History and Women

Elizabeth Murray, Lady Tollemache, Duchess Lauderdale

2012-05-25T18:38:00.002-06:00

Elizabeth Murray, Duchess Lauderdale 1628-1698

Whilst searching for a strong female protagonist from the 17th Century on whom to base my novel, I discovered one practically on my own doorstep. I lived literally round the corner to Ham House, a stunning red brick Jacobean mansion on the River Thames, the home of Elizabeth Murray, Lady Dysart and Duchess of Lauderdale. Her second husband, John Maitland, Duke of Lauderdale, was one of the infamous CABAL of King Charles II, and between them, this couple turned Ham House into a palace fit for their king.

Bishop Burnet, described by Elizabeth’s biographer, Doreen Cripps as ‘that spiteful old busybody’, left a sketch of her character coloured with his prejudice and personal malice.

She was a woman of great beauty, but of far greater parts. She had a wonderful quickness of apprehension, and an amazing vivacity in conversation. She had studied not only divinity and history, but mathematics and philosophy. She was violent in every thing she set about, a violent friend, but a much more violent enemy. She had a restless ambition, lived at a vast expense, and was ravenously covetous; and would have stuck at nothing by which she might compass her ends. She had blemishes of another kind, which she seemed to despise, and to take little care of the decencies of her sex.

Catherine Bruce Murray

Catherine Murray took seventeen-year-old Elizabeth and her three younger sisters to the exiled Court at Oxford during the winter of 1643/1644, where Charles I had fled after the Battle of Edgehill, where Elizabeth saw firsthand how difficult life had become for many followers of the king.

Elizabeth’s father, William Murray, Earl Dysart, was arrested for spying for the Royalist cause, acquitted after months in the Tower of London, but banished to Queen Henrietta Maria’s court outside Paris. Despite his dangerous disgrace, Elizabeth’s formidable mother, Catherine Bruce Murray, invited Cromwell to dine at Ham House when King Charles I was under house arrest at Hampton Court, a mere five miles downriver.

Elizabeth apparently charmed Oliver Cromwell with her wit and intelligence, and they remained in contact, even though during King Charles II’s exile in the 1650’s, Elizabeth was reputedly a member of The Sealed Knot carrying money and information to the exiled king.

Duke of Lauderdale

That meeting between the Royalist girl and the Colonel in Chief of the Roundhead army must have been a difficult one, for several attempts had been made by them to seize Ham House and the family's estate, threatening to leave them all homeless. There is no evidence that Elizabeth or her family were involved in the plan to help Charles I escape Hampton Court, but escape he did, and some of their friends were involved, including the Earl of Lauderdale, and yet no Murrays were arrested.

It was a tribute to Elizabeth's diplomacy, that when she pleaded with Cromwell for the life of John Maitland, Earl Lauderdale, captured after his participation in the Battle of Worcester in 1651, it surprised many when his sentence of death was commuted to imprisonment.

Elizabeth married Sir Lionel Tollemache 2nd Bart in 1648, a non-political Suffolk landowner who attracted neither Royalist or Parliamentary attention. The marriage was a successful one, and secured Ham House for Elizabeth, who bore him eleven children in twenty-two years, five of whom lived to adulthood. Lionel died in 1669.

Lady Anne Lauderdale fled to Paris in 1671, apparently to distance herself from the burgeoning friendship between her husband and Elizabeth. Six weeks after Lady Anne's death the following year, London society was outraged when, John Maitland, Earl of Lauderdale and Lady Elizabeth Tollemache were married.

It wasn’t until her forties, when Elizabeth’s political manoeuvrings as Duchess Lauderdale were frowned upon, that she was rumoured to have been not only Earl Lauderdale's mistress when they were both married to other people, but also Oliver Cromwell's, and she was suspected of spying for both sides during the Interregnum:

She is Besse of my heart, she was Besse of old Noll;
She was once Fleetwood’s Besse, now she’s Bess of Atholle;
She’s Besse of the Church, and Besse of the State,
She plots with her tail, and her lord with his pate.
With a head on one side, and a hand lifted hie,
She kills us with frowning and makes us to die.

‘Royalist Rebel’, by Grace Seymour, a biographical novel of Elizabeth’s youth will be released in paperback by Pen and Sword books in early 2013.

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From History and Women

Welcome Lisa Yarde and Anita Davison

2012-05-25T11:11:00.002-06:00

I have two more exciting new members who have joined me on this blog to announce:

American historical fiction author Lisa J. Yarde

English historical fiction author Anita Davison

Long time mentors of mine, I have admired their work for several years. With Colin Falconer from Australia and me from Canada, we definitely are an international group scattered around the world.

Look for some exciting future posts! Welcome ladies!

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From History and Women

A Warm Welcome to Colin Falconer

2012-05-25T09:01:00.000-06:00

Colin Falconer

Through the miracles of cyberspace, I had the good fortune of meeting and getting to know one of my favourite, international bestselling authors, Colin Falconer. Now, I'm pleased to announce that Colin has joined me on this blog and will post bios and facts about some of the famous historical women he has encountered in his own writing journeys. I can't wait for his first post! A warm welcome, Colin!

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From History and Women

Alice Perrers - The King's Concubine by Anne O'Brien

2012-05-23T13:49:00.000-06:00

Synopsis:

"There was ... in England a shameless woman and wanton harlot called Ales Peres, of base kindred ... being neither beautiful or fair, she knew how to cover these defects with her flattering tongue ..."

A child born in the plague year of 1348, abandoned and raised within the oppressive walls of a convent, Alice Perrers refused to take the veil, convinced that a greater destiny awaited her. Ambitious and quick-witted, she rose above her obscure beginnings to become the infamous mistress of Edward III. But always, essentially, she was alone….

Early in Alice’s life, a chance meeting with royalty changes everything: Kindly Queen Philippa, deeply in love with her husband but gravely ill, chooses Alice as a lady-in-waiting. Under the queen’s watchful eye, Alice dares to speak her mind. She demands to be taken seriously. She even flirts with the dynamic, much older king. But she is torn when her vibrant spirit captures his interest…and leads her to a betrayal she never intended.

In Edward’s private chambers, Alice discovers the pleasures and paradoxes of her position. She is the queen’s confidante and the king’s lover, yet she can rely only on herself. It is a divided role she was destined to play, and she vows to play it until the bitter end. Even as she is swept up in Edward’s lavish and magnificent court, amassing wealth and influence for herself, becoming an enemy of his power-hungry son John of Gaunt and a sparring partner to resourceful diplomat William de Windsor, she anticipates the day when the political winds will turn against her. For when her detractors voice their hatred and accusations of treason swirl around her, threatening to destroy everything she has achieved, who will stand by Alice then?”

Biography:

Alice Perrers with King Edward on his deathbed

Alice was born the illegitimate child of a tavern whore and a town labourer during the one of the darkest periods of England when the Black Plague annihilated thousands and thousands of victims in the 14^th century. Resilient from the start, she survived and ended up as an orphan in an abbey where she was raised by the strict, harsh sisters. Considered a very ugly child, she could never look into a mirror. Despite her lack of breeding, her unpleasant countenance, her lack of legitimacy, her lack of worldly possessions, she was blessed with a sharp wit and ruthless determination. And it was those qualities that helped her rise to the loftiest heights of society.

