just about anything I could get my hands on. We also didn’t have Young Adult books as such, so as I grew up was drawn to my father’s crime books and my mother’s romances – which inevitably meant reading a lot of books I probably would never go back to now! However, one of my mum’s favourite authors was Victoria Holt, and I did spend a lot of time with her gothic romances. So when I realised that her second novel, “Kirkland Revels” was published in 1962, I couldn’t resist tracking down a copy – it’s a title of hers I don’t recall having read so I thought it would be fun to spend some time travelling back into my past!
I didn’t know it at the time, but Victoria Holt was one of many pen-names used by the author Eleanor Burford/Hibbert. A massively prolific author, she was also responsible for all of the Jean Plaidy and Philippa Carr books my mother and I read, and according to Wikipedia she wrote under eight different names! Looking down the lists, I recognise a good number of the Holt titles, and this particular strand of writing, those gothic romances, was obviously one my mother favoured. So now, more decades on than I would prefer to acknowledge, how did I find the writing of Victoria Holt?
Well, “Kirkland Revels” follows what I would regard as the basic template of all the Holt novels. The heroine is 19 year old Catherine Corder; returning home from finishing school in France to her emotionally cold father and unwelcoming home, she instantly falls in love with Gabriel Rockwell, the heir of Kirkland Revels. The latter location is of course an old house, previously an Abbey, set deep in Yorkshire. Marrying Gabriel, she finds herself not particularly welcomed by his various family members who see her as a bit of a fortune hunter. However, it’s not long before there are deaths and disappearances, mysterious monks and threats to Catherine all around her. Can she find out the truth, survive the hostile forces threatening her, retain her sanity and ensure the safety of her forthcoming child? You’ll just have to read the book to find out…!
I’m pretty sure now that I didn’t read this Holt back in the day (“The Mistress of Mellyn” and “The Shivering Sands” are the titles I can be sure of), but I can see that it would certainly appeal to a bored, mixed up teenage girl such as I was! As I recall the Holt books, they were pretty much always a mixture of romance, melodrama, gothic settings and usually a scary old house! The topic of families and ancestral homes and inheritances were always popular and feature in “Kirkland”. The heroine here was pleasingly feisty, keen to prove her independence though restricted by the conventions of the time (whenever that was – I don’t think it was ever explicity stated but I’m guessing 19th century). However, it’s clear her agency is limited by society’s structures and she’s very vulnerable to e.g. people claiming that she’s mentally unwell and that the claims of a monk tormenting her are just some kind of female feebleness of the mind. It makes for plenty of drama and the conclusion is satisfyingly done.
The Victoria Holt books were very popular in their day, though I have no idea how they’re thought of nowadays. As for me, it’s very clear that my reading has moved on masses since my early teens, and I doubt I would want to spend much time with Holt nowadays! However, revisiting my teenage self and her voracious need for any kind of reading was interesting, and the book was written well enough with plenty of atmosphere; though it was perhaps a little dialogue-heavy for my taste, especially when that dialogue was a tad predictable. But reading “Kirkland Revels” was an interesting experience which I never would have had without our #1962Club! 🤣🤣
A Life in Books
Oct 20, 2023 @ 08:14:58
My mum also read Victoria Holt and Jean Plaidy so, like you, they were a bridge into reading books for adults. We had a post office in the village which stocked hardback classics and I was given one of those every month. Lovely to revisit those memories. Thank you!
madamebibilophile
Oct 20, 2023 @ 08:27:46
I’m not familiar with this author at all, although I do recognise the name Jean Plaidy. I don’t think I’ll read this but it does sound well done. Like you, I think it would have appealed more to teenage me! You’ve got me wondering about teenage reads I could revisit…
Elle
Oct 20, 2023 @ 09:32:36
It’s so interesting to read your review of this because it throws into relief the literary culture against which Mary Stewart, whose books I’ve been discovering over the past few years, must have really stood out. Stewart also wrote kind of Gothic romantic suspense, but she does it really well, and her heroines are generally feisty, “modern” women in 20th-century settings, often foreign or exotic ones. Fun to see other examples of the genre, especially ones that might explain why Stewart’s superior writing made its mark!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 20, 2023 @ 11:42:16
I think the Mary Stewarts would definitely have stood the test of time a bit better, and I have revisited them with more success. This wasn’t a bad book as such, but certainly I wouldn’t feel drawn to read any more of her books! 😀
1streading
Oct 20, 2023 @ 10:10:37
Victoria Holt is certainly a blast from the past – it’s very brave of you to return to something you read as teenager (when, as you say, books were not so easy to come by). I’m not sure what my equivalent would be!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 20, 2023 @ 11:30:51
She is, and I doubt I would ever choose to read her now – but back in the day I had fewer choices!!!
