Here’s an article I’ve written for the Historic Houses Association autumn 2021 magazine, on the uses their members’ homes were put to in storing London’s collections during the Second World War, including wonderful Boughton House, Belvoir Castle and Haddon Hall. Read the article now…
Writing and Researching
Interview with the Author
To mark the paperback publication today of Mr Barry’s War. Rebuilding the Houses of Parliament after the great fire of 1834, I interview myself on how it came about. Q. Hello readers. Today we’re with Caroline Shenton to talk about her new book, Mr Barry’s War. Welcome, Caroline! A. Thanks, Caroline, it’s a pleasure to be here [sips a […]
The Joy of Editing
After months of lying dormant, this blog is about to spring back into life. That’s because I’ve just completed my second book, a sequel to The Day Parliament Burned Down. It’s taken about two years to complete: six months of research, about 15 months of writing (roughly one chapter per month with time off at Christmas 2014) […]
A (Re)Treat for Me
I had been longing to go to Retreats for You for at least a year, ever since I heard about it via Clare Mackintosh and Emma Darwin‘s blogs. For the last nine months I’ve been collecting together research materials and reading around various topics for Book No 2. Writing the latest will be a very […]
One Year On…And the Search Continues
Today is the first anniversary of publication of the book. A lot’s happened. Many lovely people have got in touch to say how much they enjoyed it. New accounts and relics of the fire have come to light. The reviewers liked it. It was book of the week/year in some papers. And – ahem – it was nominated […]
My Hot Date with Mr Turner
I’m currently on a lecture tour for the Royal Oak Foundation (Americans in Alliance with the National Trust), and a few days ago I had the opportunity to visit one of the great Turner oils of the 1834 fire – which now hangs in the Philadelphia Museum of Art. During the writing of The Day […]