At a very young age, perhaps even twelve, she married a man named Janyn Perrers who died a few short years later. As a young widow, sometime before 1366 when she was a mere 15 years of age, Alice became a damsel of the chamber / lady-in-waiting to Queen Philippa of Hainault, wife of King Edward III.

Queen Philippa

Despite her lowborn status and her truly ugly appearance, and armed only with her wit and shrewd mind, she managed to catch the eye and the interest of the king. By her actions, the rumours and scandalous talk about her rose to a crescendo. Known as the greedy mistress of King Edward III, her uncharismatic personality and ruthless nature caused many to dislike her.

Edward III

She became the king’s mistress six years before Queen Philippa’s death. It was kept secret and clandestine until the after the queen’s death. The king’s advisors believed Alice corrupted the king by making him commit the sin of adultery. King Edward gifted Alice with the queen’s garments and jewels. She adorned herself with the opulent clothes and blatantly flaunted the dead queen’s jewels, valued at over 200,000 pounds, about the court. If this didn’t set tongues a-wagging, in a slow but dazzling display of power, she began amassing manor houses and lands, all gifts and grants by her lover, the king. She was now the wealthiest common-born woman in all of England.

During their relationship, she bore the king four children: Sir John de Southeray, Nicholas Lytlington - Abbot of Westminster, Jane Plantagenet, and Joan Plantagenet. Courtiers believed King Edward fell under the influence of Alice Perrers through beguilement and manipulation until he could refuse her nothing. Spending by the king became extremely extravagant and suspicions of corruption among the court’s ministers abounded. She managed to amass 56 manors, castles, and townhouses. Lawsuits arose over these land transferred. Never afraid or shy, Alice went to court and intervened and bullied the judges to ensure the outcome was judged in her favour or that of her friends.

Whispers circulated that Alice manipulated and smote the king with occult spells and witchcraft. As a result, her physician was taken into custody and charged with concocting love potions and talismans on her behalf. When she secretly married William de Windsor, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, without the king’s knowledge or consent, all believed her morals completely corrupt.

As the suspicions increased, so did the accusations. Parliament stripped her of all land and homes, and banished her from court. But only 15 of her homes were gifts. The others, she legitimately owned through her strong business sense, shrewd contacts, and knack for investments.

Review:

I truly enjoyed Anne O’Brien’s interpretation of Alice Perrer’s life. It was written with a non-judgmental tone, providing an unbiased and fascinating description of her life.

The King's Concubine is an engaging novel, written in first person narrative and an easy-to-read style that allows the reader to completely immerse themselves in the story. The author skilfully portrayed the main characters so that they were believable.

As with all good tales, there must always be a fascinating antagonist, and in this novel, there were several, but most enjoyable were Princess Joan and Princess Isabella. Understandably, both women were highly resentful of Alice’s influence over their father and the author did a fabulous job demonstrating their animosity. Through their actions and bitter words, I could understand how strongly family and friends reacted to Alice’s presence in the king’s life.

Despite the fact that history has portrayed Alice Perrers in the most unflattering light – ugly, ambitious, ruthless, power-hungry, and greedy, the author was able to demonstrate Alice’s softer side – her loyalty to the king and queen, her need to protect and fend for herself, her need to support her children and house herself should the king discard her. It is also fair to keep in mind that Alice was surrounded by strong, duplicitous men as eager for wealth and power than she was. Women in that era were easily attacked and Alice's success in accumulating wealth provided ample fodder.

Anne O’Brien did an exceptional job of balancing fact with fiction as attested in the explanation at the end. This is biographical fiction at its best. A fascinating and intriguing story, highly recommended.

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From History and Women

A Child Bride's Nightmare

2012-05-18T08:49:00.000-06:00

In keeping with my theme on child brides, here is the story of one ten year old girl and her mother who managed to fight back. It is inspirational. Enjoy! I LOVE COMMENTS

Afghanistan Child Brides

2012-05-11T07:55:00.000-06:00

The plight of Afghanistan women is heart-wrenching. The more we can share information and help the world know what is happening there, the more we can help bring Afghanistan women out of these ancient, horrific practices of abuse and death. I LOVE COMMENTS

Women's Historical Fiction - A New Exciting Blog

2012-05-09T09:56:00.004-06:00

When I created History and Women Blog in 2007, I never dreamed it would become so popular and so well visited. It began humbly, simply, as a way to share and write about women in history, both good and bad, who fascinated me. I recall the days when I hoped that readers would find it within the myriad of blogs in cyberspace. Today, I am proud to say that readers have indeed found me. 50,000+ visitors per month now stop by and take a look at what is written here. It is deeply humbling.
Since its inception, the blog has evolved and become a little more eclectic. Originally, the site was going to feature book reviews for biographical fiction only. Instead, it grew to include all historical fiction geared towards women. But it's become massive and so a little housekeeping is in order.
I've decided to split the blog into two. History and Women will revert to biographies and reviews of biographical fiction only and will expand into biographical movies and other topics of interest to women. I've created a new blog - Women's Historical Fiction. As the title makes clear, it is for women's historical fiction for more general novels.
Women's Historical Fiction is up and running, but still being set up and refined.
I do hope you take the time to acquaint yourself with the new blog! As always, I appreciate your comments and look forward to watching this new blog grow.
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The Reckoning by Alma Katsu

2012-05-09T08:39:00.001-06:00

A love triangle spanning 200 years…Alma Katsu takes readers on a breathtaking journey through the landscape of the heart.

New York Times bestselling author Scott Westerfeld (Leviathan) praises Alma Katsu’s The Taker as, “a centuries-spanning epic that will keep you turning pages all night. This marvelous debut is a thinking person’s guilty pleasure.” And Keith Donohue (The Stolen Child) says, “The Taker is a frighteningly compelling story about those most human monsters—desire and obsession. It will curl your hair and keep you up late at night.”

Now Alma Katsu delivers the highly anticipated follow-up to her haunting novel about an immortal woman learning firsthand that the heart wants what the heart wants…no matter how high the stakes. Fans of The Taker can finally indulge in their next juicy fix with the second book of the trilogy, The Reckoning. In this gripping, pulse-pounding supernatural sequel, discover what happens to Lanny, Luke, Adair—and Jonathan. The Reckoning picks up where The Taker leaves off, following Lanny on her path to redemption—and creating a whole new level of suspense.

The Reckoning is Alma Katsu’s long awaited sequel to The Taker. It is the second book of a trilogy, a dark, gothic tale about immortality and its horrible effects. The third book in the series is named The Descent.

The Reckoning picks up exactly where The Taker ended. The main character, Lanore, now two hundred years old and still on the run with her lover Dr Luke Findley, suddenly experiences the terror of knowing that Adair is free from the brick and mortar tomb in the walls of his home. She knows he will come after her, blind with wrath and eager to wreak the most horrendous vengeance.

Told through the first person narrative of the main character, Lanore, this tale sweeps the reader through numerous exotic locations - from the United States to England, from Italy to Spain, Lanore desperately tries to stay one step ahead of Adair.

The story’s secondary characters are as rich and vicious in personality as the main ones are and with engaging traits such as greed, pure evil, and traitorous. But the true hook in this story is the antagonist, Adair. Corrupt, evil, murderous, and as immortal as the heroine herself. Absolutely fascinating!

