The Fortunes of Perkin Warbeck: a romance

Published in 1830, 'The Fortunes of Perkin Warbeck' is a historical novel by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley that explores the life of Perkin Warbeck, a pretender to the English throne who claimed to be Richard, Duke of York. Set against the backdrop of post-Bosworth political intrigue during the reign of Henry VII, Shelley portrays Warbeck as a genuine prince rather than an impostor, emphasizing his idealism and the tragic consequences of his quest for identity. The novel also highlights the character of Lady Katherine Gordon, Warbeck's wife, who embodies themes of friendship, domesticity, and female resilience in a male-dominated political landscape.