Anne O'Brien
@anneobrienauthor.bsky.social
Writer of historical novels celebrating often invisible and silent medieval women who deserve a face and a voice.
Sunday Times Best Seller
New Novel for February 2025: The Queen and the Countess
Sunday Times Best Seller
New Novel for February 2025: The Queen and the Countess
Pinned
The Queen and the Countess is now out in the wild, alive and well. Thank you for all the kind wishes on Paperback Publication Day.
I will be running a giveaway shortly, so if you enjoy medieval fiction keep an eye open ...
I will be running a giveaway shortly, so if you enjoy medieval fiction keep an eye open ...
One of the autumn and winter tasks from the splendid illustrations in Tacuinum Sanitatis.
Harvesting onions.
Harvesting onions.
December 12, 2025 at 9:37 AM
One of the autumn and winter tasks from the splendid illustrations in Tacuinum Sanitatis.
Harvesting onions.
Harvesting onions.
Good morning from the Welsh Marches. Mild and raining again. But this was three years ago in 2022. Great memories of a winter landscape.
December 12, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Good morning from the Welsh Marches. Mild and raining again. But this was three years ago in 2022. Great memories of a winter landscape.
More musical angels for Advent.
December 11, 2025 at 11:56 AM
More musical angels for Advent.
Good morning from the Welsh Marches. Pink skies over the orchards and one pigeon on the telegraph pole.
December 11, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Good morning from the Welsh Marches. Pink skies over the orchards and one pigeon on the telegraph pole.
Good morning from the Welsh Marches. Sunshine at last. The crows are back in the past.
December 10, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Good morning from the Welsh Marches. Sunshine at last. The crows are back in the past.
#onthisday 9th December 1460 Richard Duke of York left London to march north to Sandal Castle, planning to face Margaret of Anjou. The result would be the fatal battle of Wakefield. Little remains of Sandal Castle today, but this is how it was shown on an historical postcard.
December 9, 2025 at 10:51 AM
#onthisday 9th December 1460 Richard Duke of York left London to march north to Sandal Castle, planning to face Margaret of Anjou. The result would be the fatal battle of Wakefield. Little remains of Sandal Castle today, but this is how it was shown on an historical postcard.
Good morning from the Welsh Marches. Yellow Weather Warning. Wind and rain. No sign of the fieldfares this morning or the crows. A day for hunkering down with tea and a book.
December 9, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Good morning from the Welsh Marches. Yellow Weather Warning. Wind and rain. No sign of the fieldfares this morning or the crows. A day for hunkering down with tea and a book.
More elegant musical angels for Advent.
December 8, 2025 at 11:48 AM
More elegant musical angels for Advent.
Good morning from the #WelshMarches. Dogwoods now in full winter glory. Woodpeckers busy on the bird feeders, dislodging the squabbling bluetits...
December 8, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Good morning from the #WelshMarches. Dogwoods now in full winter glory. Woodpeckers busy on the bird feeders, dislodging the squabbling bluetits...
Another celebration of Advent with a cluster of gilded musical angels.
December 7, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Another celebration of Advent with a cluster of gilded musical angels.
Good morning from the Welsh Marches. A wintry scene and some rain. Fieldfares chattering over in the orchard.
December 7, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Good morning from the Welsh Marches. A wintry scene and some rain. Fieldfares chattering over in the orchard.
A fine medieval Annunciation scene.
The angel appearing to the Virgin Mary with the news of the coming Christ child..
Mary looking uncertain of both the message and the proximity of the dove.
I like the flowering plant in the pot between them.
The angel appearing to the Virgin Mary with the news of the coming Christ child..
Mary looking uncertain of both the message and the proximity of the dove.
I like the flowering plant in the pot between them.
December 6, 2025 at 11:21 AM
A fine medieval Annunciation scene.
The angel appearing to the Virgin Mary with the news of the coming Christ child..
Mary looking uncertain of both the message and the proximity of the dove.
I like the flowering plant in the pot between them.
The angel appearing to the Virgin Mary with the news of the coming Christ child..
Mary looking uncertain of both the message and the proximity of the dove.
I like the flowering plant in the pot between them.
Celebrating today Saint Nicholas Eve, December 5th, the feast day of Saint Nicholas of Myra. He was the inspiration for Santa Claus, celebrated with giving gifts and shoe-filling traditions in Europe.
December 5, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Celebrating today Saint Nicholas Eve, December 5th, the feast day of Saint Nicholas of Myra. He was the inspiration for Santa Claus, celebrated with giving gifts and shoe-filling traditions in Europe.
Good morning from the Welsh Marches. Frost!
December 5, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Good morning from the Welsh Marches. Frost!
Advent is always a good time to post angels.
This rather mournful pair with censors are on an enameled plaque: French 1170-80.
Now in the Met Collection.
This rather mournful pair with censors are on an enameled plaque: French 1170-80.
Now in the Met Collection.
December 4, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Advent is always a good time to post angels.
This rather mournful pair with censors are on an enameled plaque: French 1170-80.
Now in the Met Collection.
This rather mournful pair with censors are on an enameled plaque: French 1170-80.
Now in the Met Collection.
Good morning from the Welsh Marches. A very wet start but the golden leaves are magical. Still a lot to rake up when the rain stops.
