The best biofiction books of historical women

I work on early modern history and the rest of my recommendations are from that era, but I couldn’t resist starting with a classic and the novel that got me hooked on biofictions. Published in 1954, this book will show its age to new readers, but Seton tells the story of Katherine Swynford, Duchess of Lancaster (1350-1403) in a wonderfully engaging way. It gives a colourful account of life in medieval England. I first read this book as a young teenager and have returned to it over the years.

Katherine was born the daughter of a minor Flemish herald and became the mistress and later wife of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster. While the historical record does not always support all aspects of Seton’s depiction of Katherine Swynford’s life, as a historical saga, the story takes over and sweeps the reader along.

Much shorter than my first recommendation, Dutton’s biofiction tackles the life of Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle (1623-73) who was a standout character in the seventeenth century. She wrote and published works on a range of topics from philosophy and science to romantic fiction. What I love about this book is the way it pushes what is possible in a historical biofiction, in a compact but dense volume.

Staying in the early modern era, this is an imaginative retelling of the story of Aemilia Lanier (1569–1645), a gifted writer in her own right but is often best remembered as a candidate for Shakespeare’s ‘dark lady’. This means some believe her to be the inspiration for the bard’s passionate sonnets. Born Aemilia Bassano she was the daughter of a musician in the court of Elizabeth I. Lanier published Salve Deus Rex Judaeorum (Hail, God, King of the Jews) in 1611. This biofiction brings her to life in new ways.

This is such a good biofiction of Lady Arbella Stuart (1575-1615), niece to Mary, Queen of Scots, who was for many years presumed to be the natural successor to Elizabeth I. She lived under the strict rule of grandmother Bess of Hardwick, at the many-windowed palace, Hardwick Hall, the glass tower of the book’s title. As a bonus in this novel, we meet Aemilia Lanyer again. The two women’s paths cross in a most unexpected way.

This is the chance to read about a woman on the side of Cromwell and Parliament during the English civil wars. It imagines the life of Oliver Cromwell’s youngest daughter, Frances, later Lady Rich and Lady Russell (1638–1720). It describes the reign of Cromwell, life in the court of the protector, and the end of the commonwealth following her father’s death. The story is told by Frances herself and features a twist about the real fate of Cromwell’s corpse at the end.