Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Barbara Mertz, 1927-2013

I've just heard the sad news that Barbara Mertz passed away on August 8, at age 85.

She was a prolific author, writing over 60 books, also known by the pen names of Barbara Michaels and Elizabeth Peters. I've read nearly all of her books, by all three names, and love them.

Discovering Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody reignited my love for Egyptian history, leading to the discovery of factual books on Egyptology by Barbara Mertz. And this all followed upon my early discovery and love for Barbara Michaels' Gothic romantic fiction.

I always enjoyed the way she wrote with panache, tackling the thorny issues of sexism, sexual appeal, intrigue, and a woman's place in the world. Since she wrote from the 70's on, there was a definite development in her characters, but always, there were strong, self-determining women involved. Inspirationally funny, opinionated, bossy, clever, knowing women, who manage to do what they wish, and still have time to worry about falling in love.

I will miss the anticipation of a new book by either Michaels or Peters, and I will miss hearing about the style with which she lived her life.

I hope that Ma'at is happy to see her at long last.

14 comments:

  1. I couldn't take to the Amelia Peabody books but The Crying Child which she wrote as Barbara Michaels is one of my all-time favourites for its wonderfully creepy atmosphere, likeable heroine and also because it introduced me to my beloved Maine Coon cats (I had never heard of them before. I have often thought that a lot of today's Gothic writers would be a great deal better if they used her work as a masterclass on how to build atmosphere without histrionics.
    She had a long life and brought a huge amount of pleasure to an awful lot of people - what better way for a writer to be remembered.

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    1. What a great way of putting it: building atmosphere without histrionics :) I love the Barbara Michaels books -- just reread Stitches in Time this week.

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  2. Does it sound too awful if I say that I'm surprised that she was still alive? I had a friend who loved her work who died twenty years ago, so somehow I've always put her in that age bracket. I'm afraid to say that I haven't read anything by her. Any suggestions as to a good place to start?

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    1. Some of her work does feel old-fashioned in a way, but there are lots of great reads. If you prefer mysteries, try the Amelia Peabody series (the first 5 are the best in the series, I think) but if you like Gothic suspense, the Barbara Michaels Georgetown Trilogy is my favourite.

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  3. Oh! This is indeed sad news. I've enjoyed the Amelia Peabody I've read/listened to... I haven't tried any Barbara Michaels yet (funny how I do still think of them as separate people, though I've known for a while they were not.)

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    1. I really enjoy Amelia Peabody & Emerson! Though the book I just read by Barbara Michaels reminds me very much of Emerson & Ramses...

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  4. I have not read her work but now feel as if I should. How interesting that she had two pen names!

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    1. She said that her publisher thought that the different styles required different names for people to follow. And of course she'd already used her real name in her scholarly work!

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  5. She's long been one of my favorite authors...her Barbara Michaels novels especially. I'm really going to miss her. (But at least I'll always be able to read her lovely books!)

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    1. Yes, I agree. I can reread the Barbara Michaels books, in particular, quite regularly.

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    2. My favorite is Into the Darkness, although Stitches in Time is a close second. Which do you like best?

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    3. I really like Stitches in Time and The Dancing Floor. Haven't read Into the Darkness in so long that my memory of it is vague...will have to remedy that!

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  6. I like the Barbara Michaels books. Not a big fan of Amelia Peabody, after a couple I began to find her tiresome. But I liked her standalones under the Elizabeth Peters name, and the Vicky Bliss ones too. But my favourites were Jacqueline Kirby (the sharp-tongued, quick-witted, good-looking librarian from Coldwater College, Nebraska).

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    1. Of course, Jacqueline Kirby is great fun :)

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