📖 Publication Day Review ~ Henry VIII : The Heart and the Crown by Alison Weir

 

Headline
11 May 2023

Tudor Rose #2

My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book

Having completed her Six Tudor Queens series of novels on the wives of Henry VIII, extensively researched and written from each queen’s point of view, Alison Weir now gives Henry himself a voice, telling the story of his remarkable thirty-six-year reign and his six marriages.

A young boy grows up dreaming of knights and chivalry. Henry is the second son. He is never meant to rule.

But the death of his brother changes everything, and  a great destiny awaits this young prince. One day he will be the infamous King in English history.

📖 My Review..

We all know the story of Henry VIII and his Six Wives but most often the story is told from the perspective of the wronged wives. In this account, historian, Alison Weir brings us Henry's point of view, from his early days as a charismatic young king, to the irascible, and malevolent, old man who struck terror into the hearts of his people. Blending historical fact, with fiction, this book continues the Tudor Rose trilogy which  began with The Last White Rose: A Novel of Elizabeth of York.

In Henry VIII : The Heart and the Crown, Alison Weir uses her considerable knowledge of the Tudor period to bring us this very personal look at Henry's life and his relationships, not just with his wives but also with those courtiers, and noblemen, who made up his coterie of advisors. And as you would expect from a historian who has written extensively about the Tudor age, the writing feels beautifully authentic, from the detailed descriptions of the clothes worn, the sumptuous foods eaten, and the lively entertainment which provided light relief in a court which was so often fraught with scandalous danger and political intrigue.

Coming in at over 700 pages, it takes quite an investment in time, however, the story is so well told that the pages almost turned themselves and I was soon back in time to the court of this infamous King who was never destined to be King of England however, the untimely death of his older brother, Arthur, meant that this spare went on to become one of the most notorious Kings in English history.

About the Author

Alison Weir is the bestselling female historian in the United Kingdom, and has sold over 3 million books worldwide. She has published twenty history books. Alison is also the author of twelve historical novels, including the highly acclaimed Six Tudor Queens series all of which were Sunday Times bestsellers. Alison is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and an honorary life patron of Historic Royal Palaces.

Twitter @alisonweirbooks

#TudorRoseTrilogy #HenryVIIIHeartAndCrown

@headlinepg

Website

📖 Blog Tour ~ Elizabeth of York : The Last White Rose by Alison Weir

Headline
12 May 2022

My thanks to the publishers for my copy of this book and
to Random Things Tours for the invitation to the blog tour

 

Mother. Survivor.Queen.

An English Princess, born into a war between two families. Eldest daughter of the royal House of York, Elizabeth dreams of a crown to call her own. But when her beloved father, King Edward, dies suddenly, her destiny is rewritten. Her family's enemies close in. Two young princes are murdered in the Tower. Then her uncle seizes power - and vows to make Elizabeth his queen. But another claimant seeks the throne, the upstart son of the rival royal House of Lancaster. Marriage to this Henry Tudor would unite the white rose of York and the red of Lancaster - and change everything. A great new age awaits. Now Elizabeth must choose her allies - and husband - wisely, and fight for her right to rule.

📖 My Review ...

A few years ago I read Alison Weir's excellent biography of Elizabeth of York which put the early years of the Tudor dynasty into political perspective and this fictional account of Elizabeth fleshes out those moments of her life which we can only imagine. As the eldest child of Edward IV, Elizabeth was always aware of her place in royal life but her turbulent early years were often filled with uncertainty as her father fought and re-fought to claim the English crown. This instability continued after her father's untimely death and later when Richard III's defeat at the Battle of Bosworth resulted in Elizabeth's expedient marriage to Henry VII, a marriage which did so much to unite the warring factions of the War of the Roses.

First and foremost the story is fiction but the author's in-depth knowledge of the Tudor age helps to lend credence to the story, particularly in the warm and loving relationship between Elizabeth and Henry. Beautifully written and meticulously researched as all of this author's writing, I found much to enjoy in this comprehensive account of Elizabeth of York's short life. Her tenacity and determination shine through, personality traits which I think she passed on to her granddaughter, and namesake, Elizabeth I.

