Tudor historian Tracy Borman will already be familiar to many readers of Historia from her non-fiction books, which include Witches and the best-selling Elizabeth’s Women: The Hidden Story of the Virgin Queen, her many television appearances and her role as joint Chief Curator for Historic Royal Palaces. Tracy has now turned her hand to historical fiction and her […]
James I & VI: King or Queen?
E C Fremantle tackles the contentious question of King James I & VI’s sexuality. Under Rubens’ glorious ceiling, depicting the heaven-bound figure of King James I & VI surrounded by the flickering wings and dimpled flesh of a host of cherubs, a six foot six transvestite, wearing a corset, heels, bum-roll and not much else, […]
Crime and Punishment under Henry II
E.M. Powell on how Henry II laid the foundations of English Common Law. King Henry II of England is
So, What Exactly IS Historical Fiction?
Marianne Kavanagh ponders the definitions applied to fiction set in the past. What is historical fiction?
Writing Mrs Whistler
Author and art historian, Matthew Plampin, on Whistler’s mysterious muse. Mrs Whistler started with the art. I’ve been fascinated by the paintings of James McNeill Whistler for as long as I can remember. At the time he was working, artists of the avant-garde were being grouped together, as Pre-Raphaelites, for example, or Impressionists, or Symbolists. […]
Van Gogh and Japan
Lesley Downer visits the new exhibition at the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam. ‘All my work is based to some extent on Japanese art,’ wrote Vincent Van Gogh. This absorbing and beautiful exhibition at the glitzy Van Gogh Museum explores Van Gogh’s fascination with Japanese art and with Japan – you could almost call it obsession […]
Eight Women Writers, One Fabulous Read.
Hunter S. Jones introduces us to the team behind her latest book, Sexuality and Its Impact on
Why do Historical Authors Turn to Crime?
Our guest this month, Barry Forshaw, author of Historical Noir, examines the growing popularity