In May, thoughts turn to the May Pole dances and Spring celebrations in Merrie Olde England. This month’s selections illumine the worlds of court and entertainment, revealing the sometimes stark reality of life for women in England in the 18th century—both high-born and commoner. Beginning with the political, we have MISTRESS OF THE COURT by Laura Purcell. Married off to the dissolute, violent son of distant relations, Henrietta Howard endures a life of increasing hardship until, to evade her husband’s creditors, the two escape to Hannover. There, they ingratiate themselves with the heirs-in-waiting to the British throne, Prince George and his wife, Caroline of Ansbach. Henrietta becomes a Woman of the Bedchamber, her husband one of the prince’s staff. But the prince has more in mind for Henrietta than attending his wife, and to buttress herself against her abusive husband, Henrietta reluctantly yields to him. So begins a relationship with the man who will become King George II that spans decades, embraces a sort of friendship with Queen Caroline, and ends finally with Henrietta building a life for herself as a woman of style and intelligence who counted Alexander Pope and Jonathan Swift among her friends and built Marble Hill…

When spring is in the air, thoughts turn to romance…and what is more romantic than springtime in Paris? Or to be more exact, springtime in Versailles, as all the choices we’ll explore this month take place around the small hunting lodge at the edge of a royal forest which became a palace whose very name conjures images of luxury, excess, drama and tragedy. The kings who inhabited that palace dominated the known world, set a standard for opulence copied to this day—and took mistresses whose stories still enchant readers. We begin with a work that covers the whole tumultuous century of the Louis. Rather than focusing solely on the mistresses, Rosaline Laker’s TO DANCE WITH KINGS: A NOVEL explores Versaille itself as the backdrop to a multi-generational saga. In the early years of the reign of Louis XIV, the whim of an aristocrat elevates the daughter of a fan-maker to a place at court. Marguerite will find favor, heartache and betrayal in the Sun King’s entourage, eventually losing power as the political winds change. Marguerite’s daughter, Jasmin, lives a life of luxury, but risks everything to try to entice a king. Jasmin’s daughter, Violette, is drawn into the dangerous undercurrent…

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, this month we’ll give a nod to the wearin’ of the green with a series of stories featuring Irish characters and settings. For as the old Irish saying goes: “Always remember to forget The friends who proved untrue But never forget to remember The ones who stuck by you.” And what friend is better than a great book? So raise a glass of green beer to your current favorites, and may you find new ones in the list that follows! Although all of the books touch on The Great Hunger, the Irish potato blight that began in 1845 and was responsible for the death of over a million Irish men, women and children and the migration of two million more, we’ll begin with the stand-alone by Michael Grant, IN THE TIME OF FAMINE. Featuring an upstairs-downstairs interaction between the families of the landlord, Lord Somerville, and one of his tenant farmers, Grant’s book unveils the struggles from two very different social perspectives. Michael Ranahan, the tenant’s son, dreams of a new life in America and escape from being yoked to the land. But when the blight strikes, his family needs his strong arm—and the…

What could be more romantic than Italy? The hush of a gondola plying the waters of a Venetian canal, the painted beauty of the countryside around Florence, the walled cities of Sienna and San Gimignano… For your Valentine month treat, I offer up a quartet of historical fiction that explores the art, craft, excitement and intrigue of Venice, Florence and Sienna. Enjoy! Progressing chronologically, we begin with THE TOWERS OF TUSCANY by Carol M Cram. In this story set in the beautiful walled city of fourteenth-century San Gimignano, Sofia secretly trains as a painter in her father’s workshop. But women cannot paint openly, and turning her back on her talent, she takes refuge in a traditional marriage. When her father is killed in a tragic accident, despairing of the husband who has come to despise her for not producing a son, Sofia flees to Siena, disguises herself as a boy, and returns to painting. There, her work attracts the attention of a compellingly attractive noble patron—whose growing interest in both her art and the artist force her into a desperate choice. Full of interesting detail about art and the city, Cram paints a vivid picture of early Renaissance Siena. About…

Are you as distressed as I am that Downton Abbey will soon be ending FOR GOOD? (sob) Given the world-wide popularity of the show, there are surprisingly few books set in the Edwardian era that incorporate the upstairs-downstairs, love-interest and drama that make the show so engaging (to say nothing of the yummy fashions.) But, in an attempt to offer solace, I’ve gathered a few volumes which segue in and beyond the period of Downton, in which one may take refuge after the glorious series images fade—ending with a tantalizing treat coming soon from series creator Julian Fellowes that you won’t want to miss! THE MEMORY OF LOST SENSES Buy THE MEMORY OF LOST SENSES: Amazon.com | Kindle| BN.com| iTunes/iBooks | Kobo | Google Play | Powell’s Books | Books-A-Million | Indiebound | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon DE | Amazon FR We’ll begin with a book that incorporates some “Country House Mystery” elements, Judith Kinghorn’s THE MEMORY OF LOST SENSES. When a mysterious countess moves into a large country house outside her English village in the summer of 1911, Cecily Chadwick is thrilled and tantalized. Soon, stories begin to circulate about the countess’s wealth, husbands, lovers, and…

