Paris Imperfect, The Aviary Gate & Rossetti

There seems to be some confusion among on-line booksellers about the publication date of the trade paperback of Paris Imperfect. The publisher has confirmed that it is 30 Sept 09. (The Book Depository is showing 'out of stock' instead of not yet published, so hope they will change this since they usually give a good price.)

The publishers also told me they are placing a banner advert for Tropical Connections as below, so that's exciting.


Just finished reading The Aviary Gate by Katie Hickman, set in 1599 in Turkey. Gripping, interesting, well-written and well-researched. I don't usually go for harem novels, but I like Katie Hickman and enjoyed her non-fiction Daughters of Britannia, a history of diplomatic wives. Perhaps enjoyed is not the right word as reading the latter brought back memories of the sense of oppression I felt as a young wife when toeing the line was all. I am sure no one expects dip spouses to toe the line now. Reverting to The Aviary Gate, where female etiquette really was oppressive and strictly regulated, I found the modern heroine faintly irritating and would rather have stayed in 1599 throughout. Do read it and see what you think.


Enjoyed watching The Desperate Romantics on TV despite excessive amount of rumpy pumpy. I was in love with Dante Gabriel Rossetti as a schoolgirl, but I can't even remember which poem touched my heart so. Of course I had not idea he was such a libertine - they didn't tell us that sort of thing at school. It so happened I went to a couple of lectures on Victorian painting last year, so was already interested in the Pre-Raphaelites. Although some may disapprove of history lite, I mostly think it's good entertaining stuff.