*I was inspired to write it in the middle of a tour round the reconstructed Shakespeare’s Globe theatre in London. The guide (who just happened to be an actor called Philip) was talking about boy actors and the set-up of the theatre companies in Shakespeare’s time, and something went off ping in my brain. When I was looking for a year to start the book, 1597 kept catching my eye; a time of real life deaths, and threats to the theatre. After that the historical plot – as opposed to the personal plot – just slid inevitably towards the death of Elizabeth I and the succession of James VI/I. All – all! – I had to do was entangle my characters in the politics of the time. In fact there is historical record of all the characters in the book, except for a few.
THE PEACOCK’S EYE
by Jay Lewis Taylor
Philip Standage – half-Italian, Catholic, Kit Marlowe’s last lover – is one of the Admiral’s Players, the company that rivals Shakespeare’s. Once Nick Hanham wheedles his way in to the Rose theatre, Philip even has an apprentice to share his secure life. Secure, that is, until he is caught up in Sir Robert Cecil’s plans for the future of England, and more than England.
The last years of Elizabeth’s reign gleam light and dark like a coin spinning beside a flame: wealth and dirt, glory and revolt, high poetry and bloody murder. In this uncertain world nothing is what it seems, least of all men, least of all love. Who can Philip rely on? And if he makes the wrong choice, who can save him?
88,500 words/328 pages
Publication 1 May 2015
Despite having spent most of my life in Surrey and Oxfordshire, I now live in Somerset, within an hour’s drive of the villages where two of my great-great-great-grandparents were born. Although I work as a rare-books librarian in an abstruse area of medical history, I am in fact a thwarted medievalist with a strong arts background.
I have been writing fiction for over thirty years, exploring the lives of people who are on the margins in one way or another, and how the power of love and language can break down the walls that we build round ourselves.
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Jay Lewis Taylor brought a copy of The Peacock’s Eye for one Lucky winner!
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Oh no, another book I’ll have to get hold of at some point! Caught my attention before but having heard a bit more about its historical context, this is definitely on my to-read list now!
Thank you! I enjoyed your stories in Pride of Poppies.
Sounds like a good one! Thank you for the chance!!!
Thank you for reading the interview 🙂
This book has been on my wish list for awhile now. Thanks for the chance to win!
Thanks for taking the time to read. Hope you enjoy the book however you get a copy.
Always a pleasure to read an interview with you!
Aw, shucks. That is a compliment from a true professional.
I’d love to read this! Thanks for the giveaway!
Thanks for reading the interview.
One word : brilliant! with a captivating story and characters! ^_^
You go to the top of my Christmas card list ;->
Looks like a really good read. Thank you for the chance =)
Thank you for the enthusiasm 🙂
I have had this book on my WANT T0 READ List for quite a while. Thank you for the opportunity to win it!
Hope you get to enjoy it however it happens.
great interview
Thank you. Bit of a novice at blog posts, me.
Interesting blurb!
That was the idea 😉 that was the hardest bit to write.
Awesome interview! Looking forward to reading it.
Why, thank you. “Awesome” is a first …
To my TBR!!!
VMT = Very Many Thanks!!
congrats Mary !