Denise Robins
Personal Information
Description
Denise Naomi Klein was born on 1 February 1897 in London, England, daughter of Herman Klein (1856-1934) and Kathleen Clarice Louise Cornwell (1872-1954). Her parents married on 19 February 1890 at the West London Synagogue, her father was a English music critic, author and teacher of singing and her mother was a Australian-born heiress, 16 years younger than him. Denise had a half-sister, Sibyl Klein, who became an actress. She also had two older brothers, Adrian Bernard L. Klein (1892-1969), who later changed his name to Adrian Cornwell-Clyne and wrote books on photography and cinematography, and Daryl Kleyn (b. 1894). During her parents marriage, her mother began an affair with a young Worcestershire Regiment officer, Herbert Arthur Berkeley Dealtry (b. 1878). When her father became aware of it, he filed a petition for divorce, which was granted in December 1901. After the divorce, her mother married Dealtry in 1902, but they were going through financial difficulties. They had to declare bankruptcy in 1905. The same year her father remarried with Helene Fox, a Christian Science practitioner of Boston, Massachusetts. As Kit Dealtry, her mother began to publish her own writings, first short stories in magazines an later gothic novels. Years later, and single again her mother returned to London. In 1918, and remarried for a third time with Sydney H. Groom, and started to sign her novels as C. Groom, Mrs Sydney Groom, Kathleen Clarice Groom and Clarice Groom. After Naomi left school, she decided follow in her mother's footsteps, and to publish her writings. She went to work as a journalist for the D.C. Thomson Press, then became a freelance writer. Denise married Arthur Robins, a corn broker on the Baltic Exchange, but the marriage ended in divorce, after she met O'Neill Pearson in Egypt, who later became her second husband. She was the mother of three daughters, Patricia Robins (also know as Claire Lorrimer) who became another best-selling romance author, Anne, and Eve. As a writer of fiction, Denise wrote short stories, plays and about 200 gothic romance novels under a variety of pseudonyms, including: Denise Chesterton, Hervey Hamilton, Francesca Wright, Ashley French, Harriet Gray, and Julia Kane, she also used to sign the books her first married name, Denise Robins, and some of her books were reedited under this pen-name. In 1927, over ten years after she began to publish, Denise meet Charles Boon, of Mills & Boon, and she signed her first contract with his firm the same year. In a short time, she became the best paid Mills & Boon's writer, and one of the most prolific, but in 1935 she changed to a new publisher, Nicholson & Watson, that made her a better offer, and later with Hodder & Stoughton. During her very long career she worked with major publishing houses. Taylor Caldwell said: "Rarely has any writer of our times delved so deeply into the secret places of a woman's heart." As in her real life, many of her novels are love triangles, and also appear as a backdrop the World Wars. In 1960, she founded with other romance writers the "Romantic Novelists' Association" (R.N.A.), and she was its first president until 1966. In 1965, she wrote her autobiography, "Stranger Than Fiction". Denise passed away 1 May 1985 in her native England. At the time of her death her novels, translated into 15 languages, had sold more than 100 million copies. In 1984, they were borrowed more than 1.5 million times from British libraries.
Books
Jezebel
There is no woman with a worse reputation than Jezebel, the ancient queen who corrupted a nation and met one of the most gruesome fates in the Bible. Her name alone speaks of sexual decadence and promiscuity. But what if this version of her story, handed down to us through the ages, is merely the one her enemies wanted us to believe? What if Jezebel, far from being a conniving harlot, was, in fact, framed?In this remarkable new biography, Lesley Hazleton shows exactly how the proud and courageous queen of Israel was vilified and made into the very embodiment of wanton wickedness by her political and religious enemies. Jezebel brings readers back to the source of the biblical story, a rich and dramatic saga featuring evil schemes and underhanded plots, war and treason, false gods and falser humans, and all with the fate of entire nations at stake. At its center are just one woman and one man--the sophisticated Queen Jezebel and the stark prophet Elijah. Their epic and ultimately tragic confrontation pits tolerance against righteousness, pragmatism against divine dictates, and liberalism against conservatism. It is, in other words, the original story of the unholy marriage of sex, politics, and religion, and it ends in one of the most chillingly brutal scenes in the entire Bible.Here at last is the real story of the rise and fall of this legendary woman--a radically different portrait with startling contemporary resonance in a world mired once again in religious wars.
Stranger Than Fiction
From the bestselling author of Fight Club and Diary, a collection of essays and journalistic pieces that prove that real life has imagination beaten cold in the strangeness and wonder departmentsChuck Palahniuk's world has always been, well, different from yours and mine. The pieces that comprise Stranger Than Fiction, his first nonfiction collection, prove just how different, in ways both highly entertaining and deeply unsettling. Encounters with alternative culture heroes Marilyn Manson and Juliette Lewis; the peculiar wages of fame attendant on the big budget film production of the movie Fight Club; life as an assembly-line drive train installer by day, hospice volunteer driver by night; the really peculiar lives of submariners; the really violent world (and mangled ears) of college wrestlers; the underground world of iron-pumping anabolic steroid gobblers; the immensely upsetting circumstances of his father's murder and the trial of his killer--each essay or vignette offers a unique facet of existence as lived in and/or observed by one of our most flagrantly daring and original literary talents.
