Rome, 1599. Beatrice yearns to escape the clutches of her abusive father. Determined to find a way back to Rome, she enlists the help of Olimpio, the castle’s keeper. Soon the love that grows between them will transform Beatrice’s fortunes, for better and for worse. . . History has sold her short. She is no […]
Jane Seymour: Patronage, Material Culture and Image Crafting by Elizabeth Norton
Jane Seymour, the third wife of Henry VIII, was queen of England for only 17 months, something which has accounted for the little interest shown in her by historians. In her lifetime, however, she was a significant political figure, while her legacy and memorialization extended beyond her early death following childbirth in October 1537. This […]
Pale Mistress by Naomi Kelsey
Cyprus in the 16th century. Murder, lies and vengeance have left lovers dead, promises broken and no one to trust. Only one woman survives, Bianca. The slain? History knows their names: Emilia, Desdemona, Othello. But why do we not know Bianca? Who was the pale mistress? Liar or lied to? Instigator or victim? In telling […]
Heroines of the Tudor World by Sharon Bennett Connolly
These are the women who ruled, the women who founded dynasties, the women who fought for religious freedom, their families and love. These are the women who made a difference, who influenced countries, kings and the Reformation. This book focuses on the women who lived through the Renaissance and Reformation, examining the threats and challenges […]
Shadow of Madness by DV Bishop
It’s Tuscany in the winter of 1540. Travelling north into the hills above Florence, investigator Cesare Aldo seeks answers about his past. The trail leads him to Ospedale de’ Pazzi, a secure institution for the criminally insane. Soon after arriving a blizzard engulfs the area, trapping Aldo and his companion, Doctor Saul Orvieto. Even more […]
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 Queen’s Sister by Carol McGrath
At 19, Elizabeth Seymour is already a mother, has been recently widowed, and seen her Queen, Anne Boleyn, lose her life. Against the wishes of her father, she heads North, away from Wulf Hall and the court in London to Yorkshire, determined to establish a new beginning as a landowner and business woman. As her […]
The Boleyn Secret by Alison Weir
At 12 years old, Kate Carey attends her aunt, Queen Anne Boleyn, to the scaffold. Horrified by what she witnesses, Kate is convinced that King Henry VIII has sent an innocent woman to a terrible death. As the Boleyns fall from favour, Kate serves her now motherless cousin, the young Lady Elizabeth. Bound by Boleyn […]