Elizabeth Fremantle – författare

WINNER OF THE HWA GOLD CROWN AWARD 2024I'll show you what a woman can do . . .‘I was swept away by lush, evocative prose. An unforgettable, moving and important story told with great skill and care' JENNIFER SAINT'An exhilarating read. Gripping, captivating, and consistently enlightening' KATY HESSEL'Outstanding. A powerful novel about women who are shamed and silenced, and how they learn to survive. A literary knockout' ANNA MAZZOLA, author of The Clockwork Girl__________Rome 1611.A jewel-bright place of change, with sumptuous new palaces and lavish wealth on display. A city where women are seen but not heard.Artemisia Gentileschi dreams of becoming a great artist. But her future is not her own - she belongs to her father and will belong to her husband.Until a mysterious tutor enters her life. Tassi is a dashing figure, handsome and worldly, and for a moment he represents everything that a life of freedom might offer. But then the unthinkable happens.In the eyes of her family, Artemisia should accept her fate. In the eyes of the law, she is the villain.But Artemisia is a survivor. And this is her story to tell.__________'An unputdownable story of revenge, ambition and how women overcome adversity. A heartbreaking and empowering read' COSTANZA CASATI, author of Clytemnestra'An unforgettable book - visceral and lush and fierce. The last few pages left me gasping. An absolute triumph' EVE CHASE'Brilliantly researched, rich in detail, grippingly written, Disobedient is the novel Elizabeth Fremantle was born to write' ELIZABETH BUCHAN'I could not put this book down. Every woman - and man - should read it. Shocking, gripping, splendid!' ALISON WEIR‘Historical fiction at its absolute best' GILL PAUL, author of The Secret Wife'The colourful, brutal world of Baroque Italy is superbly evoked in this gripping novel. The challenges faced by a dauntless woman in this man's world leave a deep impression on the reader' LINDA PORTER

MURDER MOST FOUL … OR VENGEANCE MOST JUST?An electrifying retelling from Elizabeth Fremantle - the fierce and fearless story of Beatrice Cenci: prisoner, rebel, saint… or sinner?‘An evocative tale of misplaced love and lust … A gripping read which gallops to a crescendo of an ending’ Melanie Cantor‘A sensationally powerful novel with a rollercoaster of a story that has the dark logic of Greek tragedy’ Andrew Taylor, bestselling author of The Ashes of London‘Fremantle never misses. Sinners is a fierce and searing feminist retelling of Beatrice Cenci’s life and murder trial’ Flora Carr, author of The Tower'Dark, passionate and atmospheric, we predict another screen adaptation' Woman & Home--In sixteenth-century Rome, Beatrice Cenci – youngest daughter of a powerful nobleman – is destined for a life of gilded insignificance. Wealth talks within the city’s grand palazzos, and women must remain silent. Then her brother is found murdered by a rival family, and Beatice’s domineering, tyrannical father insists they flee to La Rocca.But La Rocca, an ancient and forbidding fortified castle perched on a cliff, is no sanctuary. The villagers are suspicious of the newcomers, considering their arrival an ill omen. Mysterious and terrible events begin to occur within the castle walls even as Beatrice's father’s paranoia grows. Isolated and afraid, she befriends the castle's keeper, Olimpio.Yet their secret attraction is dangerous. Were their affair to be discovered, neither might survive. And betrayal lurks behind every corner. In desperation Beatrice devises a plan, one that will see her risk everything for an even greater love . . .Inspired by the real life of a sixteenth-century heroine, Sinners is the story of a trapped woman determined to live a free life, no matter the cost. Because for Beatrice Cenci – saint, sinner, hunter, prey – a woman caged is a terrible thing.--‘I couldn’t put this book down!’ 5* Reader Review‘I was on the edge of my seat for this entire book!’ 5* Reader Review‘This was one of the most powerful writing I have read in a historical novel in a while’ 5* Reader ReviewPraise for Elizabeth Fremantle:'MAGICAL, THRILLING, WONDERFUL, EXCELLENT. HEARTPOUNDINGLY TENSE AND ABSOLUTELY ENGROSSING. CLEVER, AMAZING AND INSPIRING' DAILY MAIL‘Electric’ Good Housekeeping‘Rich in atmosphere and period detail . . . An enticing read’ Stylist‘Beautifully written and finely observed' RACHEL HORE, author of A PLACE OF SECRETS'An enthralling tale of power and passion, loyalty and betrayal’ ELIZABETH WILHIDE, author of ASHENDEN

