Anniversary of a Death

I can't let the anniversary of the death of my favorite monarch go by without a post. This is copied from my post on the anniversary last year.

Richard III (Oct 2, 1452 - Aug 22, 1485)

On this day in 1485, the most maligned King in English history was killed at the Battle of Bosworth field. He was betrayed by some of his lords and was "piteously slain and murdered" (as is recorded in the York City records), paving the way for the usurper Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond (Henry VII). Thus began the Tudor Dynasty, based on a very weak and illegitimate claim to the throne, and the complete destruction of Richard's reputation.

The battle was mainly a hand-to-hand encounter (which was typical of the times), with the Stanley family (who had promised Tudor that they would desert Richard) keeping away from the fight until, at a critical moment when it was obvious which way the victory was headed, they joined Tudor. Richard, realizing that he was betrayed, cried out, "Treason, treason!" He knew he'd either leave as the King of England or dead and refused to leave the field until, overpowered by numbers, he fell dead in the middle of his enemies. He came very close to dispatching his enemy, Henry Tudor, killing his standard barer, William Brandon (the father of Henry VIII's close friend, Charles Brandon). Even his enemies had to admit that he fought with courage (Tudor's historian even wrote that "King Richard, alone, was killed fighting manfully in the thickest press of his enemies"). The crown was supposedly picked up on the field of battle and placed by Sir William Stanley on the head of Tudor, who was at once proclaimed king by the whole army. After the battle Richard's body was taken to Leicester, carried naked across a horse's back, and buried without honor in the church of the Greyfriars. His death was the end of the Plantagenet Dynasty which had ruled England since the succession of Henry II in 1154. In a twist which can tell us a lot about the man who benefited from Richard's death, Tudor dated his reign from the day BEFORE the battle so he could charge all the men who had fought for an anointed and crowned king with treason.

Richard most likely was not the villain that his enemies made him out to appear. He had good qualities (and bad qualities), both as a man and a ruler, and seemed to have a sound judgment of political needs (he had been able to keep the North of England in peace for his brother). In testament to those ideas, a historian of the time, John Rous said he was a "good lord" and had a "great heart" (though he changed his tune once Tudor was on the throne). And the city of York, after hearing of Richard's defeat at Bosworth, risked the fury of the new monarch by entering into it's city council records "king Richard late mercifully reigning upon us ... was piteously slane murdred to the grete hevynesse of this citie." However, it is impossible to convict or clear him of the deaths of his nephews, Edward V and Richard, Duke of York, in the Tower of London. He was not a monster but a typical man in an age of strange contradictions of character, an age of refined (for the day) culture mixed with horrible cruelty, and he possessed an emotional temper that was capable of anything (he was a Plantagenet after all).  After his defeat at Bosworth, Tudor and his supporters needed to solidify his claim to the throne and what better way to do that than to make the English people think that the King he replaced was a deformed, evil monster who killed his own nephews? No one did more to cement that belief than William Shakespeare with his play Richard III (Undoubtedly writing to please the Tudors but getting HIS information from Thomas Moore who was only 5 when the events actually occurred; Moore's information came from Bishop Morton, who hated Richard.). They were hugely successful in their endeavors and, unfortunately, this view of Richard stuck until probably the 20th century when scholars really began to study him. Tradition represents Richard as a hunchback but there were no contemporary accounts of him being "deformed." The discovery of Richard's skeleton under the car park in Leicester proved that he was NOT a hunchback (like Shakespeare made everyone believe) but

had scoliosis, which made his fighting ability that much more amazing as he was probably in quite a lot of pain. The discovery also showed that he had multiple wounds all over his body (including one on his "backside") that shows that his body was not treated with any dignity. While the discovery of his body can't confirm or deny the story that he murdered his nephews, it certainly shows that not everything that has been handed down through history is exactly accurate. If Shakespeare's hunchbacked Richard wasn't true, what else may not be true? Many have popped up in the last few months questioning the dig and discovery by the University of Leicester, saying, among other things, that the entire dig was a hoax and this isn't Richard's body. I for one believe that it IS the last York King of England and am looking forward to his reburial in Leicester Cathedral next year.

Loyaulte me lie

Please, Sir, I'd Like a Little More!

Just because...

Richard III, Last Plantagenet King of England

Richard III (Oct 2, 1452 - Aug 22, 1485)

On this day in 1485, the most maligned King in English history was killed at the Battle of Bosworth field. He was betrayed by some of his lords and was "piteously slain and murdered" (as is recorded in the York City records), paving the way for the usurper Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond (Henry VII). Thus began the Tudor Dynasty, based on a very weak and illegitimate claim to the throne, and the complete destruction of Richard's reputation.

