Bestselling author Alexandra Walsh reviews Penelope - Tudor Baroness

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A complex and fascinating woman, her life is a story of love, betrayal, and tragedy. Discover how Penelope charms her way out of serious charges of treason, adultery, and forgery, and becomes one of the last truly great ladies of the Tudor court.

Penelope Devereux has long since fascinated me, so I was excited to read Tony Riches book, Penelope – Tudor Baroness which follows her life and it did not disappoint. 

The daughter of Lettice Knollys, the granddaughter of Catherine Carey and the great-granddaughter of Mary Boleyn, Penelope has a female lineage which was bound to create a woman of determination and destiny. The hardest part of capturing such a vivid character on the page is to make her seem real, human and relatable, something Tony Riches does with ease. 

From the opening page I was in Penelope’s world, mesmerised by her surroundings and walking by her side as she experienced both the delights of being a wealthy, connected young woman in the court of Elizabeth I, to the horror of being forced to marry an unpleasant stranger rather than the man she had loved and thought would be her betrothed. 

Penelope has long been known to have been the muse for Tudor poet, Philip Sidney, when he wrote his extraordinary poem, Astrophel and Stella, a relationship which Tony Riches captures with thought and care. As her marriage disintegrates, she copes by taking a lover and living a life thought scandalous by many. 

Every step of Penelope’s journey is packed with intrigue, colour and life. Throughout the book, Tony Riches has recreated this real historical figure as a believable, determined character; the very epitome of a strong Tudor woman. I loved her story from the first page to the last and was sad to say goodbye to this extraordinary and feisty heroine. 

Alexandra Walsh

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About the Author

Alexandra Walsh is a bestselling author of the dual timeline women’s fiction. Her books range from the 15th and 16th centuries to the Victorian era and are inspired by the hidden voices of women that have been lost over the centuries. The Marquess House Saga offers an alternative view of the Tudor and early Stuart eras, while The Wind Chime and The Music Makers explore different aspects of Victorian society. Formerly, a journalist for over 25 years, writing for many national newspapers and magazines; Alexandra also worked in the TV and film industries as an associate producer, director, script writer and mentor for the MA Screen Writing course at the prestigious London Film School. She is a member of The Society of Authors and The Historical Writers Association. For updates and more information visit her website: www.alexandrawalsh.com or follow her on Facebook and Twitter @purplemermaid25