It is entirely thanks to the inspirational guidance by a fellow historian, and a historical writer, who took a look at the original draft and supported me: Dr Lauren Mackay, for contributing to editing, and Alison Weir for her initial support through email correspondence and answering queries, for face-to-face advice, and for so generously helping me edit the first chapter of this book when I first embarked on writing this novel. Thanks to Eamon Ó Cléirigh from Clear View Editing, who persevered and supported me, too, in slowly transforming this novel, and the subsequent trilogy to come, into its final incarnation. Thank you to Richard Jenkins for his beautiful photography for the book cover, and to Megan Sheer for her artistic cover design and typesetting. I also want to thank Professor Suzannah Lipscomb for allowing, and approving of a cameo of herself to be placed in Volume One, and for letting me know that she thought this story to be ‘delightful’. And to historian Tracy Borman for coming up with the name Rutterkin, for Beth’s black Persian cat. I am deeply indebted to them all for their creativity, insight, and Eamon for his patience.
To bring an authenticity to my writing, I studied written Tudor primary-source material; contemporary evidence is an excellent way of drawing conclusions on events surrounding Anne, and visiting places of historical interest to her life, which was a mandatory requirement of writing this book. I wandered around looking at paintings, tracing my fingers over the oak panelling and stone fireplaces, wishing I could be absorbed into them and observe history as it unfolded. I fell into the trap of having an insatiable desire to ‘just visit’ the places where history happened because I figured it would inform my writing. I want to thank Historic Royal Palaces for their incredible enthusiasm for Tudor history and for making it possible for me to wander around Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress, The Tower of London, when all the public had been locked out, and I was virtually the only one there, able to soak up the atmosphere unhindered, which has been an enormous privilege. These visits allowed me to imagine Anne’s triumphant coronation and appalling judicial murder vividly happening, almost as if I could feel the traces of those long-unheard crowds on both occasions and sense their most profound sentiments. I considered at times, what I would ask Anne, Henry, or other key players of the Tudor Court, and speculated what I might try and do to change history if I had the ability to time travel. The question is, with hindsight, would I allow such prominent Tudor personalities to play out their destiny as history intended? This book has been a labour of love, as well as an exciting and fun retelling of Anne’s story, as close to the truth of who I imagine Anne to have been. But this is fiction, after all, and I won’t pretend any differently.
Lastly, I had the opportunity to learn how Beth might have felt wearing Tudor clothing for the first time, as Gina Clark from Tudor Dreams Historical Costumier allowed me to dress up and join her on the many re-enactments she organises, and be photographed inside Hever Castle, in full Tudor dress, when the public was not yet permitted inside for their arranged visits. I have dedicated this book to Gina because our mutual love of history and costume has blossomed into a close, life-long friendship. More special thanks must go to my family and friends, who have all had to put up with me during the writing of this book. My wonderfully supportive boys, Joshua and Lucas, who have trailed across the south of England, staying at Hever Castle, going to The Tower of London, Berkeley Castle, Sudeley Castle, and Hampton Court Palace on numerous occasions, absorbing my enthusiasm for Tudor History. You have all been wonderful in so many ways – thank you.
Phillipa Vincent-Connolly,
Poole, Dorset.
April 2020.
Other Publications by Phillipa Vincent Connolly
Miracle
“Don’t you see? I hate standing out from the crowd. It makes me feel uncomfortable.” Jess was seething. “I just think people shouldn’t judge you without knowing the facts.” “That’s life. You’ll never change people’s attitudes, Jess.” “Wanna bet?” Seventeen-year-old Orianna Stewart is a promising sixth-form student at Wimborne Upper School, hoping to study fashion and art at university. All she’s ever wanted is to be accepted for who she is and not judged on her outward appearance, but her disability, cerebral palsy, is attracting the wrong kind of attention - That is until she meets Ashley. Gorgeous, blue-eyed and definitely out of her league, Orianna’s world gets turned upside down. But after a terrifying experience at a house party, life doesn’t seem worth living at all and she can only pray for a miracle to help get her out of the mess she’s found herself in.
Paperback: 214 pages
Publisher: New Generation Publishing;
UK ed. edition (5 April 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1780034962
ISBN-13: 978-1780034966
Product Dimensions: 12.9 x 1.1 x 19.8 cm
Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 535 KB
Print Length: 214 pages
Publisher: Pen Press (5 April 2013)
Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
Language: English
ASIN: B00CB0M2GW
Disability and the Tudors
Throughout history, how a society treated its disabled and infirm can tell us a great deal about the period. Challenged with any impairment, disease or frailty was often a matter of life and death before the advent of modern medicine, so how did a society support the disabled amongst them? For centuries, disabled people and their history have been overlooked. Very little on the infirm and mentally ill was written down during the renaissance period. The Tudor period is no exception, and presents a complex story and unparalleled. The sixteenth century was far from exemplary in the treatment of its infirm, but a multifaceted and ambiguous story emerges, where society’s ‘natural fools’ were elevated as much as they were belittled. Meet characters like Will Somer, Henry VIII’s fool at court, whom the king depended upon, and learn of how the dissolution of the monasteries contributed to forming an army of ‘sturdy beggars’ who roamed Tudor England without charitable support. From the nobility to the lowest of society, Phillipa Vincent-Connolly casts a light on the lives of disabled people in Tudor England and guides us through the social, religious, cultural and ruling classes’ response to disability as it was then perceived.
Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: Pen & Sword History
(30 Nov. 2020)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1526720051
ISBN-13: 978-1526720054
Product Dimensions: 15.2 x 23.5 cm
Available in all good bookstores
from November 2020
Coming soon……
Timeless Falcon – Volume Two
Timeless Falcon – Volume Three
About the Author
PHILLIPA VINCENT-CONNOLLY is a qualified secondary school teacher and historian who has published both fiction and non-fiction and is currently working towards her Masters’ in History, through the Open University, and is currently applying for a distance learning a PhD on Disability History. She lives in Poole, Dorset with her two children. She is the author of Disability and the Tudors and is part of the successful Tudor Dreams Historical Costumier group.
phillipavincent-connolly.com
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