Irish Thoroughbred, the debut novel by American author Nora Roberts (pictured), was first published in January 1981 as a category romance. Like other category romances, it was less than 200 pages and was intended to be on sale for only one month. It proved so popular that it was repackaged as a stand-alone romance and reprinted multiple times. Roberts drew on her Irish heritage to create an Irish heroine, Adelia "Dee" Cunnane. In the novel, Dee moves to the United States, where her sick uncle arranges for her to marry his employer, wealthy American horsebreeder Travis Grant. Although the early part of their relationship is marked by frequent arguments, by the end of the story Travis and Dee reconcile. According to one critic, the couple's transformation from adversaries to a loving married couple is one of many formulaic elements in the book. Although the protagonists adhered to many stereotypes common to 1980s romance novels, Roberts's heroine is more independent and feisty than most others of the time. Roberts wrote two sequels, Irish Rebel and Irish Rose.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Thoroughbred
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
455:
After arranging for the assassination of Valentinian III, Petronius Maximus seized the throne of the Western Roman Empire, only to be killed 11 weeks later during the sack of Rome. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petronius_Maximus
1891:
The transatlantic steamship SS Utopia accidentally collided with the battleship HMS Anson in the Bay of Gibraltar, sinking in less than twenty minutes and killing 562. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Utopia
1963:
The most recent eruption of Mount Agung on Bali, Indonesia, killed approximately 1,500 people. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Agung
1969:
Golda Meir became the first female Prime Minister of Israel. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golda_Meir
1988:
Eritrean War of Independence: The Eritrean People's Liberation Front encircled an Ethiopian force and gained a decisive victory in the Battle of Afabet. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Afabet
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
dudeen: A short-stemmed Irish pipe made out of clay. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/dudeen
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
I am Patrick, yes a sinner and indeed untaught; yet I am established here in Ireland where I profess myself bishop. I am certain in my heart that "all that I am," I have received from God. So I live among barbarous tribes, a stranger and exile for the love of God. --Saint Patrick https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick