Susan Stephens' Writing Diary

Am just coming to the end of Philippa Gregory's novel, Earthly Joys.

This book does not have the hard, irresistible glitter and glamour of the Tudor court, but is set some time later, in an England slipping ever closer to civil war.
The main character, John Tradescant, is a man of humble birth, a gardener, whose particular gift for identifying, and nurturing unusual plants brings him to the attention of the court.

Both King Charles the First, and John Tradescant are bewitched by the fascinating and reckless Duke of Buckingham... Based on fact, this is a book of dangerous passions versus the tug of family loyalties, and of fascinating detail regarding the garden design and planting of the day.

As a passionate gardener, my mother, who preferred factual books to novels, would surely have been won over by this wonderful book... It's one of those rare tales that I really cannot bear to end, and as I come closer to the last page, I am making myself eke out the words like a miser.

I just knew, even before I turned to the title page, that it would have been first issued in 1998... even so, a little frisson ran through me...

Love to all, and happy gardening
Susan