This Spring of Love
As a land girl in the war she could be strong. As a woman in love, it was not so easy! Christine Shaw, an orphan with high romantic ideals, agrees to aid Fiona in her elopement, but soon she finds her position as an imposter a nefarious one. Here she is, living the life of a spoilt heiress in the beautiful Lakeland district - a dream come true. But with fear of discovery and an assumed social position to maintain, separating her from an active life and the man she esteemed, the loss of her own identity assumes nightmarish proportions.
Sealed Lips
In June 1918, Stella Morris learned of her sister Pamela's secret wedding to Lord Julian Eden. But only days later, Julian's fighter plane was shot down and he was reported missing, presumed dead. A year later, Pamela is married for a second time, although her new husband doesn't know about her past. When Lady Eden, Julian's mother, learns that she has only months to live, she offers her daughter-in-law a home at Eden Hall. But Pamela is honeymooning in Paris, and beautiful, compassionate Stella takes her place in order to make the old lady's last days happy. Then Julian reappears, alive and well and eager to see his bride...
The Unshaken Loyalty
When the aristocratic Farrington family advertised for a cook-housekeeper they didn't expect an applicant as young, pretty and efficient as Helen Maye. She becomes intrigued by her new employers, especially their half-brother Johnny, who has been a stranger to his home for so long. When Helen first saw Johnny Farrington, she gasped. What was he doing, sitting there in the kitchen of his family's mansion at two in the morning - after he left home six years ago over a scandal at Oxford. But black sheep or not, beautiful Helen found herself falling in love with him, and love was thee last thing she expected when she acepted the post of cook-housekeeper for the Farringtons. Helen and Johnny begin to meet in secret, sharing the sweet moments only young lovers can know. But suddenly Mrs. Farrington's jewels are stolen, Johnny's presence is discovered, and he stands accused before his family. While suspicion and darkest doubt whirl arround Johnny, Helen never wavers - for sometimes only the truest love can know the truth.
The Marriage Bond
Beautiful, rich and impulsive, Gay Northiam's life is a fun filled whirl of dinners and dances. Captivated by her vivacious charm and exquisite looks, a flock of eligible and handsome suitors leave her with few blank pages in her engagement diary Dick Morton, a young doctor, is just one of many smitten admirers. But Gay is not yet ready to fall in love not while life is such fun. All this changes, however, when Gay meets Geoffrey Daunt, a respected and successful barrister and confirmed bachelor: For the first time ever Gay knows the pain of unrequited love and, too late, discovers what it is to suffer a broken heart....
The Gilded Cage
Only My Dreams
It seemed to young Ming Corally born in Shanghai and raised in London, that her simple day to day existence was less than live, and now her fortunes had plunged anew. Half drowned and desperate after leaping into a river to escape an assailant, Ming drags herself to the gates of Julian Barrisford's home. Found by the philandering cheat following the near drowning incident, he takes her in. But his beautiful and vicious wife seizes the incident on the excuse to file a divorce petition - citing Julian and the innocent girl he has saved. An action which threatens to destroy both. Whilst Julian's troubles only seem to get worse, Mings improve in that she becomes an heiress however this gets in the way of a possible solution to her deepening relationship with Julian.
Heart of Paris
Nineteen year old beautiful Annabel Graye is suddenly left penniless in Paris when financial disaster overtakes her rich father. Fortunately, she is offered a job at the world's most famous couturier, Maison Christophe. Then she'd caught the eye of the renowned fashion designer, the handsome and dashing Christropher Brande, who asked her to model the most beautiful clothes she'd ever seen! The last few weeks had been a whirlwind of breathless excitement for Annabel. Her beauty and elegance make her easily the top mannequin. Suddenly, the heart of Paris is captivated by her and apparently none more madly than fascinating Christopher himself. Also Annabel was consumed by a passion she'd never known--a love so intense that she could hardly bear to be alone with Christopher. For she could see in his eyes that her passion was returned... even though he was engaged to marry to another. His fiancée was the wealthy influential Michele Luchacre and she is determined to hold on to him. Seeing that Annabel is taking her place in his heart, Michele, with the assistance of gypsy model Guida, hatches a seemingly infallible plot to discredit Annabel ? and the English girl falls right into the trap.
Breaking point
The honeymoon was over Rafe had wanted Tanya the moment he saw her. When he proposed, she'd been deliciously happy--happy to give up her job without a second thought, and devote herself to decorating their beautiful new home in Sydney's most prestigious neighborhood. She hadn't realized then that the only intimacy he wanted with her was in their bed. Rafe put business--including his cool blond personal assistant--first. Tanya was not about to spend the rest of her life waiting for a man who thought another woman was more important than his wife. The honeymoon was over. The marriage was at the breaking point.