mallikabooks15
Oct 20, 2023 @ 11:31:12
Glad to see this picked. I tried my first Holt a few years ago (Mistress of Mellyn) and was fairly pleased with the atmosphere and mystery events (though it wasn’t particularly eerie or scary), and this sounds much on the same lines. I think they’re great as a diversion. I have liked the few Jean Plaidy ones I’ve read so far, particularly on Sir Thomas More.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 20, 2023 @ 11:46:17
I think she did what she did very well – it’s just I guess that it’s not really for me any more. I used to enjoy the Jean Plaidy books though…
TravellinPenguin
Oct 20, 2023 @ 11:44:38
I didn’t know that about V Holt. I read her when I was young too. They seemed to be around a lot.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 20, 2023 @ 11:48:15
Yes, I think for those of us growing up during a particular period, she was quite ubiquitous!!
Marianne Maurer
Oct 20, 2023 @ 11:53:27
Same as you, I read almost everything when I was younger since we couldn’t afford to buy books. One of the reasons I consider myself so, so lucky now. Maybe I should try to re-read some of the stuff I read back then. LOL
As you know, I chose A Wrinkle in Time for my challenge. Not a bad one.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 20, 2023 @ 14:06:00
I think when there’s little choice you do tend to read anything you can get your hands on. We are so lucky nowadays…
Marianne Maurer
Oct 21, 2023 @ 10:18:10
Definitely. I just imagine what we could have read when we would have the opportunities they have today.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 21, 2023 @ 12:00:10
😊😊😊😊
Liz Dexter
Oct 20, 2023 @ 12:32:57
I read all three of these writers as a teen, not realising they were the same person, too! But I also don’t remember this one at all. A fun one to read for the Club – I wonder if anyone else will!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 20, 2023 @ 14:04:46
The same here – I had no idea all the names were one (very prolific!) woman! Good fun to revisit her, though I don’t know if anyone else will pick this one!
Margot Kinberg
Oct 20, 2023 @ 12:39:25
Oh, my, I’ve not read Holt in years and years! I’ve moved away, largely, from those gothic novels, but what a trip down memory lane. It is so interesting, isn’t it, to go back to things we read when we were young. Even if you don’t think as much of a book now, re-visiting your younger years is an interesting experience.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 20, 2023 @ 14:02:27
It’s definitely not the kind of book I’d normally read nowadays, Margot, but it was fun to take a trip back to younger me and see what I thought of her now!!
conmartin13
Oct 20, 2023 @ 13:20:12
I read many of her books as a teen and am sure I remember the ominous monk in this one! She was definitely more skilled (not to mention more prolific) than many of her peers but very formulaic. A good choice, however, for this week!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 20, 2023 @ 14:01:53
She definitely wasn’t a bad writer no, but her books did follow a set pattern. It was an interesting experience to revisit her though!
WordsAndPeace
Oct 20, 2023 @ 13:50:42
Thanks, I didn’t grow up in an English speaking country and didn’t know her at all
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 20, 2023 @ 14:01:15
I think she was quite popular for a while but I suspect she’s a bit out of fashion now.
whatmeread
Oct 20, 2023 @ 17:39:26
I also loved Holt in my teens, but when I went back to her as an adult, found her to be a little too predictable.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 20, 2023 @ 19:38:52
Yes, I’m afraid that was the issue here – I devoured anything when I was younger, but I think I’m a bit more choosy nowadays!!
whatmeread
Oct 20, 2023 @ 20:36:45
Yes, me too!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 21, 2023 @ 12:06:01
😊😊
whisperinggums
Oct 21, 2023 @ 00:04:49
Books my friends and family read in the late 60s and 70s but not me as I wasn’t greatly into historical fiction, then. Much preferred more contemporary writing or classics, like JA.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 21, 2023 @ 12:05:51
No, they *are* firmly set in the past and I’m not as a rule a fan of historical fiction nowadays – if I’m reading about the past I’d rather have a contemporary work!