December 4, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Good morning from the Welsh Marches. A very wet start but the golden leaves are magical. Still a lot to rake up when the rain stops.
Good morning from the Welsh Marches. The fog is thick with no view at all. So here's a trio of little medieval musicians and a dog with a begging bowl, to cheer our spirits this third day of Advent.
December 3, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Good morning from the Welsh Marches. The fog is thick with no view at all. So here's a trio of little medieval musicians and a dog with a begging bowl, to cheer our spirits this third day of Advent.
Another superb page from a Book of Hours to herald the month of December. made c. 1415.
Rejoice, Virgin Mother of Christ ...
These words of praise to the Virgin Mary, are written in Latin at the top of the page facing this manuscript illumination, an image of divine motherhood,
Rejoice, Virgin Mother of Christ ...
These words of praise to the Virgin Mary, are written in Latin at the top of the page facing this manuscript illumination, an image of divine motherhood,
December 2, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Another superb page from a Book of Hours to herald the month of December. made c. 1415.
Rejoice, Virgin Mother of Christ ...
These words of praise to the Virgin Mary, are written in Latin at the top of the page facing this manuscript illumination, an image of divine motherhood,
Rejoice, Virgin Mother of Christ ...
These words of praise to the Virgin Mary, are written in Latin at the top of the page facing this manuscript illumination, an image of divine motherhood,
Celebrating the First Day of December with the Golf Book of Hours.
Preparing for winter, or even for the festivities to come. Bread being baked and the pig slaughtered. The blood is valuable too.
Made c. 1540, in Bruges, now although incomplete in the British Library
Preparing for winter, or even for the festivities to come. Bread being baked and the pig slaughtered. The blood is valuable too.
Made c. 1540, in Bruges, now although incomplete in the British Library
December 1, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Celebrating the First Day of December with the Golf Book of Hours.
Preparing for winter, or even for the festivities to come. Bread being baked and the pig slaughtered. The blood is valuable too.
Made c. 1540, in Bruges, now although incomplete in the British Library
Preparing for winter, or even for the festivities to come. Bread being baked and the pig slaughtered. The blood is valuable too.
Made c. 1540, in Bruges, now although incomplete in the British Library
Good morning from the Welsh Marches. A yellow weather warning here for rain today. Still some cheerful colours in the garden yesterday to welcome Advent.
December 1, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Good morning from the Welsh Marches. A yellow weather warning here for rain today. Still some cheerful colours in the garden yesterday to welcome Advent.
Spotted in Waterstones in Chester last week, keeping each other company on a shelf.
My previous three books, taking in the Paston family, the Mortimers, and 2 of the major women of the Wars of the Roses.
Lovely to see them.
My previous three books, taking in the Paston family, the Mortimers, and 2 of the major women of the Wars of the Roses.
Lovely to see them.
November 30, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Spotted in Waterstones in Chester last week, keeping each other company on a shelf.
My previous three books, taking in the Paston family, the Mortimers, and 2 of the major women of the Wars of the Roses.
Lovely to see them.
My previous three books, taking in the Paston family, the Mortimers, and 2 of the major women of the Wars of the Roses.
Lovely to see them.
Good morning from the Welsh Marches. The sun just creeping into the lane and a touch of frost along the top of the gate.
November 30, 2025 at 8:15 AM
Good morning from the Welsh Marches. The sun just creeping into the lane and a touch of frost along the top of the gate.
On This Day 29th November 1330 was executed Roger Mortimer, first Earl of March, for treason at Tyburn.
Here with happier memories of talking about the Mortimers and A Court of Betrayal in the church of St mary the Virgin at Pembridge.
Here's the link:
www.amazon.co.uk/Court-Betray...
Here with happier memories of talking about the Mortimers and A Court of Betrayal in the church of St mary the Virgin at Pembridge.
Here's the link:
www.amazon.co.uk/Court-Betray...
November 29, 2025 at 10:53 AM
On This Day 29th November 1330 was executed Roger Mortimer, first Earl of March, for treason at Tyburn.
Here with happier memories of talking about the Mortimers and A Court of Betrayal in the church of St mary the Virgin at Pembridge.
Here's the link:
www.amazon.co.uk/Court-Betray...
Here with happier memories of talking about the Mortimers and A Court of Betrayal in the church of St mary the Virgin at Pembridge.
Here's the link:
www.amazon.co.uk/Court-Betray...
Good morning from the #WelshMarches. Another very wet morning here to bring in the end of November. Here's another recognisable image from a sunny day in Chester earlier in the week. The cathedral in the background.
November 29, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Good morning from the #WelshMarches. Another very wet morning here to bring in the end of November. Here's another recognisable image from a sunny day in Chester earlier in the week. The cathedral in the background.
Home from 2 lovely days in Chester, just to enjoy life in a city with a Christmas market and Christmas lights. Walked the Rows and dropped into the Cathedral.
Now home and back to writing and editing.
A well know view of the black and white buildings and the Rows.
Now home and back to writing and editing.
A well know view of the black and white buildings and the Rows.
November 27, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Home from 2 lovely days in Chester, just to enjoy life in a city with a Christmas market and Christmas lights. Walked the Rows and dropped into the Cathedral.
Now home and back to writing and editing.
A well know view of the black and white buildings and the Rows.
Now home and back to writing and editing.
A well know view of the black and white buildings and the Rows.