The Geraldine Conspiracy

Dufour Editions will distribute, in two dissimilar volumes, noteworthy historical fiction that is not intended for squeamish readers. Set in 16th-century Ireland and England, The Geraldine Conspiracy is an atmospheric epic novel by Ann Chambers about the political maneuverings surrounding efforts by Henry VIII to destroy the last surviving scion of the ancient Irish Geraldine Dynasty (Marino, $34 500p ISBN 1-86023-021-0). Crimes of Love collects five twisted--but not pornographic--stories about love, incest and untimely death by the Marquis de Sade. These unusual moral fables display the influence that such philosophes as Voltaire and Diderot had on an author better known for his archly amoral and unsavory longer works. (Peter Owen, $28.95 126p ISBN 0-7206-0826-0)