LONDON () -- Romantic writer Barbara Cartland is aghast that Russian publishers have spiced up her coy novels by adding erotic pictures, Sunday's People newspaper said.


"They are cheap, disgusting and appalling con-tricks," the prolific British author said of the pirated hardback editions.


The books, with pictures of pouting nude women on the covers and inside, are being snapped up by Russians who expect a saucy read but instead get tame tales of romance full of glances and odd kisses, but no steamy encounters, the paper said.


"They must think that the only thing that sells is hot sex but they are wrong," said Dame Barbara, 92.