Anya Seton

Known for the vast amount of research she put into her books, incredibly vivid details, and dark romances, Anya Seton’s historical fiction books—or biographical novels, as she preferred they be called—are still referenced today. She even inspired some historical romance writers, including Philippa Gregory, who wrote introductions for five of the reissues of Seton’s books.

It’s still early in the 2020s for number ten, so this partial list (incomplete and biased) looks at nine favorite filmed novels published across 90 years (1936 to 2016, one per decade). While the passage of time makes many movies seem historical (think Agatha Christie adaptations), I’ve stuck to a strict definition. All the novels are set years before their original publication dates. The books are still in print, and the films are available on DVD or streaming.

Author Interview - Jeanne Mackin Author of The Last Collection and Picasso's Lover A tangled and vivid portrait of the women caught in Picasso’s charismatic orbit through the affairs, the scandals, and the art—only this time, they hold the brush. The women of Picasso’s life are glamorous and elusive, existing in the shadow of his fame—until 1950s aspiring journalist Alana Olson determines to bring one into the light.