Salads, or sallats/sallets, are lovely and usually really healthy, and the information we have from the late 1600s showed their increasing popularity upon the Restoration table. The most rudimentary study of the history salads would lead one to John Evelyn’s Acetaria, which was first published in 1699. This was an extraordinary book, pretty much the first of its… Read on
I was given permission to share the selected cover with you. What do you think? I’m quite happy. It shows the passion between these two star-crossed lovers well! You can now buy it! [amazon asin=B00CX1PYZA&template=image&chan=default]
Today, the 14th of May, was an extremely important day for 17th-century France. King Henri IV, previously known as the King of Navarre, was assassinated by a Catholic, on this day in 1610. In his youth, Henri was one of the most important Huguenot (French Calvinist Protestant) leaders besides figures such as Admiral Coligny. The year was 1572… Read on
The 313th anniversary of the death of the major seventeenth-century Restoration dramatist and first Poet Laureate, John Dryden, occurred recently on the 1st of May (1700). I felt quite bad about neglecting such an event, so here’s my little homage to Dryden’s work: King David, from “Absalom and Achitophel”: In pious times, ere priestcraft did begin, Before polygamy… Read on
Fancy joining the Seventeenth Century Lady for a tour around the gardens of one of the most famous palaces in the world? That’s right, the Garden History Tours at Kensington Palace are back up and running! I started them off on Thursday, 2nd of May, which was a beautiful sunny, warm day. These award-winning tours* are free, last… Read on
I have been a busy lady recently! My novella His Last Mistress, about the Duke of Monmouth, is currently being reviewed for release this summer. Meanwhile I am putting the finishing touches to my larger work William & Mary: a Novel (I am hoping this will be appealing to many readers and interested publishers are welcome to contact me regarding… Read on
That beauteous, intelligent, sensitive woman, Mary Stuart, who later became Queen Mary II of England, Scotland, and Ireland, was born on this day 30th of April, 1662. Her mother was Anne Hyde, a commoner who had become the Duchess of York upon marrying James, Duke of York, younger brother to Charles II. The birth took place at… Read on
Hi everyone! I’ve been a busy little bee in recent days, well, recent months. After writing the novella, sending it around to four proofreaders, hacking it up and re-writing bits, changing things here and there, I finally just sent it to the publishers. It’s quite an experience, I have to say, waiting around, sweaty-palmed, my heartbeat nearing palpitation… Read on