Sarah Carlisle: Cleopatra's Carpet

Cleopatra's Carpet is the first book by Sarah Carlisle that I have illustrated by Allan Kass. It was published in December 1979 and is the story of Louisa Bardoff and her unrequited love for Lord Geffrey. Can a London Season bring them together?

Allan Kass illustrates a beautiful night scene for this cover! Our couple standing in front of a fountain and are sharing an intimate moment. Our heroine is pretty in purple, a dress which has quite a modern cut to it, but also Grecian in style. Our hero embraces her and seems cast into the shadow of the evening. Note the cupid on top of the fountain and the flowers growing around the grass. A very pretty cover!

Most regency girls dreamed of going to London during April-July for the season. It was also referred to as the "marriage mart" since many people came to visit and court. A season was expensive and some girls traveled to relatives or in groups in order to attend. For many, it was the one chance to meet young men from outside their neighborhood!

I'm happy that this is the 100th Allan Kass book cover that's listed in my blog! I have just under 800 covers illustrated by Kass and am looking forward to posting all of them here. Please feel free to contact me with any questions. Allan Kass did approximately 1000 covers, so I'm convinced that a few are lurking out there that I don't have!

Diana Campbell: The Reluctant Cyprian

The Reluctant Cyprian is the last book of Diana Campbell's that was illustrated by Allan Kass. This book was published in June 1983 and is the story of mistaken identity as Nicholas Stafford took Miss Juliet Brandon to be a cyprian, while in fact she was a young lady of respectability! The plot thickens when she agrees to help Nicholas lead astray his brother, Oliver and still keep her reputation!

Allan Kass shows our couple in a studio. It looks as if our heroine is painting the hero! Note the tools of the trade along with the painting on the easel behind them. Hopefully the heroine has a smock somewhere because it would be a pity to damage that pretty white dress that she is wearing! I'm sure that Diana Campbell was well pleased with the books that Allan Kass illustrated for her!

Diana Campbell: Payment in Kind

Payment in Kind was published in January 1985 and is another one of Diana Campbell's Signet regencies that Allan Kass illustrated. The book is about Molly Trevor, whose father made his fortune as a moneylender and left it all to her. She has her eyes set on a match with the Viscount Ogilvie and will enter society under a different identity to marry him!

Allan Kass must have been in a purple mood on the day he illustrated this book cover, but since purple is one of my favorite colors, I don't mind! Our heroine is pretty in a purple and white trimmed day dress while our hero matches her in his purple coat! I don't know if I have any other covers with the hero in purple! Also note the pretty blue flowers on the bottom right along with the concrete obelisks and gate!

Aristocrats would marry a women of lower class for money and this was considered a last measure to regain a fortune. Most would not contemplate this permanent decision unless it was highly necessary since there would be heiresses in society.

Diana Campbell: A Marriage of Inconvenience

A Marriage of Convenience was published by Signet in November 1982 for Diana Campbell. It is a story about a girl named Marietta Chase, who enters Twin Oaks to marry Roger, but ends up married to his elder brother, Christopher, instead.

Allan Kass draws a touching scene in this cover with our couple sharing a tender moment. Our heroine has a pensive expression, but is elegant in mint green. Our hero seems to comfort her as he gazes down at her from behind. I like how the cover tells a story that makes you want to pick up the book and read the back cover! I'd love to know if Allan's illustrated books sold more copies than the other Signet regencies?

Diana Campbell: Lord Margrave's Deception

Lord Margrave's Deception is the latest Diana Campbell book that I have illustrated by Allan Kass. It was published in April 1982 and is a story about Miranda Russell's receiving a shocking proposal from Lord Margrave that she pose as his wife to enable him to be free of the fortune hunters. She accepts because she is poor and realizes quickly that she wishes to become his wife in truth!

Allan Kass creates a pretty cover of our couple outside enjoying a moment in the garden. The heroine's purple dress is simple and pretty and she wears a matching headband in her brown hair. Our hero has red hair and wears a matching red tailcoat. I love the craggy old tree behind them. It doesn't seem to fit in with the landscaped nature of the lake and wall behind!

Regency life at times was very profligate, but it would have been difficult for a peer of the realm to have a pretend marriage, even though the Prince Regent once did the very same thing!

Diana Campbell: Kissing Cousins

Kissing Cousins was published in May 1986 and is the story of Cecily Osborne who is married to her cousin after he saves her from a seducer. Can these "kissing cousins" find love together?

Allan Kass paints an intricate cover of our couple standing in front of a beautiful mirrored piece of furniture. She wears an royal blue and gold slashed sleeved dress that looks like it could be an evening dress. Her hair is short, which would have been unusual for that time. Again, Allan embellishes his heroine with beautiful gold jewelry! Our hero is elegant in black. Note Allan's signature at the bottom right of this cover.

It was common for cousins to marry in regency England and it is still legal in many US states for first cousins to marry, though most think this weird! Many times it was to keep the estates intact and you knew the bloodlines and family. Remember how Lady Catherine wanted her daughter to marry Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice!

Diana Campbell: Family Affairs

Family Affairs was published by Signet in July 1984 for Diana Campbell and is the story of Gwen and Viscount Fullerton as they try to break up the relationship of their respective parents! Can they do this without falling in love themselves?

Allan Kass paints another of my favorite covers! I love how the hero and heroine seem to be sharing an intimate moment! He is handsome in black evening wear while she wears a beautiful gold dress that is made elegant by her beautiful necklace and earrings along with her embroidered shawl. The room in which they stand is pretty, but what catches the eye is the green marble topped dresser. Most of Allan's models were townspeople of Big Sky, Montana or his children!

I remember this being a fun read with the parents causing trouble that is usually reserved for their children!