Politics, passion and intrigue all combine to paint a dramatic picture of the tentative early years of the Tudor dynasty and thanks to the joy of good historical fiction we can spend intimate time with Elizabeth  and be a fly on the wall at some of the most momentous events in early Tudor history.

🍷Best Read with... cups of good strong wine

About the Author

Alison Weir is the bestselling female historian in the United Kingdom, and has sold over 3 million books worldwide. She has published twenty history books. Alison is also the author of twelve historical novels, including the highly acclaimed Six Tudor Queens series all of which were Sunday Times bestsellers. Alison is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and an honorary life patron of Historic Royal Palaces.

Twitter @alisonweirbooks

#RedRoseWhiteRose #TudorRoseTrilogy

@headlinepg

Website

@RandomTTours

📖 Publication Day, Book Review ~ In the Shadow of Queens by Alison Weir

Headline Review
30 September 2021

My thanks to Caitlin at Headline Review for my copy of this book

Behind every great king stands a queen. And behind every queen, the whole court watches on...

Over the years of his reign, six different women took their place beside King Henry VIII of England as his wife and queen.

But the real stories of the six Tudor queens belong to those who lived among them. Played out in glittering palaces and whispering courts, these are tales of the people who loved and served these women, and those who lied and betrayed them.

Collected together for the first time, In the Shadow of Queens reveals thirteen startling stories from the Tudor court, told by those at the very heart of that world.

📖 My Thoughts...

Behind every ill-fated Tudor Queen is a plethora of fascinating stories about the shadowy people who lingered on the periphery of court life but whose connection, with the women who had the misfortune to be married to Henry VIII, is as fascinating as the lives of the Tudor Queens themselves.

Beautifully presented with its colourful Tudoresque endpapers we are treated to a potted history of the six wives of Henry VIII before starting on a series of fascinating short stories which take us from the golden possibility of the short life of Arthur, Prince of the Roses, right through to the sad, and rather tragic, end to the life of Henry's last Queen, Katharine Parr.

For any lovers of Tudor fiction In the Shadow of Queens is an absolute gem and if you have followed the author's comprehensive series of novels about the Six Tudor Queens then I am sure you will find much to enjoy in this addition to the Tudor series. This compilation of short stories, and novellas, enhance the series and bring the Tudor court alive in fascinating detail, adding little extra snippets of information you never knew you needed to know about  those who hovered on the edge of Tudor court life.

In the Shadow of Queens now completes the mammoth task the author set of completing six Tudor Queen novels in six years. There is no doubt that Alison Weir's passion, determination and undeniable expertise has given a new voice to the six women whose lives were dominated by a King, whose irascible moods swung, from peevish belligerence, to violent malevolence, and whose lives, little they knew it, were in danger from the moment they accepted the title of Tudor Queen.

In the Shadow of Queens is published by Headline in both hardback and ebook on the 30 September 2021 and is available from all good book stores.

About the Author

Alison Weir is the best selling female historian ( and the fifth-bestselling historian overall) in the United Kingdom and has sold over 3 million books worldwide.

She has published twenty history books including her most recent non-fiction book, Queens of the Crusades, the second in her England's Medieval Queen's quartet. Alison is also the author of twelve historical novels including the highly acclaimed Six Tudor Queens series about the wives of Henry VIII, all of which were Sunday Times bestsellers.

Alison is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and an honorary life patron of Historic Royal Palaces.

Twitter @AlisonWeirBooks #InTheShadowOfQueens

@headlinepg

My thanks to the publishers, and Caitlin Raynor, Publicity Director, for allowing me the privilege of reading this stunning series from the very beginning.

📖 Publication Day Book Review ~ Katharine Parr: The Sixth Wife by Alison Weir

 

Headline Review
13 May 2021

Six Tudor Queens #6 

My thanks to the publishers for my copy of this book 
and the opportunity to complete the series

Two husbands dead; a life marred by sadness. And now Katharine is in love for the first time in her life.

