Author of Historical Fiction and Mysteries
In late September, I spent four days visiting London. It is impossible to even scratch the surface of all the historical sites that can be found in Britain's capital, so I had to choose. After a brief visit to St. Paul's Cathedral and (the outside of) Westminster Abbey, I decided to spend the entire day... Continue Reading →
Medieval and early modern queenship is a fascinating area of historical research. In European history, it focuses on such famous queens as Eleanor of Aquitaine (of France and later of England), Catherine de' Medici of France, or Elizabeth I of England. Indeed, western European queens seemed to have enjoyed a degree of freedom (by the... Continue Reading →
To paraphrase a classic, a writer's work is never done. That's why this post, which should have appeared a month ago - closer the hundredth anniversary of the outbreak of the flu pandemic - is posted only now. But I was in the middle of doing final manuscript revisions for my second book (to be... Continue Reading →
As part of the Historical Novel Society 2018 conference in Glasgow I took a trip with several other attendees to the Royal Burgh of Culross, a few miles northeast of the city. It was a fitting visit for a group of historical fiction writers for two reasons. One is of course that the little town... Continue Reading →
A few weeks ago, I was researching medieval church architecture for Book Two of my Hildegard of Bingen series (which will come out in February 2019). Part of the story concerns Hildegard's project of building a church for her new foundation, which she wants to imitate the "French style," i.e. the nascent Gothic style (though,... Continue Reading →
This weekend I made an unplanned but very exciting visit to one of the most historic places in America, and it happens to be right in my town. Somewhat unassuming on the outside, The United First Parish Church in Quincy, Massachusetts, houses a crypt with the tombs of two former U.S. presidents. John Adams (1735-1826)... Continue Reading →
I had long heard about Newport, Rhode Island, and its reputation as a summering (yes, I said summering) destination of the East Coast elite of yore. But hearing about it doesn’t do it justice. You have to see it for yourself to truly understand the wealth and ambition that went into creating the mansions that... Continue Reading →
Most of us are thankful that we have access to 21th century medicine, and for a good reason. However, our ancestors were not as powerless in the face of disease as it might seem. During a Partnership of Historic Bostons event at the Deane Winthrop House in Winthrop, Mass., Lori Lyn Price, a historian specializing... Continue Reading →
By the standards of some Scottish castles, Dunnottar is relatively small, but it sure is dramatic. Built atop a flat headland projecting into the North Sea, a few miles south of Aberdeen and near the town of Stonehaven, it looked breathtaking the day I first saw it. It was a chilly and windy day with... Continue Reading →
As promised here’s a new post documenting my travels to historic places in Scotland. I have so far visited several castles (and one abbey) and will write about them in the next few months. On an unusually frosty January day I took a trip to Toquhon Castle, just outside Aberdeen. The castle itself was closed... Continue Reading →
P.K. Adams 