About
Geraldine Roberts is an author and historian specialising in the Regency era. She researches the lives of real people, trawling through letters and diaries to uncover remarkable true stories from the past. Her first book, The Angel and the Cad, is published by MacMillan, and is an Amazon #1 bestseller. Her new release, The Rebel and the Peacemaker, will be published worldwide by Canelo in June 2026.
Geraldine grew up in East London, and worked in a bank for many years, before following her dream to be a writer. In 2010, she obtained a Master’s Degree in History (with distinction) from Queen Mary University of London, followed by a Foundation in Performing Arts from The City Literature Institute (City Lit). She has written several short plays and is a member of a theatre improvisation group that meets once a week to create scenes and sketches.
Q&A - The Rebel and the Peacemaker
Geraldine’s research
How did the idea for your latest book originate?
I was sifting through a box of miscellaneous documents, when I came across a letter written by Mary Bagot in 1808, where she told her brother, ‘your superior officers have the right to take the piss out of you’. I was amused by this thinking – well, that’s rude, and it’s exactly what I would say to my brother. I felt a connection to Mary, and was eager to learn more. Further investigations revealed she was a maverick and trailblazer, and I felt a compelling urge to tell her story.
How long did it take to write this book?
I worked on this book for around eight years. The research was a monumental task, as I reviewed thousands of letters, plus contemporary diaries, memoirs and newspapers. Writing a book like this is very much a labour of love. But there is something very exciting about lifting the lid on a box of old letters, or reading a diary, and discovering long hidden secrets from the past.
What was the most notable discovery in your research?
Mary and Charles Bagot were embroiled in various scandals, which I found intriguing as I hunted for clues, and pieced together that part of the story. Probably my most poignant discovery was testimonies from indigenous American ‘great chiefs’. Their words really moved me, as they described how they were being driven from their land, and left with no means to survive.
Can we truly relate to people who lived so long ago?
Yes, absolutely. Even though Mary and Charles Bagot were born in the 18th century, their concerns really resonated with me. Their experiences of growing up in London were similar to my own as they partied hard, worried about their futures, struggled to get on the property ladder and endeavoured to find their place in the world. Their anxieties are universal, echoing down through history.
