Book Title: THE WOMAN AND HER STARS
Character Name: Caroline Herschel
How would you describe your family or your childhood?
Alas, my childhood is not a time I reflect upon with joy. I was born in Hanover (Germany) in 1750 and, before I reached the age of ten, I contracted smallpox and then typhus. To avoid exposing her, my father, sister and eight brothers to the diseases, my mother closeted me in a small, dark room for several weeks. The fever, pain and itching were intense, and I prayed for release but, above all, I was traumatized by the notion of dying alone. Although I was permanently scarred by the pox and my growth ceased, remarkably, I recovered. However, my misery wasn’t over. Rather than celebrating my survival, my mother inflicted further suffering by declaring me not worthy of being educated. I was granted none of the lessons, music training, and instruction my siblings received. No man, argued my mother, would want a woman with a blemished face and legs too short to climb aboard a wagon without a mounting block. I was unsuitable for marriage and my destiny, she decreed, was to be the family servant. I was put to work scrubbing floors, cooking and serving food, and knitting socks and ruffles. This would’ve been my life had my brother, William not spotted how I wished for and deserved more and negotiated with our mother to take me to Bath. Mama drove a hard bargain, coercing William into paying her the cost of a servant to replace me. She also extracted his promise that he’d send me back if I didn’t prove useful to him in England.
What was your greatest talent?
Ha! If you’d asked me this in 1782, I would’ve responded, “Singing!” When I arrived in Bath, William bestowed upon me the education I’d dreamed about. I studied mathematics and languages and learned to sing with his orchestra. Who would’ve thought it possible that tiny, scarred Caroline from Hanover, whose knees still bore calluses from kneeling to polish flagstone floors, would stand before vast audiences of satin-robed Englishmen and women and silence them with her solo sopranos? For the first time, I proved I could do something other than clean, cook and knit. You can imagine my despair when William was named King’s Astronomer and told me he would forsake music for star gazing. I’d just discovered my gift for music! What if it was my only talent? How was I to remain useful to him and avoid being sent back to Hanover? It was only when William presented me with my own telescope, and I was able to observe the night sky alone that it dawned upon me that my abilities were various and that indeed, my greatest talent might lie beyond music.
Significant other?
What is a “significant other”? Never fear, I jest! I know what you mean but alas, my answer isn’t straightforward. There are several significant others in my life. I met the stray, turnspit dog, Comet the day I discovered that William and I were to give up music and Bath. Perhaps out of shared desperation, Comet and I adopted one another before we left for Datchet. However, even then I didn’t realize just how important he would become to my well-being. There are few friends as constant as a dog and, certainly, Comet is a significant other. So too, of course, are William, our brother Alex, and our family friend Dr. Watson. Contrary to what I believed when she married William, my sister-in-law Mary is also important to me. What about a “romantic significant other”, you ask? Well, as you’ll discover when you read The Woman and Her Stars, marriage never appealed to me. However, there was a time I dared to fantasize what it might be like if my life was thus intwined with that of my friend Gabriel Corden. Oh, he’ll laugh if he reads this interview! But not unkindly. Mr. Corden is never unkind. Haha! Indeed, I sometimes tease him, saying he might even be the Angel Gabriel. In all seriousness though, I ruined any chance of romance with Mr. Corden by being a coward but am forever grateful for his ongoing friendship. He is a truly significant presence in my life.
Biggest challenge in relationships?
For a long time, I mistrusted everyone except William. He was the one who rescued me from Hanover and believed I was worth more than serving others. I wasn’t only deeply beholden to him but also terrified of disappointing him and being sent back to my mother. Fear and indebtedness ruled my decisions and behavior and closed my heart to possibilities. I buried my own desires and ambitions and guarded my dreams. This curtailed my relationships, particularly those with Margaret, Mr. Corden and Mary. By the time I was conscious of my flaws, Margaret was gone. Thankfully, I could salvage my friendships with Mr. Corden and Mary.
Do you have any enemies?
Certainly, my former friend Miss Lydia Hudson was once a most exemplary adversary. However, circumstances have changed, and I harbor no animosity toward her and hope that she wastes no time thinking ill of me. In truth, I was my own greatest enemy. Until I realized what I was independently capable of and let go of my insecurities and fear, I held myself back. Is it possible to be one’s own nemesis? If so, I was Caroline’s. I blamed others for obstructing me when, in fact, I was tripping over my own feet. I’m pleased that foolishness is over. Now, I lift my face to the sky and stride ahead with confidence with nary an enemy without or within.
What is your greatest source of pride and joy?