The battle was mainly a hand-to-hand encounter (which was typical of the times), with the Stanley family (who had promised Tudor that they would desert Richard) keeping away from the fight until, at a critical moment when it was obvious which way the victory was headed, they joined Tudor. Richard, realizing that he was betrayed, cried out, "Treason, treason!" He knew he'd either leave as the King of England or dead and refused to leave the field until, overpowered by numbers, he fell dead in the middle of his enemies. He came very close to dispatching his enemy, Henry Tudor, killing his standard barer, William Brandon (the father of Henry VIII's close friend, Charles Brandon). Even his enemies had to admit that he fought with courage (Tudor's historian even wrote that "King Richard, alone, was killed fighting manfully in the thickest press of his enemies"). The crown was supposedly picked up on the field of battle and placed by Sir William Stanley on the head of Tudor, who was at once proclaimed king by the whole army. After the battle Richard's body was taken to Leicester, carried naked across a horse's back, and buried without honor in the church of the Greyfriars. His death was the end of the Plantagenet Dynasty which had ruled England since the succession of Henry II in 1154. In a twist which can tell us a lot about the man who benefited from Richard's death, Tudor dated his reign from the day BEFORE the battle so he could charge all the men who had fought for an anointed and crowned king with treason.

Richard most likely was not the villain that his enemies made him out to appear. He had good qualities (and bad qualities), both as a man and a ruler, and seemed to have a sound judgment of political needs (he had been able to keep the North of England in peace for his brother). In testament to those ideas, a historian of the time, John Rous said he was a "good lord" and had a "great heart" (though he changed his tune once Tudor was on the throne). And the city of York, after hearing of Richard's defeat at Bosworth, risked the fury of the new monarch by entering into it's city council records "king Richard late mercifully reigning upon us ... was piteously slane murdred to the grete hevynesse of this citie." However, it is impossible to convict or clear him of the deaths of his nephews, Edward V and Richard, Duke of York, in the Tower of London. He was not a monster but a typical man in an age of strange contradictions of character, an age of refined (for the day) culture mixed with horrible cruelty, and he possessed an emotional temper that was capable of anything (he was a Plantagenet after all).  After his defeat at Bosworth, Tudor and his supporters needed to solidify his claim to the throne and what better way to do that than to make the English people think that the King he replaced was a deformed, evil monster who killed his own nephews? No one did more to cement that belief than William Shakespeare with his play Richard III (Undoubtedly writing to please the Tudors but getting HIS information from Thomas Moore who was only 5 when the events actually occurred; Moore's information came from Bishop Morton, who hated Richard.). They were hugely successful in their endeavors and, unfortunately, this view of Richard stuck until probably the 20th century when scholars really began to study him. Tradition represents Richard as a hunchback but there were no contemporary accounts of him being "deformed." The discovery of Richard's skeleton under the car park in Leicester proved that he was NOT a hunchback (like Shakespeare made everyone believe) but

had scoliosis, which made his fighting ability that much more amazing as he was probably in quite a lot of pain. The discovery also showed that he had multiple wounds all over his body (including one on his "backside") that shows that his body was not treated with any dignity. While the discovery of his body can't confirm or deny the story that he murdered his nephews, it certainly shows that not everything that has been handed down through history is exactly accurate. If Shakespeare's hunchbacked Richard wasn't true, what else may not be true?

Loyaulte me lie

Pride and Prejudice Movies: 1940

So I have now seen all 4 versions of the Jane Austen's wonderful novel and I felt like I could finally do some comparison posts! I will do a blog post for each version (1940, 1980, 1995, 2005) in which I discuss the movie and offer my thoughts on it.

I'll start with the earliest version, the 1940 movie starring Laurence Olivier as Mr. Darcy and Greer Garson as Lizzy.

WARNING!!! There MAY be spoilers after this point!!!

The Good:

1) It was a fun movie to watch. Honest. In fact it was so fun I laughed almost the whole time. I was "excessively diverted!"

2) I thought Lawrence Olivier's Mr. Darcy was actually rather good. I did enjoy his "smoldering" good looks (though it took me a while NOT to see Richard III standing there!). I liked his personality but there were a few times I had to laugh at the "clumsiness" his Mr. Darcy showed.

3) The other actors and actresses did a fine job in their roles. Perhaps they all didn't quite LOOK the part (the actress playing Charlotte was way too pretty) but they still did a decent job.

The Strange:

I can't exactly call this "The Bad" as I'm sure a lot of what was done was just the way it was in the late 30s and early 40s. Obviously they were showing to a much different audience than what movie makers have today.

1) The costumes. I started laughing within a few seconds of the movie starting when I saw the clothes and couldn't stop. HUGE hoop skirts, ridiculously large bonnets, and endless flounces and ruffles and bows. I felt like I had been dropped into Gone With the Wind. After some internet searching I discovered that the producers actually set the movie 40 YEARS LATER so they could have more elaborate costumes (and they did recycle some of the costumes from GWTW!). So this is not a Regency but something plunked right down in the middle of Victorian fashion. :)

2) Now I understand that all movie makers have a set amount of time for their movie but I felt they went wayyyy overboard with their mashing together of scenes here! There were a couple of instances where this happened.

