Naomi Clifford

Recovering stories of women in history

My latest book

The Blitz diaries of a volunteer ambulance driver in Chelsea

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Latest news

Online talk

“By her own consent”: The Murder of Mary Ashford and Rape Culture in the Georgian Era. Date: Tuesday 8 December 2020, 7pm. Find out more.

To book, send an email to southlambethlibrary@lambeth.gov.uk.

The Door Podcast

Catch me on The Door History Podcast, a new project with Lena Augustinson, in which we unlock women’s stories. In 30-minute episodes.

Sunday Sequence

On 2 August I participated on BBC Radio Ulster’s discussion on the struggle to live up to the past.

Jury of Matrons talk

My talk related to Lucy Kirkwood’s play The Welkin at the National Theatre, London was cancelled due to the Coronavirus situation. Read the blog instead.

Sanditon

Read my review of the TV adaption of Jane Austen’s unfinished novel for the Historical Writers’ Association. Also my episode recaps.

Next project

I am in the process of completing the second draft of my book (w/t) The Stars Go Out, the story of an ambulance driver in Blitz-torn Chelsea. Talk to my agent for more information.

Reviews of my books

Miranda Kaufmann on The Disappearance of Maria Glenn

“Clifford tells her tale with sympathy and insight, carefully picking out the chain of events from the conflicting contemporary reports. The Disappearance of Maria Glenn is a fascinating read, dispelling our romantic notions of Regency ‘elopements’ by throwing light on a case where the ‘suitor’ was clearly motivated more by avarice than love.”

Emily Brand on Women and the Gallows

“[I] can already confirm that the actual contents are Very Excellent.”

Nell Darby on The Murder of Mary Ashford, in Criminal Historian

“What Naomi Clifford does particularly well is her placing of Mary Ashford’s murder into its context, but she also shows how its brutality ‘became a marker against which the murders of women were compared’. And what happened to the man who was acquitted of Mary’s murder, the unpleasant Abraham Thornton? You’ll have to read The Murder of Mary Ashford to find out more.”

donnasbookblog

“It is 4 stars from me for this one, it was a well-researched book and a great addition to my true crime collection – highly recommended!”

Books by Naomi Clifford

Praise for Naomi Clifford's books

A fascinating re-examination of one of Birmingham’s most notorious murders, exploring not only the events and evidence directly relating to the case but also the social context in which it took place and the role this played in its outcome. Naomi’s research is thorough and the conclusions she draws from it convincing, and for me, finally answer the questions surrounding the death of Mary Ashford. Highly readable and highly recommended.

Kate Gomez on The Murder of Mary Ashford

Naomi Clifford’s true life story of Maria Glenn is written with superb attention to detail and beautifully crafted. The author has a reel feel for both the period and for her shy heroine. She manages to combine historical accuracy with the drama of a good novel and keeps the pages turning to the end. I loved it and thoroughly recommend. I’m already looking forward to her next book…

Jane Cook on The Disappearance of Maria Glenn

Naomi Clifford’s accomplished account of the fate of 131 women sentenced to death by public execution between 1797 and 1837 is a grim, tragic and compulsive read… This book is an important record, bringing to the surface the injustices of female victims killed by a world with little compassion. It is also an invaluable source for historical fiction writers… A brilliantly researched document for our times.

Beatrice Parvin on Women and the Gallows

Talk to me about my latest project—the diary of a World War 2 auxiliary ambulance driver in Chelsea.
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