Julé Cunningham
Oct 21, 2023 @ 00:30:47
Can’t imagine you tucking into a big stack of Victoria Holt books these days, but it must have been rather fun to revisit an author you read at a young age. I think Mary Stewart was the author I read early on.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 21, 2023 @ 12:04:57
No, I definitely would be searching elsewhere nowadays. But I enjoyed looking back at teenage reading me! 😀
Reese
Oct 21, 2023 @ 02:21:02
I remember reading Victoria Holt’s that were around the house as a teenager, but I don’t honestly remember anything about any of the books. I think my mom preferred Mary Stewart & hers I remember, even outside of the Merlin ones. But it’s interesting to see your impression on returning to her. I suspect mine would be about the same.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 21, 2023 @ 12:04:26
I think they were very formulaic so individual plots wouldn’t stick. I enjoyed Mary Stewart too and suspect her books were a notch up in the quality standards. It was an interesting experience but I don’t necessarily feel the need to read any more of her books!
Marina Sofia
Oct 21, 2023 @ 08:56:03
I used to love those books aged 11-14, so definitely a YA equivalent for me.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 21, 2023 @ 12:02:50
Yes, that kind of book was definitely the kind my generation used to transition to adult reading I think – as well as crime (as I devoured Christie at the same time). Back then we had to make do without specific YA books!! 🤣
JacquiWine
Oct 21, 2023 @ 09:10:28
I think my mum read some of Victoria Holt’s books back in the day (the name is certainly familiar). They sound suitable escapist!
JacquiWine
Oct 21, 2023 @ 09:10:52
suitably, even.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 21, 2023 @ 12:00:54
👍
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 21, 2023 @ 12:01:34
They were definitely escapist when I was a teenager, and I recall reading several – but not for me nowadays I think!
Marcie McCauley
Oct 21, 2023 @ 20:44:45
What?? Jean Plaidy isn’t real?? This is almost as upsetting as learning about the Nancy-Drew-team!!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 22, 2023 @ 21:47:13
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news… 🤣
Simon T
Oct 21, 2023 @ 21:05:00
Great addition to the club! I’ve not read any Holt, but I do have Menfreya on my shelves. How fun to take a trip back to the author you loved years ago, and to have a new read at the same time.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 22, 2023 @ 21:46:06
It was a real blast from the past Simon, though I’m not entirely convinced I need to read any more Holt!!
heavenali
Oct 22, 2023 @ 11:34:02
What a blast from the past! Such a hugely prolific writer. I read a few of her books from my local library when I was probably about 14/15. I loved that gothic drama and romance back then. I only read a couple of Jean Plaidy novels, I think, despite liking the stories of kings and queens I learned in history at school. No idea if I ever read this one but it doesn’t ring any bells, great fun to explore Victoria Holt again after all those years.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 22, 2023 @ 21:40:21
She was incredibly prolific and I think perfect reading for teenage girls of my generation!! Fun to revisit though!
chrisharding53
Oct 25, 2023 @ 20:34:57
I read her at my my aunt’s house when I was teenager – I remember Shadow of the Lynx, and there were a lot of others. And I also ploughed my way way through Aunty’s Catherine Gaskin novels, and others in that genre. My mother, strictly a classics author (with the odd crime story thrown in), wouldn’t have given them house room (though she never stopped me reading anything) so there was a subversive feel about these books. I don’t think I’ve read any of them since then.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 26, 2023 @ 09:20:47
She was so prolific wasn’t she? But I guess a classics reader wouldn’t have had much time for them! Good fun at the time but I don’t need to revisit her again!!
Lori
Oct 29, 2023 @ 01:02:31
I’ve read a few Victoria Holt novels years ago and liked them, and this reminds me that I have two or three in my library that I still haven’t read yet. I found them very atmospheric and spooky and suppose they would be ideal reading for stormy nights…
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 29, 2023 @ 17:10:25
They’re certainly entertaining and yes, ideal for autumn reading!