Underlying themes explored in this novel of immortality are change, love, obsession, vengeance, power, life and death, and Alma Katsu weaves it all together in a fascinating paranormal yarn that grips you from start to finish. The author does not shy away from sex or violence, so this book is definitely rated for adults only. The graphic scenes are skilfully balanced with intriguing and lighthearted details as the ancient Adair gets used to life and articles in the new century into which he must adapt to.

Although The Reckoning can stand alone, and you do not need to read The Taker, I highly recommend that you do. The drama is fascinating and thrilling. Definitely a unique, enduring story of the paranormal!

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Hearts Restored by Prue Phillipson

2012-05-05T18:26:00.000-06:00

What can a young man of fifteen do when he is told by his mother that the three cousins he is about to meet all want to marry him?

Daniel Wilson Horden has arrived in London with his parents from their home in Northumberland on the very day of King Charles II’s triumphant return to his capital. Receiving his own personal wave from the king, Daniel longs only to serve him, but first he must keep at bay the threat of marriage.

His two French cousins are adamant in their pursuit of him, but Daniel is intrigued by his English cousin, Eunice, whose Puritan father snatches her away from the reunion celebrations. Unaware that his gallant attempt to save her has endeared him to her, Daniel only just escapes the marriage trap which his younger French cousin lays for him and is sent off to study at Cambridge University.

Once she returns to her father’s home, Eunice is condemned to a life of austerity. Heart-sick, she is assured by her grandmother that Daniel will come for her when he graduates from university.

But, unaware of his cousin’s feelings for him, Daniel goes off to join the navy only to find that fighting in the king’s service is not as glorious as he had imagined.

While the navy suffers at sea, London passes through plague and fire.

Will Eunice survive the hardship? And will Daniel return to fulfil the promise in his eyes on that fateful day in London?

About the Author:

Prue was born and reared in Newcastle upon Tyne in northern England. Prue enjoyed writing historical novels from an early age. She trained as a teacher, taught full time for four years and was a freelance writer during this time. She took a correspondence course in creative writing and honed her craft. She is married and has reared five children. Her current occupation is writing articles, short stories and novels.

Review:

Hearts Restored by historical fiction author Prue Phillipson is an enchanting tale set in 17th century England.

Daniel Horden is nearly 16 years old, and already, his family is looking for a suitable bride for him. Although his parents would prefer to have him marry for love, making a suitable match is more important, for Daniel will be inheriting a title. They take him to London where he is introduced to three female cousins close to his own age as possible prospects. Daniel does not wish to marry. Rather, he dreams of joining the Royal Navy in service to King Charles. But as per his father’s wishes, he enters university and tries to forestall any attempts to get him to marry.

One of the three cousins he meets is Eunice whose father is a strict Puritan. Conflict occurs at his disapproval of the extravagant lifestyle of Daniel and her other two cousins. And it is with Eunice that Daniel is most drawn to.

I enjoyed the contrast made between Daniel’s wealth and Eunice’s austerity. It definitely added interest to the tale as the characters faced adversity through war, the plague, and the Great Fire. At times, the characters were a little placid, but nevertheless, believable and endearing. The story is full of wonderful historical details. For those who enjoy family drama with a little less emphasis on romance, you will enjoy this fine novel.

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Bride Kidnapping

2012-05-04T08:44:00.000-06:00

As a historical fiction author, I enjoy the research part of writing. Often, I stumble upon the most fascinating, sometimes abhorrent information. This happened when I was researching bride kidnapping in 10th century Europe. I was shocked to discover that bride kidnapping and child brides are still practices in numerous countries today. The plight of women in many cultures is disturbing. Following is a two part video on bride kidnapping in Krgyzstan.

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The Sultan's Wife by Jane Johnson

2012-05-01T05:55:00.000-06:00

Page-turning mystery, grandly seductive romance and full historical immersion into Moroccan court history, this exquisitely depicted and intensely absorbing novel follows in the bestselling tradition of The Tenth Gift and The Salt Road.

1677, Morocco. Behind the magnificent walls and towering arches of the Palace of Meknes, captive chieftain's son and now a lowly scribe, Nus Nus is framed for murder. As he attempts to evade punishment for the bloody crime, Nus Nus finds himself trapped in a vicious plot, caught between the three most powerful figures in the court: the cruel and arbitrary sultan, Moulay Ismail, one of the most tyrannical rulers in history; his monstrous wife Zidana, famed for her use of poison and black magic; and the conniving Grand Vizier.

Meanwhile, a young Englishwoman named Alys Swann has been taken prisoner by Barbary corsairs and brought to the court. She faces a simple choice: renounce her faith and join the Sultan's harem; or die. As they battle for survival, Alys and Nus Nus find themselves thrust into an unlikely alliance--an alliance that will become a deep and moving relationship in which these two outsiders will find sustenance and courage in the most perilous of circumstances.

From the danger and majesty of Meknes to the stinking streets of London and the decadent court of Charles II, The Sultan's Wife brings to life some of the most remarkable characters of history through a captivating tale of intrigue, loyalty and desire.

I have always been fascinated with novels about exotic settings, especially those set in a harem. From the first page to last, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel.

The year is 1677 and the story takes place in London and Morocco. I adore books with unique characters and at the heart of this story are Nus-Nus, an African eunuch slave, and by Alys Swan, an English woman of noble birth who is kidnapped and brought to Morocco to become one of the Sultan's concubines. When Alys is chosen for the Sultan’s bed, she is defiant and reluctant, but it is Nus-nus who wins her trust and prepares her. From therein, he befriends her and helps her to survive amidst all the very real life and death jealousies, conspiracies, dangers, and intrigues in the harem.

The novel drew me into the story immediately. The writing is excellent and descriptive, concisely and beautifully creating images and smells. The author did not hesitate to show us the cruel and brutal realities of the time. I especially enjoyed the first person narrative through the eyes of Nus-nus, a character who readers will admire for his courage, ethics, and inner strength. First person narratives always read much stronger and this was definitely the case here.

Nus-nus and Alys develop throughout the story, adapting, changing, facing adversity. The ending was surprising, but satisfying. For those who like to be shocked with the odd and unusual, enjoy reading about the exotic, the mystique, murders, and passionate life and death realities, you cannot miss with this novel! This is the first novel by Jane Johnson I’ve read, and I’m eager to read her other two previous novels. A talented author who knows how to spin a fabulous yarn!

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The Courtesan's Lover

2012-05-01T05:42:00.000-06:00

New Release!

In a spin-off from her first novel, His Last Duchess, Kimm takes the character of Francesca, formerly the mistress of the complex duke of Ferrara, and places her centre-stage in her own novel. Francesca is now an aspiring courtesan: astonishingly beautiful and ambitious, she revels in the power she wields over men.

But when she is visited by an inexperienced young man, it becomes horribly clear to Francesca that, despite her many admiring patrons, she has never been truly loved. Suddenly, her glittering and sumptuous life becomes little more than a gaudy façade.

And then another unexpected encounter brings with it devastating implications that plunge Francesca and her two young daughters into the sort of danger she has dreaded ever since she began to work the streets all those years ago

In 16^th century Italy, Francesca Felizzi, former lover of the Duke of Ferrara, is one of the most sought after, shrewdest, and most talented courtesans in all of Naples. But she leads a dual life. When she is not otherwise engaged with her paying lovers, she is a loving mother to her two young daughters. Francesca keeps her two lives separate, and it is this which makes Francesca a highly believable and likeable character.

