
Friendships in Constant Repair: Perspectives on the Life of Stephen Oliver
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Stephen Oliver was quite simply, one of the most talented composers of his generation. His premature...

Henry V: pocket GIANTS
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Henry V is the best-known military hero in English history: better known than Marlborough or...

Wolf Hall & Bring Up the Bodies: RSC Stage Adaptation
Hilary Mantel and Mike Poulton
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A new, revised edition for the London transfer of Mike Poulton's expertly adapted two-part...

The Great British Dream Factory: The Strange History of Our National Imagination
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'Delightfully good ...an exuberant and learned celebration of British culture ...full of love for...

Arthur and the Kings of Britain: The Historical Truth Behind the Myths
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'Arthur himself, having put on a coat of mail suitable to the grandeur of so powerful a king, placed...

Wuthering Heights
Lucasta Miller, Emily Brontë and Pauline Nestor
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Emily Bronte's only novel, a work of tremendous and far-reaching influence, the Penguin Classics...

On Life-Writing
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Chapter 12 of this publication is open access, available under the terms of a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0...

Trials of the Diaspora: A History of Anti-semitism in England
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Trials of the Diaspora presents the long and troubling history of anti-Semitism in England, from the...

ClareR (5879 KP) rated Lady MacBethad in Books
Apr 4, 2023
Lady MacBethad is the story pre-Macbeth and probably closer to the truth. Shakespeare had his reasons for writing his play the way he did (keeping in with the royals and the fee-paying public, perhaps?), but it seems in reality MacBethad had more of a claim to the throne than Duncan.
This novel is of course from Lady MacBethad’s point of view - but she hasn’t got there yet. In this, she’s Gruoch, or as her grandmother says: “Groa, daughter of Boedhe, son of Coinneach, the rightful King of Alba…You will be the greatest of us all”
Gruoch is brought up in a household where her mother remembers her picti and ancient Druid heritage, but her father, Boedhe, follows the new Christian faith. Gruoch is conflicted. But she does know that she wants to be queen, and will stop at nothing to get there.
She’s so young though, and that does come across in some of her attitude, temper tantrums and opinions. She’s certainly undertaking quite some learning curve.
This was such a readable, immersive story, and I found myself backing Gruoch and wanting to actually help her (she would never have listened). I’ve no doubt this will be one of my favourite books this year - and I do wonder if there will be a sequel? I’d read it!

Deceived by Desire (Roaring Rogues #2)
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Changing into a lion is all fun and growls—until it isn’t. Meet a Shakespeare-quoting...
Historical Paranormal Romance Shifters