The eye of an ageing and dangerous king falls upon her. She cannot refuse him. She must stifle her feelings and never betray that she wanted another.

And now she is the sixth wife. Her queenship is a holy mission yet, fearfully, she dreams of the tragic parade of women who went before her. She cherishes the secret beliefs that could send her to the fire. And still the King loves and trusts her.

Now her enemies are closing in. She must fight for her very life.

KATHARINE PARR – the last of Henry’s queens.

Alison Weir recounts the extraordinary story of a woman forced into a perilous situation and rising heroically to the challenge. Katharine is a delightful woman, a warm and kindly heroine – and yet she will be betrayed by those she loves and trusts most. Too late, the truth will dawn on her.

📖 My Thoughts..

I've followed this series of historical novels, which chronicle the lives of the six wives of Henry VIII, from the first book, and whilst we think we know all there is to know about these ill fated wives, every author, who writes about them, gives us something a little bit different. Such is the case with this book about Katharine Parr the last of Henry's Queens and the only one of two wives to outlive him, although it must be said that Anne of Cleves, Henry's fourth wife, survived him by a mere six months.

In Katharine Parr : The Sixth Wife, the author brings to life the character of this fiercely intelligent Queen, whose interest in the new religion would almost bring about her downfall. Katharine has already been widowed twice when she catches the eye of the King, and whilst her previous two marriages have brought her a modicum of contentment, and some security, Katharine has never experienced the giddy excitement of being in love. By a cruel quirk of fate she meets, Thomas Seymour, the man who makes her heart beat faster just weeks before the King, entranced by Katharine's kind and caring nature, asks her to be his wife and, as it turns out, the last Queen Consort of Tudor England. 

Marriage to the irascible, and capricious, English King was no bed of roses but with Katharine's compassionate nature and her ability to bring out the best in people she set about creating a stable environment for Henry's children, and Katharine's ability to cajole and comfort the aging King was to her credit. However, the Tudor court is a fickle place and there are always shadowy people who seek to do harm.

Beautifully written and impeccably researched this last book in this wonderful series is every bit as good as I knew it would be. Tudor England shines brightly and the complicated process of social climbing, with advantageous marriages being made, and broken, comes alive in the imagination. I especially enjoyed reading of Katharine's early years spent at Rye House with her aunt and uncle whilst her widowed mother made her way at the royal court, and of Katharine's subsequent ill-fated first marriage which took her into the north of England and set her on the path of destiny. Regardless of how her life ended there is something quite poignant about Katharine's short life, that, after three dutiful marriages of convenience, she eventually found a brief moment of happiness with a man of her own choosing.

 

I'm really sad to see the conclusion of this wonderful series of Tudor Queen novels. Each book has been such an absolute joy to read and has brought one of Henry's six wives to life in a meaningful and very readable way. Each novel has been a fascinating insight into the lives of six very different women who lived their eventful and short lives in the full glare of Tudor politics.

About the Author

Alison Weir is the top selling female historian in the UK and has sold over 3 million books worldwide, She has published nineteen history books including her most recent, Queens of the Crusades, the second in her England's Medieval Queen's quartet.

Katharine Parr; The Sixth Wife is Alison Weir's eleventh published novel and the final book in the Six Tudor Queens series about the wives of Henry VIII which was launched in 2016. All five previous novels in the series were Sunday Times bestsellers.

Twitter @AlisonWeirBooks #SixTudorQueens

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Review ~ Anna of Kleve : Queen of Secrets by Alison Weir

Anna of Kleve : Queen of Secrets is published May 2nd 2019 by Headline Review 

Headline
2 May 2019

My thanks to the publishers for my copy of this book

Bestselling author and acclaimed historian Alison Weir tells the little-known story of Henry VIII’s fourth wife, as a grieving king chooses a bride sight unseen in the fourth novel in the epic and intrigue-filled Six Tudor Queens series.

