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Frances Howard has beauty and a powerful family – and is the most unhappy creature in the world.
Frances Howard has beauty and a powerful family – and is the most unhappy creature in the world.
Anne Turner has wit and talent – but no stage on which to display them. Little stands between her and the abyss of destitution.
When these two very different women meet in the strangest of circumstances, a powerful friendship is sparked. Frankie sweeps Anne into a world of splendour that exceeds all she imagined: a Court whose foreign king is a stranger to his own subjects; where ancient families fight for power, and where the sovereign’s favourite may rise and rise – so long as he remains in favour.
With the marriage of their talents, Anne and Frankie enter this extravagant, savage hunting ground, seeking a little happiness for themselves. But as they gain notice, they also gain enemies; what began as a search for love and safety leads to desperate acts that could cost them everything
The court of James I was a dangerous place. Think that of Henry VIII but perhaps even more unstable. A mere whisper of scandal could ruin lives ore even kill. Those desperate to get to the top, to get and retain the King’s favour will do anything to make that happen. There is one scandal after another. The one which features in the book concerns a real life figure, Thomas Overbury, who died from a suspected poisoning.,
Sir Thomas Overbury was an English poet and essayist, also known for being the victim of a murder during the time of James I which led to a scandalous trial. James I became annoyed at Overbury’s arrogance in court matters which ended in him throwing him into the Tower of London on 22 April 1613, where he died on 14 September.
Destination/location: London Author/guide: Lucy Jago Departure Time: 1950s
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