Today, I’ve invited Helen Hollick to talk about ghosts. “Ghosts?” you say, wondering what the historical angle is. Well, there isn’t one – except that generally ghosts are assumed to be the spiritual imprint of people who lived and died long ago. I am not entirely sure I believe in ghosts (sorry, Helen) but I
Ghostly Encounters – chatting with Helen about her upcoming release Read More »
Some of the sadder stories in history are about children who are caught up in the wars of their elders. Take, for example, the sad story of Manfred of Hohenstaufen’s very young children, who were locked up (and purportedly blinded) by Charles of Anjou in 1266 after he killed Manfred and claimed Sicily as his
In 1311, a very young Castilian infanta (princess) was betrothed to Jaime, heir to the Aragonese throne. Jaume did not want a wife. His father, however, was adamant. Aragon would benefit from a Castilian marriage. I guess Jaume would have sneered at that, reminding his father of his Castilian bride, little Isabel, whom he returned
Today, the limelight is on one of those books that always makes me cry, which is why I leapt at the opportunity to join this Coffee Pot Book Club tour. Helen Hollick paints an unforgettable portrait of Harold Godwinesson, so if you’ve not read Harold the King (I Am the Chosen King in the US)
All hail Harold – shining the light on a great novel! Read More »
We are mere days from Christmas. Hubby and I have just taken the first of many Christmas saunas, 45 minutes spent in a warm enclosed space while outside the winter night deepens into hues of dark blue and an owl hoots in the distance. A much-needed break in these last few days leading up to
Seasons Greeting – a reflection on hope and peace Read More »
St Lucy’s Day – or St Lucia as we say here in Sweden—is a celebration of light when winter is at its darkest. Prior to adopting the Gregorian calendar back in the 18th century, the Swedish calendar had St Lucia falling on the darkest day of the year, the midwinter solstice, and…What? You’ve never heard
Today, I am going to introduce you to St Eulalia. Both of them, because yes, there are two. Why St Eulalia, you may ask. Well, that’s all Alma’s fault. Alma is the main character in my WIP and at present (well, in the year 1337) she is in Mérida, one of those very, very ancient
In the 1960s. Sweden was swept by the great modernisation fever. Out with the old, in with the new, and in town after town, city after city, old historical quarters were demolished to be replaced by high rises in glittering glass and steel. A lot of what was ripped out was squalid—housing with no indoor
Time stands still for no one – or out with the old, in with the new! Read More »
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,
I had the pleasure of visiting a magnificent renaissance palace earlier this year, the Casa de Pilatos in Sevilla. There, on a wall, I found the quartered royal arms of France and Castile. As you all know by now, I am something of a history nerd, so I immediately started casting my mind back to