The Queen's GodDaughter. Her Most Trusted Maid. Adultress. Enemy of The State. Who is The Real Penelope Devereux? Penelope Devereux is a legendary beauty in the court of Elizabeth I, with a smile that would light up the shadows of hell. But it's not just her looks which have won her favour with the Queen wing; her canny instinct for being in the right place at the right time, and her skilled political manoeuvrings under the guise of diplomacy, have rendered her a formidable adversary to anyone who stands in her path. Including Elizabeth. For Penelope must secure the future of the Devereux dynasty at whatever cost. Even treason. And the Queen, a woman she holds responsible for the death of her father, the exile of her mother and her failure to marry the one man she ever truly loved, is just one more pawn in a deadly game. Walking the knife-edge of court, whilst ensuring that her reckless brother Essex remains the only star in the Queen's firmament - and out of the Tower - Penelope must plan for the inevitable succession of an ailing monarch. But her secret letters of friendship to a foreign King - one who has a strong claim to the English throne - could see her illustrious family in the gutter and her own head on the block. It would only take a single mistake, a slip of the tongue, an intercepted message for Penelope to become the architect of her downfall. In a world where sister is turned against brother, husband against wife, courtier against queen, the rules of the game are forever changing. Discover the truth in Elizabeth Fremantle's stunning new novel about an extraordinary woman who helped change the course of England's history forever. This sumptuous historical drama is perfect for fans of Philippa Gregory, Hilary Mantel and Jessie Burton.

Following the acclaimed Queen's Gambit, Elizabeth Fremantle brings us a new novel of intrigue and menace at the Tudor Court. . .1554: Lady Jane Grey is executed by her cousin Queen Mary...Now Lady Jane's younger sisters Katherine and Mary, cursed with the Tudor blood that saw their sister killed, face the perils of the royal court alone.Lady Katherine - young and spirited - makes dangerous romantic liaisons. While Lady Mary - crook-backed and vulnerable - becomes the Queen's reluctant companion, yet yearns to escape court intrigue. And both girls fear their proximity to the Queen might be their undoing.For the childless Queen is ill. If she should die Katherine may be pushed to power, but the Queen's half-sister Elizabeth casts a long shadow and if she gains the throne the court will become a terrifying maze of treachery and suspicion - where holding royal blood could be a death warrant for the two sisters...This sumptuous historical drama is perfect for fans of Philippa Gregory and Hilary Mantel. Through the eyes of the Grey sisters we are given an insight into the treacherous rule of the Tudor Court.Praise for Elizabeth Fremantle:'An endlessly fascinating era, and Fremantle manages to combine pacey storytelling with superb background. . .terrifically entertaining.' The Times'Fremantle is surely a major new voice in historical fiction (...) what Hilary Mantel fans should read while waiting for the final part of her trilogy' The Bookseller'A sumptuous epic' Metro'Gripping' Woman & Home'A great read. Sisters of Treason totally transports the reader to the Tudor court, with all its tensions and games' Katherine Webb, author of The Misbegotten'Electric' Good Housekeeping'Rich and enticing' Stylist'Elizabeth Fremantle brings the decadent, conniving, back-stabbing world of the 16th-century British court to brilliant life here, revealing what one woman can teach us all about the timeless art of survival'Andrea Walker, Oprah.com'Wildly entertaining' Huffington PostElizabeth Fremantle is the author of Queen's Gambit and Sisters of Treason. She holds a first in English and an MA in Creative Writing from Birkbeck. As a Fashion Editor she has contributed to various publications includingVogue, Elle, and Vanity Fair. Her debut novel, Queen's Gambit, was published in 2013 followed by Sisters of Treason. Her new novel, Watch the Lady, is out in June 2015.

