Madwomen, Moors, and Masks: A talk

This page is for in-person tickets for this event - please see our separate page for online tickets.

Step behind the scenes of Ravenscourt, Dr Samantha Ward-Smith’s forthcoming Victorian Gothic novel, to explore the research that shaped its world. From Venice’s crumbling palazzi and Carnival traditions to London society in the 1880s, she traces Gothic influences alongside real histories of women’s rights, slavery, and asylums. She also reveals the house that inspired Ravenscourt itself—where architecture and atmosphere mirror Victorian fears, secrets, and desires. A journey into the shadows where history and imagination intertwine.

Samantha Ward-Smith is the author of Tower of Vengeance, her debut historical novel set in the Tower of London during the 13th century, and the forthcoming Ravenscourt, a Victorian Gothic tale unfolding across Venice, London, and the windswept Lancashire moors. She lived in London for over three decades, building a career in investment banking while also pursuing a PhD in English at Birkbeck. For the past 13 years she has volunteered at the Tower of London, an experience that provided invaluable historical insight and directly shaped her writing. Now based in Kent by the sea, Samantha continues to explore the intersections of history, place, and story, writing in the company of her two cats, Belle and Rudy.

This event will be delivered both in-person and online. To book an online ticket,

People with in-person tickets will be able to watch the talk at Shoe Lane Library, and those with online tickets will be sent a Zoom link before the event. If you would like to change your ticket type, please email us at [email protected].

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