We know her name. We know of her naked ride. We don't know her true story. We all know the legend of Lady Godiva, who famously rode naked through the streets of Coventry, covered only by her long, flowing hair. So the story goes, she begged her husband Lord Leofric of Mercia to lift a high tax on her people, who would starve if forced to pay. Lord Leofric demanded a forfeit: that Godiva ride naked on horseback through the town.
There are various endings to Godiva's ride, that all the people of Coventry closed their doors and refused to look upon their liege lady (except for 'peeping Tom') and that her husband, in remorse, lifted the tax. Naked is an original version of Godiva's tale with a twist that may be closer to the truth: by the end of his life Leofric had fallen deeply in love with Lady Godiva. A tale of legendary courage and extraordinary passion, Naked brings an epic story new voice.
“Redgold’s variation on this enticing legend is often lyrical and offers a satisfying blend of history, lore, and romance.” ~ Booklist
“NAKED delivers far more than the famous ride of Lady Godiva. It’s a beautifully woven story of love, loyalty, and the determination of a young woman to protect her people and their way of life, no matter the price. Godiva is a wonderfully strong woman in an age of dangerous men, and in NAKED, she certainly meets her match!” ~ Amalia Carosella (author of Helen of Sparta)
“Lady Godiva of Coventry gets a bold new retelling in Eliza Redgold’s Naked, which breathes new life into the story of the woman who would stop at nothing to protect her land and people. Look for this exciting new read in 2015.” ~ Romantic Times
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About the Author
Eliza Redgold is an author, academic and unashamed romantic. She was born in Irvine, Scotland on Marymass Day and currently lives in Australia, where she writes historical fiction (St Martin's Press) and romance (Harlequin). Her 'Romance your Senses' series of contemporary romances are published by Harlequin (MIRA) Australia and Escape Publishing. As a non-fiction author she is co-author of Body Talk: a Power Guide for Girls and Stay-at-Home Mothers: Dialogues and Debates.
She says “Writing makes me braver. It has inspired adventures (and misadventures!) in travel, nature, art, literature and even gastronomy. I hope my books will inspire you too! They’re for people who love a good story, but want to discover new things. They also feature adventurous heroines who are prepared to take risks in life and love. Though in life and in love, of course, things never go quite as planned …” Find out more at Eliza's website http://elizaredgold.com/ and find her on Twitter @ElizaRedgold.
Thank you so much for having me (and Lady Godiva) on The Writing Desk!
ReplyDeleteThanks Eliza - and well done with the great reviews!
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