The Rhapsody of Love

The Rhapsody of Love is #61 in the Bantam series and was published in April 1977. It is the story of Orlena and her brother, who find out after the death of their father that they are not poor, but quite wealthy! He leaves them in the care of the Earl of Ulverston who ends up not being elderly at all, but young and handsome!

Francis Marshall paints an illustration of our couple in a circus where she is leaning up against a piano that she had been playing and our hero rushes in to save her from the flames in the background. Note the man yelling for help! Our heroine is dressed in a full coral dress that would be about 10 years old. The use of color conveys the danger inside the room!

Kiss the Moonlight

Kiss the Moonlight is #60 in the Bantam series and was published in April 1977. It is the story of Athena, whose grandmother has arranged her marriage to the Prince of Parnassus. She runs to Delphi to pray about her future marriage when she meets Orion and gets caught up in an adventure with the outlaw Kazandis!

Francis Marshall illustrates a beautiful picture for this cover of our hero and heroine getting married in a Greek ceremony. They are dressed in Greek costume and it is one of my favorite Marshall illustrations! You can sense the beauty and peace of the area where they celebrate their vows and their deep love for each other. It is a wonderful cover for a great story!

The Magic of Love

The Magic of Love is #59 in the Bantam series and was published in March 1977. It is the story of Melita who is in Martinique to become a governess after the death of her parents. She soon falls in love with the Comte, whose daughter she is keeping and ends up saving his life in this exotic Barbara Cartland novel!

Francis Marshall illustrates a beautiful picture for this cover and it's amazing with the beautiful flowers and foliage. Our heroine is pretty in a light white dress and parasol. The hero is picking a flower from the tree above. The colors and shading is stunning make it a very nice cover!

Martinique is an island in the Caribbean and would have been reached by a sea voyage in the 1840's. It is a French colony and the people speak French and Creole.

The Mysterious Maid-Servant

The Mysterious Maid-Servant is #58 in the Bantam series and was published in March 1977. It is the story of Giselda who is discovered by the Earl of Lyndhurst as a servant in his house. He is in desperate need of a nurse and he hires her as she has nursing skills. He realizes that there is some mystery about this servant girl who is obviously well born. How they are able to save each other and fall in love is the plot of this exciting story set during the regency.

Francis Marshall paints a delightful illustration for this book. It shows our hero and heroine in a box at the theater. She wears a beautiful blue evening gown with shawl and pocketbook. She is moving to save our hero from disaster because the actor's pistol is real, unknown to him!

Vote for Love

Vote for Love is #57 in the Bantam series and was published in February 1977. It is the story of Viola who is bullied by her stepmother to become a suffragette and help demonstrate to get the vote for women. She is saved by Rayburn Lyle, who becomes necessary to her future life!

Francis Marshall draws a picture showing our heroine fainting and the hero helping her. Their clothing is typical of the early 1900's as is the plot of woman's suffrage. The only thing I dislike about this illustration is the "smoky" background, which is not usual for a Francis Marshall illustration. I don't know if the printers made a mistake.

In both the US and UK, woman's suffrage was popular. Women were trying to get the vote and the UK women gained voting rights in 1918 while US women gained the vote in 1920. World War 1 was a determining factor, since women helped greatly in the war effort.

The Disgraceful Duke

The Disgraceful Duke is #56 in the Bantam series and was published in February 1977. It is the story of Shimona who hires herself to pose as the bride of the nephew of the Duke of Ravenstone in order to help him gain his inheritance. It gives her a chance to gain some money to provide for her ailing actor father. Could love be in the wings?

Francis Marshall paints a vivid picture of our couple as they flee a fire in the mansion. Shimona holds a baby and the Duke is going to help her escape down the ladder. It is a striking illustration and you can almost feel the heat of the flames. I have always enjoyed this book and illustration!

In London in the 1800's, fire stations were available and people paid a yearly payment to ensure their services if necessary. In the country, people had to be vigilant on their own for fires.

The Taming of Lady Lorinda

The Taming of Lady Lorinda is #55 in the Bantam series and was published in January 1977. It is the story of Lady Lorinda, a scandalous woman of the late 1700's whose father loses a wager and has to sell up due to debt. Durstan Hayle buys up the debt and castle and proposes to Lady Lorinda. What happens when the headstrong lady and reforming Lord meet and marry?

Francis Marshall paints a vivid illustration of our couple in a argument! He is angry at her and she is obviously holding up her bodice. They are both dressed in the fashions of the late 1700's. This was before the Grecian lines of the regency. She wears a beautiful gold dress and his teal blue waistcoat is stunning.

The Dream and the Glory

The Dream and the Glory is #54 in the Bantam series and was published in January 1977. It is the story of Lady Cordelia and her brother, who is on his way to Malta to become a Knight of St John. They are in Naples since the French are fighting in the seas and they meet up with their cousin, Mark Stanton, who is willing to take them to Malta. There are many adventures to be had before Cordelia and Mark realize that they are perfect for one another!

This is one of my favorite Francis Marshall covers! You can see the St John ship in the background with the pointed cross and our hero, resplendent in his uniform! Cordelia is beautiful in her pink gown and purple shawl and is comforted by the captain. It is a very good story, too!

The Order of St. John is real and Barbara Cartland gave half the profits from this book for that organization! She also was a member. They serve Christ by serving mankind.

The Heart Triumphant

The Heart Triumphant is #53 in the Bantam series and was published in December 1976. It is the story of Cerissa and Sheldon, who she meets on board a ship crossing the English channel. She is the illegitimate daughter of a French Duc while his family sent him away from England in his youth. Can the adventuress and adventurer ever have a life together?

