Tudor Book Blog

Author of the new novel “The King’s Rose” (chronicling the life of Katheryn Howard) has answered questions on the Query Queen Blog. It is interesting to see how she was inspired, her favorite books, her daily routine, and even what her desk space looks like! She also gives advice to new writers.

Here is the link.

Here is the amazon link for more info. on “The King’s Rose.”

Though not exactly Tudor, this book has Tudor connections. “The Last Queen” is a fictional account from the eyes of Princess Juana, sister of Katherine of Aragon (1st Wife of Henry VIII). It is a retelling of her life from marriage to becoming heir of the Spanish throne. According to the publisher, “Spanish Princess Juana, 13, watches as her parents, King Fernando and Queen Isabel, unite Spain, vanquish Moors and marry their children off to foreign kingdoms for favorable alliances: Princess Catalina becomes first wife to Henry VIII; Princess Juana, who narrates, is shipped off to marry Philip of Flanders, heir to the Hapsburg Empire. Although Juana balks at leaving Spain for the north and a husband she has never met, their instant chemistry soon turns to love. Years and children later, Juana unexpectedly becomes next in line to the Spanish crown and must carefully navigate every step of the journey from Flanders to Spain, fearful of alienating husband or parents or both. Emotional and political tensions soar as Juana’s loyalties are tested to their limits. Disturbing royal secrets and court manipulations wickedly twist this enthralling story, brilliantly told.”

I wonder if it shows her going crazy….?

Here is the amazon link for more info.

Here is an article on the newish novel on Catherine Parr, sixth wife of Henry VIII. The story is told through the eyes of the Duchess of Suffolk, a close friend of Catherine Parr. Here is the article for more detail on the book, as well as the opinion of the article author on the book.

Here’s the amazon link for more book info. and ordering options.

This new release by Tracy Borman is set to “shed new light on [Elizabeth's] formative years. Elizabeth’s turbulent relationships with her rivals are examined: from her sister, ‘Bloody’ Mary, to the sisters of Lady Jane Grey, and finally the most deadly of all her rivals, Mary, Queen of Scots who would give birth to the man Elizabeth would finally, inevitably have to recognize as heir to her throne. It is a chronicle of the servants, friends and ‘flouting wenches’ who brought out the best - and the worst - of Elizabeth’s carefully cultivated image as Gloriana, the Virgin Queen, in the glittering world of her court.”

Here is the amazon link.

Tracy Borman will be launching her new book along with Allison Weir at the Tower of London in Sept. Here is a link to Weir’s blog for more info.

 Allison Wier, one of my favorite authors, is holding a book launch for her new book The Lady In The Tower: The Fall Of Anne Boleyn. Ah, what a great place to have a book launch…as well as very befitting for the subject matter of her book!

According to the blog, “This event will take place on the evening of 9th September 2009, and will be a joint event with Tracy Borman, whose book, Elizabeth’s Women, is being launched at the same time.” The blog also has an itinerary of events for the launch.

Tracy Borman’s book, which I believe I posted a while back, will receive its own post for more info.

Here is the link to Weir’s blog for more info.

Here is the amazon link to check out her new book!

If you go to the event and want to share about it, please do! You can contact me here! I know I and other readers would love to know how it goes!

Another book on Henry VIII’s mistresses (and illegitimate children) is coming out next month in the UK. The book is titled “The Other Tudors: Henry VIII’s Mistresses and Bastards” and by author Philippa Jones. The publisher explains, “Everybody thinks they know the tale of King Henry VIII’s wives: divorced, beheaded died; divorced, beheaded, survived. But behind this familiar story, lies a far more complex truth. This book brings together for the first time the ‘other women’ of King Henry VIII. When he first came to the throne, Henry VIII’s mistresses were dalliances, the playthings of a powerful and handsome man. However, when Anne Boleyn disrupted that pattern, ousting Katherine of Aragon to become Henry’s wife, a new status quo was established. Suddenly noble families fought to entangle the king with their sisters and daughters; if wives were to be beheaded or divorced so easily, the mistress of the king was in an enviable position.” 

Here is the amazon link.

Henry VIII’s palace of Whitehall (originally Wolsey’s York Palace) is now the subject of a book released this month. Though the book covers the entire history of the palace, it has chapters on Wolsey, Henry and Elizabeth I. This palace has always interested me as it is very important in Tudor History, yet nothing really remains of it.

Here is the amazon link.

I know I have posted several things about this book already, but I just keep receiving more and more on it! I am actually becoming quite interested in it and can hopefully get my hands on a copy soon!

This new article discusses how “Wolf Hall” doesn’t follow the typical tight bodice Hollywood style, but rather presents a “darker
and less digestible” look.

Here is the article-it gives some interesting info. on the book, including plot and style.

This book has been out since Oct., but I just ran across it today. It looks great! It covers queens from Cleopatra to Princess Di who were down on their luck and met bad ends. There is a bit on Henry VIII’s queens (big surprise there!) as well as Marie Antoinette (another interest of mine), Alexandra Romanov (another another interest), and many other queens from biblical to modern times!