THE QUEEN'S GODDAUGHTER. HER MOST TRUSTED MAID.ADULTRESS.ENEMY OF THE STATE.WHO IS THE REAL PENELOPE DEVEREUX?Penelope Devereux is a legendary beauty in the court of Elizabeth I, with a smile that would light up the shadows of hell. But it's not just her looks which have won her favour with the Queen wing; her canny instinct for being in the right place at the right time, and her skilled political manoeuvrings under the guise of diplomacy, have rendered her a formidable adversary to anyone who stands in her path. Including Elizabeth. For Penelope must secure the future of the Devereux dynasty at whatever cost. Even treason. And the Queen, a woman she holds responsible for the death of her father, the exile of her mother and her failure to marry the one man she ever truly loved, is just one more pawn in a deadly game.Walking the knife-edge of court, whilst ensuring that her reckless brother Essex remains the only star in the Queen's firmament - and out of the Tower - Penelope must plan for the inevitable succession of an ailing monarch. But her secret letters of friendship to a foreign King - one who has a strong claim to the English throne - could see her illustrious family in the gutter and her own head on the block. It would only take a single mistake, a slip of the tongue, an intercepted message for Penelope to become the architect of her downfall.In a world where sister is turned against brother, husband against wife, courtier against queen, the rules of the game are forever changing.Discover the truth in Elizabeth Fremantle's stunning new novel about an extraordinary woman who helped change the course of England's history forever.This sumptuous historical drama is perfect for fans of Philippa Gregory, Hilary Mantel and Jessie Burton. Praise for Watch the Lady'The research and historical detail are impeccable . . . and fans will enjoy this evocation of Elizabeth's tumultuous court' Times'A glamourous tale peopled by warrior poets, flamboyant courtiers and shameless loves, it is also sharp, perceptive and dramatic' Sunday Express'Be transported to the court of Elizabeth I, where Penelope Devereux is prepared to do anything in the scramble for power. Watch The Lady by Elizabeth Fremantle combines fast-paced storytelling with rich period detail' Good Housekeeping 'If you want an immersive read then this is it. The remarkable story of the beautiful Penelope Devereux comes vividly alive, bursting with colour and detail. The reader is transported to the perilous Elizabethan court, with all its plots, treachery and heartbreak, and gains fascinating insights into some of the most important figures of the time. Yet again Elizabeth Fremantle has produced a pacey, powerful narrative that kept this reader riveted throughout' Jane Thynne'Penelope Devereux, perspicacious, beautiful and muse of Sir Philip Sidney, will stop at nothing for the sake of her family. I was gripped by the tale of risky political and sexual shenanigans in the court of Elizabeth l' Woman and Home'Penelope is a fascinating character and beautifully drawn in this enthralling, moving and immaculately written novel... Fremantle handles the intriguing with aplomb and it's impossible to read the books without feeling you are living events alongside the characters' Imogen Robertson, Historia'Fascinating . . . it's a delight to keep Penelope company as she plunges into the intrigues of Elizabeth's court' The History Girls'Ever since Queen's Gambit took the world of historical fiction by storm 3 years ago, Liz Fremantle's books have been the ones to watch in the world of Tudor fiction. The combination of depth, intelligence and real historical imagination that she brings to bear on the lesser-known (but immensely powerful) women of the Tudor era is unmatched in contemporary writing and gets better with each book. Not that either of the previous ones were sub par - far from it, they were exceptional - but, as with all good writers, the apprenticeship of each book sees its realisation in the one that comes after it and there's a steady rise in the textures and depths and many-layered plot threads. The Lady we watch here is Penelope, sister of the notorious Essex, wife of a man who doesn't want to bed her, lover of those who do - though never the most important one: that love is unrequited and all the more powerful for it. The machinations of Elizabeth's court were never easy, but became positively frenetic as she edged towards death and refused to name a successor and the way the ageing monarch plays Cecil against Essex, as seen through the eyes of the woman who has to navigate a clear path through the chaos is brilliant. In fact, the shift of viewpoint from Penelope to Cecil and back again is the core strength of this book. Neither is an entirely reliable narrator, even to themselves, but taken together, they mesh to make a hologram of a time in history that is endlessly fascinating, but never fully understood. This book is glorious. It will delight fans of Hilary Mantel and Philippa Gregory alike, but will also garner a whole new audience from those who just love good writing, whatever the genre, whatever the era' Manda Scott'A wonderful, totally transporting novel that folds you into its world, word by word, page by page, and remains with you long after the last. I absolutely loved this book. Fremantle is a brilliant novelist' Eve Chase, author of Black Rabbit Hall

Lost in history . . . losing her self. Uncover Tudor heroine Arbella Stuart's incredible story, reimagined by Elizabeth Fremantle in this tense, historical thriller.Hardwick Hall, sixteenth-century England. Formerly a beacon of wealth and power. Now a gilded prison. Hidden away, forgotten, one young woman seeks escape. But to do so she must trust those on the outside.Those who have their own motives...Discovery means death. But what choice has any woman trapped in a man's world?Imprisoned by circumstance, Arbella Stuart is an unwilling contender for the throne. In a world where women are silenced, what chance does she have to take control of her destiny? Praise for The Girl in the Glass Tower: 'A top-notch literary thriller' Daily Telegraph'Thrilling, clever and beautifully written' The Times, 'Books of the Year''Filled with dense, dark political and social intrigue' Daily Mail'Shots are fired, troths are plighted, sea voyages taken, escapes dared and mysteries solved' Daily Telegraph'Beautifully written, completely engrossing and a book that stays with you after the pages are closed' Historia

'A gripping psychological thriller. Readers will be awake deep into the night, trying to untangle the truth' The Times 'Books of the Year'A marriage. A murder. One of them will hang for it. **PRE-ORDER DISOBEDIENT, THE GRIPPING NEW NOVEL FROM ELIZABETH FREMANTLE**________Autumn, 1615.Frances Carr is imprisoned in a cold, lightless room. She is accused of murder.In a cell nearby is her co-accused - her husband Robert.Kept apart, Frances can only tell her side of the story.How did she come to be here?Can she somehow prove her innocence?And what lengths will she go to to save herself?__________'Engaging, vivid and revelling in historical detail' Sarah Perry, bestselling author of The Essex Serpent'The Miniaturist meets Gone Girl. Gripping and full of surprises' BBC History 'Books of the Year''A tale of intrigue and ambition, this is a rich and fascinating book' Guardian'Immaculately detailed, dark, clever and compulsive' Daily Mail

