Retro Reads discussion

Please list some of your favorite retro authors.

A few of mine are

Lucy Maude Montgomery
Daphne du Maurier
Walter Farley
Dodie Smith
Edna Ferber
Kenneth Roberts
Louis L'Amour

Iris Bromige

Lucy Walker

Helen McInness

D.E. Stevenson

P.G. Wodehouse

Georgette Heyer

Agatha Christie

Marjorie Sharp

Angela Thirkell

Dorothy Gillman

lots of authors of children's books especially Elizabeth Enright and Edward Eager.

Okay--seeing as I'm fairly retro myself, I have many authors. But here's ten of them off the top of my head:
Mary Stewart
Georgette Heyer
Louis L'Amour
Alistair MacLean
Armstrong Sperry
MM Kaye
Dorothy Dunnett
Dick Francis
Rafael Sabatini
Ellis Peters

Ditto to all of the above authors !!

Cphe wrote: "Ditto to all of the above authors !!"

I never heard of some of them so I'll check them out. ;)

Wodehouse, Christie, Thirkell, Ellis Peters, Georgette Heyer (all already listed, sorry), a couple personal faves:

ECR Lorac,

Dorothy Sayers,

Catherine Aird,

Cyril Hare,

Elizabeth Peters,

Charlotte MacLeod,

EF Benson,

Miss Read,

Barbara Tuchman


Heavy on the mysteries, but that’s my favorite genre!

I’m sure there are others, but reading everyone’s lists so far, these popped into mind. Love Golden Age British mysteries, and humor like EF Benson, who gifted us with one of the greatest humor creations of all time, Lucia!

A great question - but I love so many authors.

Georgette Heyer is my favourite author of all time. This year I finally read all her books.
Rumer Godden is my favourite children's author & through recommendations on Goodreads I have discovered her wonderful adult works.
Katherine Mansfield is my favourite NZ author
Ruth Park is my favourite NZ novelist/memoirist.
P.J. Wodehouse is my favourite humourist.
E.F. Benson is my favourite author discovered through this group.
Like Susan, Golden Age detective is my favourite genre.
Dorothy L. Sayers is my favourite author in this genre, but Agatha Christie will always have a special place in my heart.

The others
Elizabeth Goudge
Daphne du Maurier
Rafael Sabatini
Nevil Shute

This is a great thread, CindySR, I need to check out those listed I haven't read.


I don't know why, because my Mom used to have the paperbacks around when I was growing up, but I've never read Louis L'Amour.

Most of my favorites have already been named. I could add Molly Clavering and Henry Wade. A favorite children's author is Hilda Van Stockum.

Should add Victoria Holt/Jean Plaidy - not mentioned much these days

Jane Aiken Hodge as well

Cphe wrote: "Should add Victoria Holt/Jean Plaidy - not mentioned much these days

Jane Aiken Hodge as well"

Oh, yes for Eleanor Burford (aka Victoria Holt/Jean Plaidy/Phillipa Carr and several other names)! and I devoured Jane Aiken Hodge's books back in the day.

Cphe wrote: "Jane Aiken Hodge as well"

I just looked her up and realized her book about Georgette Heyer was on my TBR list! I ordered it from my library, thanks for the reminder.

What a great question, it has already sent me looking in the library stacks. Sadly no Ruth Park, now that does look interesting. Jane Aiken Hodge is another author I have long been meaning to try. One day...

P.G. Wodehouse and Agatha Christie have been favourites since my teens, and the two I return to most often for comfort. Honourable mentions to Georgette Heyer and E.F. Benson, also already mentioned. Other favourites of mine:

Dorothy Whipple such a compelling storyteller.
Elizabeth von Arnim she can be so funny.
Beverley Nichols love his garden trilogies.
Barbara Pym more comfort reading.
Marghanita Laski each book is completely different.
R.C. Sherriff so much more than just Journey's End.
Elizabeth Taylor for a bit of bite.
B.B. The Little Grey Men was probably my first love.

I keep missing posts because Goodreads doesn't always give me a notification and I have to click on "discussions" every day to see what I'm missing.

angry face! >:-(

Jackie wrote: "I keep missing posts because Goodreads doesn't always give me a notification and I have to click on "discussions" every day to see what I'm missing.

angry face! >:-("

Hi Jackie

Do you check the 'Notify me when people comment' for threads you are particularly interested in?

yes! and usually that works, but not today. I go to "discussions" and then I can see what's new but they are not showing up under notifications.

I have the notify box checked, but it very often doesn't work anymore. I also have to remember to go to the 'discussions' to see anything.