Modesto is a castrato, a loyal, dedicated, lonely man who truly loves Francesca and aids her unselfishly in her work and in her family life. Of course there is a list of Francesca’s clients, some of whom are a bit quirky, some charming, and some who border on being outright dangerous. Although there are numerous sex scenes in this book, they are tastefully written and kept to a minimum.

Italian historical fiction is my favourite genre and I usually read numerous books in this category. Gabrielle Kimm did an exceptional job in adding a realistic and vibrant flavour to the setting. Throughout, there are sprinklings of the most fascinating characters. One scene in particular was most entertaining – poor Father Ippolito, who must battle his own lust each time he listens to Francesca as she confesses the details of her lurid life. When Francesca falls in love, she gives up her life as a courtesan, while keeping her past a secret. But fate conspires against her and soon, her secret is discovered. This sets off a hectic chain of events that is more than intriguing and adds suspense to an already fascinating story.

Gabrielle Kimm has penned an entertaining tale brimming with vibrant imagery, suspense, and poignancy. A definite keeper! And don’t worry if you haven’t read the first novel, His Last Duchess. This book stands alone and you’ll have no problem falling into this very lovely story.

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Patient Number 7 by Kurt Palka

2012-04-30T16:57:00.001-06:00

Inspired by a true story and based on a wealth of family documents, this elegant and compelling novel chronicles the lives of two families from the 1930s through the coming of the Nazis and World War II, and the long, difficult post-War period to the present. A must-read for fans of Irene Nemirovsky, Hans Fallada, and Bernhard Schlink's The Reader.

This vividly realized, masterfully executed novel is a window into a little-explored corner of history. Patient Number 7 is a story of love between an aristocratic young woman and the cavalry officer -- later Panzer officer in the German army -- she marries; between friends who help each other through the Nazi takeover of Austria, the war, and what was sometimes worse, the "liberation"; between a mother and her two very different daughters. But it is also the story of a nation's darkest days, and its slow recovery during one of the most convulsive, violent periods of human history. Beautifully written, haunting, and ultimately redemptive, it is a work of great skill and great compassion.

Patient Number 7 gives reader a unique glimpse into how World War II impacted Austria. Based on family documents, author Kurt Palka has drilled down into everyday life to demonstrate how all lives were affected by the Nazi Third Reich.

The main character is Clara Herzog, a young woman from a well-to-do family who attends university in Austria. As a philosophy student, she is the student of Sigmund Freud and other notable famous mentors. Against her family’s urgings, she falls in love and marries a cavalry officer who soon joins the Panzers in the German army. Left alone, she struggles to raise their two daughters while war rages around them. She faces numerous conflicts ranging from losing her position at the university to Third Reich party members to being raped by a Nazi officer.

Patient Number 7 is about one woman’s endurance and the choices she is forced to make for herself and her family. What I found most fascinating was how Nazis slowly infiltrated all businesses, all levels of government, and society in general creating a wave of fear and slowly taking over all aspects of Austrian life. This is a unique, compelling, multi-layered novel about an unforgettable woman!

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Women and Pants

2012-04-27T12:34:00.000-06:00

Women Wearing Pants

Author

gholea

In the Western world, Historically, in that part of the world, women have worn dresses and skirt-like garments while men have worn pants (trousers). During the late 1800s, women started to wear pants for industrial work. During World War II, women wore their husband's pants while they took on jobs, and in the 1970s, pants became especially fashionable for women. Today, pants are worn far more often than skirts by women, and many women wear pants almost all the time.

Although trousers for women in western countries did not become fashion items until the later 20th century, women began wearing men's trousers (suitably altered) for outdoor work a hundred years earlier.

The Wigan pit brow girls scandalized Victorian society by wearing trousers for their dangerous work in the coal mines. They wore skirts over their trousers and rolled them up to their waist to keep them out of the way.

Wigan Pit Row Lass

Women working the ranches of the 19th century American West also wore trousers for riding, and in the early 20th century aviatrices and other working women often wore trousers. Actresses Marlene Dietrich and Katharine Hepburn were often photographed in trousers from the 1930s and helped make trousers acceptable for women.

Katherine Hepburn

During World War II, women working in factories and doing other forms of "men's work" on war service wore trousers when the work demanded it, and in the post-war era trousers became acceptable casual wear for gardening, the beach, and other leisure pursuits.

In Britain during the Second World War, because of the rationing of clothing, many women took to wearing their husbands' civilian clothes, including their trousers, to work while their husbands were away in the armed forces. This was partly because they were seen as practical garments of workwear, and partly to allow women to keep their clothing allowance for other uses. As this practice of wearing trousers became more widespread and as the men's clothes wore out, replacements were needed, so that by the summer of 1944 it was reported that sales of women's trousers were five times more than in the previous year.

1960's

In the 1960s, Andre Courreges introduced long trousers for women as a fashion item, leading to the era of the pantsuit and designer jeans and the gradual eroding of the prohibitions against girls and women wearing trousers in schools, the workplace, and fine restaurants.

Source:http://www.cheaponsale.com/

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/blogging-articles/women-wearing-pants-620012.html

About the Author
I am awww.cheaponsale.com's author

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Blue Asylum by Kathy Hepinstall

2012-04-27T07:08:00.000-06:00

Amid the mayhem of the Civil War, Virginia plantation wife Iris Dunleavy is put on trial and convicted of madness. It is the only reasonable explanation the court can see for her willful behavior, so she is sent away to Sanibel Asylum to be restored to a good, compliant woman. Iris knows, though, that her husband is the true criminal; she is no lunatic, only guilty of disagreeing with him on notions of justice, cruelty, and property.

On this remote Florida island, cut off by swamps and seas and military blockades, Iris meets a wonderful collection of residents--some seemingly sane, some wrongly convinced they are crazy, some charmingly odd, some dangerously unstable. Which of these is Ambrose Weller, the war-haunted Confederate soldier whose memories terrorize him into wild fits that can only be calmed by the color blue, but whose gentleness and dark eyes beckon to Iris.

The institution calls itself modern, but Iris is skeptical of its methods, particularly the dreaded "water treatment." She must escape, but she has found new hope and love with Ambrose. Can she take him with her? If they make it out, will the war have left anything for them to make a life from, back home? Blue Asylum is a vibrant, beautifully-imagined, absorbing story of the lines we all cross between sanity and madness. It is also the tale of a spirited woman, a wounded soldier, their impossible love, and the undeniable call of freedom.

The premise of this novel is what attracted me to it. I thoroughly enjoy reading historical fiction with unique settings. Blue Asylum, however, has much more depth than a story set in a mental institution. Certainly, there are fascinating inmates – the woman who swallows small items, a cruel matron, a charming woman who imagines her husband is still alive and with her – but the story is much richer than that. Not only does it depict the powerlessness of women in that era, but it delves into themes of post traumatic stress syndrome, tragedy, hope, and resilience. More importantly, at the heart is an endearing love story.

This novel is believable and richly detailed with fascinating characters, plenty of heartbreak, and inspiration.

An Interview with Kathy Hepinstall

1. Welcome, I'm so glad to have this opportunity to chat with you. Can you share with my readers the essence of the story you've penned?