3) The added scenes. Some of them were quite funny (the carriage race home from Meryton and Darcy "hiding" Lizzy from Mr. Collins come to mind) but it was just weird. And the weird twist at the end with Lady Catherine's visit to see Lizzy??!!!


Like I said, I can understand that a lot of this was done because of the era the movie was made in. Perhaps the way they changed things around suited the tastes of the early 40s but it is certainly comical to watch! This is NOT the worst of the P&P adaptions - I'll get to THAT one in a few days - but it is not an accurate representation of the Austen's novel. So, if you just love watching anything that smacks of Austen (and you like a good laugh!) then have fun watching. If you're a purest then I'd probably steer clear (unless you just want a good laugh). Its not horrible but its...different.

Richard III...Found

In honor of the momentous and historical announcement this week that the body of Richard III has been found...

I have been bouncing off the walls with excitement and joy at the discovery of my favorite King (and the discovery that he was NOT a deformed hunchback like the Tudors wanted people to believe). He will now receive a burial and tomb proper for an anointed King of England. I can not wait to visit England and his new tomb in Leicester Cathedral.

Henry VIII's Crown Recreated

Readers of this blog will know that I'm not the biggest Tudor fan (because of the way they obtained the Crown of England). Elizabeth I is the exception to this rule. All that aside, it still horrifies me when I think about how all the Medieval Crown Jewels were broken up, melted down, and sold when Cromwell took control in 1649. All the coronation regalia that English monarchs had worn from probably the time of William the Conqueror through the Tudors was completely gone. It makes me sick to think about that complete erasure of history.

Now, after countless hours of work, Henry VIII's crown has been recreated in detail using Tudor era metalworking techniques. You can click HERE to be taken to an article about the project and the recreated crown. Its really fascinating. I'd like to think that this could be done for other pieces of the Medieval Regalia that was lost to history.

Rest in Peace Richard

Richard III (Oct 2, 1452 - Aug 22, 1485)

On this day in 1485, the most maligned King in English history was killed at the Battle of Bosworth field. He was betrayed by some of his lords and was "piteously slain and murdered" (as is recorded in the York City records), paving the way for the usurper Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond (Henry VII). Thus began the Tudor Dynasty, based on a very weak and illegitimate claim to the throne, and the complete destruction of Richard's reputation.

The battle was mainly a hand-to-hand encounter (which was typical of the times), with the Stanley family (who had promised Tudor that they would desert Richard) keeping away from the fight until, at a critical moment when it was obvious which way the victory was headed, they joined Tudor. Richard, realizing that he was betrayed, cried out, "Treason, treason!" He knew he'd either leave as the King of England or dead and refused to leave the field until, overpowered by numbers, he fell dead in the middle of his enemies. He came very close to dispatching his enemy, Henry Tudor, killing his standard barer, William Brandon (the father of Henry VIII's close friend, Charles Brandon). The crown was supposedly picked up on the field of battle and placed by Sir William Stanley on the head of Tudor, who was at once proclaimed king by the whole army. After the battle Richard's body was carried to Leicester, carried naked across a horse's back, and buried without honor in the church of the Greyfriars. His death was the end of the Plantagenet Dynasty which had ruled England since the succession of Henry II in 1154.

Richard was not the villain that his enemies made him out to appear. He had good qualities, both as a man and a ruler, and seemed to have a sound judgment of political needs (he had been able to keep the North of England in peace for his brother). However, it is impossible to clear him of the crime, the popular belief that was mostly likely the chief cause of his ruin - the death of his nephews, Edward V and Richard, Duke of York, in the Tower of London. He was not a monster but a typical man in an age of strange contradictions of character, an age of refined (for the day) culture mixed with horrible cruelty, and he possessed an emotional temper that was capable of anything (he was a Plantagenet after all). Tradition represents Richard as deformed but this has never been proven. After his defeat at Bosworth, Tudor and his supporters needed to solidify his claim to the throne and what better way to do that than to make the English people think that the King he replaced was a deformed, evil monster who killed his own nephews? No one did more to cement that belief than William Shakespeare with his play Richard III (who was undoubtedly writing to please the Tudors). They were hugely successful in their endeavors and, unfortunately, this view of Richard stuck until probably the 20th century when scholars really began to study him.

Loyaulte me lie

Book Review: The Queen's Pleasure

The Queen's Pleasure, Brandy Purdy
4 roses

I was so honored when Brandy Purdy asked me if I'd like to review her newest novel! I have enjoyed her previous novels and was eager to dive into this one. While it covers a time period I am quite familiar with, Elizabeth I's reign, it is about a person that I am only slightly familiar with: Amy Dudley, wife of the Queen's favorite, Robert Dudley. I wasn't sure what to expect with this story as there hasn't been much out there about Amy and the little bit I've read in different books has been contradictory, but I was not disappointed with what I found between the pages.

REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!!!

Before picking up this book I knew who Amy Dudley was and what happened to her and the speculation surrounding that event but that was basically all I knew. The one story I have read that focused on her life was so horrible that I found I didn't like any of the people in it and, as that author's portrayal of Elizabeth I was so twisted from everything else I'd read about her, I had a very hard time believing anything presented about Amy. However, Ms. Purdy has really opened up the life of this rather mysterious historical figure and presented a very interesting story that I thoroughly enjoyed reading and actually had a hard time putting down in the evenings. I thought she did a wonderful job of showing Amy as a simple, country girl who only wanted someone to love and to be loved in return and who, though still deeply in love and trying to cling to a little hope, knew that she had lost the man she loved. I could actually feel sorry for this Amy and hated the way she was treated by her husband (whereas in the other novel I read about her I couldn't stand her clingy ways and didn't care what happened to her). I could almost feel her helplessness as she realized that nothing she ever did would be good enough for Robert. Her struggle with the cancer in her breast was absolutely heartbreaking and I can not begin to imagine how terrifying it might have been for someone suffering from it during this time period of limited medical knowledge and medicine. As no one knows for certain what exactly happened to Amy that day at Cumnor Place, there were several theories at the time (and that still persist to this day) and Ms. Purdy has actually manged to weave most of them together, creating a believable story. I liked her portrayal of Elizabeth here as well: a strong, intelligent woman who knows her own mind and what she wants but yet likes to have a little fun, though never letting it influence her dedication to England (this is not the sniveling, unable to function without a man Elizabeth that you'll find in that other novel). I loved the way the author has Elizabeth stepping in as Amy's unknown "champion" when she realizes how Robert had lied to her about his relationship with his wife and how she was being treated. As for Robert Dudley, the more I read about him in various novels, the more I do not like him. I absolutely hated him here not only for the horrible way he treated Amy but for his disgusting arrogance and ambition to be King. I literally laughed in delight when Elizabeth finally put him in his place towards the end and he realized that his dream (or in his eyes, his destiny) to be King was not going to be realized.

No one knows for certain what really happened to Amy and even to this day several theories exist. The little bit of historical information about what happened (namely the findings of the jury investigating her death) really doesn't answer any questions and historians and novelists have been filling in the gaps ever since. I feel Brandy Purdy did a great job patching together the very scanty information available about Amy and creating a believable story. At no point did I think "well, that couldn't have happened" or "that doesn't sound like something he/she would've said." After reading Ms. Purdy's novel I am sad to know that this one woman whose untimely death (natural or unnatural) probably had a huge impact on England's history is so relatively unknown; there is really nothing out there that tells us what Amy Robsart Dudley was really like. I can recommend this to any lovers of Tudor historical fiction. It is also an easy read that readers new to the time period or genre would have no problem following or understanding.

Thank you Brandy for the chance to read your wonderful novel!

Note: This will be published in the UK as A Court Affair by Emily Purdy.

Book Review: Crown in Candlelight

Crown in Candlelight, Rosemary H. Jarman
4.5 roses

This is only the second of Ms. Jarman's novels I have been able to get my hands on and read but if they're all as good as this one, I shall enjoy exploring her works further. This novel focuses on a time I have not read anything about beyond Shakespeare's play on Henry V. The story is about Catherine of Valios, the French princess who married England's King Henry V.  All I knew about Catherine before picking up this novel was that she was a daughter of mad King Charles of France, she married Henry V (who I can only picture as Kenneth Branagh!), gave birth to the future Henry VI, and may (or may not) have married Owen Tudor, thus giving birth to that future dynasty. That was the extent of my knowledge so I was happy to read something that truly focused on her life not only before she met and wed Henry but her life after he died. I loved every minute I was lost in its pages.

MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS.

While there are two or three other narrators besides Catherine, the novel really is about her and the other narrators just give the reader a better idea of the events surrounding her. The first part of the book covers her early life and the struggles she had to get through with her father King Charles, who seemed to be a caring man when he was in his right mind, and her very formidable mother Isabeau who was only concerned with maintaining her power and money. Seeing the life she had before she met Henry its no wonder she was so deeply in love and devoted to him. Her closeness to her older sister Isabelle (who was married to Richard II) throws an interesting twist into her emotions later down the line. For me, the story really picked up once she was married to Henry. I don't know if that's because of the writing or just because things historically began happening at a pretty rapid pace from that point on. We also see how Owen Tudor ended up in the royal household and thus having the chance to meet the Queen. I loved the scenes between Catherine and Henry and my heart ached for the very fleeting time they actually had together. My heart also went out to Henry as he suffered with the sickness in his stomach that eventually killed him; he was obviously a very strong willed person to be able to battle (literally!) through all that pain. If Henry had lived I think theirs would have been a loving, successful marriage and she would have been a very successful Queen. It certainly would've changed history. The story between Catherine and Owen was a sweet tale of true love and I loved seeing their relationship grow. Even knowing what happened to them I was still hoping that somehow things would all work out in the end. The "villain" in this story is certainly Henry's overly ambitious and sneaky younger brother Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, who was made Protector over baby Henry VI after his father died. This man truly gave me the creeps whenever he showed up on the page and I wanted to reach back through history and smack him upside the head.