Newly widowed and the father of an infant son, Henry VIII realizes he must marry again to insure the royal succession. Now forty-six, overweight and unwell, Henry is soundly rejected by some of Europe’s most eligible princesses, but Anna of Kleve—a small German duchy—is twenty-four and eager to wed. Henry requests Anna’s portrait from his court painter, who enhances her looks, painting her straight-on in order not to emphasize her rather long nose. Henry is entranced by the lovely image, only to be bitterly surprised when Anna arrives in England and he sees her in the flesh. She is pleasant looking, just not the lady that Henry had expected.

What follows is a fascinating story of this awkward royal union that had to somehow be terminated tactfully. Alison Weir takes a fresh and surprising look at this remarkable royal marriage by describing it from the point of view of Queen Anna, a young woman with hopes and dreams of her own, alone in a royal court that rejected her from the day she arrived.

My thoughts..

This is the eagerly expected fourth volume of Alison Weir's epic series of novels about the six wives of Henry VIII. Anna of Kleve is perhaps the least well known of Henry's Queens as she was neither as sexy, nor as tragic, as his other spouses.

Any woman who accepted marriage to Henry VIII did so, in the knowledge of what had happened to her predecessors and I think the author shows the natural reticence of Anna of Kleve, especially in the way that she was manipulated by the men in her life, and yet, with an almost quiet determination, she succeeds where Henry's other Queens sadly didn't.

Realising the royal marriage wasn't working Anna was canny enough to understand that in order to keep her head and maintain a comfortable lifestyle she needed to submit to Henry's demands for a divorce. Of course, it wasn't all as straightforward as that and this book goes into intricate detail about Anna's life, from her young adulthood, at home in Kleve, to her short time as Henry's wife and her subsequent bizarre relationship as the king's 'beloved sister'.

As always the author writes with great authority and uses her considerable knowledge of the Tudor period in order to bring this enigmatic woman to life in a very believable way. The  hint of scandal in Anna's past, which the author alludes to,  is one that I wasn't overly familiar with, however, the author puts forward a very interesting interpretation of Anna's life which I found entirely plausible.

This has been such a fabulous series so far, and I think that this fictional version of Anna of Kleve's life has been absolutely fascinating. Her ability to survive and thrive and yet, always to keep on Henry's good side makes for compelling reading.

I have enjoyed this series about the first four wives of Henry VIII, and I'm already looking forward to reading of the life of, perhaps, Henry's most duplicitous Queen, Katheryn Howard.

About the Author

Alison Weir is the top-selling female historian (and the fifth-bestselling historian overall) in the United Kingdom, and has sold over 2.7 million books worldwide. She has published eighteen history books, including her most recent non-fiction book, Queens of the Conquest, the first in her England’s Medieval Queens quartet. Alison has also published several historical novels, including Innocent Traitor and The Lady Elizabeth. Anna of Kleve: Queen of Secrets is Alison Weir’s ninth published novel and the fourth in the Six Tudor Queens series about the wives of Henry VIII, which was launched in 2016 to great critical acclaim. The first three books in the series – Katherine of Aragon: The True Queen, Anne Boleyn: A King’s Obsession and Jane Seymour: The Haunted Queen were all Sunday Times bestsellers. Alison is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and an honorary life patron of Historic Royal Palaces.

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Anna of Kleve : Queen of Secrets is published May 2nd 2019 by Headline Review 

Amazon UK

Review ~ Jane Seymour : The Haunted Queen by Alison Weir

Headline Review
3 May 2018

My thanks to the publishers for my copy of this book

What's it all about.

Jane Seymour is the third of Henry VIII's Queens. History tells us how she died. This spellbinding novel explores the life she lived.

My thoughts about it...

I've long been fascinated by the six women who are fated to be forever known as the Six Wives of Henry the Eight, and in this third volume of the lives of the Six Tudor Queens, Jane Seymour comes quietly to life.

