Rosamunde Pilcher Books In Order
Book links take you to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn money from qualifying purchases.Publication Order of Standalone Novels
Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas
| The Key | (1996) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
Publication Order of Short Story Collections
| The Blue Bedroom and Other Stories | (1985) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| Flowers in the Rain and Other Stories | (1991) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| The World of Rosamunde Pilcher | (1995) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| Christmas with Rosamunde Pilcher | (1997) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| A Place Like Home | (2021) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
Publication Order of Anthologies
| Love Stories | (1990) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| The Anthology of Love and Romance | (1994) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
Rosamunde Pilcher is a famous author of romance novels who was born Rosamunde Scott on September 22, 1924 in Lelant, Cornwall (which is located in the United Kingdom). Her father was a British commander and was posted in Burma before she was born. Pilcher started writing when she was only seven and saw her first story get published when she was eighteen years old. She later attended secretarial school.
Pilcher was also in the Women’s Royal Naval Service from 1943 until 1946, and late in 1946, she married Graham Hope Pilcher (who also was in the service and was an executive in the jute industry). The couple would stay married for almost sixty-three years until his death in 2009, and had four kids together, two sons and two daughters, and fourteen grandchildren. She moved, with her husband, early on in their marriage and still lives there today. She is the mother of Robin Pilcher, who is also an author. Two years after she retired from writing in the year 2000, she was made an officer of the Order of the British Empire.
For Pilcher, writing helped her escape from her daily life, and that it saved her marriage. Her breakthrough in the writing game would not come until the late eighties, when she released her twenty-third novel “The Shell Seekers”, a novel that sold over five million copies around the world. It also stayed on New York Times bestseller lists for months, as did the follow up, “September”, another popular novel that she wrote.
Besides writing under her real name, she also published some stories under the pen name Jane Fraser. The Jane Fraser name has ten novels published under it, and eighteen novels under her own name. Her early novels were written under the Fraser name, but by 1963, she exclusively wrote under the Pilcher name. Her first novel to be released under her real name of Pilcher was in 1955. She has also published short story collections as well as novels released under her own name.
“The Shell Seekers” is a stand alone novel written by Pilcher, and is a family saga that was released in 1988. At the end of Penelope Keeling’s long life, her prized possession is a painting her father made called “The Shell Seekers”. He gave her this painting as a wedding present. It shows the unconventional life that she has led, from her bohemian childhood and her romance during wartime. Her parents were her artist father and his much younger French wife. Her children, now grown, learn that the painting is worth a lot of money, and each give their two cents about what should be done with it. As Penelope recalls everything in her life, all the tragedies, secrets, and passions that she has experienced in her life, she knows what she needs to do with it. There is really only one answer for the painting, in her mind. At the start of the novel, Penelope is in her sixties. You learn things about Penelope through her point of view and that of her kids.
Fans of the novel, love the way that Pilcher takes readers in and makes them care about every character in the novel and the story itself. She develops everything fully and leaves no stone unturned. She even is vivid in her descriptions and readers found her to be a master writer. The novel is captivating in the way it makes readers enjoy the ride she takes them on. Even though Pilcher writes romance novels, there is still a lot more to the book than just that; the novel is not just a simple bodice ripper that fills a lot of book shelves in stores.
Some did not like the book because of the way the did not care for the characters, which made it hard to keep reading the book. They especially did not like Penelope’s kids who seemed like money grubbers and selfish people. Some found that focusing on a different character per chapter did not work and made the novel hard to follow. Some even found it was boring and long winded.
“September” is a stand alone novel written by Pilcher which was released in 1990. “September” features Noel (from “The Shell Seekers”) in a much smaller role. This novel takes place in Scotland, a beautiful place during a time that is unforgettable. Violet Aird, matriarch of the Aird clan is at the center of this tale, and is friend of Lord Balmerino (Archie Blair). Everyone in the book has something overcome, whether it be envy, greed, or jealousy. Violet knows that she can only watch over them. A dance in Pertshire brings everyone together, even a woman who ran away two decades ago.
Fans of the novel like the way Pilcher shows all the possible relationships that you can have in a small village. Some found the novel to be refreshing compared to other modern novels, and some enjoyed the vivid descriptions she makes of living in Scotland and England. You can see and smell everything there is to offer there. The novel’s imagery stays with you long after you finish the novel. Fans found that Pilcher does a great job when her characters keep things moving, and that they could not put the book down, it was far too fascinating for them. They just had to know how the book ended.
Some did not like the novel, finding that none of the characters were interesting or relatable at all and could not connect with the material. There were other moments that felt a little repetitious and a little too long for them. Some found parts of the novel to feature conversations that were too cryptic for them; almost as though part of the novel were missing and more information was needed.
Pilcher’s biggest novel of her career, “The Shell Seekers” has been adapted three times into movies, in 1989, 2005, and 2006. The first adaptation starred Angela Lansbury. “September” was also adapted into a mini series in 1996. Her novels are popular in Germany because one of the networks there loves to adapt her works, adapting over one hundred of her stories.
Her novel “Coming Home” won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award from the Romantic Novelists’s Association.
Book Series In Order » Authors »
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I truly loved Coming Home, which was my first novel by Ms. Pilcher. Wonderful story and I was sad it ended. My next book was Winter Solstice, Once again, it was a warm and excellent story. In both books, I was emotionally invested in the characters, and therefore loved these books. I looked forward to Shell Seekers, but found I could not relate to the characters. While well written, I enjoyed the other two books, written afterward, much much more.
I’m trying to figure out which of RP’s books was made into the Acorn Drama Four Seasons. I know I’ve read all the books written under her own name over the last 30 years and none of the plot in four seasons is familiar.
I loved the ShellSeekers, and was surprised that I enjoyed the voyage she takes us on. True family sagas. Coming Home was even more enjoyable, a real teaser,, wartime England and it’s affect on families and relationships. Descriptions were excellent and as always , so emotionally evocative. Taking you to Cornwall, or London…
My absolute favorite author! I read Winter Solstice every year beginning in December. She was truly a gifted author.
And so do I! I love Rosamunde Pilcher!!
I wish there were more to read.
Just read Winter Solstice, loved it, was hoping she would have followed up on the lives of Sam and Carrie and Elfrida and Oscar in another novel but not to be, It is the first of her books I read, shall defo buy more of her work.
Just read ‘The shell seekers’, for the third time.
Although they’re ‘woman’s books’, they paint vivid mental pictures and leave the reader wanting more.
If only she had written a ‘Shell Seekers’ sequel- would really liked to read more of Danus and Antonia’s future.
Thank for all the WONDERFUL INFORMATION !! I’m trying to find the book after “The Winter Solstice “ is there anyway you can can help me ?? I sent my mom the Book “ The Shell Seekers “ and she LOVED !! Then I sent her the “ Winter Solstice “ I want to make sure that I send her the correct next book. If you could help me that would be soo helpful and I would be very GRATEFUL!! Thank you, Holly Hellenthal
Hi Holly – Rosamunde did not write any novels following The Winter Solstice.
Just finished reading Winter Solstice and absolutely loved it! I found it to be very captivating; loved the characters and became immersed in their lives and stories. The detailed description of the locations/settings/characters drew you in to the story…a great page turner leaving you wanting more at the end. Unfortunately, I found Winter Solstice is the last book written by the author. Perhaps Robin Pilcher would consider writing a sequel.