The Tenth Gift by Jane Johnson (who works for HarperCollins UK & who author pic is eeriely reminiscent of a "Shy Di" photo op
) is a novel set partly in modern times & partly in the Stuart period that I found fascinating because it addresses a little-known or discussed occurrence in English history.
The Stuart-era bit encompasses the tale of a girl from Penzance (outer edge of Cornwall there), Catherine Anne Tregenna, who dreams of going to London & becoming a master embroider in a time when this was not permitted for Englishwomen in the guild system. Cat's being pushed into marrying a cousin, Rob Bolitho, & is disheartened that she will be stuck in Cornwall forever. The banns for this marriage have just been cried when (& this is historically true) there's a raid on a Penzance church one Sunday morning by three boatloads full of Moroccan pirates, who take the entire congregation captive with the intent of selling them as slaves. Rob & Cat having quarreled over her refusal to wear his grandmother's ring, he stormed off before the service & wasn't among them, but he's determined to get her back & makes for Morocco himself.
Before y'all start rolling your eyes, no, tisn't a harem bodice-ripper at all LOL Cat's book of embroidery patterns, a birthday gift from Rob, is discovered in a Penzance attic during renovation of a house, & tis a palimplest (she wrote all over it about her life in Cornwall 2 mos previous to captivity & for several mos into it). An old family Bible in the same attic contains letters telling Rob's side of the story.
The book is presented in error to Julia Lovat by her lover as he ends their affair; Julia, who's a mean hand with a needle herself & has her own shoppe, finds herself obsessed by Cat's tale & jets off to Morocco to see if she can dig up the past....& does. I won't be a spoiler & say anything else except that lout Michael, who thinks Cat's book is worth a lot of money & wants it back, do get his comeuppance 
Not only is it a jolly good tale, but who knew about pirate raids on Cornwall in the 17th century? What's interesting is this was a direct result of Philip IIs domestic policy; late in his reign he ordered all "conversos" & "moriscos" to leave Spain. They set up shop in Rabat & Sale in Morocco & used it as a base to take vengeance upon the Christian infidels, going further afield for captives as the Spanish & Portugeuse coast became better fortified. These pirates were anglicized as the "Sallee Raiders" & the author discovered extant letters begging the crown for refortification of St Michael's Mount & warning of the inherent danger. A group of them even captured Lundy Island (sort of between Wales & Cornwall) & used that as a base to terrorize the West Country.
I love finding obscure lil tidbits of history like this 
Free Forum Hosting
Important Announcement
First 