In an age of contouring, baking, brows and plumped lips, it is difficult to imagine that societies throughout history have been as beauty obsessed as we are today. Certainly, what constituted ‘beauty’ has been redefined almost continually throughout history, but, nevertheless, ideals and expectations have governed the ways in which women especially have felt about…
Much has been written over the years about King Charles the 1st who lost his head and his son Charlie the 2nd aka ‘The Party King,’ what is not so widely known however, is that the Merry Monarch had a sister who he lovingly referred to as ‘Minette’ and her story is, (in my humble opinion) as…
In his new Elizabethan thriller, The Queen’s Man, Rory Clements sends his hero John Shakespeare home to Stratford-upon-Avon. The year is 1582 – a momentous year for the Shakespeare family. When William Shakespeare was eighteen years old, he got twenty-six-year-old Anne Hathaway pregnant and married her. Whether he did so because he loved her or…
The conclusion of Part I introduced Elizabeth Foster into the fold of Georgiana’s already turbulent life. ‘Bess’ Foster quickly became Georgiana’s best friend, making her way into the Duchess’ heart. She also quickly became close to the Duke, making her way into his bed. Georgiana, desperate for companionship, failed to see Bess for what she was –…
Translate the lingo and the following would not be out of place in one of those ‘speciality’ stores you find in modern day Soho. Behind closed doors it turns out folk in the Restoration era were a naughty bunch, and like many of us had an interest in brushing up on their bedroom skills. Warning:…
For the next ten minutes, imagine you are a Queen of the Tudor Court, married to the tempestuous tyrant King Henry VIII. You are on a whirlwind journey that will no doubt change history. Would you have put Henry’s will first, or God’s? Would you have listened to your heart, or to your family? What…