Double Effort; Double Reward

 

“I like to do the research ofhistory and the creativity of writing fiction. I am creating this thing which Ithink is twice as difficult as writing either history or fiction.” – Philippa Gregory
 

Born in England in January of 1954,Gregory is best known for her award-winning novels (and cinematic pieces) TheOther Boleyn Girl and The White Queen.   Shehas a Ph.D. in 18th Century literature but has written bothstand-alone and series of novels set in several different historical periods.  But she also writes nonfiction and plays –her most recent being 2023’s nonfiction book Normal Women – 900 Years ofMaking History, and 2024’s play Richard, My Richard, based onRichard III.

 

A frequent contributor to magazinesand newspapers with her short stories, features and reviews, Gregory also hasbeen a regular on the BBC.  But it is in historical fiction that shehas immersed herself.

 

“I love reading and I lovethinking,” she said.  “The reason that I love my books so much isthat in order to write them I have to read and to think for years at a timeabout the same period of time.”