Just one week after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on 22 November 1963, his widow invited Life Magazine journalist, Theodore H. White, to the Kennedy Compound in Hyannis Port. She had a story to tell. In the resulting piece (which you can read here) White focuses on Jackie Kennedy’s hazy memories of that […]
I know what story I want to tell; how do I tell it?
Dear Dr Darwin, I’ve found a gripping set of historical events that I want to build a novel round, and before you start shaking your Tudor bonnet, it’s not because I have a non-fiction agenda: this is a glorious concatenation of politics, faith, personalities, clothes, weapons and all the other things that make historical fiction […]
Desert Island Books: Michelle Birkby
I can only take five books to a desert island? Just five? And I presume one of them can’t be an exceptionally large map book, with tidal currents and shipping lanes and a handy pair of semaphore flags? No? Alright then, just five books to while away the hours. Sounds rather fun, actually. Jane Eyre […]
Vikings Season 4: Episode 20, The Reckoning
SPOILER ALERT. A number of characters meet their ends in this episode. One death, at least, has been anticipated for some time. One is a total surprise, so if you haven’t seen this episode yet, read on at your peril. (And now you can’t resist, can you?) The Reckoning has elements of King Lear, Richard […]
Vikings Season 4: Episode 19, On The Eve
Before I recap events in Vikings Episode 19, On The Eve, in which Ivar and Co. land in Repton, and King Ecbert sends his son, Prince Æthelwulf , to fight them, let’s have a look at the historical timeline: King Ecbert died in 839. King Ecbert’s son, Æthelwulf, died in 858. Ivar the Boneless and […]
Desert Island Books: Anna Mazzola
Like all writers, I sometimes dream of being locked away from all humanity so that I can have the time to, a) write, and b) get through the enormous ‘TBR’ pile that has actually become an entire room. A desert island would be even better, assuming it’s the sunny, sandy kind with palm trees, hot […]
British History’s Biggest Fibs With Lucy Worsley
British History’s Biggest Fibs With Lucy Worsley (Episode 1/3, 26 January, BBC Four) opens with an account of the Wars of the Roses. Lucy Worsley lurches in pursuit of a retreating camera, talking of constant warfare. The corners of her mouth remain upturned in a conspiratorial smirk even when she mentions the slaughter of children. […]
Vikings Season 4: Episode 18, Revenge
VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED. I mean, really. In Revenge, Vikings series creator/writer Michael Hirst takes a walk on the dark, disgusting side and forces us to go with him. Thanks a lot. So if you are not into equating ritual human sacrifice with sexual penetration, or you are not eager to watch a graphic depiction of […]