Francis Marshall paints an elegant illustration for this book showing our saucy French lady beautiful in black with her servant standing behind her. Our hero is handsome in teal and interesting with his arm in a sling. They look as if they're at a party and Francis Marshall lets the colorful illustration tell a story. This is a great story and I recommend it as one of Cartland's best!

Until 1793, many English traveled back and forth to France. Paris was considered the most elegant of cities and even during the war, England was insatiable for French fashions and food. Most of the emegres were aristocratic French who disapproved of the upstart Napoleon and revolution in their country.

Hungry for Love

Hungry for Love is #52 in the Bantam series and was published in December 1976. It is the story of Araminta, who helps her brother after he loses a wager against the Marquis of Wayne. She is a fabulous cook and her uncle the general proposes that he knows a chef that is better than Careme, the Regent's chef! During this time of cooking for the Marquis, he meets and falls in love with Araminta, but offers her a carte blanche, not knowing that she is a young lady.

Francis Marshall paints an interesting cover for this book by showing the couple at an elegant room with a beautifully decorated dinner table behind them. She wears a day dress with a heavy cloak while the hero is dashing in tails and knee britches!

The people of the regency enjoyed good food. It was considered by some to be an art form and French chefs were well paid for their expertise. Many hired French chefs for their kitchens and enjoyed serving elegant meals for their families and friends.

The Proud Princess

The Proud Princess is #51 in the Bantam series and was published in November 1976. It is the story of Ilona, who returned to her country, Dabrozka, after exile. The ministers of this country are trying to plan a marriage between Ilona and Prince Aladar Saros. Unfortunately, he is the sworn enemy of her father. How this plot twists and turns is very interesting!

Francis Marshall paints our royal couple in an embrace. She is beautiful in an apple green gown that is perfect with her red hair and complexion. The hero is resplendent in a royal uniform. It is a very attractive cover!

The Secret of the Glen

The Secret of the Glen is #50 in the Bantam series and was published in November 1976. It is the story of Leona, who goes to live in Scotland after the death of her mother. On her way, she meets with an accident and Lord Strathcairn saves her. She is attracted to him but is told that he is already married by the Duke in whose castle she now lives. How she is rescued yet again by Lord Strathcairn is the romantic plot of this story!

Francis Marshall paints a beautiful picture of our heroine being rescued. I love the blue/green scenery around the coach and the large plaid blanket that the hero wraps around her. It is a very romantic cover!

Never Laugh at Love

Never Laugh at Love is #49 in the Bantam series and was published in October 1976. It is the story of Anthea Forthingdale who drew caricatures of London society to gain an income and support her mother and sisters. Unfortunately, she drew one of her Godmother with the Duke of Axminster and now her Godmother, in order to avoid a divorce, proposes that the duke should marry Anthea!

Francis Marshall draws a picture of our couple reuniting for this book. Anthea wears an apron over a day dress, which looks as if she had been cleaning. The Duke is handsome in a riding coat and top hat. I love the little house with the purple flowers climbing up the walls.

Caricatures were a popular way of promoting the news of the day. In many ways, they are the precursor of our modern day cartoon. The Prince Regent was lampooned in many during his lifetime. Some of the great caricaturists during that time were Rowlandson and Cruickshank.

Conquered by Love

Conquered by Love is #48 in the Bantam series and is the story of Theola, who accompanies her cousin Caroline to Kavonia, where she is to marry the King. When they arrive to find that a handsome revolutionary has taken over the country, Catherine leaves, but Theola is trapped in the palace with the new leader!

Francis Marshall painted 2 similar covers for this book. Luce d'Apollo is the Italian book by this name. They are beautiful covers of the revolutionary gaining respect by marrying the English lady to keep the throne.

I like that the Bantam cover is crisp and detailed. Our heroine is beautiful in a form fitting billowy gown with a bustle. It looks as if they are coming out of the cathedral and our hero is handsome in full military uniform. The Italian cover is intriguing because it is very similar, but you see the crowds and celebration decorations of the city. The hero wears a white jacket uniform, but everything else is the same.

I am always seeking different Francis Marshall covers, so if you know of any that match some of the other books listed, like this European one, please contact me!

A Dream from the Night

A Dream from the Night is #47 in the Bantam series and was published in September 1976. It is the story of Olinda Selwyn, who is restoring the embroidered tapestries at the home of the Duchess of Kelvedon. Her mother feels that this is a safe employment position for her, but she is wrong when the duchess's lover begans to pay marked attention to her. Who will come and help her?

Francis Marshall paints a beautiful cover with our couple outside in the moonlight with the big house in the background. This book is set in 1898 and our heroine is dressed in a Gibson Girl hairdo and slim dress. The hero wears a formal evening dress, which would have been customary for dinner.

The Incredible Honeymoon

The Incredible Honeymoon is #46 in the Bantam series and the beginning of books having identical covers both in the US and UK. There are a few later on that I will show that had 2 different European covers! This book was published in September 1976 and is the story of Antonia, whose sister is suggested to the Duke of Doncaster as a possible spouse. Antonia offers to change places with her sister, who is in love with another. The Duke agrees with this and what happens afterwards is a great Cartland plot!
Francis Marshall paints a picture of our heroine in a beautiful red day bustle dress with a matching hat. She seems determined to look beautiful for her husband, who seems stunned at her appearance!

Second photo is from a hardback jacket (which I like a lot better than the first) and the last looks like it was meant for another book. I'm pretty sure it's a FM cover, though.