A Cheshire historian has been exploring a local figure likely to be the 'Dark Lady' described in Shakespeare's sonnets.

Author Tony Bostock has published his latest book - Queen Elizabeth I's Maid of Honour and Shakespeare's Dark Lady: The Life and Loves of Mary Fitton.

In it, he looks back on the life of Mary Fitton of Gawsworth Hall, examining her story in the context of her immediate family, her life in the Queen's court, her companions and her relationships.

It also considers the arguments for and against her identification as the 'Dark Lady' - a character that appears in William Shakespeare's sonnets, specifically those numbered 127 through 154.

Former Macclesfield resident Tony said: "I have always been intrigued that Mary could be the Dark Lady and so began to investigate.

"I am convinced that she is the 'Dark Lady' and wanted to tell her story - a colourful and eventful life."

Mary was born in 1578 and grew up in the village of Gawsworth, just outside of Macclesfield.

She became a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I and many of the gentlemen of her court, having affairs with some and becoming pregnant by one, resulting in a threat of being imprisoned in the Tower of London.

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Unlike other books and articles which concentrate on the academic arguments about her and Shakespeare's sonnets, Tony has chosen to concentrate on Mary's family and her life as a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I, as a mistress, her association with the famous poet, as a wife and a mother.

The book summarises some of the arguments for and against Mary as Shakespeare's 'Dark Lady' and concludes that she most probably is.

It concludes by referring to an interesting hypothesis in a fairly recent book by another writer as to the authorship of the sonnets which only adds to the intrigue about Mary – that she wrote most of them!

To find out more, including how to purchase a copy of the book, visit Tony's website - www.tonybostock.com.