28 July sees the launch of Robyn Young’s new book Sons of The Blood: New World Rising. This terrific novel, the first of a series, is set in 1483, as Richard of Gloucester seizes the reins of power after the death of his brother Edward IV. It is a rich tapestry of intrigue and adventure […]
A Brief History of Underwear
Imogen Robertson reviews Undressed, the latest hot ticket at the V&A. When I was a child, my mother discovered that no matter the size of strop I’d managed to get myself into, if she said the word ‘knickers’ enough in a very serious voice, I’d crack and start giggling. I have a nasty feeling it would […]
The First Five Years of HWA
Changing career to follow one’s calling is the stuff of dreams. It’s unfortunate that for many, the dream never becomes reality, but Manda Scott is one of those talented individuals for whom it did come true. More than a decade ago, she abandoned the world of veterinary medicine to become an author – and not […]
Kings and Queens
The Price of Blood by Patricia Bracewell (HarperCollins) I’m afraid I knew nothing about Emma of Normandy until I came across this splendid series from Patricia Bracewell. In the first volume, Shadow on the Crown, the young Emma arrives in a hostile country to marry Æthelred of England with little but her own wits to defend […]
Historical Crime Roundup
Since I told our esteemed editors that I’d do a round up of some of the recent crime fiction published by HWA members, I’ve become overexcited and overwhelmed by the number of superb books that have published this year. It has, at least, made my Christmas shopping a bit easier, but my kindle has overloaded, […]