Beyond the characters and historical events, the writing in the novel, while keeping an "authentic" feel about it managed to not get bogged down with really heavy language, which I feel will make it easier for readers not familiar with the time period to read. The descriptions and details of battles, clothing, daily life also will help transport the reader to another time and place. I really enjoyed this look into Catherine's life, despite the fact that she was a pivotal player for the Lancastrians and gave birth to major figures in the Wars of the Roses. There was one line right at the end of the story, where Owen's Welsh friend is describing to the reader what she sees in the future, that put a huge smile on my face and took away any guilt I "might" have felt about enjoying a Lancastrian story (I won't spoil it for you but it has to do with my favorite English monarch, Richard III). I can easily recommend this story, especially if you'd be interested in reading more about Catherine, who is rarely talked about even though she is such an important part in history.

Book Review: The Three Colonels

The Three Colonels, Jack Caldwell
3.5 roses

This novel from Jack Caldwell is a continuation of both Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility and is set only a few years after the events of the original novels. As the title suggests, the story focuses on the lives of three men: Colonel Fitzwilliam (from P&P), Colonel Brandon (from S&S), and Colonel John Buford (who is a creation of the author but marries a lady all Austen fans will know).

MIGHT CONTAIN SPOILERS!!!

The beginning of the novel focuses on how, now with Napoleon exiled to Elba, these three gentlemen are home in England and concerned with getting their lives in order. Col. Brandon is enjoying his time at home with Marianne and their new daughter, Joy. Col. Fitzwilliam has been tasked with finding out why his aunt's estate is failing and ends up falling in love with his cousin, and Col. Buford is out to reform his somewhat scandalous image and find a wife - which he does in Miss, Caroline Bingley. When Napoleon escapes from Elba all three must head back to war and leave the women they love. Besides focusing on the gentlemen, there are several chapters that are from the ladies' points of view, giving readers a good idea of what life could have been like back at home during this conflict and showing how women had to adjust. All of these characters are connected in some way by Mr. and Mrs. Darcy (who do appear in the novel and do play a roll in the action but mainly from the background).

I have to admit that it took me a few chapters to get into the novel but once I did I really enjoyed it. At first I was a bit skeptical of how all the characters somehow knew each other (through the Darcys) but the author makes it work. I was surprised that, overall, the storyline I enjoyed the most was Col. Buford's and Caroline's! After reading Pride and Prejudice I thoroughly despised Caroline Bingley and was set to continue in my dislike. However, Caroline has realized how horrid her behavior has been and is determined to make amends and change her ways. Caldwell manages to turn her into a sympathetic character who wants to make amends for her past behavior (though I really liked her interactions with former "friends" as she still has some of that *itch still in her!). The transformation of Caroline and her love story with Col. Buford was the most interesting part of the entire novel. Col. Fitzwilliam's relationship with his cousin Anne de Bourgh was entertaining as well and a bit humorous because of his forced dealings with his aunt Catherine. Their storyline really gives the reader more background into why Lady Catherine was so determined for Anne to marry Darcy and was I was quite fascinated with how the author wove that story. Here Caldwell also manages to transform a familiar character, letting Anne mature from a meek and sickly girl to a young lady who knows her own mind and is determined in her course of action (Caldwell also solves why Anne was always so sickly and it is rather funny). Avid Austen readers will also be amused to see how he manages to connect Lady Catherine to a few characters from Northanger Abbey and Persuasion! To me the least interesting storyline was Col. Brandon and Marianne's. There wasn't that much happening besides Marianne's difficulties adjusting to being lady of the house. Willoughby does make a (very) short appearance but other than that there's not much going on here. Perhaps the author felt that there was enough emphasis on these two characters in S&S and wanted to focus more on the others (who were all secondary characters in the original novels).

Overall this was a good read. I always enjoy seeing what happened after the "happily ever after" at the end of Austen's novels and how new authors create more background for these very familiar stories. I would certainly recommend this one to Austen fans as it is entertaining with a nice bit of humor sprinkled throughout.


Received from Sourcebooks for review.

The Richard III Project

Readers of this blog will know my love and admiration for Richard III. I have longed for a new movie or TV show to be made about this King to "clear the air" and show him more like he might have been - instead of the monster Shakespeare and his Tudor contemporaries have made him.

