Catherine of Braganza managed to exercise her agency as queen under difficult circumstances. Her first duty as Queen was to provide her husband with an heir and she made numerous attempts at treatments and pilgrimages to become pregnant. We have proof of a pregnancy and a miscarriage at least once, with two other pregnancies mentioned by Charles to… Read on
Why write about the Stuarts? Well, they were the Kennedys of the seventeenth century. Attractive, powerful, marked by tragedy. For a novelist, they are a glittering temptation of a subject. But the long, grinding years of exile cast a long shadow over their later history. Did that put me off? On the contrary, I have long been fascinated by the period… Read on
Hear ye! We’re delighted to unveil the speakers for the inaugural Stuart History Festival. It will be a celebration of (what we believe is) the most dramatic, dazzling, and divisive period in British history! 5-6 July, The Old Palace, Worcester. Gareth Russell Dr Isabella Rosner Dr Jonathan Healey Andrea Zuvich (me!) Mark Turnbull Justine Brown Dr Mark Shearwood… Read on
‘Elizabeth was king, now James is queen’, one anonymous English author wrote around 1623, and it is this quote which begins Queen James, which was released today in the United Kingdom. I recently had the delight of having its author, historian Gareth Russell, back on my show for Season 2, Episode 2 of Stuart Saturday Live. It is… Read on
Hello, and Happy New Year! It is, at present, exceedingly blustery outside as I sit quietly pondering over many things. 2024 was a busy year for my family and me: not only did we have our live show once a month, but I had book edits, in-person and online events, promotional work, and finally, the publication of my… Read on
John Dee: A 17th Century Morality Tale O what pity that such a man should fall into such a delusion! ~ Méric Casaubon If you visit Mortlake and wander into the St. Mary’s church, you will find a plaque that reads: Near this place lie the remains of John Dee MA, Clerk in Holy Orders 1527 ~… Read on
The inspiration for The King’s Intelligencer grew from my research for The Godmother’s Secret, which focuses on the enduring mystery of the missing princes in the Tower of London. Edward V and Richard, Duke of York, disappeared in 1483, with many believing they were murdered by their uncle, Richard III. This historical enigma has intrigued scholars and writers… Read on
I had the pleasure of having historian and author Nicola Cornick on my Stuart Saturday Live Show a few months ago in June, when we discussed the Restoration period, Elizabeth Stuart, Lord Craven, Ashdown House, her previous books set in the 17th-century and much more. She was a delightful guest and — at the time of our show… Read on