FRESH FICTION is delighted to welcome New York Times bestselling novelist Philippa Gregory.  Ms. Gregory, well-known for her novels of the Tudor era, is currently concentrating on the War of the Roses.  Several of her works were highlighted in the History Refreshed column THE WAR OF THE ROSES PART I, and her upcoming novel, THE KINGMAKER’S DAUGHTER, features Anne Neville, whose husband Richard III is the central character in this month’s column, THE WAR OF THE ROSES PART II. Julia Justiss: Welcome, Philippa, and thank you so much for taking time out of your hectic schedule to give FRESH FICTION readers some insight about your background and writing.  So let’s get started! As a New York Times bestselling novelist whose works have made their way into film, you’ve captivated readers around the globe. Yet you started your career not as a writer, but as a scholar. Can you tell us a bit about the professional background that resulted in your fascination with history? Philippa: My first professional training and work was that of a journalist, which had the advantage of teaching me to write on time, and satisfied my enquiring curiosity. I went to university after I had served my…

History ReFreshed Exploring what’s “new” on the historical shelves The previous column focused on the personages who began the Wars of the Roses, from Henry VI‘s claim for the throne being challenged by his cousin Richard of York until the death of Edward IV.  Now the stage is set for the final decisive struggle between the Plantagenet heirs, represented by Edward IV’s brother Richard, and the Tudors, who trace their claim to the throne to the marriage of the widow of Lancastrian Henry V to Welsh bard Owen Tudor. As a special treat, this month also features an interview with New York Times bestselling author Philippa Gregory, who wrote several of the novels described in last month’s column, WARS OF THE ROSES PART I. Philippa’s upcoming novel features one of the heroines involved in Richard III’s story, his wife Anne Neville, daughter of the Earl of Warwick, “the Kingmaker.” (more about her later.) Edward IV‘s premature death set about a struggle for the throne between the widowed queen’s Woodville relations, the Tudor claimants and the Neville-York side.  Concerned for the safety of his nephews, Edward’s brother Richard, whom the late king had named Lord Protector, moved the boys to the…

The old story goes that during the tumultuous days of fighting between rival branches of the English ruling Plantagenet family, courtiers wanting to make their loyalties known wore a white rose if they favored Richard of York, a red one if they supported the Lancastrian Henry.  For nearly 500 years since, the struggle for the throne known as the Wars of the Roses has riveted the attention of historians—and novelists. Of particular interest have been the rival ladies.  Warning: unimaginative Plantagenet parents seemed to name all their sons Richard, Henry, or Edward and all their daughters Elizabeth or Margaret.  Before beginning a read-a-thon, you might want to check Wikipedia or invest in a guide to the period.  Novelist Alison Weir offers the non-fiction guide, THE WARS OF THE ROSES. New York Times bestselling Queen of Tudor fiction Philippa Gregory collaborated with historians David Baldwin and Michael Jones to produce THE WOMEN OF THE COUSINS’ WAR, which gives the background on the ladies featured in her Cousins’ War series. (more on her novels later.) WARS OF THE ROSES THE WOMEN OF THE COUSINS’ WAR Using a basically chronological approach, I begin with CROWN IN CANDLELIGHT by Rosemary Hawley Jarman, which features…

HISTORY REFRESHED…What’s New in Historical Fiction “Over a decade in the making, the Showtime Original Series The Borgias is the sordid saga of one of the most remarkable and legendary families in history.” So goes the tagline for the latest historical drama dominating the airwaves. If you’re one of the viewers fascinated by the series, you’ll be happy to learn that the Borgias inspired not just Borgia series creator Neil Jordan, but a host of historical novelists. Lucrezia, daughter of Rodrigo Borgia, the crafty Spanish cardinal who bullied, bought and butchered his way to become Pope Alexander VI, has inspired the most prose.  Though she was the Rodrigo’s adored only daughter, as a pawn in the political machinations of her family, she was married off three times in their ruthless quest to amass wealth and power.  Borgia enemies tarnished her name with allegations of poisonings, incest and debauchery.   Who is the real Lucrezia? MADONNA OF THE SEVEN HILLS LIGHT ON LUCREZIA POISON IN THE BLOOD Veteran historical novelist Jean Plaidy offers two explorations of this intriguing woman.  MADONNA OF THE SEVEN HILLS features Lucrezia’s early life, as she comes of age to find herself, despite her family’s affection, nonetheless…