The medieval princess has often been portrayed as a pawn in the political machinations of her father or brother, married off to distant lands for the sake of peace, or land, or both. Never to be seen or thought of again. But was that really her fate? Princesses of the Later Middle Ages examines the […]
Legacy of Steel by CF Dunn
In 1477, Isobel Langton’s husband, Earl Robert, has returned to her after his enslavement in North Africa. King Edward IV welcomes him as a hero, but he is not the man who left almost a year before. His exploits at sea defeating Barbary pirates are hailed as a great victory, but they have left him […]
Squire by Griff Hosker
In 15th-century England, chaos reigns as a mad king teeters on the brink of ruin. With the loss of France haunting the realm, loyalty becomes a rare commodity and ambition serves as a dangerous game played by those who would dare to grasp the throne. Amid the nobles vying for power, a young boy named […]
Power Couples of the Renaissance by Jo Romero
The Renaissance was an age of rebirth, brilliance and danger. Across Europe and beyond, powerful partnerships shaped politics, culture, exploration and art. Behind the triumphs of rulers, patrons and pioneers were the relationships that strengthened them – alliances that multiplied their influence and ensured their legacy. This book brings to life ten remarkable duos whose […]
The Formidable Women Who Shaped Medieval Europe by Susan Abernethy
The formation of the Burgundian Empire by the four Valois Dukes of Burgundy would not have happened without the formidable royal and aristocratic women in their lives. These women, the wives, daughters, nieces, granddaughters and great-granddaughters, were vigorously engaged in the administration of the Burgundian empire, acting as governors and regents, making appointments, securing and […]
Degrees of Affinity by CF Dunn
By 1472, England has settled into an uneasy peace. The Lancastrian King Henry VI is dead and Yorkist Edward IV has been restored to the throne. Edward is supported by his younger brothers, George, Duke of Clarence and Richard, Duke of Gloucester. But the two men could not be more different. Meanwhile, Isobel Fenton has […]
The Queen and the Countess by Anne O’Brien
England in the 1450s, and Queen Margaret knows she must protect the crown, and her son Prince Edward’s claim to it, at all costs. It is up to her to fight for their inheritance, with her husband King Henry VI becoming increasingly frail. And as the Wars of the Roses rage on, Margaret’s enemies lurk […]
Rebuilding St Peter’s in Renaissance Rome
Richard Kurti writes about the inspiration behind his Basilica Diaries thriller series, set in Renaissance Rome at the time of the rebuilding of St Peter’s Basilica. He finds contemporary echoes, some unexpected… It was extraordinary to witness. Even in the tech-driven 21st century, with 10,000 satellites circling the Earth and information flowing between eight billion […]