The striking image of William Fitzosbert’s limp, dead body hanging from the Tyburn Tree outside London is the opening scene in the latest of Catherine Arnolds books based within the capital. The author, whose previous London studies have considered the sin, madness and death that have filled the cities streets, is now considering perhaps the…
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‘Titanic II’: A man overboard?
In the wise words of The Beautiful South: “You don’t back a horse called Striding Snail, you don’t name your boat Titanic II.” Recently in the news it was revealed that billionaire Clive Palmer has plans to launch a “Titanic II” in 2016, which will sail the same, intended route of the fateful Titanic I. Now, if I…
Elizabeth Woodville – The White Queen
Forget Anne Boleyn – when it comes to one Queen to cause the most controversy, face accusations of witchcraft and have more enemies than you can shake a stick at then look no further than good old Henry VIII’s maternal grandmother – Elizabeth Woodville. Source: en.wikipedia.org Now, Elizabeth’s rags-to-riches story is something straight out of…
Tweets from beyond the grave
This is a story about how one historian’s research has brought a 16-year-old girl’s diary back to life…exactly one hundred years to the day since it was first written. Twitter might fulfil many functions, but bringing people back to life isn’t usually one of them. And yet, in the case of Olive Higgins, a 16-year-old girl…
The Queens Man By Rory Clements
In Elizabethan England, where a person’s religious faith could cost them their lives, a suspected plot to overthrow the Queen and replace her with the Catholic Mary Queen of Scots overshadows everything. John Shakespeare, our protagonist, is sent on Queens’s duty to discover the source of this plot. His mission leads him to his home…
Washing with mercury and urine: How to be a Georgian Court beauty
We all like to make ourselves look good and the Georgians were no exceptions. During the reign of the George’s, hair got bigger, dresses wider and beauty practices more complex. Beauty was much revered in Court and for the courtiers looking good meant that they could get nearer the king and queen so they needed…
Are we the modern day Gatsby?
Sex, Drugs and the Charleston. During the ‘Roaring 20’s’, life for the rich and famous was a riot. Flappers, decadence and an economy on the brink of an abyss; Scott Fitzgerald’s book is as relevant now as it was in the twenties. The wondrous glamour will be brought to life this May, with the release…
Court Gossip On The Front Page
No matter how much time passes people will always love a little bit of gossip. I would bet my bottom dollar that back in the day people would be glad of a weekly glossy to fill them in on all the court gossip; the latest fashion trends and, naturally, how to spice up their love lives! Luckily our favourite…
THE FASCINATING HISTORY OF COSMETIC SURGERY
The Daily Mail recently ran an article regarding the increasing number of people who were hoping for a surgical gift last Christmas. Reports showed a dramatic 35% increase in requests for cosmetic procedures in New York alone. Now I don’t know about you, but this seems like a significant increase over the course of one year. It really got…
Mayhem By Sarah Pinborough
“Mayhem” begins with an italicized section but don’t let that put you off as the following 400 pages are a satisfying and enjoyable read. This is definitely a book to binge on, with likeable and sympathetic characters, gore aplenty, and a decent plot, and I’d particularly recommend it for long journeys or holidays. Written in…