02 February, 2017

Exciting News: A Biography of Hugh Despenser the Younger

Today is the 735th anniversary of the birth of Maud Chaworth, who married Edward I's nephew Henry of Lancaster in or a little before 1297. Maud, born on 2 February 1282, was the mother of Duke Henry of Lancaster, grandmother of Blanche of Lancaster, great-grandmother of King Henry IV, and the grandmother/great-grandmother of half of the English nobility (or thereabouts) in the second half of the fourteenth century and into the fifteenth.

Maud was also the elder half-sister of Edward II's great favourite Hugh Despenser the Younger, lord of Glamorgan, and very excitingly I've been commissioned by Pen and Sword Books to write a biography of him. I've been obsessed with Hugh for a dozen years, so this is a really amazing opportunity for me. It's provisionally titled Valour and Vainglory: The Life of Hugh Despenser the Younger, tagline Loved by the King. Hated by the Queen, and will be out in September 2018. So yay!

I'm still unable to write a proper blog post owing to bereavement; hope to be back properly soon.

7 comments:

Carolyn Grace said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Carolyn Grace said...

Great news! I have been enjoying your blog since discovering that I'm descended from Hugh (aka The 14th Century's Worst Briton as per BBC History Mag) and Eleanor de Clare. I look forward to learning more about them. :-)

Anerje said...

That's great news on the new book - but a long time to wait! Congratulations!

Anonymous said...

Looking forward to another fabulous book. My sincerest condolences on your bereavement- don't worry, your loyal readers are more than happy to wait until your are up to writing again.

Love & peace

Ruth

Anonymous said...

Am really forward to this book and your other ones you've spoken about writing.
All your followers will wait patiently until you feel up to returning to the blog.
Amanda

Kathryn Warner said...

Thank you for the kind words and support, everyone x

sami parkkonen said...

fantastic news again, keep up the good work, we support you all the way