Blue Asylum tells the tale of a plantation wife and a haunted soldier who fall in love in an insane asylum in 1864. That's the basic tale, but within that story there are many themes: forgiveness, letting go of the one you love, breaking free of the past, and the right of every individual to have a voice.

2. You've chosen a very interesting title. What inspired the title? What inspired the book?

The psychiatrist, Dr. Cowell, paints the walls blue to calm the patients. I'm very partial to the color blue. If it stopped existing tomorrow, I would be very sad, and no longer look at the sky. I'd been wanting to set a love story in an insane asylum, and the island of Sanibel inspired me as a setting. It's pristine, calm, and yet vaguely ominous. Still largely unsettled.

3. What makes this book special to you?

It's about people being misunderstood and remaining strong despite circumstances. Also, some of the characters are my friends now. Others, not so much.

4. What makes this a book that people MUST read and WHY?

I'm not sure people must read it but I do believe that lovers of historical fiction will get caught up in it. I think it's an intriguing love story with a unique twist: a woman in a mental asylum loved by both a haunted Civil War soldier, and her own psychiatrist.

5. What sparks your creativity? Any tips to help others spark their own creativity?

The creativity of others - great music, great writing - sparks my own. Also, I like being around playful and curious people. I'd say as advice to always be surprising - make it a habit in your everyday life.

6. What has been the biggest stumbling block in your writing? Can you share some tips to help others get past similar problems?

Well, I would say be careful about your metaphors. For example, that word…Writer's B…. I won't use it because it designates something hard, permeable, something impossible to get through. So I call it Writer's Cloud, or Writer's Air. In this way, the brain receives the message: I can get through this easily. Hope that makes sense.

7. Tell me about the most unusual things you have done to promote your book?

I just took out a full page color ad to Oprah in her hometown paper, the Montecito Journal. The ad said I had buried a book for her, and provided a secret map. So far, no word. So, on to ad #2...

8. Each author is different in the way they create a work of fiction. Please describe for us how you plan or plot a story.

Some of them come from an old news story or something I witnessed. Often they are informed by my own philosophies - for example, The House of Gentle Men was about redemption and the need for forgiveness. I plot the novel out very roughly, but I always write to an outline. Research is definitely a form of creative progress for me - plot points and convergences reveal themselves, as well as metaphors that later prove useful. I I usually try to make things historically accurate unless the story demands a different turn.

9. Authors are very unique in the way they write, the tools they use, when they write, etc. Please describe a typical writing day for you? How do you organize your day?

I do my best writing in the morning but sometimes write all day. I write very fast over a short period of time. Racing through, getting a rough draft done and then go to work on a better draft.

10. What is your current work in progress?

About to start on a novel about two sisters who join Stonewall Jackson's army and fight as men during his eastern campaign.

11. Can you tell us where to find more information about you and your books and how readers can reach you?

www.kathyhepinstall.wordpress.com Has a place there under Bio/Contact to write the author.

12. What would you like our readers to know about you and your writing?

Just how much I appreciate their support and hope they love the novel. And that they can always contact me through my blog with questions or comments. Thanks so much.

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The Kings' Mistresses by Elizabeth Goldsmith

2012-04-24T10:57:00.002-06:00

The Mancini Sisters, Marie and Hortense, were born in Rome, brought to the court of Louis XIV of France, and strategically married off by their uncle, Cardinal Mazarin, to secure his political power base. Such was the life of many young women of the age: they had no independent status under the law and were entirely a part of their husband’s property once married.

Marie and Hortense, however, had other ambitions in mind altogether. Miserable in their marriages and determined to live independently, they abandoned their husbands in secret and began lives of extraordinary daring on the run and in the public eye. The beguiling sisters quickly won the affections of noblemen and kings alike. Their flight became popular fodder for salon conversation and tabloids, and was closely followed by seventeenth-century European society. The Countess of Grignan remarked that they were traveling “like two heroines out of a novel.” Others gossiped that they “were roaming the countryside in pursuit of wandering lovers.”

In the 17th-century, sisters Marie and Hortense Mancini married into wealth and nobility, but they soon discovered themselves desperately unhappy with their abusive husbands. Divorce at the time, was available, but extremely difficult, if not impossible, to acquire and fraught with scandal. Left with little choice, the two women fled, at times in each other’s company, and other times alone. From Italy, France, and England, the women travelled and lived the high life, visiting and finding refuge in some of Europe’s most elite families. They found love in the arms of kings. They indulged themselves in love affairs, gambling, hunting, and art collecting, much to the gossiping delight of the world that could not help but be fascinating with the wild freedom of these two women.

But as they moved from home to home, or castle to castle, their husbands tracked them, thrusting impediments and threats in their path, forcing them into convents or withdrawing all money, or entering into negotiations to force them into submission. Somehow, they managed to dodge the courts and their husband’s attempts to squash their seized independence.

The author did an impeccable job of researching and tracking the travels of these two fascinating women. The book takes us on a journey with them from country to country, court to court, and home to home. However, it is quite academic in nature and brushes too briefly over their actual escapades. What I mean by that, is I got a wonderful picture of their actual travels, but very little about what truly made them notorious, where they flaunted societal standards, and why the world was so enchanted by their mischief. Nevertheless, this was a fabulous book that takes the reader into the courts of kings for a first hand glimpse of the world in 17^th century Europe.

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Sisters of Fortune by Jehanne Wake

2012-04-24T09:40:00.003-06:00

Jehanne Wake Talks About Sisters of Fortune

Summary

As gripping as the best historical novel -- an exuberant account of the American sisters who enthralled high society in the wake of Waterloo. The Caton sisters were Southern belles descended from the first settlers in Maryland, and were expected to 'marry a Plantation'. But they were independent, fascinated by politics, clever with money, romantic in mood. Arriving In London in 1816 the three sisters forged their own destinies in the face of intense prejudice, against both Americans and Catholics.

The widowed Marianne shocked the world by marrying the Wellington's wayward elder brother, the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and appearing as a 'Catholic Yankee' among the Protestant Anglo-Irish. Louisa eventually became Duchess of Leeds, and a friend of Queen Victoria, while the sphere in which Bess shone was the stockmarket, as queen of speculators.

Based on intimate unpublished letters, Sisters of Fortune is a brilliant portrait of love between sisters, a most unusual story of money and power and a fascinating glimpse of how these extraordinary women influenced the social and international relations of their time.

Jehanne Wake's Sisters of Fortune is a biographical book about the lives of four sisters: Marianne, Bess, Louisa, and Emily Caton. Granddaughters of Charles Carroll of Carrollton who signed the Declaration of Independence and a Senator Maryland, they were born into a world of wealth and politics. Of the four sisters, Marianne was the most beautiful and is depicted foremost on the cover. Suffering with asthma, she travelled to the more humid climate of England for health reasons accompanied by her sisters Marianne, Bess, and Louisa. Their sister Emily remained behind.

Needless to say, the sisters took English society by storm and they soon found love, married, while causing a few scandals along the way. Marianne, the great beauty of the trio, married the Marquess Richard Wellesly and became Lady-in-Waiting to Queen Adelaide. Louisa married twice. Her first husband was Colonel Felton Hervey whom she deeply loved. When he died, she married Lord Carmarthen, a future Duke of Leeds. And last, but not least, Bess also found herself married to nobility – George Jerningham, Baron of Costessey Hall.

