As long as there's been marriage, there's been mistresses – from Anne Boleyn to Madame de Pompadour, Nell Gwyn to Lillie Langtry. But a recent crop of recent biographies have revealed the extraordinary political and cultural influence that many of these mistresses exercised. So what role have mistresses had throughout history? Hannah Greig is lecturer in history at the University of York, and Alison Weir is a historian whose books include Katherine Swynford: The story of John of Gaunt and his Scandalous Duchess. Alison is also part of a group called the History Girls, along with Kate Williams, Sarah Gristwood, and Tracy Borman. At their meetings they each make a case for underrepresented women in history. Lizz Pearson went along to meet them.
Henrietta Howard: King's Mistress, Queen's Servant by Tracy Borman is published by Jonathan Cape ISBN-10: 022407606X
Katherine Swynford by Alison Weir is published by Jonathan Cape ISBN-10: 0224063219
England's Mistress: The Infamous Life of Emma Hamilton by Kate Williams is published by Arrow Books ISBN-10: 0099451832
Bird of Paradise: The Colourful Career of the First Mrs Robinson is published by Bantam Books ISBN-10: 0553816179
