The real story behind Burnt Norton: Lady Carnarvon and Caroline Montague on Writing Havens, Burnt Norton’s Past and Stories That Heal

I’m delighted to welcome historical novelist Caroline Montague to the castle, where we talk about how writing offers a refuge from everyday life and how she protects her creative time in her office with her dogs. Caroline shares the remarkable history of Burnt Norton, its links to T.S. Eliot’s “Four Quartets,” and the dramatic tale of Sir William Kite, whose scandal, bankruptcy, and death by fire helped give the house its name, alongside stories of the “white lady” said to haunt the top floor. We discuss her path from law and interior design to writing, her planning process shaped by a firm agent, shifting titles and covers, and her current rewrite of a book about a famous royal swap. We also chat about spaniels, horses and the comfort animals bring. 00:49 Writing Routine and Space 01:35 Career Path to Author 02:41 Burnt Norton and TS Eliot 04:42 William Kite House Tragedy 07:02 Ghost Stories White Lady 09:51 House History and Hauntings 11:25 Plotting Process and Ideas 13:16 Deadlines Output and Titles 15:18 Rewriting The Hook 16:08 Jigsaw Writing Method 17:17 Past Healing Present 18:17 Woods And Creativity 18:35 Spaniel Life And Social Media 19:59 Dressage Highs And Loss 21:09 New Horse Gio 22:33 Italy And Spanish Stallions 25:08 Books Animals And Imagination You can hear more episodes of Lady Carnarvon's Official Podcasts at New episodes are published on the first day of every month.

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The real story behind Burnt Norton: Lady Carnarvon and Caroline Montague on Writing Havens, Burnt Norton’s Past and Stories That Heal is an episode from Lady Carnarvon's Official Podcast by Highclere Media.

This episode is 26:43 long.

This episode was published on May 1, 2026.

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