Jean Merrill: The Girl from the Diadem

The Girl from the Diadem by Jean Merrill is an Edwardian Romance that was published by Fawcett in 1978. Belle Barclay's career in the theater was tanking and a job offered by the Earl of Orsett to pose as his girlfriend in order to win the wife of his choosing by making his uncle relent. Belle accepts but finds out that her real opponent is Orsett's handsome uncle!

Allan Kass did a few Edwardian covers, so each is a treat. This one shows our couple outside in a purple sunset standing near a pagoda.  Our heroine is playing coy while the hero is handsome in his silver dinner jacket. Also, note her topknot hairdo.

Frances Lynch: A Dangerous Magic

Next we have two books by author Frances Lynch. The first is A Dangerous Magic and this book was published by Fawcett in October 1979. Bridie Tantallon travels to Scotland to help her aunt write her memoirs. However, she doesn't realize that her aunt holds the key to a terrible secret that could plunge her whole family into scandal!

Allan Kass outdoes himself with this depiction of an Edwardian couple! I love our heroine's outfit: the white blouse, long straight skirt and buttoned shoes. The hero could almost be from any time period in the 20th century. It's a creative and romantic cover which I really like!

Dorothy Daniels: The Purple and the Gold

The Purple and the Gold was published by Signet in March 1980. In Vienna of 1912 young Magda Karoly comes of age and is pursued by men who are interested in her title and her beauty. Can she find true love in the mad age before World War 1?

Allan Kass illustrates our couple at a ball. I like this cover because it evokes the beauty of his regency pictures, but we see his talent in creating the elegance of the Edwardian age. Our heroine wears a low cut ball gown of blue and a choker of diamonds that match those in her ears. Her hairdo is styled a pompadour. Our hero is handsome in black tuxedo and very dapper with his mustache! I really like the crowd behind them dancing and enjoy looking at the variety of clothing colors and styles. The ballroom is ornate with decorated walls and a huge chandelier. This is the only cover that Allan did for Dorothy Daniels and I hope you enjoy it!!

Marion Chesney: My Lords, Ladies, and Marjorie

Marion Chesney's My Lords, Ladies, and Marjorie was published in October 1981, part of Fawcett's Coventry Romance line #145. It is set in Edwardian England (1901-1910) and is the story of Marjorie, a middle class girl, who falls in love with Lord Philip's picture in the newspaper. The fun begins when she meets him during her London season!

Allan Kass illustrates our couple in typical Edwardian garb: a blouse and long skirt for our heroine and a jacket, shirt and trousers for our hero. Note that both wear a tie. That was common during that time. Our heroine has her lovely red hair in a Gibson girl hairdo and I love the purple colors of her outfit. Also note her button shoes! They sit outside on a low stone wall and seem to blend in with the colors of the trees and stream.

King Edward succeeded his mother, Queen Victoria, as king in 1901. He only reigned for a few years and the first decade of the 1900's in considered "Edwardian". Many consider it to be the last remaining years of true aristocracy before World War 1 began and England's middle class became a driving force in the country.