Irene Northan

Writer and Historian

1936 – 1993


Irene Northan also wrote under the pseudonyms

    • Nerina Thorne
    • Elizabeth Lowther

Literary Agent:
Peters Fraser + Dunlop
55 New Oxford Street
London WC1A 1BS
tel: +44 (0)20 7344 1000
email: info@pfd.co.uk

Rene (as she was known to her friends) was born on Tyneside, NE England but moved to South Devon with her parents at the age of 10. She trained as a teacher, specialising in history. Her research led to countless articles on history, travel, social customs, and short stories appearing in a wide variety of newspapers and magazines at home and abroad. After receiving over 100 rejection slips, her first novel, ‘PHYLLIDA’, was published in 1976. A steady stream of books followed, which she fitted in between looking after her husband and two daughters, becoming a founder member of Brixham Writers’ Circle, a member of The Romantic Novelists’ Association, Librarian of Brixham Museum, and Reader for the South West Arts.

Rene enjoyed meeting readers and writers in all genre, fiction and non-fiction. She gave talks at various writers’ schools and clubs across the country, often acting as an awards adjudicator for competitions throughout SW England.

Until her death in June 1993 Rene had written 20 fiction titles and 1 non-fiction. These have generated 47 reprints, 28 of them being issued posthumously. Her Devon trilogy, TO DREAM AGAIN, A SAFE HAVEN and DAUGHTER OF THE RIVER, her last novels, were re-issued in paperback in 2000 by Caxton Group Publishing, 20 Bloomsbury Street, London WC1B 3QA, and were digitally published in 2018 by Canelo Digital Publishing.

 

TO DREAM AGAIN (published June 2000)

When Mercy Seaton meets Peter Lisburne at the annual Torquay regatta she regards him as a rich boy toying with a poor girl. But she likes him, and he genuinely likes her. In the sweet young laundress Peter finds an escape from his mother’s cloying world of social obligations. Before long he had
swept Mercy into marriage and a life of luxury at which her enigmatic grandmother’s far-fetched tales of past wealth had only hinted.

Mercy soon realises she cannot force her husband’s friends into accepting her. Despite her discomfort in the drawing-rooms of Edwardian society she is beginning to win friends of her own. One in particular looks set to change the course of her life for ever. When the Great War intervenes and the Depression in its aftermath, the Lisburnes’ fortune is virtually wiped out. Great sacrifices are to be made if the family are to remain in England,
and it is at this point Mercy has a dream, founded in reality, which might just solve all their problems…

A SAFE HAVEN (published March 2000)

Hardly out of childhood, Amy Kennedy, and fellow orphans Seth, Jay and Daisy are sent from the Lambeth Workhouse in London to the Devon port of Brixham to be taken into service, the girls as maidservants, the boys as apprentices on a trawler. Although her initiation into her job is hard, Amy quickly finds her feet, and shortly her horizons are brightened by an attentive young man, Daniel Newton, the son of a prosperous sea captain. The others fare less well; Daisy is clearly miserable in her work and, despite Jed’s protection, dreamy Seth founders in the harsh realities of a fisherman’s life.

As time passes Mercy grows very worried about Daisy who, swearing her friend to secrecy, finally confides that she is the powerless victim of her employer’s sexual abuse. Then the tragedy Amy had feared might happen becomes reality – a tragedy which is to have far-reaching repercussions, not only on Daisy, but on Seth, Jed and Amy herself…

DAUGHTER OF THE RIVER (published March 2000)

Pretty Maddy Shillabeer had long resigned herself to the fact that her clot in life was to care for her widowed father and her hard-living, troublesome brothers. In any case, were she to marry she would have hardly any choice of suitors since the number of eligible men was limited. One in particular,
Cal Whitcomb, a kinsman of hers, could never be considered, as his family, according to her father, had appropriated the rich Devon land that was rightfully theirs; instead of farming the Shillabeers had had to turn to salmon fishing on the River Dart, and they carried a grudge against the Whitcombs for it ever since.

One day a new arrival appears at Duncannon – Patrick Howard, who finds employment as a pot-boy in an inn at nearby Stoke Gabriel. Soon he has supplanted the ancient Henry Beer as the village fiddler and leader of the church band. And, to the great consternation of her brothers, he has charmed his way into their Maddy’s heart…

Historical Romance as Irene Northan

Entries marked * indicates posthumous publication.

