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1935-
Author of historical novels. Rosemary Josephine Hawley Smith was born in Worcester in April 1935. She was educated at the Alice Ottley School in the city from the age of eleven. On leaving, aged eighteen, she spent the next three years in London, training to be an opera singer, having developed a good soprano voice. Family circumstances prevented her from continuing with this career and she found employment in local government. She was married from 1958 to 1970 and published her work under her married name. For most of her life she has lived in Worcestershire, for many years at Callow End, between Worcester and Upton-upon-Severn.
She started writing for her own pleasure. Her first novel, We speak no treason (1971) was received with such acclaim on publication that she was encouraged to continue writing in the same vein. A fascination with 15th century English history, and with the reign of King Richard III in particular, gave her the background upon which to write with enthusiasm and vigour. The author admitted that her obsession was to state the case in defence of Richard in the best way she could, "to inform through entertainment; the cause was paramount".
The Wars of the Roses was the backdrop for her second book, The King's grey mare (1973). The title refers to Elizabeth Woodville who marries King Edward IV and ensures that government is dominated by her relatives.
The life of Henry V figures in Crown in candlelight (1978), but as told by Katherine of Valois, the ill-treated daughter of the mad King Charles VI of France. This book has been criticised for the large number of characters making the twists and turns of the story sometimes difficult to follow, but once again it is a book written with conviction.
The courts of illusion (1983) is a worthy return to the theme of defending Richard III. The central character is Perkin Warbeck who is here revealed as one of the infamous "Princes in the Tower".
The following works are available in the West Midlands Creative Literature Collection:-
The courts of illusion (1983)
Crown in candlelight (1978)
The King's grey mare (1973)
We speak no treason (1971)
Page created 9 January 2000 and last updated
28 October 2002
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