Susan Higginbotham's Blog: History Refreshed by Susan HIgginbotham, page 33

Some June Reading

While I'm pondering my next blog topic, I thought I'd stop by to mention a couple of books I've recently read. (As I haven't started writing my T-novel yet and am awaiting edits for my Margaret of Anjou novel, I've had some more leisure reading time lately.)

First, I just finished G. W. Bernard's Anne Boleyn: Fatal Attractions. Bernard, as many probably know, takes the tack that Anne Boleyn was guilty of adultery with some of the men who were accused with her. Though I still have my doubts, I ...

William Hastings' Last Will and Testament

On June 13, 1483, as most readers of this blog know, William Hastings was seized at a council meeting, dragged out to Tower Green, and executed without trial, or as the Crowland Chronicler put it, "without justice or judgement," by Richard, Duke of Gloucester, soon to be Richard III. I've written about Hastings' execution here and here, so I'll spare you my rant on the subject today and stick to the title topic.

Hastings might have died without a trial, but he did not die without a will. Hasti...

Grave Matters

While checking something for my author's note for The Queen of Last Hopes, I stumbled across a reference to this entry in Materials for a History of the Reign of Henry VII, dated December 15, 1488, showing the expenditures for pall cloths to be laid upon the hearses of Edmund, Duke of Somerset, his brother John, and Edward of Lancaster, Prince of Wales:

The king to the treasurer and chamberlains of the Exchequer. Whereas we be endetted vnto Lewys Bouvys marchaunt of Luke in the somme of xxxvii...

Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset (d. 1471)

Not too long ago, I did a post on Henry Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, who was executed in 1464 following the battle of Hexham. Henry was survived by two younger brothers, Edmund and John. This post is about his brother Edmund, the last of the legitimate male Beauforts. (Readers of The Stolen Crown will recall that Edmund, who was an uncle to Henry Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, makes a couple of appearances there.)

Edmund Beaufort was born around 1438. At least one historical novelist has fingere...

Margaret, the Mother-in-Law From Hell?

I was planning a "Myths About Margaret of Anjou" post, but when I thought about it, I realized that it was shaping up to be a pretty long one! So we'll take one myth at a time, starting with the notion, firmly enshrined in historical fiction and encouraged by some authors of nonfiction, that Margaret was the mother-in-law from hell to little Anne Neville.

It's true that Margaret seems to have been reluctant to make an alliance with Warwick in 1470, although Anthony Gross has discussed evidence...

Search Terms

It's the first of the month, so you know what that means! Here are some search terms that people used to reach my website and that of Historical Fiction Online:

internet sources claim that

Just fill in the blank with the looniest thing of which you can think, and you'll have it.

are there woodvilles still alive in england today?

There are, and boy, are they pissed.

click

This one has a sort of Zen-like quality to it.

elizabeth queen witchcraft melusine

What an original idea for a novel. I bet no one'...

Margaret of Anjou's Coronation

On May 30, 1445, Margaret of Anjou was crowned at Westminster Abbey by John Stafford, Archbishop of Canterbury. Margaret had turned fifteen just two months before.

Henry VI and Margaret had married on April 22, 1445, at Titchfield Abbey. Since then, Margaret had been making a leisurely journey toward London, during which she was entertained by various lords. On Friday, May 28, 1445, she finally arrived at Blackheath, where she was greeted by the mayor of London, the aldermen, and various commo...

Edward of Lancaster's on Facebook! And Some News

Just stopping by briefly to let you know that Margaret of Anjou has allowed her son Edward of Lancaster to get his own Facebook page! Do stop by--Edward is a gregarious chap who loves the company. Thanks to Karen Clark, his wife and Neville in-laws have already stopped by. (Incidentally, his father is on Facebook also. It's turning into a regular family gathering over there.)

I'm also pleased to announce that Sourcebooks has plans to publish two future novels of mine! I have to keep mum on the...

Blog, Button, and Barbie

First, I'm pleased to announce the addition of a new historical fiction blog to the blogsphere, Historical Belles and Beaus! Its contributors come from all around the globe and write about a variety of eras, so stop on by! You're bound to find something to your taste there.

Second, when my husband hauled some stuff out of storage for a yard sale, I found this button from the English Shakespeare Company's touring production of The Wars of the Roses at Stamford, Connecticut, back in the 1980's....

Ten Rules for Depicting Margaret of Anjou in Historical Fiction

Although this very blogger has propagated ten rules for writing fiction about Richard III (which, I am pleased to say, continue to be followed), and Kathryn has provided us with her excellent rules for writing about Edward II and Isabella, no one seems to have provided guidance for depicting Margaret of Anjou in historical fiction. So to simplify the writing process, I have taken it upon myself to provide these ten easy-to-follow rules:

1. Margaret must be depicted as being in absolute control...