 
Title Ref Publishers Details Date Notes
PHYLLIDA – a Georgian Romance ISBN 0709155166 Robert Hale & Co., London
1976
Hardback
American edition ISBN 0449234592 Fawcett Books, Greenwich,
Connecticut, USA
1976
Paperback
*Large Print edition ISBN 0708941257 F.A. Thorpe Ltd, Anstey, Leicestershire
1999
THE TINNER’S BRIDE ISBN 0708936393 Robert Hale Ltd, London
1977
Hardback
Woman’s Weekly Library IPC Magazines Ltd, London
1982
Paperback
*Large Print edition ISBN 0708979734 F.A. Thorpe Ltd, Anstey, Leicestershire
1996
A TREACHEROUS SEASON ISBN 0709164750 Robert Hale Ltd, London
1978
Hardback
Woman’s Weekly Library IPC Magazines Ltd, London
1978
Paperback
*Large Print edition ISBN 0708935583 F.A. Thorpe Ltd, Anstey, Leicestershire
1996
MISS ASTBURY AND MILORDDO – a Regency Romance ISBN 0709190409 Robert Hale Ltd, London
1981
Hardback
Woman’s Weekly Library IPC Magazines Ltd, London
1982
Paperback
*Large Print edition ISBN 0708979734 F.A. Thorpe Ltd, Anstey, Leicestershire
1996
THE INCOMPARABLE LYDIA – a
Georgian Romance
ISBN 0709194528 Robert Hale Ltd, London
1981
Hardback
*Large Print edition ISBN 0708979289 F.A. Thorpe Ltd, Anstey, Leicestershire
1996
THE MARRIAGE BROKERS – a Regency Romance ISBN 0709011202 Robert Hale Ltd, London
1983
Hardback
American edition ISBN 0373311427 Harlequin Books, Toronto, Canada
1991
Paperback
German edition, “VERWIRRENDES SPIEL UM MIRANDA” CORA Verlag, Berlin
1991
Paperback
Australasian edition ISBN 0373311427 Harlequin Books, Chatswood, NSW, Australia
1991
Paperback
*Czechoslovakian edition, “DOHAZOVACI” ISBN 8071704067 Harlequin Books, Toronto, Canada
1995
Paperback
*Brazilian edition Harlequin Books, Toronto, Canada
1995
Paperback
THE HOLLANDER’S DAUGHTER ISBN 0709016166 Robert Hale Ltd, London
1984
Hardback
Large Print edition ISBN 0708971342 F.A.Thorpe Ltd, Anstey, Leicestershire
1992
TO DREAM AGAIN – an Edwardian Romance ISBN 0747202087 Headline Book Publishers, London
1991
Paperback edition ISBN 0747234132 Headline Book Publishers, London
1991
*Paperback edition ISBN 1840672552 Caxton Publishing Group, London
2000
Publication expected June 2000
A SAFE HAVEN – a Victorian
Romance
ISBN 0747205426 Headline Book Publishers,
London
1992
Hardback
*Paperback edition ISBN 0747239738 Headline Book Publishers,
London
1993
*Paperback edition ISBN 1840672021 Caxton Publishing Group, London
2000
*DAUGHTER OF THE RIVER – a Victorian Romance ISBN 0747207798 Headline Book Publishers, London
1993
Hardback
*Paperback edition ISBN 074724295X Headline Book Publishers, London
1994
*Paperback edition ISBN 1840672013 Caxton Publishing Group, London
2000

HISTORICAL ROMANCE under the pseudonym

ELIZABETH LOWTHER

Entries marked * indicates posthumous publication.
 
