Tudor Book Blog

A new book is coming out in a few days (April 2) on the dissolution of the monostaries. The book asks “What happened to the monks, their orders and the communities they served after Henry VIII’s break with Rome in 1536? In THE LAST OFFICE Geoffrey Moorhouse reveals how the Dissolution of the Monasteries affected the great Benedictine priory at Durham, drawing for his sources on material that has lain forgotten in the recesses of one of our great cathedrals.”

I am actually looking really forward to this. I am writing a paper on this topic in one of my classes, so hopefully it will prove helpful!

Here is the link for more info.

A new book is coming out in May of this year titled “Castles & Palaces of the Tudors & Stuarts: The Golden Age of Britain’s Historic & Stately Houses” by Charles Phillips. It is well priced at only about 12 dollars. It looks intereting. I love books about Tudor architecture and love looking at pics of the palaces. 

Here is the link for more info.

For those of you interested in historical costuming, the writers of The Tudor Tailor (which I highly recommend) are putting out a new book, The King’s Servants in June 2009. It foucuses on men’s clothing at the ascension of Henry VIII. 

Here is the link for more information and pre-ordering.

The second addition of David Starkey’s two-part series on Henry VIII is due out in the UK in October of this year. I am a fan of Starkey’s “Six Wives” and can’t wait to get my copy of “Henry: Virtuous Prince” in a few weeks!

According to the site, Starkey asks “How and why did Henry VIII turn from a glamorous Renaissance prince into this country’s greatest tyrant?” 

Here is the link.

A biography on Mary Boleyn in coming out next month titled “Mary Boleyn: The True Story of Henry VIII’s Mistress” by Josephine Wilkinson. Here is a description: 

“The scandalous true story of Mary Boleyn, infamous sister of Anne, and mistress of Henry VIII. Mary Boleyn, ‘the infamous other Boleyn girl’, began her court career as the mistress of the king of France. Francois I of France would later call her ‘The Great Prostitute’ and the slur stuck. The bete-noir of her family, Mary was married her off to a minor courtier but it was not long before she caught the eye of Henry VIII and a new affair began. Although a bright star at Henry’s court, she was soon eclipsed by her highly spirited and more accomplished sister, Anne, who rapidly took her place in the king’s heart. However, the ups and downs of the Boleyn sisters were far from over. Mary would emerge the sole survivor of a family torn apart by lust and ambition, and it is in Mary and her progeny that the Boleyn legacy rests.”

It looks interesting. I wonder what the author will say about Henry possibly fathering Mary at least one of Mary’s children…

Here is the link.

A new bio. on Jane Seymour, third wife of Henry VIII is due for release this May in the UK. There is very little written about Jane, who is usually brushed over for the other wives. However, her short reign produced the one thing Henry VIII longed for from his other wives: a son.

Here is the amazon link for more info.

A new bio. on Edward is coming out next month in the US titled “Edward VI: The Lost King of England” by Chris Skidmore. It is true that Edward has been vastly overshadowed in history by his siblings and father. However, his short reign is worth reading up on! One  review says that “Skidmore’s fast-paced biography, which draws on Edward’s journals and correspondence, brings this king and his brief reign to vivid life.” I honestly haven’t read a ton on Edward compared to other Tudor peoples,

I received an e-mail about a new book titled “Tudor Rose” by Sue Allen. It is based upon the writings of Lady Rose Hickman. Here is the link to the site which has some excerpts from the book. She has also written a biography on Lady Rose titled “Lady Rose Hickman: Her Life and Family.”

I have also added “Tudor Rose” to the Lit. Discussion Boards!

Thanks for the e-mail Sue Allen!

I have made discussion boards for Tudor literature! You can use them to discuss both non-fiction and fiction books with other Tudor Lit. fans! 

Here is a link to the forums! Hope you enjoy!

Libby has written a novel on “bad girl” Katheryn Howard titled “The King’s Rose.” She says that “Catherine has a very fast rise to fame and a fast downfall.” I haven’t personally read this book, but I am intrigued and will probably pick it up soon!

Here is a link to the full article with more info. on the author and book.

The famous White Tower in the Tower of London has seen its number of victims. In White Tower, Edward Impey integrates “the most recent archaeological evidence with documentary research in order to trace the building’s structural development, its original and subsequent functions, and its architectural and historical significance.”

Looks pretty interesting. Here is the link.

A new bio. on Henry VIII’s famous victim Margaret Pole is due to be released on April 15, 2009. The bio. by Hazel Pierce is titled Margaret Pole, 1473-1541: Loyalty, Lineage and Leadership.

Here is the link for more information.

Weir released an updated version of Britain’s Royal Families: The Complete Genealogy in Jan. 2009. 

Here is the link.

A compilation of all the recent discoveries about Henry VIII has been released by Derek Wilson titled A Brief History of Henry VIII. 

The publisher says. “Wilson draws together all the most recent discoveries and looks afresh at the fascinating life and times of the Tudor monarch, particularly, looking at the King’s childhood which is too often dismissed, and the influences of his father and grandfather.”

It was released March 9, 2009. Here is the amazon link for more info.

The fatherly love of Sir Thomas More for his daughter Margaret is legendary, memorialized in his last letter to her before his execution in 1533. A new book has been written by John Guy on the subject titled A Daughter’s Love: Thomas More and His Dearest Meg. The book was released March 17, 2009.

Here is the amazon link.

Allison Weir is one of my favorite historians. Her newest release is a biography on Katherine Swynford titled Mistress of the Monarchy: The Life of Katherine Swynford, Duchess of Lancaster. The book was released Jan. 27, 2009 here in the US. Katherine was the mistress and eventually wife of John of Gaunt.

I know this is a bit before Tudor times, however Katherine is the great-grandmother of Margaret Beaufort, and thus g-g-great grandmother of Henry VIII. Here story is fascinating and worth looking at. 

Here is the amazon link.

Though released last month, this novel sparked my interest because of its subject: Jane Popyncourt. The novel is titled Secrets of the Tudor Court: The Pleasure Palace by Kate Emerson. 

Jane was a rumored mistress of Henry VIII. The affair was rumored to have begun shortly after his marriage to Katherine of Aragon. However, few historians give the rumors any credit, nor is there any solid proof it ever took place. 

The book, however, looks interesting. I haven’t read it though, so I don’t know for sure! If anyone reads it, let me know and I will post!

I have written a short bio. of Jane here, along with info. on Henry’s other mistresses (both rumored and confirmed). Jane’s bio is located at the bottom of the page.

Here is the amazon link.

The Sisters Who Would Be Queen is by Leanda de Lisle. It is about the Grey sisters (Lady Jane Grey the “Nine Days Queen” and her sisters Catherine and Mary.

It was released in the UK recently and has announced that it will be released in the US on Oct. 1, 2009! I’m very excited, but planning on buying it in the UK next month anyway….;p 

Here is the amazon link for more info.

Anne Boleyn is probably the most written on consort of Henry VIII. Here is yet another bio. (don’t worry, I’m not complaining :p) by Elizabeth Norton titled Anne Boleyn: Henry VIII’s Obsession. 

Here is the amazon link for more info.

Lacey Baldwin Smith, a tenured Tudor historian, has written a new bio. on Katheryn Howard called Catherine Howard: The Queen Whose Adulteries Made a Fool of Henry VIII. Katheryn Howard was Henry VIII’s 5th wife who was executed for adultery. She was also the first cousin of Anne Boleyn (Henry’s other wife executed for adultery). This is the first bio. on Kat in a long time! 

Here is the amazon link for more info.

my pay check just isn’t big enough for all the new books coming out!!!!