In Conversation with Essie Fox
Tuesday 30 September 2025
7pm-9pm, doors open at 6:30pm
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We are delighted to welcome Essie Fox to the beautiful Music Room at Stansted House to discuss her latest historical novel Dangerous.
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Living in exile, the disgraced Lord Byron revels in the freedoms of the city. But when he is associated with the deaths of local women, found with wounds to their throats, and then a novel called The Vampyre is published under his name, rumours begin to spread that Byron may be the murderer…
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Rich in gothic atmosphere and drawing on real events and characters from Byron’s life, Dangerous is a riveting, dazzling historical thriller, as decadent, dark and seductive as the poet himself…
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‘The Byronic soul in all its beauty and madness’- Victoria Dowd
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‘Exquisitely conjured… unputdownable gothic mystery’- Gill Paul
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‘Splendidly gothic and impressively researched. The brooding presence of Byron comes alive!’ Andrew Taylor
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Essie will be joined in conversation with author Vanessa Curtis.
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During the evening, there will be the opportunity to ask Essie questions and to purchase a copy of the book.
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£25 per person, includes a drink on arrival
Essie Fox was born and raised in rural Herefordshire, which inspires much of her writing. After studying English Literature at Sheffield University, she moved to London where she worked for the Telegraph Sunday Magazine, then the book publishers George Allen & Unwin – before becoming self-employed in the world of art and design.
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Always an avid reader, Essie now spends her time writing historical gothic novels. Her debut, The Somnambulist, was shortlisted for the National Book Awards, and featured on Channel 4's TV Book Club. The Last Days of Leda Grey, set in the early years of silent film, was selected as The Times Historical Book of the Month. Essie is also the creator of the popular blog: The Virtual Victorian and has lectured on this era at the V&A, and the National Gallery in London.
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About Vanessa Curtis
Vanessa Curtis is an award-winning author of books for teens and children, including Zelah Green which won the Manchester Children’s Book Prize and was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize. She was also one of the co-founders of the Virginia Woolf Society of Great Britain and is the author of two biographies on Virginia Woolf. Vanessa also reviews books for the national newspapers and runs The Curtis Children’s Literacy Consultancy, specialising in YA fiction.
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Access Requirements
Step-free access to Stansted House is available. Please note however that the lift may not be able to accommodate some motorised wheelchairs or mobility scooters.
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Please contact us on visitors@stanstedpark.co.uk or by calling 02392 412 265 (opt 5) to discuss accessibility for this event further.