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SALLY Varlow's account of the forgotten woman who was Penelope Devreux would tick most of the boxes to fulfil any soap opera addict.

The tale of a woman who was "airbrushed from history" combines the classic themes of love, sex, power and money, featuring cameos from King Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth I and poet Sir Philip Sidney.

Sally Varlow kept the audience at Lydiard House enraptured as she unfolded the story of Lady Penelope who, despite being a favourite in the courts of both Queen Elizabeth I and King James, rarely rates a mention in the histories of either of these reigns.

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This bright star of the royal court, a notorious beauty and muse to poets and musicians, led an eventful but, until now, largely undocumented, life.

In her latest book, Sally uncovers new evidence that Penelope was a direct descendent of Henry VIII, the product of an affair between the king and her great-grandmother, Mary Boleyn.

She also revealed links between Lady Penelope and Lydiard House, although admitted it was not certain that she had actually visited the house - and if anyone knew of evidence she asked that they kept quiet about it until the reprint!

The book, The Lady Penelope: The Lost Tale Of Love And Politics In The Court of Elizabeth I is published by Andre Deutsch.

9:56am Friday 9th May 2008

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