Remembering....

Remembering Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie - murdered 28th June 1914, for the express purpose of precipating a war which would lead to the collapse of the 3 European autocracies and enable the international bankers to take control of their economies.

A Truer Portrayal!

Now Available in Paperback! A truer portrayal of Victoria & Albert as parents than the one presented by the sensational press!

Thank you!

To celebrate the launch of my new book in both Kindle & paperback versions, and in view of the approaching anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War, I have reduced the prices of all three kindle books in the Shattered Crowns Trilogy by almost 50%.

Thank you so much to all the kind people who have emailed me about these and about the launch of the new book. Please bear with me if it takes a little while to reply individually, which I certainly intend to do over the next couple of days as I greatly appreciate your kind messages!! Thank you!! 

 

Now Available

Available now via Kindle  and very soon to be available in paperback:

“What a joyous childhood we had!” wrote Princess Alice, the second daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. These were no mere words and it was a sentiment shared by many of her siblings. Far from being the tyrannical or neglectful parents presented so often by the sensational press, Albert and Victoria devoted themselves to their children, doing their utmost to secure their happiness while preparing them for a future of personal fulfilment and service to their people in a rapidly-changing world. “Dear Papa, Beloved Mama” covers the period from 1840 to the death of Prince Albert in 1861, considering the far-reaching influence of the Queen and Prince in the lives of their children in wide-ranging areas from science and farming to music, art and marriage. Flying in the face of the current trend to condemn and criticise their parenting skills, this book penetrates the motives of Victoria and Albert and their sincere and loving efforts to create for their children a happy, constructive and memorable childhood.

The Romantic Prince

This is a fascinating document showing the official purchase of Balmoral by Prince Albert in 1852.
Albert is often portrayed as a rather cold, unfeeling man, but, like Queen Victoria, his love of Scotland sprang initially from his love of the work of Sir Walter Scott; and his design of the new Balmoral Castle demonstrates his strong affinity with the Romantic tradition of his native Coburg. Albert was a profound and complex man who could be enthralled by the most up-to-date technologies of the age, while simultaneously nurturing the Romantic and aesthetic aspects of his character through art, music, literature and design. His interests were numerous and he shared them so wonderfully not only with his children but with the lowliest people of this country.

My new book "DEAR PAPA, BELOVED MAMA" will be released this week, and I sincerely hope it captures these various aspects of the Prince's character and demonstrates the beneficial effect he had on his children and their people. 

The Princess Royal's Gift for Painting

This fan - taken from the Frogmore guide book - was painted by Vicky - the Princess Royal - when she was about fifteen years old, for her mother, Queen Victoria. The detail is so exquisite and remarkable!


In my forthcoming book "Dear Papa, Beloved Mama" there is a chapter about art & Queen Victoria's family and I think it is obvious how incredibly talented so many of the children were. It is unsurprising, I suppose, since both their parents were also gifted artists, especially Prince Albert, who was also a very knowledgeable critic and connoisseur and was rightly chosen as President of the Fine Arts Commission, the purpose of which was to choose artistic works for display in public buildings as well as choosing artists to decorate the interior of the newly-built Houses of Parliament.

Emily Wilding Davison

Remembering, with gratitude,  Emily Wilding Davison, who died on Sunday 8th June 1913, four days after being trampled by George V's horse during the Derby, where she was protesting against the appalling treatment of suffrage prisoners and calling for votes for women.

Dear Papa, Beloved Mama - An Intimate Portrait of Queen Victoria & Princ...

A brief introduction to my forthcoming book...