Title Ref Publishers Details Date Notes
DAY OF RECKONING ISBN 0263121941 Mills & Boon Ltd, Richmond,
Surrey
1989
Hardback
Paperback edition ISBN 0263764869 Mills & Boon Ltd, Richmond,
Surrey
1989
French edition, “LES MARAIS
DE SEDGEWICK”
ISBN 228002067X Harlequin, Série Royale,
Paris
1989
Paperback
THE RANSOMED BRIDE ISBN 0263124258 Mills & Boon Ltd, Richmond, Surrey
1989
Hardback
Paperback edition ISBN 0263767264 Mills & Boon Ltd, Richmond, Surrey
1989
French edition, “UNE ROSE POUR UN TROUBADOUR” ISBN 2280020718 Harlequin, Série Royale, Paris
1990
Paperback
German edition, “DIE BRETONISCHE BRAUT” CORA Verlag, Berlin
1990
Paperback
*Italian edition “AMORE E TORMENTO” ISSN 11247320 Harlequin Mondadori, Milan
1997
Paperback
LOVE’S PAROLE – a Georgian
Romance
ISBN 0263127346 Mills & Boon Ltd, Richmond,
Surrey
1990
Hardback
Paperback edition ISBN 0263771504 Mills & Boon Ltd, Richmond,
Surrey
1990
French edition, “LE BAISER
DU SALON DU MUSIQUE”
ISBN 228002084X Harlequin, Série Royale,
Paris
1991
Paperback
*American edition ISBN n/k Harlequin Books, Toronto,
Canada
1993
Paperback
A SINGULAR ELOPEMENT ISBN 0263777200 Mills & Boon, Richmond, Surrey
1992
One of four stories appearing in the REGENCY
QUARTET, Paperback
FUGUE A L’ITALIENNE ISBN 2280022001 Harlequin Books
1999
Paperback
BREATH OF SCANDAL ISBN 0263134512 Mills & Boon Ltd, Richmond,
Surrey
1992
Hardback
Paperback edition ISBN 0263779904 Mills & Boon Ltd, Richmond,
Surrey
1992
*French edition, “LES JARDINS
DE BAD ADLER”
ISBN 2280021102 Harlequin, Série Royale,
Paris
1993
Paperback
*Large print edition ISBN 135535 Mills & Boon Ltd, Richmond,
Surrey
1993
*Italian edition, “L’UOMO
IN FRAC”
ISSN 1124-7320 Harlequin Mondadori, Milan
1997
Paperback
*GAMBLER’S WEDDING – a Regency Romance ISBN 0263136434 Mills & Boon Ltd, Richmond, Surrey
1994
Hardback
*Paperback edition ISBN 0263782514 Mills & Boon Ltd, Richmond, Surrey
1994
*Large Print edition ISBN 0263140148 Mills & Boon Ltd, Richmond, Surrey
1994
*French edition, “MARRIAGE POUR UN JOUER” ISBN 228002126 Harlequin, Série Royale, Paris
1994
Paperback
*German edition, “DIE VERPFANDETE BRAUT” CORA Verlag, Berlin
1995
Paperback
*Italian edition ISSN n/k Harlequin Mondatori, Milan
1999
Paperback
*American edition “GAMBLER’S WEDDING” ISBN 0373303688 Harlequin Books, Toronto
2000
Paperback

MODERN ROMANCE under pseudonym NERINA THORNE

Entries marked * indicates posthumous publication.

 
Title Ref Publishers Details Date Notes
NORMANDY SUMMER ISBN 0709199244 Robert Hale Ltd, London
1982
Hardback
German edition, “AUFREGENDER
SOMMER IN DER NORMANDIE”
Martin Keller Verlag, Hamburg
1982
Paperback
*Large Print edition ISBN 0708951228 F.A. Thorpe Ltd, Anstey, Leicestershire
1997
SPRING TEMPEST Woman’s Weekly Library, IPC Magazines Ltd, London
1985
Paperback
SOLANGE’S DAUGHTER ISBN 0709019297 Robert Hale Ltd, London
1985
Hardback
*Large print edition ISBN 0708974031 F.A.Thorpe Ltd, Anstey, Leicestershire
1993
AMSTERDAM AFFAIR ISBN 0709029268 Robert Hale Ltd, London
1987
Hardback
Large Print edition ISBN 0708971385 F.A.Thorpe Ltd, Anstey, Leicestershire
1992
Sound Tape edition ISBN 1854965948 Soundings Ltd, Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear
1992
*Paperback edition ISBN (Later Date) D.C. Thomson, Dundee
2000

NON-FICTION under own name IRENE NORTHAN

Entries marked * indicates posthumous publication.
Title Ref Publishers Details Date Notes
VISIT HISTORIC HOMES IN DEVON ISBN 0951186604 D.R. Northan
1987
Paperback

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2 thoughts on “Irene Northan

  1. Marian Bull

    Cloud Man is Marian Bull’s first novel set in Brixham in the 1940’s. Enjoying Irene Northan’s novel A Safe Haven inspired Marian to recall her memories of her teenage years in wartime and postwar Brixham and weave them into a novel. She has a five star rating on Amazon

    Reply
  2. George Collings

    I spent my childhood in Stoke gabriel wheremy family had lived for many generations. I was given a copy of Daughter of the River and was amazed by the attention to detail Irene had shown . Her discription of time and place rarely left any doubt about where the charactersc or activity were. Distant Ford relatives of mine were licensees of the Church House Inn from mid 19th century to the Edwardian era and were named in the novel. I was aware of iron ore being collected from fields near Portbridge having found records of exports from South Devon. during my research into the village history, I wish I had met Irene .

    Reply

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