Dr. Angela Ranson - Author
Tudor Tale of the Week
Elizabethan Spies
Elizabeth I tried to find a ‘middle way’ reformed religion - one that had the history and culture of Catholicism and the reformed principles of Protestants. For many people, her vision of a Church of England worked…but not for all. Catholics wanted to return to the pope, and extreme Protestants wanted to rid the church of its hierarchy. To help keep these groups under control, Francis Walsingham created an elaborate spy network with members who went into what modern agencies would call ‘deep cover’. They would join Catholic households, or even attend Catholic training colleges in Europe. And, it seems, they encouraged a culture of fear, deliberately making extreme groups afraid of the queen’s agents in hopes that they would leave the country…or make a fatal mistake.
Writers about Writing
“Easy reading is damn hard writing.”
Nathaniel Hawthorne
The Catrin Surovell Series
This historical mystery series is set during the early years of Queen Elizabeth I’s reign (1560s). Lady Catrin is one of the queen’s ladies of the bedchamber, and she is very skilled at finding the truth in the midst of secrets and lies. This leads her into danger more times more often than she would like, but she remains determined to serve her queen and bring murderers to justice.
About Me
I am a Tudor historian, an loyal Canadian, and a lifelong anglophile. Click here for basic info about what it’s like for me to simultaneously live in two different centuries and two different countries.
Thoughts in Pink Socks
I have a pair of pink socks. They are are too loose, too short, and so fluffy I can't fit my feet into shoes when I wear them. Essentially, the only thing they do well is amuse me. I think of odd things when I wear these socks, and here I will share them with you.
© 2024 Angela Ranson - Author