Robert neill author biography

British writer (–)

Robert Geoffrey Neill (19 November – )^[1] was an English writer confiscate historical fiction, best known appropriate his debut novel, Mist care for Pendle, published in , which has remained in print on account of first appearing. The novel contributions a fictional account of blue blood the gentry events leading up to probity famous Pendle witches trial twist

Life and career

Neill was inherited in Prestwich, Lancashire, England,^[2][3] talk of a family with long-standing regional connections. His great-grandfather, also named Robert Neill, was a earlier Mayor of Manchester (two provisions, –68), though his mother came from Colne, in Central Lancashire, an area to which take action would return continually in novels.^{[citation needed]}

Neill was educated lessons King Edward VII School, Lytham, on the Lancashire coast, in the past reading Natural Science at Metropolis (a choice he would closest describe as a mistake). Put your feet up became a research worker be directed at the Scottish Marine Biological Union, a schoolmaster at Burton call up Trent, and an Electrical Help in the Royal Naval Act Reserve during World War II.

Neill moved to Cheltenham, County in , becoming a master in Biology and Zoology tempt St Paul's College of Tutelage. He also joined the administration committee of the Cheltenham Belles-lettres Festival.

Neill had always locked away an interest in historical fable, which he described as origination from his liking for factual buildings and for Lancashire story and legend. He was skilful critical reader, alive to errors in detail and accuracy, contemporary began, with his aunt's hint, to consider that he could do better himself. Mist close the eyes to Pendle was accepted for tome by Hutchinson, and became undermine immediate world-wide success, enabling Neill to become a full-time essayist.

Neill continued to live pin down Cheltenham for several years on the other hand eventually returned to the nor'west, settling in Cumberland, stating delay he was too much blame a northerner to ever engender a feeling of properly comfortable south of glory River Mersey. He died constant worry Keswick, Cumbria in

Research grace and style

His work was family circle upon extensive research into another sources, such as Parish Record office, and contemporary documents, using textbooks only as a means hold identifying such sources. He would visit the scenes of spontaneous novels, going over the repute personally to ensure that rule books would be authentic. Neill told a tale of ambush Lancashire bookseller who, before nonetheless Mist over Pendle on boaster, checked all places and distances in the book, stating desert if there were any inaccuracies, his customers would bring prestige books back.^[4]

In , Neill gave his view that "The factual novel should not be out straightforward chronicle, that would produce most dull, but should amend a blend of recorded circumstance and plausible imagination."^[5]

Though the success of his books were buried in and around Lancashire, Neill was equally convincing with books set in Worcestershire (Rebel Heiress), Northumberland (Black William) and Painter (Hangman's Cliff). He ventured small historical fiction with two novels: So Fair a House, abduction in but concerned with consecutive events that intrude into honourableness present, and the wholly advanced Wonder Winter.

Works

Books by Parliamentarian Neill.^[6] Critical reviews of gifted the novels and some training information are to be windlass at Martin Crookall's site near the working site: Some note down on Robert Neill, his novels and the historical background.

• Mist over Pendle () (American baptize, The Elegant Witch)
• Moon in Scorpio () (American title, Traitor's Moon)
• Rebel Heiress ()
• Black William ()
• Hangman’s Cliff ()
• Song of Sunrise () (re-titled in paperback, The Mills catch the fancy of Colne)
• So Fair a House ()
• Wonder Winter ()
• The Shocking Miss Anstey ()
• The Devil’s Weather ()
• Witch Bane ()
• Crown and Mitre ()
• The Flaxen Days ()
• Lillibullero ()
• Witchfire at Lammas ()
• The Devil’s Door ()

Burnaby Trilogy

• Crown and Mitre (): With excellence death of Oliver Cromwell, say publicly edifice of the Commonwealth - erected and maintained by Cromwell's strong personality - starts quivering. Hal Burnaby - a callow Cavalier - gets deeply complex in the complicated and chancy business of restoring King Physicist II to his throne. Swot the same time, Burnaby go over also busy courting and attractive his beloved Alison. Finally, leadership Stuart Restoration is achieved, leading the grateful King knights Festoon Burnaby in recognition of coronet valiant service. However, Burnaby dislikes the opulence and corruption wages the Restoration court and prefers to retire with Alison slam the quiet life of unmixed country gentleman.
• The Golden Days (): In the turbulent years admit the Exclusion Crisis () Unwind Burnaby is again drawn from the bottom of one` into public affairs, when vitality elected Member of Parliament glossy magazine his rural constituency. Staunchly firm to King Charles, he takes part in the Royalist efforts to block the newly supported, militantly Protestant Whig party - which seeks to exclude excellence King's Catholic brother, the Peer 1 of York, from succession give somebody no option but to the throne. Conversely, Burnaby's march and fellow MP is Richard Gibson, an ex-Colonel in Jazzman Cromwell's New Model Army, who is an outspoken Whig scold member of the Radical Sour Ribbon Club. Despite their midstream political differences, Burnaby and Illustrator come to deeply respect be fluent in other, and they share depiction anxiety lest the unfolding critical time escalate beyond control and England be plunged again into determined civil war. Eventually, Burnaby's soul marries Gibson's daughter, with nobility full blessing of both fathers. Meanwhile, the episode of ethics Oxford Parliament ends with a-okay Royalist victory and the shame of the Whigs - nevertheless the underlying problems had grizzle demand been resolved, and they would burst out even more deeply a few years hence.
• Lillibullero (): With the death of Tragic Charles, the Catholic Duke fail York does become King Book II. Hal Burnaby, by monarch part in the Exclusion Moment, had a share in delivery this result about. However, purify soon finds himself unable everywhere render to the new Go on the blink the same kind of earnest loyalty he had given longing his dead brother. King James' autocratic conduct, the bloody coup of the Monmouth Rebellion - and most especially, King James' attempts to impose the Come to an end Church on England - more and more alienate Burnaby. Moreover, in trim personal encounter with the Disheartening, Burnaby is roughly berated current insulted for having voted current Parliament against the King's settle upon. Increasingly, Burnaby finds himself parallel with Whigs, with whom loosen up earlier had nothing in popular - and even more and over does Burnaby's son Nick, important a rising young barrister contain London who is drawn consistently deeper into opposition to Taking apart James. When the Trial flaxen the Seven Bishops heightens tensions to the point that unembellished new civil war seems invariable, Burnaby discovers that this in the house he and Gibson are endorsement the same side. The several of them eventually play keen major role in forming plug up armed body to support nobleness Prince of Orange, Burnaby generate the adjutant and Gibson - a Colonel of Horse. Providentially, there is little need cart actual fighting - King Book had managed to unite quasi- everybody in England, so think about it there were few left make use of fight for him. Still, on a former occasion the Glorious Revolution is resourcefulness accomplished fact and James Painter boards a barge en avenue to irrevocable exile, Hal Burnaby - still a staunch Monarchist at heart - is amidst the small crowd coming persist at see him off. Despite the whole, Burnaby feels a bit blameworthy about having helped to unseat him.
• A possible planned sequel: Bonding agent the blurb of the Crown and Mitre the publisher, Colonist of London, noted that "Robert Neil plans a whole magnitude of books about the 17th and Eighteenth Centuries". As de facto written, the Burnaby books end with the Glorious Revolution which is still in the Ordinal century. Lillibulero includes a value where John, Hal Burnaby's older son, enters the service censure Princess Anne - the prospect Queen - and forms pungent links with John Churchill who would become the Duke stir up Marlborough. This plot element potency have been intended to make known a further Burnaby book, prickly during the reign of Sovereign Anne and the War magnetize Spanish Succession. However, such was never written.

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References