Bodice Ripper Readers Anonymous discussion

This is sad news that I can't believe I only became of aware of last night!

Erotic Historical Romance pioneer and Bodice Ripper trailblazer, Bertrice Small, passed away on February 24, 2015 at the age of 77 due to kidney failure. She was in the midst of writing her final book, which her family promises will be completed and released.

Here's a link to an article about her life at the New York Times website:

Bertrice Small, 77, Writer of Risqué Romance Novels, Dies

Although I have lived most of my life not too far from Ms. Small (North Eastern Long Island), I discovered her works later in my romance reading days, somewhere in the late 1990's. At first I did not appreciate how groundbreaking she was in romance history.

Not only was she one of the originals dames of the bodice ripper/historical romance genre, but she was one of the first truly graphic erotic romance writers. Despite her penchant for euphemisms and prose so purple it made you think about really purple parts of the body, she knew how to write some kink. She upped the ante in explicit sex in romances and introduced terms like "manroots" "Honey ovens," "Love-grottos" and "Love juices."

My personal favorites were the over-the-top Skye O'Malley, its sequel, All the Sweet Tomorrows and the Roman-era Beloved. Her first book The Kadin was unique in that the heroine shared her hero with other women in a harem. The story was less a romance than the tale of of Janet Leslie/Cyra Hafise.

Many of her early works involved the extremely beautiful and perfect heroine falling in love with her hero, somehow getting separated then captured/enslaved/forced into marriage with another man. She would be seduced by an exotic lover to new realms of sensual delights and then later reunite with husband #1 in eternal sexual bliss, or some variation thereof.

Later in Small's career she wrote mostly books set in Scotland, some fairy paranormals and some about Renaissance Italy.

Her books may have been controversial, but Small had a fiercely devoted following. Bodice Ripper lovers cannot deny the lasting effect Bertrice Small left in the world of erotic/historical romance.

RIP.

I'm so sad about that, 77 isn't that old anymore.

Thanks for letting us know Wendy, that is sad I thought that woman would live till her 90s at least :( RIP Ms Small

Skye O'Malley was one of my all time favourite bodice rippers back in the day.

I was sad to hear this. I came late to the Bertrice Small novels, always used to pass them by with a sneer when I was younger, then kicked myself for it once I actually read one and enjoyed it, lol. Blaze Wyndham was my first by her, and I remember it fondly, though I enjoyed Skye O'Malley a lot as well...

Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~* wrote: "Thanks for letting us know Wendy, that is sad I thought that woman would live till her 90s at least :( RIP Ms Small"

Valerie Sherwood is still with us at at 92, and Rosemary Rogers is 82.

Bertrice's husband died a just a few years ago and she had been on dialysis for a while. It's sad to see her passing, but I like to picture her as she wrote for (view spoiler)[Skye O'Malley's death at the end of Darling Jasmine: heading off somewhere into the great beyond arm in arm with her beloved(s) (hide spoiler)].

I'm getting my hands on Unconquered as soon as I can and read it.

Ms Small's books are the reason I love bodicerippers so much. She will be missed.

I am very sad to here this! At least her legacy is left behind in her books.

Her books will be read by someone everday and her creativity and her talent will be forever remembered!

RIP Beatrice Small!

So sad to hear, RIP.

God Bless.

This made me sad. Love Wild and Fair was the first of her books that I read and Catriona is still my fav heroine. I have three sisters and we each had a favorite: Skye, Adora and Janet Leslie. We debated who was the best (and prettiest) endlessly as teenagers.

A few years ago I was able to snag an original book poster for LOVE WILD AND FAIR on ebay. Printed on both sides with lots of detail. I framed it to hang over my desk.

R.I.P.