Beyond capturing the women’s lives, the book does not shy away from depicting anti-American sentiments by the British. When reading the book, it becomes readily apparent that author Jeanne Wake did an incredible amount of research, much of it based on actual letters written amongst Caton family members. It is an incredible story of three educated American women who were able to influence European politics and managed handled financial affairs – rare indeed during the early 18th century. A fascinating, detailed, memoir about three women who reigned victorious under difficult social and gender-based restrictions!

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Sui Liu and Wu Yan - Ugly Concubines

2012-04-23T12:14:00.000-06:00

Su Liu

In the period of Qi there was a girl who was born with a tumor in her neck. Her name was Su Liu and this tumor made her slightly disfigured. This caused everyone in her village to stay away and isolate her. Once King Min went on a tour around his kingdom and visited Su Liu's village. All the villagers crowded round the king and stopped their work but Su Liu continued picking mulberry leaves and ignored the crowds.

The King's men saw this and thought ignoring the king was insulting behavior, so she was dragged in front of King Min. The king asked her to explain her actions. She told him that she had learned to concentrate on her task 100 percentage, no matter how small or unimportant that task might seem. The king Min thought that she was a remarkable woman and took her to his court where she proved her worth time and time again. Later in her life the King Min married her and she assisted in the governing of the country and helped to bring peace and prosperity to many of the people in china.

Wu Yan

During the spring and Autumn Period when China was not united there was a girl name Wu Yan. Many describe her as being very ugly with eyes that sank into her face, a flat nose and very dark skin. She was named after the place she was born, Wu Yan.She lived in the Qi state, one of the many reason why the Qi state grow so strong was because any person no matter where that started out in live could be promoted to a position of power and money. As Wu Yan was viewed to be so ugly she lived alone until she was 40.

During her life there were many wars with the other states and any civilian were encouraged to come and offer advice and help their country. Wu Yan summoned up her courage and went to see the king of Qi. When she was permitted into the kings audience she told King Xuan " Our country is in grave danger". King Xuan was shocked at these words as he was unaware of any danger to his country and didn't understand how a lowly peasant would know of these dangers when he was unaware. Wu Yan continued and said that the states of Qin and Chu and both progress and their armies are getting stronger. Our state is on a knife's edge, one side is life and the other is death but you are unaware of it, as you are stuck in your luxurious life style.

King Xuan was dumb struck as this words and dismissed her. However he continued to review her words and took her advice. He withdrew from his sheltered and luxurious life style and concentrate on improving the state of Qi. He looked for Wu Yan and offered her to be his concubine and so she is famously known as the "ugly Concubine".

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nathan_Gajewski

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The Most Hated Woman in Mexico by Colin Falconer

2012-04-20T12:35:00.000-06:00

Author Colin Falconer is back to share a post about a fascinating Mexican woman of history depicted in his best-selling novel, Aztec. If you haven't had a chance to read this book, you must. It's a definite page turner with plenty of shock and awe to rivet you to the end. Following is the guest post. Oh, and there's a link to a previous post contained within. When you get to it, check it out. You'll laugh till you hurt!

THE MOST HATED WOMAN IN MEXICO

Hernan Cortes was probably one of the greatest of the conquistadores – which is a back handed compliment in a way, like being the best of the Nazis or being named Terrorist of the Year. He was a man of ruthless genius, a Christian crusader possessed of unparalleled greed, even for those times – but his achievements were breath-taking.

He won a land of almost limitless resource for Spain with an army of less than five hundred Spaniards, not all of them soldiers and not all of them loyal, while ostensibly on a simple scouting mission from Cuba.

He did not defeat the Aztecs with Spanish force of arms – he was five hundred men against a nation of a million – but with an astonishing bluff. He took the pot and the game with nothing in his hand. Through good fortune, steely determination, and the help of a Mexican slave girl he achieved what would otherwise have been considered impossible.

It is one of the great stories of history, a triumph of human endurance and determination, notwithstanding that Cortes’s eventual success was an unmitigated disaster for the indigenous population and resulted in unimaginable misery for hundreds of thousands of people.

The story of Hernan Cortes is the story of a woman named Malinali. Her exact origins are unclear –she was thought to have been a Mayan princess by some – but her place in Mexican history is unparalleled. For without her, Cortes would have got no further than the beach.

Her name was corrupted by history to Malinche; even today the word malinchista is shouted across the floor of the Mexican parliament as a deadly insult – it means a traitor to the Mexican people.

Yet was she the monster that the Mexicans make her out to be?

There is only one person who ever knew the truth and that was Malinali Tenepal herself – La Malinche. Both concubine and translator to Cortes, her motives and what she said and how she said it will always be a matter of debate - it is what makes hers such a gripping and intriguing story. It is not about the battles but the love affair, one of the most extraordinary pairings in all history.

Not everyone in Mexico agrees with me on my interpretation of Malinali – but then they don’t agree with each other either. As with all history, there will always be a thousand versions, and no one can ever say which one is the true one.

But what is certain is that in almost every contemporary drawing and painting she is at Cortes' side, whispering in his ear. She was the only one who ever knew what was being said by both sides, the only one who spoke both Spanish and nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs. She was the only one who could have made the bluff work.

She was also the only one to share Cortes' bed. Did she love him? No one can say. Did he use her for his own purposes and then cast her aside? Of course he did. He was only ever interested in gold and glory.

Fittingly perhaps, Cortes' life after the conquest was one of frustration and humiliation. History has not been kind to him either. I spent the better part of an afternoon trying to track him down. I finally found him not far from the Plaza Major in the Church of Jesus Navareno. He is walled up in a casket by the altar and you have to peer very hard to make out the plaque let alone the inscription. That's how much they think of him now.

He crumbles to dust in the place where he first met the Aztec emperor Motecuhzoma. And Malinali?

No one knows what became of her. It is believed she died an old woman in Spain. Cortes showed her his gratitude by marrying her off to someone else. Her name is still reviled in Mexico. Foreign authors who dare write her story still get assaulted with man bags (Click here - This is the link - read it for a belly laugh!).)

But for all that, her tale, and that of the conquistadores, remains one of the most intriguing and tragic sagas in history. I still believe she could not have foreseen the terrible cataclysm she unwittingly engineered. But if you're ever in Mexico City, don't quote me on that.

If you do, watch out for man bags.

Website

http://www.colinfalconer.net

BLOG
http://colin-falconer.blogspot.com

Twitter

http://twitter.com/@colin_falconer

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To Take Her Pride by Anne Brear

2012-04-18T16:56:00.004-06:00

Beautiful prose and an exquisite read!

In 1898 Yorkshire, Aurora Pettigrew has it all, a loving family, a nice home, a comfortable life. She’s waiting for the right man to offer her marriage, and the man for her is Reid Sinclair, heir to the Sinclair fortune and the love of her life. But, Reid’s mother, Julia, is against the match and her ruthlessness unearths a family secret that will tear Aurora’s world apart. Unwilling to bring shame on her family and needing answers to the allegations brought to light by Reid’s mother, Aurora begins a long journey away from home. She leaves behind all that is familiar and safe to enter a world of mean streets and poor working class. Living in the tenements of York, surrounded by people of a class she’d never mixed with before, Aurora struggles to come to terms with the way her life has changed. By chance, she reconnects with a man from her past and before he leaves with the army to war in South Africa, he offers her security through marriage. Aurora knows she should be happy, but the memory of her love for Reid threatens her future. When tragedy strikes, can Aurora find the strength to accept her life and forget the past?

