Who is the Mistress of Dartington Hall?

Rosemary Griggs explores women’s roles in Elizabethan wartime in the latest installment of her ‘Daughters of Devon’ series.

Jon Marshall, of the The History Roadshow Podcast said “It’s a quiet but powerful story of female strength and agency, perfect for readers who enjoy character-driven Tudor fiction with heart and historical integrity—highly recommended.”

Roberda, daughter of a French Huguenot leader, has been managing the Dartington estate in her estranged husband Gawen’s absence. She has gained the respect of the staff and tenants who now look to her to lead them through these dark times. Gawen’s unexpected return from Ireland, where he has been serving Queen Elizabeth, throws her world into turmoil. He joins the men of the west country, including his cousin, Sir Walter Raleigh, and his friend Sir Francis Drake, as they prepare to repel a Spanish invasion. Amidst musters and alarms, determined and resourceful Roberda rallies the women of Dartington. But, after their earlier differences, can she trust Gawen? Or should she heed the advice of her faithful French maid, Clotilde?

Later Roberda will have to fight if she is to remain Mistress of Dartington Hall, and secure her children’s inheritance. Can she ever truly find fulfilment for herself?

Author and popular west country speaker Rosemary Griggs has been researching Devon’s sixteenth-century history for years. She has discovered an intriguing network of families whose influence stretched far beyond the West Country. She writes about the wives, sisters, daughters and mothers whose stories are seldom told.

The Daughters of Devon.
Rosemary explains: “In 1587 England was at war with Spain. Devon was in the front line as Philip of Spain gathered his armada. In the armada time we hear a lot about battles at sea, how Drake chased the armada up the channel, how inadequate the land preparations were. In short, a lot about what the men were doing. Mistress of Dartington Hall explores what the women did. It seems unlikely they sat back and waited to be overrun by a pillaging army. Rather, like their counterparts in 1939, a sort of ‘Blitz spirit or ‘dig-for-victory approach seems more probable. In the present day, invasion and war are, sadly, very much in people’s minds, and women’s struggles in Elizabethan England are particularly relevant.”

“But this novel also takes a good look at the position elite women held in the patriarchal society of Elizabethan England. A sequel to The Dartington Bride, its the story of a strong woman, doing her best for her children in a difficult marriage. It draws on my extensive research into the Champernowne family and Devon’s sixteenth century history.”

 

The Daughters of Devon is set for release on 28th July

Rosemarys own Website is here: https://rosemarygriggs.co.uk/