You might expect me to rattle off a list of astronomical and professional achievements here and indeed, I am proud of what I have accomplished in that regard. The discoveries, work on building the telescopes, awards, status as the world’s first salaried woman astronomer, scientific memberships, and relationships with the world’s most distinguished scientists fill me with satisfaction. However, what makes me happier still is how I finally learned to believe in myself and acknowledge my understanding and skills in astronomy independently of William. Of course, I feel foolish that it took so long for me to get to that point. In my defense, I was blinded by fear and obligation. Although unintentional, Mary was responsible for empowering me. It was because of her that I left Observatory House. The move triggered my awakening and eventually set me free. I am proud of my independence and overjoyed that I can put everything I learned from William and from my own curiosity, discipline, acumen and ambitions to work with fascination and purpose. I will never again allow my scars, tiny body, stalled education, and gender to limit me. That is my ultimate pride and joy.
Greatest disappointment?
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t regret being braver about my relationship with Mr. Corden. However, as I mentioned previously, I am soothed by his friendship. One great disappointment is that my father did not live to see me achieve more than what my mother believed I was capable of. He was not a strong man but there were moments when I was a child that I believed me saw that I was worthy of an education and a life beyond the family kitchen and yard. I’m sorry he didn’t stand up to my mother and insist that I was schooled the way my siblings were. However, it was my father who showed me and my brothers the night sky and pointed out a comet. You might say he initiated our interest. Our father recognized William’s genius, and I regret that he never had a chance to see mine.
What do you do to entertain yourself or have fun?
Stargazing is fun and the night sky is the world’s most entertaining stage. It’s as William Shakespeare wrote in Julius Caesar, “The skies are painted with unnumber’d sparks, they are all fire and every one doth shine.” What could be more entertaining? What more do I need? But you might argue that a woman cannot live by stars alone! I am also entertained by strolling into the countryside with Comet and Star. Sometimes, Mary accompanies me. Some days, we talk. Often, we are silent. She once told me how she loves walking because the further you go, the closer you come to yourself. She’s a wise and loving woman and I am so pleased I discovered it before it was too late.
What keeps you awake at night?
The heavens, of course! Initially, while still in Bath when I began assisting William with his increasing obsession with the night sky, I resented how it kept me from the warmth of the hearth and my bed. I wondered how anyone could be so fascinated by celestial bodies that they gave up comfort and sleep to stand outside and search the sky. However, the more I learned, the great my fascination became and soon, I was as excited as my brother when the clouds were gone and sky clear. It didn’t matter what the season and how many layers I needed to wear to withstand the cold, the heavens kept me happily awake at night – and so it continues!
If you could go back and speak to your younger self, what would you say?
You are independently capable of more than you think. It’s alright to appreciate others for their support, but it’s not necessary to be eternally bound to them and their desires. Don’t let fear hold you back; be courageous and ask questions rather than make assumptions and be afraid of what could happen. Open your heart to affection and friendships and do not be insecure if those you love welcome others into their hearts. Love is limitless. Celebrate your own achievements the way you do the feats of others. Trust yourself and your intuition and don’t wait for others to give you permission to follow your dreams or make decisions. In essence, give yourself the same support, kindness, and love you so freely offer your best beloveds.
Ends.
THE WOMAN AND HER STARS by Penny Haw
She must find her own place amongst the stars.
Caroline Herschel has always lived in the shadows. Beholden to her wildly popular older brother, William, who rescued her from servitude, she’s worked hard to build a life for herself – one where she can go unnoticed and repay the debt she believes she owes him. But when her brother becomes obsessed with sweeping the stars, everything changes.
Newly appointed as the King’s Astronomer, William is rushed away from the bustling streets of Bath to the quiet countryside of Windsor. When Caroline makes a discovery that could send her right back to the people she was rescued from, she has no choice but to leave her carefully constructed life and follow her brother. Taking up the position as William’s assistant, Caroline resolves to learn everything she can about astronomy. But the more she understands, the more she falls in love with her telescope, and soon, she discovers that she might be good at the science, great, even, and that the stars could offer her the freedom she’s always secretly wanted. When it’s clear that Caroline is just as much the astronomer as her brother, she realizes she must break free from the life she has lived and find her own place in the night sky.
Based on the true story of Caroline Herschel, The Woman and Her Stars shines a light on a woman who was raised to believe she was worth nothing more than to serve others, but whose genius and resolve made her one of the world’s leading astronomers. An awe-inspiring story set within the societal boundaries of the Georgian era, it’s a hopeful journey of self-discovery, familial bonds, and passion.
Women’s Fiction Historical | Non-Fiction Biography [ Sourcebooks Landmark, On Sale: March 3, 2026, Trade Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9781728295480 / eISBN: 9781728295497 ]
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About Penny Haw
Penny Haw worked as a journalist and columnist for more than three decades, writing for many leading South African newspapers and magazines before yielding to a lifelong yearning to create fiction. Her stories feature remarkable women, illustrate her love for nature, and explore the interconnectedness of all living things. The Invincible Miss Cust is Penny’s debut historical fiction. She lives near Cape Town with her husband and three dogs, all of whom are well-walked.
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