British actor Richard Armitage has dreamed of making a film about Richard III and needs our help! He has a site set up and a petition to possible financiers to try to turn his dream into a reality. Please click the link below to go to the website and the link to the petition is near the top!

King Richard Armitage

You will find information about Richard Armitage and Richard III (who he is named for) at the site. You can also find information about Richard III here on my blog in several places.

Next Philippa Gregory Release Announced!

Continuing in her "Cousins War" series, Philippa Gregory's next novel The Kingmaker's Daughter will be released August 7, 2012.

For those of you unfamiliar with this time period, the "Kingmaker" was Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick. He helped place Edward IV on the throne and then later rebelled against him. The novel will be about his daughters Isabella and Anne. Both sisters married younger brothers of Edward IV: Isabella to George, Duke of Clarance, and Anne to Richard, Duke of Gloucester (future Richard III).

Followers of this blog know my partiality for Richard III and so I will be looking forward to this book, though with a bit of caution. I am always nervous when I don't know how an author is going to portray my favorite King! Richard appeared in the first novel in this series The Winter Queen, which covered the life of Elizabeth Woodville, and she did not make him out to be a horrible monster so I have some hope for this novel!

If you are interested the other novels in this series (in order of release date) are:

The Winter Queen (Elizabeth Woodville, wife to Edward IV)
The Red Queen (Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII)
Lady of the Rivers (Jaquetta Woodville, Elizabeth's mother)

New Novel by Brandy Purdy!

Brandy Purdy (author of The Boleyn Wife and The Tudor Throne) will be releasing her new novel The Queen's Pleasure in July 2012.



From Brandy Purdy's blog:

When young Robert Dudley, an earl’s son, meets squire’s daughter Amy Robsart, it is love at first sight. They marry despite parental misgivings, but their passion quickly fades, and the ambitious Dudley returns to court.

Swept up in the turmoil of Tudor politics, Dudley is imprisoned in the Tower. Also a prisoner is Dudley’s childhood playmate, the princess Elizabeth. In the shadow of the axe, their passion ignites. When Elizabeth becomes queen, rumors rage that Dudley means to free himself of Amy in order to wed her. And when Amy is found dead in unlikely circumstances, suspicion falls on Dudley—and the Queen…

Still hotly debated amongst scholars—was Amy’s death an accident, suicide, or murder?—the fascinating subject matter makes for an enthralling read for fans of historical fiction.


Please note this book is published in the UK as A Court Affair by Emily Purdy.

Mailbox Monday - September 5, 2011

Mailbox Monday is a weekly meme originally created by Marcia at A Girl and Her Books (formerly known as The Printed Page) and is now located here. It is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

Mailbox Monday is being hosted this month by Amused by Books.

Treated myself to a couple from Amazon this week! So excited to read these!


George Knightley, Esquire: Lead Me Leave, Barbara Cornthwaite

This is book 2 in Ms. Cornthwaite's retelling of Austen's Emma from the hero, George Knightley's eyes. I absolutely LOVED book 1 and I have been waiting anxiously for book 2 (while reading some of the author's excerpts on her blog!).




Three Maids for a Crown, Ella March Chase

This will be the second book by this author that I have read (the first was The Virgin Queen's Daughter). Ms. Chase again delves into Tudor intrigue as she tells the story of the three Grey sisters. Very much looking forward to getting into this one.

Book Review: To Die For

To Die For, Sandra Byrd
4 roses

I was honored to receive this novel for an early review and to participate in the author's virtual book tour (details here). Sandra Byrd has written an interesting story about the life of Meg Wyatt, sister of Thomas Wyatt and close friend to Anne Boleyn.

Having read novels covering the tumultuous years of the Tudors it is always refreshing to read a novel that comes from the view point of a person that is little known to history, thus giving an old story new life. That is the case with Ms. Byrd's newest work. In To Die For the author follows the life of Margaret Wyatt, a person rarely mentioned in Tudor novels. The Boleyns and the Wyatts grew up "next door" to each other and Anne and Meg became very close friends. Meg watched Anne's fabulous rise to power and her ultimate downfall all the while having to navigate the tricky and devious ways of the Tudor Court in order to survive.

I found the book an interesting read, though not a very in depth or heavy book. As I have read countless novels covering all aspects of this time period there weren't any new historical details introduced to me but Ms Byrd did a good job of not butchering history either. However, I think this novel's strength is in showing the reader what life was really like for a courtier in Henry VIII's court - and it wasn't always pleasant. Meg has to constantly watch her step as everyone was out for personal gain and would do anything to achieve more power or money or position. I liked Meg's character as she actually had personality; she was a true and faithful friend, a strong woman, and selfless. She had to overcome quite a bit throughout the course of the story - an abusive father, a very vindictive brother, the loss of her true love to the priesthood, and the eventual loss of her friend - but these trials really helped shape her into a strong and honorable woman who I was rooting for throughout. The author's characterization of other players in this novel were wonderful as well; I honestly felt my skin crawl every time Simon or Meg's brother appeared on the page. The writing is just very well done and will carry the reader along. Ms. Byrd's wonderful details of meals and fashion and the palaces will really immerse the reader in the time period, which to me is a sign of an author who has done their homework. She blends fact and fiction together beautifully and I never had a moment where I thought something that was spoken or described seemed untrue to the times.