We start Jane’s story when she is a teenager growing up at the family home at Wulf Hall in Wiltshire. We get to know her parents, and her siblings, and when the story opens in 1518 we are a welcome guest at the marriage of Jane’s older brother Edward to his pretty bride, Catherine Fillol.

Never wanting to be the centre of attention, Jane quietly considers dedicating her life to the service of God until a short stay at the convent of Amesbury convinces her that life as a nun is not what she wants from life. When an invitation comes to attend Queen Katherine, Jane is packed off, with her meagre belongings, to take up a very different life at the most glittering of Royal courts.

Alison Weir does this type of biographical fiction very well and even though this third novel overlaps with the first two books, it’s interesting to get Jane’s observations about the King’s deteriorating marriage to Katherine and of his obsession with Anne Boleyn. Once again the Henrician court comes alive with all of its scheming gossip and sly innuendo and yet, throughout it all, Jane remains in the background, always ready with a kind-hearted gesture. However, behind the quiet exterior, Jane has a hidden stubbornness, which is refreshing to discover. And although we know the tragedy of her short life, what's interesting, in this novel, is to see Jane as an observer, candidly sharing her thoughts about the goings-on at court.

The novel ends on a sad note, as we know it must, however, Jane’s short and tragic marriage was lived out in the full glare of Tudor politics, and whilst never as charismatic as the Queen she succeeded, nevertheless Jane’s place in history is well assured and her tragic life is beautifully recreated in this fascinating historical novel.

About the Author

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Follow on Twitter @AlisonWeirBooks

Jane Seymour : The Haunted Queen is published today by Headline Review 

Amazon UK

Review ~ Anne Boleyn:A King's Obsession by Alison Weir..

**Happy Publication Day**


18th May 2017

Headline
May 18th 2017

What's it all about..

Anne Boleyn. The second of Henry's Queens. Her story. History tells us why she died. This powerful novel shows her as she lived.

What did I think about it..

Alison Weir's second volume in her Six Tudor Queens series starts in 1512 when Anne Boleyn leaves her childhood home at Hever Castle to take up a position as fille d’honeur to the Archduchess Margaret of Austria. In the glittering courts of Burgundy and France, Anne discovers that charm, wit and intelligence will be her saving grace, and as she grows to young adulthood, it becomes obvious that Anne's ambition will take her in a very different direction than that of her older sister, Mary.

Beautifully written and meticulously researched, the author puts very human emotion at the heart of Anne’s life story. Anne’s early relationships with her family, her sister Mary in particular, is explored in detail, as is her later adult association with Henry Percy and Thomas Wyatt. All are contrasted against the wider significance of Anne’s burgeoning relationship with King Henry VIII.

The author writes with authority on the Tudor period and instils a real sense of personality into Anne so that you can’t help but be captivated by this young woman whose sparkling personality set the English royal court alight. I think what comes across is the very human face of a young woman who glittered and charmed her way into the affections of a King, a King whose capricious nature would be her very undoing.

After all that has been written about Anne's life you would think that there can't be much new to be revealed. However, in this fictional version of Anne’s life the Henrician court comes alive with all the gossipy intrigue, calculated scheming and deadly manipulations which are so reminiscent of this time in England's chequered history. And even though you know how Anne Boleyn’s story plays out, you can’t help but become completely caught up in her life story, which is so beautifully recreated by this talented writer.

This second volume follows the successful Katherine of Aragon. I can’t wait to see what happens in the third volume when Jane Seymour’s life will be laid bare and held up to scrutiny.

Best Read With ..Gold and jewelled goblets filled with rich, red wine..

About the Author

Find on Facebook

Follow on Twitter @AlisonWeirBooks

Anne Boleyn: A King's Obsession is published today by Headline Review 

Amazon

My thanks to Caitlin Raynor at Headline for the opportunity to read and review this book

~***~

Review ~ Six Tudor Queens: Katherine of Aragon, The True Queen by Alison Weir

Headline Review
5 May 2016

Six Tudor Queens #1

History tells us how she died. This captivating novel shows us how she lived.

