Medieval history through the lives of the people who shaped it.
I give talks to U3A groups, history societies and other organisations, online and in person. Based in Lincoln, I bring a lifelong interest in history and years of teaching experience to stories of family, ambition, love and survival.
My talks grow out of the research for my books. They are designed for curious audiences, with time to explore the people behind familiar names and to discuss the questions their lives raise.
Eleanor Neville: Widow of the Wars of the Roses
The Wars of the Roses seen through the experience of a woman who survived her husband and four sons. From St Albans and Northampton to Towton and Hedgeley Moor, the battles run through a family story of loss, political upheaval and endurance. Eleanor’s survival remains at the heart of the talk.
Katherine Swynford: The Beaufort Legacy
Katherine’s life opens onto the worlds of John of Gaunt, Lincoln and the Beaufort family. This talk explores her circumstances, relationships and lasting significance, and the descendants whose lives carried her story into later generations.
Joan Beaufort: Matriarch of the North
The daughter of Katherine Swynford and John of Gaunt became a central figure in the Neville family. A talk about motherhood, marriage, religious life and the exercise of influence in medieval England, drawing on the research behind my forthcoming biography.
Enquire about a talk
Please include your organisation, proposed date, venue or online format, and the subject that interests you. We can discuss the length of the talk and what would suit your audience.
For speaking or writing enquiries, you can contact me through Facebook.
You can also explore my four forthcoming books or read the latest articles.
