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
William Shakespeare, arguably the greatest writer of all time, was born on this day, the 23rd of April, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon. Whether people consciously like Shakespeare or not, the plots he wrote are seen often in films and stage plays. “Come, gentlemen, I hope we shall drink down all unkindness.” – The Merry Wives of Windsor There has… Read on
Taunton Castle now houses the Museum of Somerset, which is a fabulous place for both human history and natural history, with fossils and other fascinating things from the prehistoric past. It’s definitely worth visiting if you’re in the West Country! I came to Taunton Castle to research more about the Monmouth Rebellion of 1685, and this building played… Read on
Henry Vaughan was a seventeenth century poet from Wales, and he was born on the 17th of April, 1621. In honour of his birth, here is one of his poems, which I hope you will enjoy: I Walk’d the Other Day I walk’d the other day, to spend my hour, Into a field, Where I sometimes had… Read on