Lisa Hilton Contemporary Authors: A Bio-Bibliographical Guide to Current Writers, vol. 219, 2004, Gale Group, p. 152 is a British writer of history books, historical fiction, articles for magazines and newspapers including Vogue and The Sunday Telegraph, librettist, and as L. S. Hilton, psychological thrillers Maestra (2016), Domina (2017) and Ultima (2018). She was elected a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society in 2024.
Television In 2019 Hilton presented the two-part BBC television documentary Charles I: Downfall of a King.
Books
Athénais: The Real Queen of France Athénais: The Real Queen of France (2002) is a biography of Louis XIV's mistress Françoise-Athénaïs, marquise de Montespan. A review of this book draws parallels between her and Camilla Parker Bowles, the former mistress of King Charles III, now his wife and Queen Consort of the United Kingdom.
Mistress Peachum's Pleasure: The Life of Lavinia, Duchess of Bolton Mistress Peachum's Pleasure (2006) is a biography of the eighteenth-century actress Lavinia Fenton, Duchess of Bolton.
Queens Consort: England's Medieval Queens Queens Consort (2010) charts the extraordinary lives of England's medieval queens from Eleanor of Aquitaine to Elizabeth of York.
The House with Blue Shutters The House with Blue Shutters (2010) is a novel set in southern France in World War Two and the present day.
The Horror of Love: Nancy Mitford and Gaston Palewski in Paris and London The Horror of Love (2011) tells the story of famous English novelist and socialite Nancy Mitford's relationship with Gaston Palewski. In contrast to most biographers of Mitford, Hilton believes this relation is crucial to understanding Nancy. The Evening Standard found the style pedestrian but otherwise the book was "well-paced and informative". The Independent praised its charm in bringing Mitford's world to life. The Daily Express found it a good story, despite several minor errors. It was also reviewed by Kirkus Reviews.
Wolves in Winter Wolves in Winter (2012) is a novel set in late 15th-century Italy. The central character, Mura, is sold as a slave aged 5, and eventually finds herself in the Florentine court. Red called it a "richly detailed page-turner" and compared it to Philippa Gregory.
Elizabeth: Renaissance Prince - A Biography Elizabeth: Renaissance Prince (2014) provides new insights into one of England's greatest monarchs. It uses new research in France, Italy, Russia and Turkey to present a fresh interpretation of Elizabeth as a queen who saw herself primarily as a Renaissance prince, delivering a very different perspective on Elizabeth's emotional and sexual life, and upon her attempts to mould England into a European state. Elizabeth I was not an exceptional woman but an exceptional ruler: Hilton redraws English history with this animated portrait of an astounding life. Her biography maps Elizabeth's dramatic journey from a timid, newly crowned queen to one of England's most successful monarchs. The Independent praised it as 'an impressive balancing act; while eruditely analysing Renaissance ideas and Elizabethan realpolitik it retains all the sexiness we have come to expect from books about the Tudors. ... Hilton is particularly good at describing how Elizabeth created an immediately recognisable image and then presented it through portraits rich in allegory.' It is dedicated to her daughter.
The Stolen Queen The Stolen Queen (2015) is an historical novel set in 1199 amid the backdrop of the great political struggles of medieval Europe.
Fiction published as L. S. Hilton
As L. S. Hilton, she is the author of psychological thriller Maestra, the first of a trilogy published by Bonnier Zaffre, G. P. Putnam's Sons, and 42 other publishers worldwide in 2016. Sony Pictures acquired the novel's film rights prior to publication: Amy Pascal is scheduled to produce the film through her Pascal Pictures production company, with the screenplay written by Erin Cressida Wilson. In June 2016 Hilton was named as Glamour Magazine's 'Writer of the Year' for Maestra. Domina, the sequel to Maestra, was published in April 2017. Ultima, the Trilogy's conclusion, was published in April 2018.
Librettist
As an opera librettist, Hilton has written Love Hurts, with music by Nicola Moro. The opera received its first performance in Milan at the Piccolo Teatro on 25 June 2016 , conducted by James Ross, with its US premiere in New York City, at Symphony Space, in October 2016.
Journalism
Hilton has written for The Spectator, The Times Literary Supplement, Literary Review, Vogue, Tatler, Elle, The Royal Academy Magazine, The Daily Beast, The Evening Standard, The Observer, The Independent and The Daily Telegraph. She writes a monthly restaurant column for the British cultural and political affairs magazine Standpoint.
Personal life Lisa Hilton was born in December 1974https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/hilton-lisa-1974 in Liverpool to parents who worked in education, as teachers of English and French, and Sociology respectively. She studied English at New College, Oxford, then history of art in France and Italy. She spent a short time working as an intern for Christie's auction house. Hilton has been married three times. With husband Nicola Moro, an Italian composer, she had a daughter, Ottavia; they have since divorced.
In 2023, Hilton accused Taki Theodoracopulos of attempting to rape her in 2009. He was convicted, and given a 12 month suspended sentence, which he appealed, vociferously denying the charge.https://thecritic.co.uk/issues/may-2025/defying-a-pervert/#https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/05/taki-theodoracopulos-given-12-month-suspended-sentence-for-attempted
Bibliography
Non-fiction Athenais: The Life of Louis XIV's Mistress, the Real Queen of France (2002) Mistress Peachum's Pleasure: The Life of Lavinia, Duchess of Bolton (2005) Queens Consort: England's Medieval Queens (2008) The Horror of Love: Nancy Mitford and Gaston Palewski in Paris and London (2011) Elizabeth: Renaissance Prince - A Biography (2014)
Fiction The House with the Blue Shutters (2010) Wolves in Winter (2012) The Stolen Queen (2015)
As L. S. Hilton Maestra (2016) Domina (2017) Ultima (2018)
Filmography + List of television credits Year(s) Title Channel Role Notes 2010 Vampires, Why They Bite BBC Three Author, presenter 2010 Glamour Puds Channel 4 Self Season 2, episode 2 2011 The Great British Bake Off BBC Two Self Episode: "Patisserie" 2011 Giles and Sue's Royal Wedding BBC Two 2011 Versailles: Dream of a King Brook Lapping Co-author, appearance 2012 Red Hot History Proper Television Principal contributor 2012 Tendres Rivales Arte Co-author, presenter French 2012 Chateau Chunder: A Wine Revolution ABC1 Self 2013 The Real White Queen and Her Rivals BBC Two Contributor 2013 Museum Secrets Kensington TV Principal contributor 2014 The Royals back2back Principal contributor 2016 Bloody Queens: Elizabeth and Mary BBC Two Advisor, appearance 2017 Elizabeth I's Secret Agents 72 Films Scriptwriter, presenter Won: Royal Television Society Award (History)Nominated: BAFTA (Specialist Factual) 2017 Inside... Channel 5 Episodes: "Kensington Palace", "Westminster Abbey" 2019 Charles I: Downfall of a King BBC Four Series presenter 2020 Charles I: Killing a King BBC Four Series presenter 2021 Royal Bastards: Rise of the Tudors 72 Films Consultant expert 2022 Secrets of the Royal Palaces Channel 5 Presenter Season 2
Notes