Blanche d’Alpuget became fascinated with the 12th century as a teenager, but it took another 50 years before she was inspired to write a five-book series about the first Plantagenet King of England, King Henry II and his superstar wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, the richest woman in Europe at that time. Between the two of them, they were two of the most outstanding monarchs England has ever had.

I say inspired because when she talks about writing the series, she says that she sat down at her laptop and became totally immersed in the Plantagenet world for hours on end.

Hi there, I'm your host, Jenny Wheeler, and today in The Joys of Binge Reading Blanche talks about how the Plantagenets are attracting new attention from historians after years of having their reputations sullied by Murder in The Cathedral and T. S Elliot’s slant on Becket's murder.

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We've got three E-book copies of the first book in the series, The Young Lion to give away to three lucky readers. Enter the Royal House Giveaway on the website, the Joys of Binge Reading.com, or on our Binge Reading Facbook page.

But before we get to Blanche, just a reminder, Binge Reading is now on Patreon. For as little as a cup of coffee a month, you can support the show and get fortnightly exclusive bonus content. Find out more on www.patreon.com/thejoysofbingereading.com.

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Six things you’ll learn from this Joys of Binge Reading episode:

Why writing mysteries is like composing songsHow 'writing what you know' worked for herHer passion for all things FrenchWhy parity for women mystery authors is importantThe writers she admires mostWhat she'd do differently second time around

Introducing author Blanche d'Alpuget

Where to find Blanche d'Alpuget

Website: https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Blanche-dAlpuget/2637

Goodreads: https://amzn.to/3BWUXGO

https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/443884.Blanche_d_Alpuget

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3BWUXGO

What follows is a "near as" transcript of our conversation, not word for word but pretty close to it, with links to important mentions.

But now, here’s Blanche.

Jenny Wheeler: Hello there Blanche, and welcome to the show. It is wonderful to have you with us.

Blanche d’Alpuget: Thank you very much, Jenny. It's really generous of you.

Blanche d'Alpuget, author of historical mystery series on the Plantagenet line

Jenny Wheeler: You have had a remarkable career as a journalist and novelist, and in public life as the wife of former Australian Prime Minister, Bob Hawke.

But today we're here to talk about your latest masterpiece, the historical fiction series around the first generation of Plantagenet Kings – the founding family who, in various guises, dominated the life of England for 300 years.

You have written a number of award-winning contemporary literary novels in your earlier career, but this is quite a departure in terms of being a historical work and also being more in the line of genre fiction. What drew you to this rambunctious family?

Blanche d’Alpuget: In my late teens I was absolutely fascinated by the 12th century. I bought a whole lot of little books about it, which have now disappeared from print, from a tiny little bookshop in a lane in Sydney, and that has also disappeared. All the lanes have been covered over in Sydney just about.

I had what ended up being a very big collection of stuff about the 12th century, and when I wanted to turn to writing again after a long break from writing fiction, I first thought, as one does when thinking of the 12th century and great characters, of Richard I, Richard the Lionheart. I did quite a bit of reading on him, and then I thought, I really hate this guy. I still do.

Hooked on Henry. Henry II that is, one of England's greatest Kings

Then I thought, I'll look at his father, and that was it. I started to read about Richard’s father, Henry II, and I was totally hooked.