Flora Fraser specializes in historical biographies, focusing her literary lens on the lives of notable women. Her work is characterized by a deep immersion into historical figures and their respective eras. Fraser explores their influence and societal standing with a keen eye for detail and narrative richness. Her distinctive style is celebrated for its ability to bring the past to life, offering readers a compelling glimpse into the experiences of these influential women.
This biography explores the life of Flora MacDonald, a pivotal figure in Scottish history known for her role in assisting "Bonnie" Prince Charlie during his escape after the Jacobite defeat. It delves into her courageous actions and the impact they had on her legacy, including her inspiration for the famous "Skye Boat Song." The book highlights her resilience and the cultural significance of her story in the context of Scotland's tumultuous past.
"The year is 1746. The Jacobite rebellion has failed catastrophically and Scotland is reeling in the devastating aftermath of the battle of Culloden. Far to the west, on an island in the Outer Hebrides, twenty-four-year-old Flora Macdonald is woken in the dead of night by a messenger with urgent intelligence. Bonnie Prince Charlie is outside, begging for her help. With Flora's assistance, the Stuart prince is disguised as an Irish maid and smuggled to the Isle of Skye, evading government troops. Flora's bravery and determination will see her immortalised in ballads and proclaimed a Scottish heroine. But her efforts also result in her capture and detention in London. Released the following year and returning to Skye, Flora goes on to marry and emigrate to North Carolina, only then to be caught up in the American Revolutionary War. In Pretty Young Rebel, award-winning biographer Flora Fraser tells the remarkable story of Flora Macdonald. It is a tale of adventure and daring, wit and charm, struggle and survival, and of a woman who showed extraordinary courage in the face of great danger"--Publisher's description
Exploring the life of Pauline Bonaparte Borghese, this biography reveals her as a captivating figure in the Napoleonic era, renowned for her beauty and scandalous love affairs. With a penchant for opulence, she famously posed nearly nude for Canova and maintained a complex relationship with her brother, Emperor Napoleon. Pauline's loyalty was unwavering, as she followed him into exile and sought to join him again after Waterloo. Flora Fraser offers a vibrant portrayal that sheds new light on both Pauline and the historical context of her time.
Flora Fraser gives us the fascinating story of a mismatched Prince and Princess of Wales, married in 1795 and separated less than a year later. George III arranged the marriage of his niece Caroline of Brunswick to his son George. Their disastrous, and probably bigamous, marriage (George having earlier privately married a Catholic widow), had profound political consequences culminating in the trial of Caroline for adultery. Caroline's place in history has generally been limited to that of persecuted wife but Fraser, with access to previously unavailable documents, provides a complex portrait of a spirited woman who refused to be victimized.