I can easily recommend this novel to lovers of the Tudor time period. It would be an easy and informative read for anyone just beginning to delve into the intricacies of the period. Ms. Byrd's writing is easy to read and her details and historical information will not bog a reader down.

Eavesdroppers at Hampton Court Palace - A Guest Post by Sandra Byrd

Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours is celebrating the new release by Sandra Byrd To Die For and I was honored to have the author supply a guest post on a secret world at Hampton Court Palace.

Henry VIII had a famously acquisitive nature – and it wasn't limited to women. The man also had a passion for real estate. As king, he inherited many castles and palaces owned by the crown, but throughout his reign he added others by purchase, trade or payment of debt; through reclamation to the crown due to attainder; "recovering" property through the dissolution of assets formerly owned by the Roman Catholic church; and by "gift." A primary advisor in the early years of Henry's sovereignty was Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, a man with tastes as extravagant as the King's and who also had the means to indulge them. When the King saw Hampton Court Palace, Cardinal Wolsey’s sumptuous, Thames-side property, he envied him of it. Knowing that he was on uncertain terms with the king, Wolsey offered Hampton Court Palace to him. Henry accepted the generous gift but did not reinstate Wolsey in his favor.

Once he owned the palace, Henry set about remodeling. One of the most beautiful reconstructions was to the Great Hall. The Great Hall was a large chamber where the king dined in public and where entertainments were often held. The hall, like everything else in Henry's court, was to be well-appointed to represent his power and glory. Historian Neville Williams claimed that masons worked round the clock for five years to complete the rebuilding of the hall to Henry's showy satisfaction. The room would have been overpowering to the senses, the tastes and smells of rich foods and spices, the feel of lush wood paneling and tightly woven tapestries, the music of players, the courtly flirtations. But high above the heads of the guests, tucked into the dark corners of the roof beams, lurked one of the Great Hall's most interesting features of all.

Fine embellishments had been carved into the ceiling beams, among them an HA crest for Henry and Anne Boleyn which remains to this day, but especially intriguing are the Eavesdroppers. The word eavesdropper has been in circulation since at least the 900s, coming from the old English, yfesdrype. It meant then just what it means now - someone listening to conversations in secret, watching and hearing without the permission or knowledge of the speakers. The cherubic, courtier faces would have smiled down upon guests, reminding all that Henry was aware of everything at his court through courtiers and servants. Even while at play there was never a time for loose tongues among long ears, as those who spoke freely often did to perilous consequence. At the Tudor Court, it was better to see nothing, hear nothing, and say nothing till you were in private chambers where eavesdroppers, one hoped, did not lurk.

Thank you again Sandra Byrd for this fabulous guest post! Below you will find information that will direct you to Ms. Bryd's website, blog, and Facebook page. Make sure to read my review of this newest Tudor novel!


Author Website/Ladies in Waiting Web Page Here
Sandra Byrd's Blog Here
Sandra Byrd's FB Page Here

Rest in Peace Richard

Richard III (Oct 2, 1452 - Aug 22, 1485)

On this day in 1485, the most maligned King in English history was killed at the Battle of Bosworth field. He was betrayed by some of his lords and was "piteously slain and murdered" (as is recorded in the York City records), paving the way for the usurper Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond (Henry VII). Thus began the Tudor Dynasty, based on a very weak and illegitimate claim to the throne, and the complete destruction of Richard's reputation.

The battle was mainly a hand-to-hand encounter (which was typical of the times), with the Stanley family (who had promised Tudor that they would desert Richard) keeping away from the fight until, at a critical moment when it was obvious which way the victory was headed, they joined Tudor. Richard, realizing that he was betrayed, cried out, "Treason, treason!" He knew he'd either leave as the King of England or dead and refused to leave the field until, overpowered by numbers, he fell dead in the middle of his enemies. He came very close to dispatching his enemy, Henry Tudor, killing his standard barer, William Brandon (the father of Henry VIII's close friend, Charles Brandon). The crown was supposedly picked up on the field of battle and placed by Sir William Stanley on the head of Tudor, who was at once proclaimed king by the whole army. After the battle Richard's body was carried to Leicester, carried naked across a horse's back, and buried without honor in the church of the Greyfriars. His death was the end of the Plantagenet Dynasty which had ruled England since the succession of Henry II in 1154.

