Read an interview with Rosemary Griggs, author of A Woman of Noble Wit #HistoricalFiction #Interview @RAGriggsauthor @maryanneyarde

 

A Woman of Noble Wit

By Rosemary Griggs

Few women of her time lived to see their name in print. But Katherine was no ordinary woman. She was Sir Walter Raleigh’s mother. This is her story.

Set against the turbulent background of a Devon rocked by the religious and social changes that shaped Tudor England; a Devon of privateers and pirates; a Devon riven by rebellions and plots, A Woman of Noble Wit tells how Katherine became the woman who would inspire her famous sons to follow their dreams. It is Tudor history seen though a woman’s eyes.

As the daughter of a gentry family with close connections to the glittering court of King Henry VIII, Katherine’s duty is clear. She must put aside her dreams and accept the husband chosen for her. Still a girl, she starts a new life at Greenway Court, overlooking the River Dart, re-lieved that her husband is not the ageing monster of her nightmares. She settles into the life of a dutiful wife and mother until a chance shipboard encounter with a handsome privateer, turns her world upside down.…..

Years later a courageous act will set Katherine’s name in print and her youngest son will fly high.

Publication Date: 28th September 2021

Publisher: Troubador

Page Length: 423 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction

Trigger Warnings: Rape.

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INTERVIEW

Why did you choose to write your book in this era?

I spend a lot of time in the sixteenth century and feel completely at home in those turbulent Tudor years. I think part of the attraction is that I see lots of parallels with our own time. We’ve seen a revolution in communications through the internet.  The invention of the printing press in the late fifteenth century started a similar revolution in ideas and communication that ushered in  sweeping social, religious and political change.  Suddenly the written word was available to many people, among them the first generation of well-born women to have a broader education.   Women like Katherine Champernowne, the main protagonist in my novel.  I first met her though my appearances as a history interpreter at a local National Trust property, and I’d have to say she’s taken over my life.  I’ve spent many happy hours research-ing her and her family, poring over old documents in the archives, reading all the biographies of her famous boys and visit-ing the places she knew. I found out quite a lot about the men in her life, especially her famous boy, Sir Walter Raleigh.  But Katherine herself has left a light footprint on the historical record, apart from a rather amazing mention in Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, published in her lifetime.  When I read of her courageous vigil in Exeter with the protestant martyr Agnes Prest I knew I had to tell her story and so “A Woman of Noble Wit” was born.  

What is the most surprising thing you discovered while you were researching this era?

I’m not sure I was entirely surprised by this, but it certainly struck me very forcibly just how little we know about the women who stood behind famous men of this time.  We hear such a lot about Devon’s famous seafarers - Drake, Raleigh, Grenville, sometimes called Elizabeth’s Sea-dogs.  But they all had mothers, wives and sisters whose stories are largely forgotten.  These women who did their duty, often marrying against their own wishes, managed households, looked after vast estates when their menfolk were away, forged social contacts, cared for everyone’s health and above all provided children to carry on the family line.   As Katherine’s grandmother Carew says in my novel “Without us women, what can men ever achieve?” I was however, genuinely surprised to find evidence of the marriage of a Devon priest under Edward VI and the consequences he suffered under Mary Tudor. This gave me  a sub-plot for my novel. Fascinating stuff — I’ll publish my re-search soon.

Can you share something about the book that isn’t covered in the blurb?

It’s not just another re-telling of court intrigues and the marriages of King Henry.  It’s about how those events and the changes they brought affected people throughout England. It’s about the reality of life for a bright young woman torn be-tween ambition, love and duty and its full of vivid descriptions of the Devon countryside. 

If you had to describe your protagonist, in three words, what would those three words be?

Strong, courageous, passionate.

What are you currently working on?

I’ve met many fascinating characters in my research and I’m working on the story of an-other little known woman who was connected to Katherine’s family.  Born far away she spent much of her life in Devon and Somerset, and her marriage was, to say the least, an interesting one. 

What do you like to do when you are not writing?

I enjoy researching and visiting places my characters knew well, but sewing and creating authentic sixteenth century garments is my pas-sion. Sewing by hand is so relaxing and I love experimenting with embroidery techniques like blackwork. I also love my garden and my allotment is my special place where I can let my mind wander and lis-ten to the birdsong as I tend my plot.  

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I loved history and reading as a girl, but I was put into the science stream and for a time hoped to be a doctor.  How I ended up in the Civil Service is  a long story!

What’s for dinner tonight? What would you rather be eating?  

Fish and chips.  I’d rather be eating a Thai meal, but fish and chips is not so bad. 

What’s your favourite food? 

Chocolate !

What is the best part of your day?

Early morning wander down the garden to see what’s happening before my day begins. 

Tea or coffee: Tea

Hot or cold: Hot

Movie or book: Book

Morning person or Night owl: Morning person

City or country: Country

Social Media or book: Book

Paperback or ebook: Paperback

Rosemary Griggs is a retired Whitehall Senior Civil Servant with a lifelong passion for history. She is now a speaker on Devon’s sixteenth century history and costume. She leads heritage tours at Dartington Hall, has made regular costumed appearances at National Trust houses and helps local museums bring history to life.

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