Richard III Society event
A review and an article on the research behind the historical murder mystery The April King will be published in the June 2026 edition of the Ricardian Bulletin.
Welcome to the website
of Isolde Martyn
Isolde Martyn is an international historical novelist with nine published novels and, recently, an Australian history picture book! Five of her novels are set in the Wars of the Roses era, which has been a lifelong interest for her. Her latest novel is set in Shakespeare’s time.
She very much enjoys focusing her stories on real historical people. The Devil in Ermine is told from the viewpoint of Richard III’s cousin, the Duke of Buckingham, and Mistress to the Crown is narrated by Elizabeth Lambard (Mistress ‘Jane’ Shore), King Edward IV’s lover.
Awards: ‘Best First Novel 2000’ from Romance Writers of America and RUBY winner 1999 and 2001 from Romance Writers of Australia.
Winner — Children’s Book Council of Australia Eve Pownall Award 2024
Shortlist — NSW Premier’s History Award for Young People 2024
Isolde’s earlier career was in publishing and academia and she has an Honours Degree in History from the University of Exeter, UK.
About Isolde
Isolde Martyn is an English-Australian author of historical novels and a non-fiction history picture book for children. She is best known for her novels set during the Wars of the Roses which focus on some of the leading historical people of the era.
Genres: Historical fiction; medieval historical fiction; historical romance; medieval and Tudor spy fiction; French Revolution fiction and children’s non-fiction history picture book
Latest News
Country Town
Winner of Children’s Book Council of Australia’s 2024 Eve Pownall Award, shortlisted for New South Wales Premier’s 2024 History Award for Young People and recommended for the Grade 5 Curriculum
The Lady and the Unicorn – Sapere Books
No one knows the identity of the woman spy that King Edward IV sent across to Calais with messages for his brother, the Duke of Clarence, begging him to change
The Lost Princes
How refreshing to hear about some new historical documents that have come to light concerning the fate of the Princes in the Tower. Philippa Langley has done it again, pioneered
Publications
Sapere Books have republished all Isolde’s novels and these are now available from Amazon. The German translation of her first three titles have been published by Dotbooks either individually, or as a three-book package and her first two titles are have been recorded by Bolinda Audio
The April King
Dangerous strange events began to surround Shakespeare's patron, the man who commissioned the play Richard III, and he needs someone he can trust to keep him ahead of his enemy's plans.
The Lady and the Unicorn
This award-winning novel explores the real identity of the mysterious lady spy employed by King Edward IV.
The Knight and the Rose
A medieval 'Green Card'. England 1422: a rebel knight, fleeing for his life, is blackmailed into helping a noblewoman free herself from a cruel marriage.
The Silver Bride
Forced into marriage by her father, a clairvoyant bride is caught up in the political machinations of her ambitious husband.
Fleur de Lis
Absolutely guillotine-free!!!!! A young French aristocrat masquerades as a scandalous Parisian actress. But if the deputy in love with her finds out who she really is, will she be in the greatest danger?
The Devil in Ermine
Harry Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, tells his version of the events of 1483 when his cousin, Richard III, seized the crown.
Mistress to the Crown
The story of Elizabeth Lambard, better known in history as the notorious whore, ' Jane' Shore, the beloved mistress of the handsome King Edward IV.
The Golden Widows
Two young widows, on opposite sides in the Wars of the Roses, struggle to save their children's inheritance. One of them is destined to become a queen.
The Lady of Mirascon
Can a noble lord, a 'small person' jester and a serving wench save the city of Mirascon from a merciless crusader army?
Country Town
- Winner of the Children’s Book Council of Australia
Eve Pownall Award 2024 - In final shortlist for the New South Wales Premier’s History Award for Young People 2024
- Recommended for Grade 5 Curriculum by the Primary English Teachers’ Association of Australia
In Country Town, Louise Hogan’s beautiful illustrations tell the decade by decade story of a fictional Australian inland town from the First Nations mob living by the river crossing through to the present day. The accompanying text by Isolde Martyn and Robyn Ridgeway has a lovely light tone. It directs the reader’s attention to some of the little characters shown in the illustrations as well as featuring many of the major themes of Australia’s history.
The age range? Ninish to 90+. Young readers can pore over each spread to discover the stories of the community and the changes in the town, while older readers may remember stories of their own to share. The book is an excellent trigger for classroom discussion or maybe asking grandma if great grandpa fought in WWII.
Thoughts and Articles
Although this is a renovated site, most of the articles have been kept and although the ‘Tips for aspiring writers’ were written before the internet (goodness, that’s ageing!), they are still useful.
First of all, having some fun with three historic people….
A Yuletide round robin from Eleanor of Aquitaine
Mes Amis en Aquitaine, With this horrid pestilence going round, I’ve been spending a lot of time in
By imcadmin
Bessie’s Christmas letter
In 1483, Princess Elizabeth, daughter of the late King Edward IV, found herself and her siblings suddenly declared
Richard III demands a say in his reburial
Richard III demands a say in his reburial Another document you won’t find in the UK’s National Archives
Encountering your hero and heroine’s descendants
When you write about historical people, it’s always a thrill to meet someone who is actually descended from
Malleus Maleficarum
In writing about a medieval clairvoyant in The Silver Bride, charges of witchcraft in Mistress to the Crown
Thornbury Castle
Just north of Bristol is the modest town of Thornbury, and for most users of the M5 motorway,
Plantagenet History Society of Australia
The Society began in 1999 in Sydney. Its aim is to promote discussion and interest in the Plantagenet era, Henry II to Richard III (1154 – 1485). There are six meetings a year with guest expert speakers. Among the speakers this year are Professor Carole Cusack, the Hon. President of the Society, Professor Fred Watson, Australia’s ‘Astronomer at Large’ and UK medieval historical novelist Elizabeth Chadwick.
Isolde was one of the co-founders and is currently Chair of the Society.
