I composed a post which then disappeared in a flash. Very strange.
Continuing to respond to posts as a main post. Let me know what you all think.
Tal, glad my post hit the spot for you, and thank you for the follow up. I had most of that, I think from the same site, but yes, Husband Hunters!!! doesn't seem to be easily available anywhere.
Pat said: used to devour 20th century gothics but I'll have to admit I never got into the older versions where Snidely Dolash tied the innocent maiden to the camel or horse or railroad tracks. I have always been a fan of women who kicked the villains where they hurt, and these never did.
Are you certain the author of RAVENSWORTH was a man? So many authors wrote under pseudonyms back then. And I have to wonder if Rosalvo's author wasn't really named Rose and enjoyed being the hero as well as the heroine.
I rapidly tired of the gothics in the '80s, when for a while there was nothing else but there's something fresh and over the top about the old ones.
I'm pretty sure that the author, George Brewer, was male, because there are articles about him. He seems to have also written in the style of Fielding and Smollett.
As for heroines, I prefer your version to kick-ass. Not good to kick people from behind, you know.
The heroines in these book do tend to faint rather than fight, but then the heroes are inclined to sigh and burst into tears, so it's pretty equal.
Jo :)