My review

I have been an avid follower of Anne Brear for many years and have had the pleasure of reading almost all of her novels. I was eager to read this one, confident that it would be as impressive as the others. This book exceeded my expectations and is one of favourites.

The story takes place in Yorkshire England during the late 19^th century. At the heart of this tale is a young woman named Aurora, a young woman of comfortable means who is in love with Reid, a young man of privilege, who lives next door. Conflict arises when Reid’s mother, Julia, who believes Aurora is unsuitable for her son because her family is newly wealthy, sets out to research the family’s past secrets. She manages to discover a secret that devastates Aurora’s life and forces her to live in poverty.

As expected, To Take Her Pride is the kind of story that moves the reader through a realm of emotions. Complex, realistic characters, a rags-to-riches theme, and a forbidden love element, kept the plot moving at a good clip with unexpected twists along the way. The reader is taken on an emotional journey through historical York where the author’s attention to detail and historical accuracy truly makes the story and characters feel authentic.

This novel is both heart-warming and heart-wrenching. It depicts England’s class system in an unbiased, true manner. The author plumbs the depths of her characters, making them multi-dimensional, imperfect, and fascinating. I could not put this book down and it kept me reading long into the night. If this is the first book by Anne Brear (formerly Anne Whitfield) that you’ve read, rest assured that it will not be the last. You’ll become a collector like me! Get this book, sit back, and enjoy beautiful prose and an exquisite read.

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Wang Zhaojun and Cai Wenji

2012-04-13T11:50:00.000-06:00

Wang Zhaojun

In 33Bc during the Han dynasty there was a policy of diplomacy with the Huns, making sure that the Han dynasty and the Huns were on friendly term. This policy involves marring high class Chinese ladies with the Hun nobility so to cement the relationship of the 2 parties. Many women were forced to marry the Hun nobility but only one saw it as a positive opportunity and openly offered herself to this exchange. Her name was Wang Zhaojun and was described as one of the "Four greatest beauties" in Chinese history. The Khan of the Huns personally came to Chang an city the then capital city and asked for a court lady. Wang Zhaojun offered herself when all the other court ladies refuse because it meant leaving the known, their family and a pleasant life at court.

However unlike the Han dynasty the wife of the Kahn had a great influence and Wang Zhaojun managed to use this influence to continue the good relations between the Han dynasty and Huns. During her life the Hans and the Huns never had a war.

Cai Wenji

A famous musician with great knowledge and elegancy, Cai Wenji was famous in the eastern Han dynasty for her musical talent and skill in calligraphy. She broke out of the conformed role of the female in ancient china and managed to get status and riches. Her life changed one night at the age of 6 when she was woken up by her father, who also was a musician, playing music. She listen intently as her father,Cai Yong, played a stringed instrument. Suddenly the music stopped with a awful sound, as one of her father's strings broke. Cai Wenji went to her father and proclaimed that the second string must have been broken. Cai Yong was shocked to see his daughter up and the late hour but also to see her guessing correctly at the string that was broken. Her Father first thought that she must have been lucky, so he broke another string and tested her again.

Again Cai Wenji told her father which string was broken. Her father gathered all the instruments in their house and spent the rest of the night testing her musical talent. In the morning Cai Yong made a decision to teach Cai Wenji everything he knew about music. Due to her great talent and her father's training Cai Wenji went on to become a famous musician.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nathan_Gajewski Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4974889

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Talina in the Tower by Michelle Lovric

2012-04-12T10:07:00.001-06:00

Savage hyena-like creatures threaten Venice - the Ravageurs are on the prowl and seizing men, women and children. On the night of 30 June 1846 Talina's parents disappear and she and her cat, Drusilla, are forced to go and live with her Guardian and his three savage dogs in his lonely tower in the northernmost edge of the city. Here she discovers that she has the ability to change herself into a cat, but changing herself back into a girl isn't quite so easy. As a cat she learns about the Ravageurs and how over the centuries they have become semi magical creatures, visible only to children in the human world, and that they are intent on destroying Venice. She is determined to save the city - it's time for desperate measures - and her adventures are about to begin.

Review:

I was especially pleased to learn about this book, not only because I adore Italian historical fiction, but because it is aimed towards the youth market. The beautiful cover art drew me to it even more and made reading it a true pleasure. It is a wonderful book to introduce history and fantasy to an avid young reader. Girls especially will love it, but so will boys.

Reading Talina in the Tower was a lovely experience that took me back to those summer days when I was a kid, devouring one book after another. With a touch of history and a sprinkling of magic set in a spectacular backdrop, this was a lovely book to read and enjoy. It is the tale of a bold girl whose parents are missing. She is forced to live with an evil guardian who writes books about children who meet tragic ends, but she is determined to persevere and sets out in search for her parents. Born with the ability to read two books simultaneously, Talina accidently turns herself into a cat while reading a magic book and recipe at the same time. And then a magical adventure begins filled with fascinating characters, terrible creatures, and a very nasty villain.

To say this story is wonderfully creative would be an understatement. It is more than that – vivid, believable, well written, and heart-wrenching. Despite the eclectic collection of creatures and people, it makes sense and is believable. They seem real and leaped off the pages as I read along. The adventure quest took me from one set of troubles to the next, always keeping those pages turning.

This novel is aimed at the young adult market, but can be enjoyed by adults as well because the prose and story is rich and not overly simplified. From the beauty of its breath-taking cover to the wonderfully emotional tale told with spell-binding prose, this is a treasure of a book I’ve placed lovingly on my collector’s shelf – one to keep and pass on to the next generation of children in my family.

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Yellow Crocus by Laila Ibrahim

2012-04-10T17:46:00.001-06:00

A powerful book about slavery and the enduring strength of women facing adversity.

Summary:

Moments after her birth to the mistress of a sprawling Virginia plantation, Lisbeth Wainwright is entrusted to Mattie, an enslaved wet nurse. From then on, Mattie serves as Lisbeth's stand-in mother, nursing her, singing her to sleep, and soothing her in the night. And yet mothering Lisbeth tears Mattie away from her own baby, Samuel, who lives in the slave quarters. Growing up under Mattie's tender care, Lisbeth adopts her traditions of prayer, singing, eating black-eyed peas, and hunting for yellow crocuses in the spring. As the years pass, Lisbeth is drawn back into the white world, earning a growing awareness of the inequality of her and Mattie's stations. She struggles to reconcile her love for Mattie with her parents' expectations for her future, intent on keeping the best of both worlds-until a terrible betrayal forces her to choose once and for all. Yellow Crocus is a compelling novel of love, loss, and redemption set during one of the most sinister chapters of American history.

Review:

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It is a tale about Lisbeth Wainwright, the daughter of plantation owners who is ultimately raised by a loving black slave named Mattie. But far beyond the basic story, strong themes run throughout. Not only does this novel delve into the issue of slavery in the southern United States, but it is about the forced parting of black families, the selling of husbands and wives, the separation of children from their mothers. Despite such painful happenings, black men and women survived under such oppression.

