Please keep in mind that I’m not a trained historian – I’m just an amateur, an enthusiastic history buff. However, as history figures prominently in my books. I have attempted to ensure the historical facts are as correct as possible, and where necessary I have written a historical note so as to answer the most obvious questions.
Today, I am shining the light on Heidi Eljarbo and her dual timeline novel, The Paris Portrait. I’m a big fan of dual timeline stories, even more so when the historic timeline centres around a formidable woman–in this case the incredibly productive and talented painter, Madame Le Brun. I am thinking MS Eljarbo’s protagonist, […]
It is time to come clean: Erin and Duncan ended up in Pennsylvania because I was so thrilled to find a colony without anti-miscegenation laws, thinking this would be something for a safe harbour for my couple. Unfortunately, while Pennsylvania did not have such laws during the first two decades in the 18th century, by
In 1284, the pope sent word to King Edward, suggesting he lead yet another crusade to the Holy Land. Edward was honoured, but fully aware of just how much such an endeavour would cost, he requested that the pope finance the venture. The pope agreed, and had it not been for the so called Aragonese
Spain in the late 13th century was a complicated place: to the north, the Crown of Aragon controlled most of the land marching south of the Pyrenees—except for Navarra, which was under French control. In the centre of the peninsula, the kingdom of Castile had been in expansion mode for over a century. To the
In 1688, James II of England was forced to flee into exile, accompanied by his wife and precious baby son. Why did this happen? Well, to simplify things, James II was a Catholic, something that most Englishmen of the time had major problems with. And now that he had a son, the horrifying spectre of
Historical Note, His Castilian Hawk Wales in the late 13th century was a complicated place, very much affected by the events in England. During Simon de Montford’s rebellion, Llywelyn ap Gruffydd sided with the rebels and this would come back to cost him—especially once Henry III was dead, replaced by the far more forceful
Roger Mortimer died on the 29th of November, 1330, more or less as depicted in the final chapters of this book. Opinions about him remain divided: some have a tendency to paint Isabella as a victim and Roger as an ogre, others believe Roger and Isabella were in it together, all the way. I lean
Historical Note, Days of Sun and Glory While Adam de Guirande and his wife Kit are fictional beings, the political events depicted in this novel are not.When Roger Mortimer escaped from the Tower in 1323, Edward II and Despenser went into a frenzy. It became paramount to cleanse the realm of England of any potential
Historical Note, In the Shadow of the Storm While Adam de Guirande and his wife Kit are fictional beings, the political events depicted in this novel are not. Roger Mortimer did rise in rebellion late in 1321, he was forced to a humiliating submission in January of 1322, and yes, he did escape from the
Historical note, A Newfound Land Just like Matthew Graham, many of the early settlers in the American Colonies emigrated due to religious issues. In the combined realms of England and Scotland, the Church of England – and the government – was distrustful of all religious faiths outside the Anglican Church. Catholics were hounded, would continue