New book inspired by Alnwick's Poison Garden
A potent tale of passion and revenge amongst the leaves of the poison garden - where plants to cure sit side by side with those that can kill is inspired by the real Poison Garden, at The Alnwick Garden located in the grounds of Alnwick Castle
The Duchess of Northumberland’s fascination and knowledge of poisons give the book an unnerving element of reality. In a place where the same plant can potentially kill or cure, knowledge can bring a great deal of power, and it is this authenticity that sets the Poison Diaries aside as a darkly unique romance.
Jessamine has spent her life in her father’s poison garden, unafraid of the danger lurking there. Until Weed, an orphan boy with a natural touch for the apothecary trade comes to live with the family. Dark and mysterious, he seems to share a bond with the plants of the garden and is soon unleashing their potential to give life, and to take it away. As Jessamine gets closer to Weed she discovers that he may be as dangerous as the plants he tends to. Soon the story twists from romance, to murder. Could there be a dark secret behind his connection with the poison garden?
“The power of plants is often unbelievable, and in the wrong hands it can be lethal. The same plant can generally kill, cure, and also be a potent aphrodisiac. The gift of being able to communicate with such plants would surely be the ultimate power for a human to possess. (My husband frequently worries about my interest in and knowledge of poisonous plants!) I look at Datura plants growing side by side with strychnine and hemlock in The Poison Garden and I can imagine what incredible stories they would have to tell. This is how my idea for The Poison Diaries came about.”
Jane Northumberland has cultivated the beautiful Alnwick garden for fourteen years, helping to make the castle the most popular tourist destination in the North of England. The castle is also featured as the Hogwarts School in the Harry Potter films.
Jane Northumberland is married to the 12th Duke of Northumberland and is mistress of Alnwick Castle, often referred to as “The Windsor of the North.” The earls and dukes of Northumberland have lived in Alnwick Castle for 700 years. The Duchess has spent the last fourteen years creating beautiful public gardens in the grounds of the castle and, because of her fascination and knowledge of poisons, has created the world-famous Poison Garden. Alnwick Castle, and The Alnwick Garden, is the most popular tourist destination in the North of England, attracting more than 800,000 visitors each year. For further information please visit www.alnwickcastle.com and www.alnwickgarden.com.
Maryrose Wood began her career writing for the theatre and film, as a lyricist, librettist, playwright and screenwriter. She was the first recipient of the Georgia Bogardus Holof Lyricist Award, and is a three-time recipient of the Richard Rodgers Award for New Musicals. She has written a number of novels for young adults, including Why I Let My Hair Grow Out and What I Wore to Save the World.
To find out more about The Poison Diaries, visit www.poisondiaries.com