Here is the link to the book’s site (which has a blog, videos, etc).

Here is the amazon link also.

This novel came out Dec. 2008, but I just ran across it today and thought I would post. The novel delves into the “truth” behind Elizabeth as the “Virgin Queen.” Well…she isn’t or the book would not have a plot The story follow’s Elizabeth and Thomas Seymour’s daughter (who was whisked away at birth and given to a kindly noble couple). She eventually makes her way back to court and comes face to face with the Queen. Sounds interesting! 

Here’s the amazon link for more info.!

Rona Sharon, author of the new Tudor mystery novel Royal Blood, is interviewed and asked how she researches for her stories. It is an interesting article, getting into the mind of the writer. 

Here’s the link.

This is a new novel based on the few instances in history when the Thames has frozen. The book contains several short stories, all revolving around the Thames freezing. Several of the stories are set in Medieval and Tudor times and go up to the 1800’s. It was released in the USA in March.

Here is the amazon link.

Here is a review (including a summary) of “The King’s Rose” from Harmony book reviews:

“Title: The King’s Rose

Author: Alisa M. Libby

Rating: 8/10

Good If… You enjoy historical romances.

Summary: (Taken from Amazon)

Though well aware of her cousin Anne Boleyn’s fate only four years earlier, 15-year-old Catherine Howard acquiesces with her ambitious, conniving relatives’ plans and marries King Henry VIII. He calls her “my rose without a thorn,” but she is well aware of the thorny secrets she conceals: no virgin when she and the king married, she later begins a sexual liaison at court, partly in a desperate effort to produce an heir. Soon, Catherine begins a downward spiral toward madness and despair. An author’s note separates historical fact from conjecture in this account of Catherine’s short years as Henry’s “rose.” Libby offers a convincing, sympathetic portrayal of a young woman who relinquishes her hopes of marrying for love and finds herself doomed by her choices and deceptions. Hardly an active heroine, Catherine falls into a trap early on and, in the end, has little left but her dignity. This one’s for historical-fiction fans who will appreciate this character study of Henry’s fifth wife.

My Thoughts:I picked this one up due to my newly found fascination with King Henry VIII. I must admit that at first, I had no clue going on, with all of the court speak and repeated names. It look me a good hundred pages or so to understand who was related to who and which person they were (seriously, how many Janes, Catherines, and Annes can you have in one book?) but once I finally got it, everything began falling into place. The back-stabbing and deception that goes on between the characters is absolutely ridiculous but also, sadly, realistic. Even though the ending is quite obvious if you know anything about Henry, I found myself rooting for Catherine throughout the whole book. The ending, even though I knew it was coming, was heartbreaking for me and I found myself near tears at one point.

If you’re a history buff or just enjoy historical romances, I definitely recommend you pick this one up ASAP.”

I put the whole review here, but here’s the link anyway.

Here is what the Edinburgh News says about the book:

“The Mistresses of Henry VIII by Kelly Hart is published by The History Press, priced £20. 
King Henry VIII (1491-1547), who ruled England for 38 years, is best remembered for his six wives, two of whom he had beheaded. He is also famed for being a trencherman at meal times, which turned him into a king-sized monster with a 54-inch waistline by the time he reached middle age. This well-researched book examines in fascinating detail his less well-known vice of promiscuity which dominated his life until age, ill-health and obesity effectively neutered him.

Hart tells us much about Henry VIII’s mistresses and known illegitimate offspring. His roving eye constantly combed the ranks of his current wife’s ladies-in-waiting for potential recruits into adultery. The women were a varied bunch, not always young or beautiful, but happy to accommodate the king for the advantages this would bring. Henry VIII was a classic example of the dictum that absolute power corrupts absolutely. Today, he is accurately described as ‘England’s Stalin’ yet, amazingly, he seems to have been loved by the mass of his subjects.”

7/10 Review by Anthony Looch

Here’s the link to the article (the page has several reviews of different books, so I put just the Mistresses review).

Here’s an article I found about the new Mary I bio. In it, the author is attempting to steer away from the image of Mary as the cause of all the violence in the Tudor Dynasty. Here’s the link to the article for more info.

Here’s the amazon link for more info. on the book.

Anne Easter Smith is going to be at the Hingham Town Library, MA on May 13th at 7pm to discuss her new book “The King’s Grace” about Grace Plantagenet (the illegitimate daughter of Edward IV), the Princes in the Tower, and Perkin Warbeck. 

Here’s the amazon link for more info. on the book.

Here’s the link for more info. on the book signing.

In this interview, Antonia Fraser (one of my favorite authors!!!) who wrote Mary Queen of Scots, The Six Wives of Henry VIII, Marie Antoinette: The Journey, and many more discusses her Tudor books as well as being a female writing in the 60’s, 70’s and how it is different today.

It has been 40 years since her book Mary Queen of Scots was published and I think a 40th Anniversary copy is coming out! I have started it, but like so many I haven’t had a chance to finish it yet! But I do highly recommend her Six Wives of Henry VIII. It is reeeeeeally good!

Here is the link.