Anne Easter Smith is a British-American

historical novel Historical fiction is a literary genre in which a fictional plot takes place in the setting of particular real historical events. Although the term is commonly used as a synonym for historical fiction literature, it can also be applied to oth ...

ist known for her series of books set in The Wars of the Roses.

Early life and education

Easter Smith grew up in England, Germany and Egypt. She was educated at British School Suez and boarding school in England. She graduated from St. James Secretarial School in London in 1962. She speaks fluent French.

Career

Easter Smith worked as an executive secretary in London, Paris, New York, and Sacramento, CA; an attaché spouse at the US Embassy in Paris; an Auction Coordinator at a PBS station; and as a newspaper reporter/editor in Plattsburgh, N.Y. She has also been a folk singer, and a community theater actor and director. Her lifelong fascination with King

Richard III Richard III (2 October 1452 – 22 August 1485) was King of England from 26 June 1483 until his death in 1485. He was the last king of the Plantagenet dynasty and its cadet branch the House of York. His defeat and death at the Battle of Boswor ...

led her to write six books set during the

Wars of the Roses The Wars of the Roses, known at the time and in following centuries as the Civil Wars, were a series of armed confrontations, machinations, battles and campaigns fought over control of the English throne from 1455 to 1487. The conflict was fo ...

, featuring Richard and various members of his York family. Easter Smith's first novel, ''A Rose for the Crown'', has as its central theme the love story between Richard, while he was Duke of Gloucester and during the reign of his brother

Edward IV Edward IV (28 April 1442 – 9 April 1483) was King of England from 4 March 1461 to 3 October 1470, then again from 11 April 1471 until his death in 1483. He was a central figure in the Wars of the Roses, a series of civil wars in England ...

, and the woman who gave birth to Richard's pre-marriage illegitimate children. In her second novel, Easter Smith focuses on

Margaret of York Margaret of York (3 May 1446 – 23 November 1503), also known as Margaret of Burgundy, was Duchess of Burgundy from 1468 to 1477 as the third wife of Charles the Bold, and after his death (1477) acted as a protector of the Burgundian State. ...

, Richard and Edward's sister, who, like all royals of the time, anticipates a marriage negotiated for political advantage. Margaret is wedded to

Charles the Bold Charles Martin (10 November 1433 – 5 January 1477), called the Bold, was the last duke of Burgundy from the House of Valois-Burgundy, ruling from 1467 to 1477. He was the only surviving legitimate son of Philip the Good and his third wife, ...

, ruler of the

Duchy of Burgundy The Duchy of Burgundy (; ; ) was a medieval and early modern feudal polity in north-western regions of historical Burgundy. It was a duchy, ruled by dukes of Burgundy. The Duchy belonged to the Kingdom of France, and was initially bordering th ...

, the wealthiest in Europe. ''Daughter of York'' tells the story of Margaret's early life in England, her lavish wedding to Charles, and both her personal and public life in Burgundy's leading cities, which at the time included

Bruges Bruges ( , ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders, in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is in the northwest of the country, and is the sixth most populous city in the country. The area of the whole city amoun ...

Binche Binche (; ; Dutch: ''Bing'') is a city and municipality of Wallonia, in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. Since 1977, the municipality consists of Binche, Bray, Buvrinnes, Épinois, Leval-Trahegnies, Péronnes-lez-Binche, Ressaix, and Waudrez ...

, and

Mechelen Mechelen (; ; historically known as ''Mechlin'' in EnglishMechelen has been known in English as ''Mechlin'', from where the adjective ''Mechlinian'' is derived. This name may still be used, especially in a traditional or historical context. T ...

, among others. Easter Smith's third novel, ''The King's Grace'', explores the identity of

Perkin Warbeck Perkin Warbeck ( – 23 November 1499) was a pretender to the English throne claiming to be Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York, who was the second son of Edward IV and one of the so-called "Princes in the Tower". Richard, were he alive, would ...

, a pretender to the throne, through the eyes of Grace Plantagenet, an illegitimate daughter of

King Edward IV Edward IV (28 April 1442 – 9 April 1483) was King of England from 4 March 1461 to 3 October 1470, then again from 11 April 1471 until his death in 1483. He was a central figure in the Wars of the Roses, a series of civil wars in England ...

. Her fourth novel, ''Queen by Right,'' reveals the long and colorful life of

Cecily Neville Cecily Neville (3 May 1415 – 31 May 1495) was an English noblewoman, the wife of Richard, Duke of York (1411–1460), and the mother of two Kings of England—Edward IV and Richard III. Cecily Neville was known as "the Rose of Raby", becaus ...

, mother of Edward IV and Richard III. ''Royal Mistress'', the author's fifth novel, features the life of Jane Shore, the favorite and final mistress of Edward IV. Easter Smith's sixth novel, ''This Son of York'', is the story of Richard III.

Personal life

After 20 years in Massachusetts, Easter Smith now lives in Florida with her husband, Scott Smith.

Bibliography

* ''A Rose for the Crown'', Simon & Schuster, 2006. * ''Daughter of York'', Simon & Schuster, 2008. * ''The King's Grace'', Simon & Schuster, 2009. * ''Queen by Right'', Simon & Schuster, 2011. * ''Royal Mistress'', Simon & Schuster, 2013. * ''This Son of York'', Bellastoria Press, 2019.

Sources

* https://web.archive.org/web/20070502064956/http://www.historicalnovelsociety.org/ec-feb-2006.htm#arose

External links

Official web site

NPR radio interview 2013

Goodreads Author Listing

Wendy J Dunn Interview

Sophie Perinot Recommendation
{{DEFAULTSORT:Easter Smith, Anne Year of birth missing (living people) American historical novelists Living people 21st-century American novelists 21st-century American women writers American women historical novelists