RIP Mary Stewart

[AnemicOak]

Well known British author Mary Stewart has died at age 97.

The bestselling pioneer of romantic-suspense novels Mary Stewart has died at the age of 97, her publisher has said.

Known for much-loved novels including Touch Not the Cat, This Rough Magic and Nine Coaches Waiting, Stewart among the first novelists to integrate mystery and romance. She made the archetype of the determined, intelligent heroine her own, thrusting her into daring adventures from which she would emerge intact and happily romantically involved. Stewart was spotted after sending the manuscript of her first novel, Madam, Will You Talk?, to Hodder & Stoughton in 1953. It hit the bestseller lists the following year, and she went on to pen a series of novels in a similar vein.

Stewart wrote a trilogy of hugely popular novels about the life of Merlin – The Crystal Cave, The Hollow Hills and The Last Enchantment – a departure from her previous books, along with acclaimed children's books, including Ludo and the Star Horse and A Walk in Wolf Wood.

http://www.theguardian.com/books/201...y-stewart-dies

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/s/mary-stewart/

[Catlady]

I'm so sorry to hear this. Just a few weeks ago, I reread This Rough Magic, and it was hard to realize that book is 50 years old--it still seems fresh and interesting and real.

I wish her novels would become available as e-books and audiobooks in the U.S.

So now all three great romantic suspense authors--Victoria Holt, Phyllis A. Whitney, and Mary Stewart--are gone. R.I.P.

[RZetlin]

For a moment there I thought the name stated Martha Stewart.

[Bookpossum]

I remember reading and enjoying her books many years ago. The trilogy on Merlin was terrific and quite different from the romance/suspense of her other books. RIP.

[pwalker8]

Loved the Merlin trilogy. They were an absolute classic and became available as ebooks earlier this year. I've never read her other books though. 97. That's pretty good.

[Gazella]

Originally Posted by RZetlin

For a moment there I thought the name stated Martha Stewart.

Same here.

[GlennD]

I was turned on to some of her juveniles ('A Walk in Wolf Wood') by my elementary school librarian, and as an adult read the Merlin trilogy. It remains among my favorites. I've never gotten around to reading any of her other work....maybe that needs to change.

[dublincheri]

My mum and aunts read most of her books and I'd get them when they were finished. I hadn't realised the Merlin trilogy was available in ebook form, will have to get it!

[msjo]

I own all of Mary Stewart's books and have read them more than once. The Merlin quartet is a favourite and I recently bought the e-book versions in order to free up some space on my bookshelves. She was a terrific writer and provided me with many hours of reading enjoyment.

[tea2]

As a teenager I *loved* Mary Stewart's work and have gone back to her books quite a few times over the years. My favorites are Nine Coaches Waiting and the Merlin series.

[Xanthe]

Very sad news.

She was one of the first romantic suspense authors that I read when I was a kid. I think I found out about her because the Disney movie, "The Moon-Spinners" (with Haley Mills) was based upon her novel, and I loved that movie as a kid. I probably saw her name in the movie credits and looked her up in the library.

I think that I've read all of her books, with the exception of the Merlin books (not an Arthurian fan - except for Monty Python and the Holy Grail). "The Gabriel Hounds" was always my favorite.

Reading her books led me to Victoria Holt, Phyllis A. Whitney, Dorothy Eden, and Helen MacInnes. So thank you very much, Mary, and RIP.

[Britomart]

Very sad! Mary Stewart is one of the first authors I discovered when I sneaked into the adult part of the library when I was about twelve. The first book by her that I read must have been Madam, Will You Talk, which remains a firm favorite to this day. Stewart always wrote about interesting locales (the Pyrenees, Corfu, Lebanon, among others) and had a unique gift for bringing the landscape with its smells and sounds to life. I also adore her characters, who are strong but not snooty or overbearing (well, the heroes may try once in a while, but don't get away with it ).

[copyrite]

My grandmother (who I never saw read LOL) had piles of paperbacks on the landing leading to the second floor of her house. That was where Mary Stewart and I first became acquainted. I still have those copies of Touch Not the Cat, The Ivy Tree, My Brother Michael, & Nine Coaches Waiting... and Touch Not the Cat & The Ivy Tree are the rattiest of all the copies.

Is any of her stuff available as ebooks?

[dandelioncottage]

My mom, both grandmas, and I all read Mary Stewart's books, along with Victoria Holt.

The only ebooks I'm aware of available in the US are the 4 books in the Arthurian saga (in one volume). However, her romantic suspense novels are available in the UK.

Originally Posted by copyrite

My grandmother (who I never saw read LOL) had piles of paperbacks on the landing leading to the second floor of her house. That was where Mary Stewart and I first became acquainted. I still have those copies of Touch Not the Cat, The Ivy Tree, My Brother Michael, & Nine Coaches Waiting... and Touch Not the Cat & The Ivy Tree are the rattiest of all the copies.

Is any of her stuff available as ebooks?

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by copyrite

Is any of her stuff available as ebooks?

Quite a few, if not all, of her books are available digitally in the UK. In the US AFAIK the only thing available are the four Merlin books published in a four book omnibus as "Legacy: Arthurian Saga" published by KGStudios via Smashwords (& through there to Amazon, Kobo and B&N).