A Nun’s Lament
A Nun’s Lament A moving cry from a 12th century heart. Why did medieval women join convents? This is a subject well documented, and needs no insightful additions from me….
Category: Women in History
The Love Affair That Never Was
Henry V and Katherine de Valois. A fairy tale marriage? Where is the evidence? The Love Affair That Never Was. William Shakespeare has a lot to answer for. Did he…
My Thoughts on Writing about Katherine de Valois
My Thoughts on Writing about Katherine de Valois, and how my novel developed to beome a novel of love and loss, fulfilment and tragedy. My Thoughts on Writing about Katherine…
Myth, Legend, Tradition, Propaganda…
Myth, legend, tradition and historical propaganda: just how did Katherine de Valois and Owen Tudor fall in love? My question is, how justified in a writer of historical novels in using…
“Katherine Swynford”
Katherine Swynford The Iconic 14th Century Love Affair of Katherine, Lady Swynford and John, Duke of Lancaster Although there are well documented portraits of John, Duke of Lancaster, known to…
Brilliana, Lady Harley, English Civil War Heroine.
Brilliana, Lady Harley, was a seventeenth century heroine in the English Civil War who, in the absence of the men of her family, defended her husband’s castle at Brampton Bryan…
“Elizabeth Plantagenet, a Lost Medieval Princess”
Who was Elizabeth Plantagenet? How did a royal medieval princess come to be buried in the lovely rural church of Burford in Shropshire? Elizabeth Plantagenet, a Lost Medieval Princess In July…
Medieval Contraception
Medieval contraception – a hit and miss affair. How effective were medieval methods of contraception, when practised by women, to limit the number of unwanted pregnancies? How widely were such…
“Alice Perrers: Infamy to Anonymity … A sad end?”
In 1400 Alice Perrers died alone, forgotten and buried under a storm of legal litigation. Was her rule as King’s Concubine all for nothing? Alice Perrers died in Upminster in…
“Alice Perrers and the Desecration of the Dead”
The most despicable crime to be laid at Alice Perrer’s door. Can she ever be forgiven for so vile an act? By far the most despicable of Alice Perrer’s many…
Royal Newly-weds 14th Century Style
An arranged marriage between the youthful Edward III and Philippa of Hainault that blossomed into one of the great love affairs of medieval times. Royal Newly-weds 14th Century style: a…
“Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend”
Alice Perrers, mistress of Edward III, gained notoriety for her collection of jewellery. Did she deserve it? Diamonds – and any other jewels of great value – are a Girl’s…
