Jean-Baptiste Poquelin (1622-1673) more commonly known as Molière, is a titan of world literature. The French Shakespeare, his influence on the development of early modern theatre, and his acerbic observations on the human condition in his work have fascinated and enthralled audiences for centuries. So great was his lasting influence on French literature that in 2025 Melvyn Bragg… Read on
We tend to look back on sixteenth-century royalty through the lens of court intrigue and strategic marriages, yet history is often shaped by moments where personal challenge meets ideology. Few episodes illustrate this better than the violent origin of Scotland’s most infamous witch hunts. In August 1589, fourteen-year-old Princess Anna of Denmark married King James VI of Scotland… Read on
Among various writing ventures, the catapult that led to writing the novel Mithim was undoubtedly my time reviewing for historical non-fiction publisher Chronos Books. As a lover of history, reviewing titles for this Collective Ink Books imprint was a perfect fit. I reviewed many of their 17th-century titles; Catherine of Braganza, Charles II’s Restoration queen and The Tragic Daughters… Read on
My husband surprised me with a trip to Blenheim Palace last Saturday, May 30th 2026. Now, for those of you who are new to this blog, it is a very special place for me. I hadn’t been to Blenheim since 2023, and the iconic front of the building is currently heavily scaffolded, which is likely necessary, but there… Read on
Joseph Glanvill was born in 1636 in Plymouth. His family were Puritans and, like the rest of these English reforming Protestants, sought to ‘purify’ the Church of England from its Catholic practices. Glanvill attended Exeter College, Oxford, where he studied religion, logic and philosophy, and graduated in 1655. He later obtained an MA from Lincoln College. By the time… Read on
Carina McNally’s debut novel, Mithim, was released last week. Mercier Press contacted me with an ARC (Advanced Review Copy), and I am delighted to say this book was very absorbing, well-written, and wonderfully Irish. Set in 1657 Wexford, Ireland, through the eyes of Mithim, a woman who has known great loss, and who is acquainted with ancient wisdom… Read on
Child’s Play to Charles II – a guest post by Claire Hobson A periwig is usually prominent in our minds when we think of Charles II. With those long black curls, he’s recognised as the English king restored to power by a counterrevolutionary parliament in 1660, but he actually sported his natural hair for more than half his… Read on
Happy New Year! Well, 2025 certainly seems to have sped by, with work on the successful Stuart History Festival in the gorgeous and historic city of Worcester in July. It was great to reunite with people I had worked with before or admired before: Jonathan Healey, with whom I had previously been in the BBC4 history documentary series,… Read on