Author Anne O’Brien brings Norfolk's Paston letters to life

Writer Anne O’Brien, who lives with her husband in Herefordshire, is a Sunday Times bestselling novelist.

And her latest work, A Marriage of Fortune, promises to give a fascinating and intriguing insight on the dynamic women from the Paston family.

Author Anne O'Brien has brought the Paston Letters to life (Image: Submitted)

A rare 1455 Paston Letter (Image: Library)

Meticulously researched, her novels centre on telling the pivotal stories of the forgotten women of British history. To date, her books have sold more than 700,000 copies in the UK.

She said: "I write about medieval history, for which I have a passion.

"I write about the women, born into a world dominated by the policies of men, who are almost silent in the records of their time.

"Raised under the authority of father, husband, brother, they seem to have so little to say to us.

"But is this true? I think they have much to say, and it is my pleasure to give them a voice in the 21st century."

READ MORE: Project to put Paston Letters online

O’Brien was born in Yorkshire and spent several years teaching history there.

Always a prolific reader, she enjoyed historical fiction and was encouraged to try her hand at writing. Success in short story competitions spurred her on.

Leaving teaching, but not her love of history, she wrote her first historical romance which was published in 2005. This was followed by nine historical romances and a novella, all of which have been published internationally.

Launch of 600 Paston Footsteps Project, and a woman dresses up as Margaret Paston (Image: Newsquest)

An exhibition of the Paston Letters (Image: Denise Bradley)

Since then, O'Brien has sidestepped historical romances to write about the silent women of medieval history.

In 2021, she published The Royal Game. The novel told the story of how the Pastons rose from obscurity to the very heart of court politics during the Wars of the Roses. The story concerns the remarkable women of the family who showed much of their lives and their menfolk through their letters.

Her new book, A Marriage of Fortune, is the sequel and will be published on January 19, 2023.

• For more information visit anneobrienbooks.com

The cover of Anne O'Brien's A Marriage of Fortune (Image: Submitted)

About A Marriage of Fortune

Set in England in 1469, A Marriage of Fortune takes place during the War of The Roses and tells the story of three women that history has forgotten.

A fortunate marriage is set to change history, but could a scandal destroy everything?

Margaret Paston, matriarch of the Paston family, knows that a favourable match for one of her unruly daughters is the only way to survive the loss of their recently acquired Caister Castle. But as the cival war rages on, dangerous enemies will threaten her plans.

A portrait of Margaret Paston (Image: Submitted)

Margery, the eldest daughter, has always strived to uphold the Paston name and do her mother proud. But when she loses her heart to a man below her station, she must make a terrible choice. Will she betray her family and risk everything for a chance at true love?

While Anne Haute, first cousin to the Queen, is embroiled in a longstanding betrothal to Sir John Paston, the eldest son and heir to the Paston seat. Despite his promises, Anne doubts that he will ever keep his word and make her his wife.

Each of these women must decide; Head or heart? Love or duty? Reputation or scandal?

A Paston Letter (Image: Newsquest)

Who were the Pastons?

The Pastons were one of Norfolk’s most prominent families from about 1380 to 1750, rising up from a rural manor to become nationally important members of the aristocracy and key figures in the dynamic power-play and politics of the Tudor and Stuart courts.

What makes the Paston family truly unique is that they left the earliest and largest collection in the country of documents detailing their everyday lives – the now famous 'Paston Letters'.

One of the Paston women look over a printing book as part of a project to promote the Paston Letters (Image: Newsquest)

These accounts tell stories of their tumultuous lives, as well as the intrigues of the wider events of the world. Valuing education for their children, using the newly emerged law courts alongside dramatic sieges, and the female Pastons playing key roles in their estates and family management, they were, in many ways, the first modern family.

• Find out more at the Paston Heritage Society via the website www.thisispaston.co.uk