Tessa Arlen

Tessa Arlen is a highly acclaimed English author, best known for her historical mystery series and her historical fiction novels. She was born in Chiltern Hills, England and spent a significant portion of her childhood traveling the world with her parents, who were British diplomats. These early experiences exposed her to a wide range of cultures and places, which would later influence her writing.

Arlen's works are heavily influenced by the English countryside, with her Lady Montfort Mystery series set in the picturesque beech woods, rolling hills, and flint stone villages of England. She has cited authors such as Richard Adams and Kenneth Grahame as some of her biggest influences, due to their detailed and vivid descriptions of the English countryside. Her characters are often wickedly funny and eccentric, drawing inspiration from authors such as Nancy Mitford and E.F. Benson.

In addition to her Lady Montfort Mystery series, Arlen has also written historical fiction novels, such as "In Royal Service to the Queen" and "A Dress of Violet Taffeta." "In Royal Service to the Queen" tells the story of Queen Elizabeth II's governess, Marion Crawford, and is based on true events. "A Dress of Violet Taffeta" is based on the life of Lucy Duff Gordon, a dress designer, haute couturière and Titanic survivor.

Arlen, who is married to an American, currently resides in the high desert of the Southwest, where she gardens in the summer and writes historical fiction in the winter. She is an active member of the historical fiction community, and her works have been well-received by both critics and readers alike.