If you think 21st-century gender politics is complicated, it’s as nothing compared with the court of King James 400 years ago: men were praised for their “womanish beauty”; women wore men’s feathers and doublets. Yet, while female empowerment was gaining ground – aristocratic women could file for divorce and make their voices heard in public – a husband could still whip his wife on a whim or accuse her of sorcery. This is the febrile backdrop to ‘A Net for Small Fishes’, the first novel of Lucy Jago, a former TV producer and winner of the National Biography Prize with her first book, ‘The Northern Lights’. Based on a true story of a scandal that rocked Jacobean England, ‘A Net for Small Fishes’ revolves around the unlikely friendship between two women: beautiful, powerful Frances Howard, married to the Earl of Essex, and Anne Turner, a lowly seamstress with a genius for fashion. Their symbiotic relationship seems Photo: Jonathan Ring destined to propel both women to success and happiness. But, in the Tower of London, a courtier has allegedly been poisoned and the King seeks justice and retribution. Frances and Anne come under the spotlight. And so the witchhunt begins…
Reviews:
‘What a ride!’ India Knight, Sunday Times Summer reads
‘Thrilling… a sumptuous feast of plotting and intrigue’ Mail on Sunday
‘Gloriously immersive’ Guardian
Lucy will be appearing at LitFest on Sunday 3 October at 12pm at a live event at Marlborough Town Hall; this event will also be available to watch online.