Dark Aemilia

By Sally O'Reilly

Myriad Editions, 9781908434494, h/b, £14.99

The mysterious Dark Lady of Shakespeare’s sonnets has fascinated scholars for centuries, as they debated who this ambiguous character was; a figure who Shakespeare seems to have felt a deep passion for and who wound her influence throughout his sonnet sequences. In Dark Aemilia Sally O’Reilly offers a bold reimagining of the life of the Dark Lady, Aemilia Lanyer, the playwright’s muse and true love.

This richly atmospheric novel brings to life the struggles for survival and power that consumed the brutal world of Elizabethan England, told through the life of a young woman and her rise and fall in fortune. The orphan of a Venetian musician, Aemilia grows up in the court of Elizabeth I where she blossoms under the Queen’s favour. This striking and intelligent young woman catches the eye of Lord Hunsdon, who is the Queen’s cousin and Lord Chamberlain, and becomes his mistress. However her position becomes precarious when she falls in love with the court playwright, William Shakespeare. A decade later, Aemilia has fallen into poverty and is married to a fool. Like the rest of London, she fears the plague and when her son, Henry, falls ill, she is forced to make a dangerous pact in her attempt to save him.

Painstakingly researched and compellingly written, Dark Aemilia makes ‘one gasp with pleasure and nostalgia for a world one never knew.’ (Fay Weldon) as O’Reilly captivates the reader as she moves from the passions of theatrical life to the horrors of the disease-ridden streets of London. This is an ‘effortless, dazzling and richly evocative’ (Celia Brayfield) look into history, as O’Reilly sweeps readers deep into the world of Elizabethan London and depicts one woman’s struggle to remain true to her heart.

▪ Bill Godber, Managing Director of Turnaround

St. Patrick's Day is fast approaching and whether you plan to spend 17th March reflecting on Irish culture or just indulging in a cheeky pint or two of Guinness, this is the perfect time of year to learn a little more about our nearest neighbours. Tom Clayton takes a look at some unusual Irish fiction and guides to Ireland's cultural heritage.

Leilah Nadir talks about her memoir Orange Trees of Baghdad

Leilah Nadir will talk about her book The Orange Trees of Baghdad at the Big Green Bookshop on Friday 14th March at 7pm.

Leilah Nadir journeys to uncover her lost family roots in war-torn Iraq. Born to an Iraqi father and an English mother, raised in Britain and Canada, she has always yearned to visit her father's family, but has never set foot on Iraqi soil. As the bombs land on Baghdad and her relatives leave the country, Leilah begins to uncover her lost family history. At the same time, she gets rare first-hand insight into what Iraqis are experiencing through the invasion and its aftermath.

Free entry and drinks and nibbles will be served. For more information contact Laura@turnaround-uk.com.

(Simply Read, £10.99, p/b, 9781927018354)

Garudio Studiage Pressed Flowers

With Mother's Day approaching at the end of March, don't fall into a last minute panic and end up grabbing a wilted bunch of supermarket blooms, but instead consider these gorgeous and ever fresh, free-standing cardboard flowers from Garudio Studiage. Made from FSC certified card, which is laser cut on mount board, they are packed in a sealed cellophane bag with a hand printed cardboard top and a florists' card with a space for a message. With vibrant sunflowers and many hued tulips available, these make the perfect gift for anniversaries, birthdays and to brighten up your own home.

For more information please contact Kirsty.power@turnaround-uk.com or your local rep. (Minimum order quantity 5 per design).

Pressed Sunflowers (5060337790437) & Pressed Tulips (5060337790444) from Garudio Studiage, RRP £9.99