Gold for the Gay Masters
Fauna is an exquisitely beautiful quadroon, in her veins mingled the blood of noble African chiefs and fiery Irish poets. Sold into cruel slavery in the West Indies, she is rescued by Lord Pumphret, a noted English dandy of the Georgian period. But Fauna is taken to England only to become the plaything and victim of those who make up Pumphret's circle - until she meets, and in the end marries, the noble French Marquis de Chartellet. As Madame la Marquise, all London would praise her intelligence and unmatched beauty... all men would crave to possess her. Once beaten by a harsh mistress, she escaped and rises from the slave block to make men her slaves into a dazzling world of elegance, wealth and power. But nothing could ease the searing pain in her heart--nothing but vengeance on the only man she had ever loved, who mistreated her! Which is sweeter--tender, yearned-for love, or revenge that has waited a lifetime?
The Dark Corridor
At the end of a summer disrupted by three teenage suicides in their town, eighteen-year-old Kerry's girlfriend Alicia apparently kills herself, leaving him obsessed with death and strange doubts.
Set the Stars Alight
A thrilling and torrid novel of espionage and romance set agains the sultry, exotic and primitive Gold Coast of Africa. When the motion picture that blonde Gay Burnett was making went bankrupt, the beautiful English actress was stranded -and easy prey for the advances of the sinister director, Kurt Mulheim. Then she encountered a dissolute and reluctant saviour, Rick Morell. Rick, the ivory trader who vowed to distrust all women. But Mulheim had her kidnapped and sold as a white slave in darkest Ligati. Alone and terrified, Gay refused to give up hope that one day she would see Rick again-and tell him she loved him.
Heat Wave
Tough and sexy New York police detective Nikki Heat leads the investigation into the death of a New York real estate tycoon who plunged to his death on a Manhattan sidewalk. She's hit with an unexpected challenge when the commissioner assigns superstar magazine journalist Jameson Rook to ride along with her to research an article on New York's Finest.
Khamsin
Story of passion, heartbreak, and the haunting beauty that is Egypt. Young Phillida joins Rex Maltern, her soldier husband, at his posting by the Suez Canal Zone. It soon becomes evident that this new environment of oppressive heat, depression, ruinously expensive living and uncertain home life is bringing their marriage to the edge of disaster. Phillida is far from home, and the problems she faces seem to worsen daily. Hope lay only in unflinching love when disaster threatened.
The Other Love
Briony Moore is jilted just days before her marriage when her fiance decides his new job abroad is more important than she is. Seeking solace and oblivion in work, she becomes secretary to Hew Vanner, the explorer and writer. In the idyllic surroundings of his home in the Lake District, Hew and Briony find a common bond. Seeking only to forget, she fell into the arms of her real destiny. Can she forget her other love?
To Love Again
When the man she was about to marry died just before the wedding, Helen felt that her life had fallen apart, and that her world was shrouded with the ghost of her dead lover. It is six months since the death of her fiancé Christopher, but Helen still feels the world contains very little that is worth living for. She thinks of herself as a one-man girl - until she meets Peter Farrington. He was just like her dead fiance. That was Helen's first heart- stopping impression of Peter, who reminded her so much of her dead Christopher. Yet she soon came to recognize his differences and he crept right into her heart. Although Helen thought she could never fall in love again, she realized that she was in love with him. But Helen stills has little chance of happiness. For although Peter seems to feel the same way about her, he was engaged to the beautiful but selfish Rita Wade, her glamorous boss. Helen hated the thought of what this marriage would do to him. Even if she didn't love him, Helen would have been distressed at the thought of him marrying this selfish and hard-hearted woman. She knew a certain truth about Rita that would open Peter's eyes--but could she break a confidence even to save him?
Love Me No More
In the shadows of the Pyramids, she discovers ecstasy, torment... and the fierce desires of a foreign prince. Iris has lived an idyllic, sheltered life - born and raised in the "Little Palace: - her family home in exotic Egypt. But when her wealthy archaeologist father dies, his final wish is that she be sent to England to live with her aunt. Determined to remain in her beloved home, Iris impulsively asks the mysterious Prince Usref to marry her... little realizing that British diplomat Stephen Daltry will soon arrive to sweep her off her feet! Though every fibre of her being yearns to be with Stephen, her fear of Usref drives her to a fateful decision. For now the insidious Prince wants her in all possible ways, and he will stop at nothing, not even murder, to make her his lifelong slave!
Dear Loyalty
Twenty-one-year-old Lucie Bryant had worked as personal secretary to Edgar Lorrimer at the Near-East Petroleum Company for two years since the death of her father. Her boss was a kindly gentleman who held Lucie in great affection - unlike his dashing but irresponsible son, Crash. Lucie was efficient, capable and level-headed, all the qualities which her boss admired and which his son despised in women. Crash had too much money and too much spare time, he was a playboy and was crazy about the fortune hunter Amanda Portlake. But 'Old' Mr. Lorrimer, knowing that he was dying, and that he had very little time, so he added some very special terms to his will that would change the lives of Crash and Amanda forever.