Hebe Elsna
Personal Information
Description
Born Dorothy Phoebe Ansle on 27 July 1890 in Ventnor, Isle of Wight, England, UK, daugther of the second marriage formed by Mary Phillipps (née Embling), who ran a boardinghouse, and Frederick Philip Ansle (1897-1938), who had various profesions, like butcher and wine merchant. She was the younger child in common. She was a pupil at Royal Masonic School for Girls, and went on to some further education at Caversham. She married Irish Francis Ignatius Keogh, and they lived in Dublin before they instaled in London on 1927. On 1928, she published her first novel, under the penname of Hebe Elsna. She published more than 200 novels, mainly romance and dramatic novels or novelized historical biographies, under diferent pseudonyms and titles. She wrote under the pennames Hebe Elsna, Vicky Lancaster, Lyndon Snow, and Laura Conway. She later lived in Surrey and then Hove. Her husband died in 1965. She continued to live in the Hove area till her own death on 7 January 1983.
Books
Beyond Reasonable Doubt
Accused of the wilful murder of his terminally ill wife, Sir David Metcalf finds himself locked in legal combat with his old rival, Anthony Blair-Booth QC. After a tense and gripping courtroom scene Act I ends just as we are about to hear the jury's verdict. Act 2 takes us back in time to the fateful night of Lady Metcalfe's death and ends with a surprising twist. This play enjoyed a successful run in London's West End, with Frank Finlay and Wendy Craig in the leading roles.
The Brimming Cup
The Irish sister Elizabeth and Maria Gunning were poor - but outstandingly beautiful. When they were invited to the Lord Lieutenant's ball their glittering gowns were borrowed from the Dublin Theatre wardrobe. But their entry into society was assured. Soon, in true fairy story fashion, they each married a fairy prince: Elizabeth becoming the Duchess of Hamilton and Maria the Countess of Coventry. But although they became the centre of admiration and envy at the Court, they faced appalling difficulties, Elizabeth married for love, but the Duke, though he adored his bride, was an alcoholic and a spendthrift. Maria married for ambition and only later found the love which was to become her whole life.
The Love Match
A vivid picture of life in Georgian days. When future prime Minister William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, married Lady Caroline Ponsonby in 1805, it was a true love-match. But William's jealous mother Lady Elizabeth hated her daughter-in-law and was determined to destroy the marriage.
The Abbot's House
This story is set in the last years of the Regency, and is narrated by Ennis Corbyn, a spirited young woman, but no beauty, who is adopted by the rich and lonely Marquesa de Verletta, and by her introduced into the highest flight of society. The Marquesa's wealth and rank, and the flattering attention of the Prince Regent, are responsible for Ennis's social success. In spite of which her life with the Marquesa at The Abbot's House is overshadowed by fear, and the sinister secret hidden behind the locked door of the old wing, which nobody, unless accomplished by the Marquesa, is allowed to enter. Ennis loves the dashing Damien Wynton of the Hell Fire Club, and is resolved she will marry him and no other. But Damien avows that love for him is only sweet for a day, and there is Oliver Embury, one of the Prince Regent's aides, who swears he will be true to her always. This is the background for a sparkling tale of love, adventure and eerie happenings.
The Undying Past
Pleasance, built in the reign of Edward IV, desends to the women in the Grenton family. The Undying Past, the third and last volume of a trilogy, chronicles the residence there of Ives, an immensely rich gentleman from Virginia, who comes to live at Pleasance during the early days of Queen Victoria's reign. Pleasance Series Book 1: A House Called Pleasance Book 2: Too Well Beloved Book 3: The Undying Past
Lady On the Coin
A secret love affair like no other… As a child living in exile in France, Frances Stuart was accustomed to threadbare dresses and going hungry. Yet everything changed when her cousin Charles arrives to visit and Frances’ world is turned upside down. The Restoration of the monarchy quickly raises Charles II far higher than anything Frances ever dreamed of. Several years later, Frances arrives in Court to attend to Charles’ wife, Queen Catherine, as a lady-in-waiting and once again, her path collides with the man who is now King. At sixteen, she is already renowned for her beauty and vivaciousness and Charles cannot help but take notice of Frances. The King rapidly becomes obsessed with her, and it is not long before whispers begin to circulate that Frances has supplanted the famous Barbara Castlemaine as mistress to the monarch. So strong is her power that gossip suggests were the Queen to die, Frances would almost certainly take her place. Aware of the King’s interest, and knowing that to offend Charles would be to put her out of favour at Court, Frances plays a dangerous game of flirtation – keeping her man close whilst also maintaining a safe distance. But it’s not long before Charles begins to grow impatient and Frances soon finds herself rapidly running out of ways to keep him at bay. The arrival of the young Duke of Lennox and Richmond at Court unexpectedly presents Frances with a way of escaping the corner into which she has backed herself. To do so threatens her position as the King’s favourite and risks incurring his rage, but surely such a risk is worth it for the man she loves…