Never let sex get in the way of a good romance. That was the view of Ida Pollock, the world's oldest writer of romantic fiction, who died this week aged 105. Using several pen names, including Pamela Kent, Rose Burghley and June Beaufort, Mrs Pollock wrote 125 novels which she described as 'full of hope and romance rather than sex...'
The men are normally rich, but never vulgar with their money,' she told The Times earlier this year. 'An older man is essential to provide the reassurance the heroine needs. There's always turbulence before he sweeps in to save the day.'
Mrs Pollock's daughter, Rosemary, added: 'My mother is interested in exploring relations between a man and a woman on many levels. She would never reduce it to basic primitive sex.'
Ida admitted that many of her heroes were based on her late husband, Colonel Hugh Pollock who, interestingly, was once Sir Winston Churchill's editor.
The author's strong beliefs echo those of the late Dame Barbara Cartland who wrote more than 700 books in her lifetime. Famous for her 'hearts and flowers' approach to romance, Barbara never changed the format of her books, or her belief that this type of escapism was what women really wanted.
Here is an excerpt from A Nightingale in the Sycamore by June Beaufort, published 1957.
He moved to meet her as she moved to meet him and caught her in his arms, kissing her wildly, like a man who was starving. Her hair, eyes, cheeks, lips - he smothered them with so many kisses that before long he paused to draw breath himself. She was completely breathless but clung to him as if never willingly would she let him go again.
I wonder what E L James would make of that?
The men are normally rich, but never vulgar with their money,' she told The Times earlier this year. 'An older man is essential to provide the reassurance the heroine needs. There's always turbulence before he sweeps in to save the day.'
Mrs Pollock's daughter, Rosemary, added: 'My mother is interested in exploring relations between a man and a woman on many levels. She would never reduce it to basic primitive sex.'
Ida admitted that many of her heroes were based on her late husband, Colonel Hugh Pollock who, interestingly, was once Sir Winston Churchill's editor.
The author's strong beliefs echo those of the late Dame Barbara Cartland who wrote more than 700 books in her lifetime. Famous for her 'hearts and flowers' approach to romance, Barbara never changed the format of her books, or her belief that this type of escapism was what women really wanted.
Here is an excerpt from A Nightingale in the Sycamore by June Beaufort, published 1957.
He moved to meet her as she moved to meet him and caught her in his arms, kissing her wildly, like a man who was starving. Her hair, eyes, cheeks, lips - he smothered them with so many kisses that before long he paused to draw breath himself. She was completely breathless but clung to him as if never willingly would she let him go again.
I wonder what E L James would make of that?
The six Romaniacs shortlisted for the Festival of Romance 2012 New Talent Award - (in no particular order) Celia, Lucie, Catherine. Laura, Sue, Jan, Liz, Vanessa, Debbie