New book DONERAILE COURT: THE STORY OF THE LADY FREEMASON
Added: (Wed Feb 16 2022)
Pressbox (Press Release) -
NEW HISTORICAL FICTION NOVEL ABOUT THE FIRST LADY FREEMASON
NEW YORK, NY — Veteran journalist and tv news producer Kathleen Aldworth Foster has published her first historical fiction novel Doneraile Court: The Story of The Lady Freemason.
The novel is based on a true story that took place at the Doneraile Park Estate in Doneraile, County Cork, Ireland back in 1712.
The book brings to life the night when 17-year-old Elizabeth St. Leger was caught spying on Freemasons in the middle of a mysterious, dark, and bloody initiation ceremony in her family’s home, Doneraile Court.
Elizabeth’s own father voted to kill her. She was only saved when one of the Freemasons suggested an unorthodox solution: put her through the ritual, swear her to secrecy, and make her the first ever female Freemason.
In real life that man, Richard Aldworth, promised that night to be “responsible” for Elizabeth for the rest of his life… and he was. They married just five months later and lived together as married Masons for some 60 years – the only married regular Freemasons in recorded history.
Doneraile Court: The Story of The Lady Freemason is a story of truth, relief, and brotherly love… and proves well-behaved women seldom make history.
Kathleen first found out about Elizabeth Aldworth in the year 2000.
“I was celebrating the Y2k New Year’s Eve at the pyramids in Egypt when a man told me I share my middle name with the first female Freemason. This sparked my genealogical quest that confirmed The Lady Freemason is not one of my grandmas. But this book was born.”
Kathleen is available for interviews, podcast appearances and book signings. For bookings contact kathleen@donerailecourt.com.
PRAISE FOR DONERAILE COURT:
“Doneraile Court is a fascinating tale, beautifully written and well researched. It is set at a pivotal time for Freemasonry… and on one particular night when a family had a need to make life or death decisions.”
- Christopher Knight, Co-Author of The Hiram Key
“Doneraile Court is a tremendous feat of historical fiction that is so comprehensive as to provide a model for other works. It is an intriguing and important window, not only on the world’s oldest fraternity, but on Irish provincial relationships among the landed gentry, aristocracy, and their social set.”
- W. Bro. David J. Butler, PhD
Provincial Grand Librarian & Archivist, Provincial Grand Lodge of Munster
Amazon Review
David R. Shires
5.0 out of 5 stars A tale of secrets shared ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 February 2022
From the moment I stepped through the welcoming doors of 'Donaraile Court' I was captured.
A Freemason myself it was great to see such a accomplished telling of a story I was already familiar with. Not only does the author make you care about the characters but you can see she has done her research ... but there is still a few secrets we won't share ;)
I recommend this novel to lovers of mystery and history and wait with baited breath to see what Kathleen Aldworth Foster gives us next.