Somerset author Caroline Newark to give talk at Yeovil Library

Caroline Newark will give her talk, titled ‘A Murder in the West Country – Love and Loss in the War of the Roses’, on Thursday, September 22 between 10.30am and 11.30am.

Her talk will start with an explanation of a notorious murder that occurred during the early stages of the fifteenth-century Wars of the Roses.

Caroline will explain why it happened and how the blood-feuds between those vying for power in the West Country mirrored what was happening elsewhere in England.

The talk will take place at Yeovil Library on Thursday, September 21. Picture: Caroline Newark (Image: Caroline Newark)

The audience will learn about the families involved, their links to people in powerful positions, the human cost of the conflict, and its greater impact on women.

Councillor Federica Smith-Roberts, Somerset County Council lead member for communities, said: “What a fabulous interactive event held in our library.

“I hope that many can attend to see this book discussed in greater detail.”

Caroline enjoyed a varied career as a teacher and in law before retiring, which is when she started writing stories.

Her books are about the lives of the 21 women in her mother's family tree, giving her 21 books to write (The Family Tree Saga).

Her first book, The Pearl of France, is about Marguerite of France who married Edward I in 1299.

The last book will be about her mother, Kathleen Bainbridge who married her father, Francis Newark, in 1934.

On her website, Caroline wrote: “Some of the stories will break your heart, others will make you smile.

“Many of these women faced unimaginable hardship, danger and loss - while others schemed and plotted to get what they wanted.

“There were forced marriages and torrid love affairs, women who were betrayed by their husbands and others with long and happy marriages.”