The King’s Concubine

Alice Perrers rises from obscure origins to enter the household of Queen Philippa of Hainault. Her position brings her to the attention of Edward III, and after Philippa’s death Alice becomes the ageing king’s acknowledged mistress, acquiring land, influence and enemies at court.

The novel follows Alice through the last years of Edward’s reign and the political reaction against her power. Her wealth and access to the king make her a target during the Good Parliament, while her survival depends on understanding law, patronage and the hostility directed at a low-born woman who has entered spaces normally controlled by aristocratic men.