'A lush, thrilling page-turner humming with its own exquisite dark beauty. I loved it!' Eve Chase, author of The Glass House'Fremantle builds the tension with delicious skill in this page-turning thriller' TimesThe compelling, transfixing novel about the bond between three sisters from the author of The Poison Bed**PRE-ORDER DISOBEDIENT, THE GRIPPING NEW NOVEL FROM ELIZABETH FREMANTLE**_______Three sisters.Three secrets.Three ways to fall . . .George Villiers is rich, powerful and has the King's ear. Doctor's daughter Hester is a mere servant - to be cast aside when he has done with her, especially since she is pregnant.Returning to her family, Hester vows that Villiers will never lay eyes on their son. She and her sisters Melis and Hope will protect the boy.But Villiers is a man who will not be defied. He will claim his son - and the secret letters he believes Hester has stolen.What can three defenceless women do against one very powerful man?Yet secret letters are a weakness - and, in the right hands, a weapon . . ._______'Rich and fascinating' Guardian'Wonderfully inventive and darkly satisfying, this story of three sisters resonates with myth and mystery' Andrew Taylor, bestselling author of The Ashes of London'Gripping and page-turning. Propels a trio of vivid women towards their complex destinies . . . Hugely enjoyable' V.B. Grey, author of the forthcoming Tell Me How It Ends

FIREBRAND IS NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STARRING ALICIA VIKANDER AND JUDE LAWFor fans of Wolf Hall and the BBC's The White QueenDive into Elizabeth Fremantle's vivid Tudor England and meet the woman who survived Henry VIII---My name is Katherine Parr.I’m thirty-one years old – already twice widowed.I love a man I can’t have.I’m to wed a man no one would want.He has cast aside two wives and watched another die in childbirth.Two more have had their heads struck from their bodies, on his order.What will become of me as Henry VIII’s sixth wife?I will have the king’s ear. With that comes power.But power means danger in the Tudor court.Many have fallen.Will I fall too?---PRAISE FOR ELIZABETH FREMANTLE‘Electric’ Good Housekeeping‘Rich in atmosphere and period detail . . . An enticing read’ Stylist'An unforgettable, moving and important story told with great skill and care' Jennifer Saint'Outstanding. A powerful novel about women who are shamed and silenced, and how they learn to survive. A literary knockout' Anna Mazzola, author of The Clockwork Girl

Pre-order the latest retelling from Elizabeth Fremantle, the electrifying tale of rage and resistance of young noblewoman Beatrice Cenci, now in paperback__________A young noblewoman accused of murder, awaits execution. Imprisoned in the Corte Savella, she has captured the hearts and sympathy of all Rome. . .This is the true and tragic tale of Beatrice Cenci.Murder most foul or vengeance most just?Helpless victim or resolute heroine?Rome, 1599.Beatrice yearns to escape the clutches of her abusive father and determined to find a way back to Rome, enlists the help of Olimpio, the castle’s keeper. Soon the love that grows between them will transform Beatrice’s fortunes, for better and for worse. . .History has sold her short. She is no doe-eyed victim of her father’s brutality, nor the cunning murderer who plotted her father’s demise. No, this Beatrice - a woman pregnant by her lover, incarcerated in a remote castle by her father, and brim-full of white-hot rage - is both innocent and guilty, saint and sinner.And she will stand tall in the face of the violence of men, no matter the cost.__________Praise for Sinners:An evocative tale of misplaced love and lust at a time when, saint or sinner, no one wins. A gripping read which gallops to a crescendo of an ending - Melanie CantorA sensationally powerful novel with a rollercoaster of a story that has the dark logic of Greek tragedy - Andrew Taylor, bestselling author of The Ashes of LondonI was spellbound by this wonderful book and had to neglect everything else to finish it. Truly, it's one of the best historical novels I have read in a long time. Elizabeth Fremantle evokes so beautifully and convincingly the Italy of the late sixteenth century; her characters are compellingly drawn and her prose is magnificent. I cannot recommend this novel highly enough - Alison Weir, acclaimed historian and novelistA dark and brilliant historical novel that reads like a cross between a murder mystery, a true crime drama, and a Jacobean tragedy. You can almost feel the heat and the horror of the sixteenth century. One of the best historical novels I have read in a very long time - Garth Russell, acclaimed historian of Queen JamesA transporting historical thriller – 16th century Rome, a heroine (kind-of) and a murder trial - Erin Kelly, bestselling author of He Said, She Said