Katherine of Aragon: The True Queen by bestselling historian Alison Weir, author of The Lost Tudor Princess, is the first in a spellbinding six novel series about Henry VIII’s Queens. Alison Weir lets you walk in Katherine’s footsteps and so understand this extraordinary woman as never before. History tells us how Katherine died; this captivating novel shows us how she lived.

I've read fictional stories about the Tudors since I was in my early teens,always finding something fascinating about the plots and intrigues of their lives, and none more so than Katherine of Aragon who landed in England in 1501 betrothed to marry Prince Arthur, the heir to the Tudor crown. Of course, we later know more about her marriage to Henry VIII,and the trials and tribulations of her acrimonious divorce, following Henry's tumultuous affair with Anne Boleyn.

As always, Alison Weir has given us a comprehensive look at the life of this fascinating Tudor Queen. For those who are familiar with the history of the Tudors there will be no surprises in the content of the story , as it's been told so many times, but there is no doubt that this is a very good fictional version, filled, as always, with the intrigue and machinations which we have come to expect from this exciting time in English history.

The story is very readable and spans the story of Katherine's life from 1501 when she landed in Plymouth, through to her death at Kimbolton Castle in January, 1536. There is much detail about her early marriage to Arthur, her young widowhood and her later relationship with Henry, with all the heartbreak and sadness of frequent miscarriages, all played out against the backdrop of the Tudor court, with its salacious gossip and devilish intrigue. It's far too easy to dismiss Katherine, as she is so often overshadowed by her sexier, and rather more tragic love rival, Anne Boleyn, and yet, it must not be forgotten that Katherine was such a valuable asset to England during the important early years of Henry's reign. 

The book is hefty coming in at over 550 pages, so it's not something to be read in a rush, but more to be savored slowly in order to appreciate the fine attention to detail. The way that Katherine comes alive on the page is credit to the author who has such a breadth of knowledge about this Tudor period that it's a real pleasure to read her fictional work.


This is the first of six historical novels planned which will each detail one of Henry's six Queens. Anne Boleyn is next, I can't wait !



Best Read with...Spiced wine, wafers and candied plums...



About the author

Visit the author's Website
Twitter @AlisonWeirBooks

Amazon UK

My thanks to Caitlin Raynor at Headline for my review copy of this book.

~***~

Review ~ The Marriage Game by Alison Weir

Random House UK
June 26 2014

The mystery which surrounds the relationship between Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley is the focus for this deadly marriage game, which entices the reader into the very heart and soul of the Elizabethan court.  With Elizabeth’s capricious behaviour at the centre of the intrigue there is much speculation as to whether the couple were actually lovers in the physical sense, but what is obvious is that there was a deep and abiding affection between them, which lasted throughout the whole of their lives, and which survived all the speculation and gossip.

What Alison Weir has done in this fictional account of the relationship between the young Queen and her courtier is to add weight to the argument that other forces were behind the reluctance of a match between them. William Cecil, Elizabeth’s chief advisor, not only insisted that Elizabeth could only be a successful queen if she had a husband by her side, but was also shown to be instrumental in keeping Dudley and Elizabeth apart. As with all speculative fiction surrounding Elizabeth’s relationship with Dudley scurrilous accusations abound, and the fact that Elizabeth continued to keep her politically correct marriage suitors at bay, only added weight to the scandal that Dudley was more than just her master of horse.

As always, Alison Weir brings the scandal of the age alive with her usual skill and fine attention to detail. The story flows well, like a well ordered romantic novel, with more than a hint of intrigue, and even though there are no astonishing revelations, what still shines through the political shenanigans is a remarkable love story, which is made all the more intriguing by the fact that we will never truly know what happened between them. And if I’m honest I rather enjoy the speculative aspect of their relationship rather more than the knowing, and feel that after all this time they are entitled to keep some of their more intimate secrets to themselves.

Well worth a read if you like Elizabethan history but don’t look for any extraordinary revelations, just enjoy the love story.

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for my e-copy of this book.

About the Author