Today, we are visited by Amy Maroney who writes wonderfully vivid books set in the past, in locations spanning everything from the Pyrenees to Cyprus. One of my personal favourites is The Queen’s Scribe, mainly because I love how elegantly Amy weaves the story of her fictional characters into the warp and weft of known
Marching on – in which Amy Maroney introduces medieval physician Trotula Read More »
Last week, Cathie visited with a post about Poppa, forgotten matriarch to the dukes of Normandy. Today, she is back with a post about yet another matriarch, but despite never having been recognised as queen of England, Matilda, daughter of Henry I, is anything but forgotten! From her spring the Plantagenet dynasty that would rule
Marching Matilda – the Empress who should have been queen Read More »
Several years ago, I read Men of the Cross by Char Newcomb and just loved it. Not only did she bring the times of the crusades to vivid life – I love her depiction of Richard Lionheart – but she created characters that remained with me long after I finished the book. Obviously, tons of
Marching through history – Char Newcomb introduces us to Joanna of Sicily Read More »
Today, I am joined by Paula Lofting. As long as I have known Paula, she has been a major, major fan of Anglo-Saxon England, more specifically the period just preceding the Conquest. Yes, she has a crush on Harold–so no wonder she has just published a book about him (on my TBR – I am
A few days ago, Annie Whitehead visited with a post about a Northumbrian queen. Today, she introduces us to Æthelflæd, a lady very, very close to her heart as is evidenced by her beautiful novel, To be a Queen. A must-read for any Anglo-Saxon afficionado, IMO. So, with no more ado, let’s hear it from
Marching through history – meet Æthelflæd, Lady of the Mercians Read More »
Some years ago, I read Cathie Dunne’s book, Ascent and was quite fascinated by how she’d described the, to me, unknown Poppa and her marriage to Hrolf. In Sweden, we call him Gångar-Rolf “Walking Rolf” because he went to so many places, but that is neither here nor there. Given how fascinated I was by
Marching through history – Cathie introduces the forgotten Poppa Read More »
After yesterdays brief stop in the Roman Empire, we are now back in Britain. It is the time of Arthur, of Guinevere and the Round Table. Except that in Helen Hollick’s take on Arthur, Guinevere is Gwenhwyfar and in no way a retiring violet. Helen writes marvellous female characters, and I personally think her take
Marching through history – Gwenhwyfar as Helen Hollick sees her Read More »
We’re kicking off our march through female history with a post by Nancy Jardine. Nancy has written several engaging (and very educational, if you don’t know much about the period, like me) books about Celtic Britain, so it is no wonder she has chosen to introduce us to Cartimandua, queen of the Brigantes. With that,
Marching through history – meet Cartimandua, Celtic queen Read More »
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 »
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,