Life-changing decisions, heart-wrenching separations, and enduring love are poignantly depicted. It was a pure joy to read, with the story line delicately unfolding page by page, holding the reader’s interest. In fact, the story begins with Mattie being wrenched away from her infant son to become nursemaid to the newly born Lisbeth in the main house. Intricate details about the birth and after the birth make for vivid reading. From thereon, the story focuses on the relationship between the two and the abiding love that burgeons between them. And what a fabulous ending – highly satisfying!

A powerful book about slavery and the enduring strength of women facing adversity. Yup it’s heart-wrenching, but a story that just has to be read.

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Lucky 7 Meme

2012-04-07T10:22:00.000-06:00

Lisa Yarde, also known as The Brooklyn Scribbler, a favourite author whose work I have admired for years, has tagged me in a cute contest that will let me give my readers a sneak peak of my latest novel in progress. I've chosen an excerpt from my Orphan of the Olive Tree which is scheduled for release summer/fall 2012.

The contest rules are:

The contest rules are:

1. Go to page 77 of your current work in progress.

2. Go to line 7.

3. Copy the next 7 lines or sentences as written and post them onto your blog or website.

4. Tag 7 other authors.

5. Let them know they've been tagged.

Here is my latest work which is one chapter away from completion. It is called Orphan of the Olive Tree. The story is a family saga about one a woman who gives away one of her newborn twin daughters based on superstition and fear and the consequences of her dark act on two families.

Without another word, Cosma placed the unwanted babe in her basket and tucked cloths all around it to prevent her from being tossed about. The child stirred a little, closed her eyes, and fell asleep. Cosma covered the basket with a plain linen cloth and left the room. She closed the door behind her and heaved a heavy sigh. At the bottom of the stairs, Carlo limped while he paced, anxiety etched in his every feature. He ran toward her. "What news?”

Cosma shifted the basket away from him. "Your wife is well. She delivered a beautiful daughter, signore, but she must never bear a child again.” Her heart thundered in her chest lest his baby in the basket should awake and cry. She tried to walk on, but Carlo blocked her way. Cosma held the basket to the side to keep it steady.

I've tagged 7 of my favourite authors whose work I read and love. They may or may not be able to participate based on their current work schedules, but I'm curious to see what they are working on next. I hope they'll be able to take the time to add their contribution and give us all a sneak peak. Check out their blogs for their latest posts and updates:

Colin Falconer
Anne Brear

Ginger Simpson

Sheila Lamb

Jeanne Tomlin

V.R. Christensen
Bailey Bristol

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Esther

2012-04-06T11:37:00.000-06:00

Why Esther is One of the Great Women of the Bible

Author

Jo Ann LeQuang

In the modern world, we often feel that we are on the vanguard of the emerging role of women in business, economics, and politics. But powerful women have always been a part of history. In fact, the Bible tells the story of a woman who played world politics and outfoxed a dangerous rival in the Book of Esther.

Esther became a queen by a series of unexpected events. Theologians will tell you that the book of Esther was written in part to demonstrate the fact that there are no coincidences, because a divine hand guides all events.

Here, Esther was a orphaned Jewish girl who was growing up in the care of her older cousin and guardian, Mordecai, who despite his Jewish faith held a prominent position at the king's court. These were the days of the Jewish exile when Jews had been dispersed to different parts of the world. Persia was a rich and powerful nation, but one that had its share of Antisemitism.

There is no evidence that Esther and Mordecai were particularly devout Jews. In fact, when Esther was selected to be placed in the king's harem, her cousin advised her to conceal the fact that she was Jew. She must have been very successful at it because no one guessed her ancestry or faith.

Esther was part of a large round-up of pretty young girls for the king's harem. The harem at the palace in Susa was a special sumptuous area of the palace where the women at court resided. Young virginal girls lived in the first harem, where they were groomed (literally) for many months in preparation for their night with the king.

Once a woman had been with the king, she was moved into the second harem. After that, she was only brought out again if she was summoned to the king by name. With hundreds of women in the harem, many women lived out long, lonely lives in the isolation of the second harem with no real husband, no children, and no companionship apart from the other females.

After six months of preparation, Esther had her turn with the king. He was so taken with her, he married her (elevating her from a concubine to queen). But after a while, he forgot about Esther and did not summon her very often.

By the way, the king in the Bible story is Xerxes, a figure well known to ancient historians. The book of Esther is set around the time that King Xerxes planned an invasion of Greece (which failed miserably).

According to the book of Esther, an ambitious Antisemite at court got mad at her cousin Mordecai and tricked the king into signing an edict to kill of the Jews. Although troubled by the genocidal edict, it seems Esther at first did not really know what to do. Some theologians wonder if she might have thought she could escape, since no one knew she was Jewish in the first place. However, her cousin Mordecai urged her to go to the king (which could have gotten her into terrible trouble, even had her executed) and arrange a way to save the Jews.

When Esther finally made the tough decision to act rather than observe in history, she vowed to leave the harem to approach the king. By law, anyone approaching the king without a specific invitation could be executed on the spot. However, Esther could not wait in the harem until the king called for her again. She had to take the risk.

Mordecai suggested this was her destiny, saying that she was called to the kingdom "for such a time as this."

Esther resolved to risk perfunctory execution with her very famous line. Saying she would go to the king, she told Mordecai, "And if I perish, I perish!"

The story is a lot more complicated than it first appears. The law in Persia at that time expressly forbade a royal edict from being reversed, even by the king himself. In a clever series of moves involving a couple of banquets and an appeal to her enemy's enormous ego and personal pride, Esther exposed the plot to her husband who then has Haman executed.

Esther revealed that she was Jewish. Most important of all, Queen Esther had worked out a very clever way that the edict could stand and yet the Jewish nation would survive. She dispatched her enemy and won the admiration of her husband, the king, all while saving her people.

The great beauty of the book of Esther is that she progresses from a terrified teenager to a world political figure in a series of carefully executed moves.

Like many other historical figures (men and women), Esther always capitalized on the fact that her enemies underestimated her.

But far from being a fiendish mastermind, Esther was actually a gracious woman. She was kind to her husband, even when he acted like a dolt. She was an astute observer of human nature, which is why she knew how effective flattery would be on her enemy, Haman. She also studied life at court, which is why her banquets were the perfect backdrop for her plan.

Most of all, Esther was brave, even more courageous than her husband who led the Persian army on many battlefields. After having dutifully concealed her Jewish heritage for years, Esther chose to reveal it to her husband and enemy at the very moment when it was most dangerous to her personally but most effective to help the Jewish people.

In Esther, we see how an ordinary girl, propelled by God and fate into extraordinary circumstances, emerged victorious by taking a series of difficult steps.

Some theologians have trouble with the book of Esther because it is the only book of the Bible that fails to mention God. There is no direct mention of Him, not even once. Yet commentators argue that the genius of the book of Esther is that God does not have to be mentioned to be evident and obvious. In a stunning series of coincidences and chance encounters, God's plan and intervention are clear.

The story of Esther is celebrated by Jewish people in the holiday known as Purim, which occurs in the spring.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/religion-articles/why-esther-is-one-of-the-great-women-of-the-bible-475734.html

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For more resources on one of the Bible's great stories about a heroic woman, visit http://www.EstheroftheBible.com .

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