The Valet's Tragedy, and Other Studies

Step into a treasury of scholarship that treats history like a puzzle. The author gathers a dozen short studies, each focused on a baffling episode from the Restoration and its aftermath, and guides the listener through the tangled evidence with clear prose. From the legend of the Man in the Iron Mask to the secret letters supposedly penned by Sir Edmund Berry Godfrey, the essays balance meticulous research with a willingness to admit what remains unknown. Readers are invited to join the investigative journey rather than receive a tidy solution.

Among the cases examined are the disputed death of Amy Robsart, the imposture of a false Joan of Arc, and the enigmatic existence of James de la Clo­che, rumored son of Charles II. The writer also revisits the tragic fate of a royal valet whose imprisonment hints at deeper court intrigues. By weaving together accounts, manuscripts, and earlier journal articles, each essay feels like a lecture turned into a storytelling session. Listeners will come away with a richer sense of the era’s mysteries and the pleasure of weighing the clues themselves.