Richard was not the villain that his enemies made him out to appear. He had good qualities, both as a man and a ruler, and seemed to have a sound judgment of political needs (he had been able to keep the North of England in peace for his brother). However, it is impossible to clear him of the crime, the popular belief that was mostly likely the chief cause of his ruin - the death of his nephews, Edward V and Richard, Duke of York, in the Tower of London. He was not a monster but a typical man in an age of strange contradictions of character, an age of refined (for the day) culture mixed with horrible cruelty, and he possessed an emotional temper that was capable of anything (he was a Plantagenet after all). Tradition represents Richard as deformed but this has never been proven. After his defeat at Bosworth, Tudor and his supporters needed to solidify his claim to the throne and what better way to do that than to make the English people think that the King he replaced was a deformed, evil monster who killed his own nephews? No one did more to cement that belief than William Shakespeare with his play Richard III (who was undoubtedly writing to please the Tudors). They were hugely successful in their endeavors and, unfortunately, this view of Richard stuck until probably the 20th century when scholars really began to study him.

Loyaulte me lie

Book Review: Lady of the English

Lady of the English, Elizabeth Chadwick
4 roses

I love Elizabeth Chadwick's novels and was super excited to get her newest for review. While all her novels can be read alone, this novel precedes her phenomenal The Greatest Knight which, while about the early life of William Marshal, also covers the life of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II. Lady of the English is an amazing look into the life of Henry II's formidable mother Matilda, Empress of Germany and heir to the crown of England.

For those not familiar with the history, Henry I (son of William the Conqueror) lost his only son and heir in a ship wreck, leaving his daughter Matilda (one time Empress of Germany) his only heir. When he died Matilda's cousin Stephen usurped the crown thus beginning a horrible period of war and strife in England. I was immediately drawn into Matilda's story - her sadness at loosing her first husband, the frustration of knowing she would be forced into another marriage to suite her father's plans, the anger after realizing the English barons were not going to support her just claim simply because she was a woman. Ms. Chadwick paints a picture of a very strong and passionate woman who is determined to gain her birthright - first for herself and then for her son - and does whatever is necessary. History seems to imply that Matilda was disliked for her pride and arrogance, that she didn't treat the barons with the respect they thought they deserved, and that she wouldn't listen to sound advice when it was given. While you certainly see some pride on Matilda's part in this novel I didn't feel that she was portrayed as overly proud or as having treated anyone in particular in a demeaning way. I found it very interesting to see how her relationship with her husband Geoffrey matured and developed throughout the novel - evolving from nothing but scorn and passion to (grudging) acceptance and the knowledge that they worked well together. I also liked seeing how the two of them raised Henry (future King of England, husband to Eleanor of Aquitaine) to be strong and proud and very well equipped to handle the quagmire of English politics. You will get glimpses of King Stephen and some of his favorites along with tantalizing scenes with John Marshal (father of the wonderful William Marshal and will make you want to read the author's novel about him!). Their characters, I felt, were not as deeply developed as some would like but I had no problem getting a feel for what their personalities were like. Alongside Matilda's story is that of her stepmother Adeliza. I really liked her character. She was quiet and obedient, did what was expected of her as a wife and mother but underneath the quiet was a woman with strength and opinions of her own. Make sure to have a tissue handy towards the end of the novel as Adeliza's story is quite sad. As with all of Ms. Chadwick's novels, she has blended fiction and superb research beautifully, creating a world that is easy for the reader to visualize. Her writing will make the reader feel like they could reach out and touch these people that lived hundreds of years ago; they become that real.

Every historical fiction fan (and even those that aren't fans) should read Ms. Chadwick's novels. They are always exceptionally researched and written and will transport you to a different time period. This novel is a great read and I highly recommend it. This author has other novels about this time period covering many of the different players and all can be read as stand alone novels or can be read in chronological order.

Book Review: Queen By Right

Queen by Right, Anne Easter Smith
4 roses

I absolutely LOVED this author's novel about Richard III, A Rose for the Crown, and thoroughly enjoyed her novel about Richard's sister Margaret (Daughter of York) and Edward IV's illegitimate daughter Grace (The King's Grace). When I heard Ms. Smith was publishing another novel in her York series I was thrilled and I couldn't wait to get my hands on it! I was not disappointed.

This novel steps back in time (before the events of her other three novels) and tells the fascinating story of Cecily Neville, wife to Richard, Duke of York, and mother to Edward IV and Richard III. Readers familiar with Edward and Richard's stories know who their mother is but she usually only appears for a brief time in most novels. Her tale begins as the Duchess, mourning the death of her husband, looks back on her life, starting with when she was only nine and first met Richard Plantagenet. Through her reflections we see not only how she manages to make her way through this incredibly turbulent time in English history but also the true and deep love she and Richard shared throughout their lives. I really enjoyed Cecily's character and felt drawn into her story. As a child she was outspoken and headstrong, two traits she never really grew out of but was able to control in later years. As a woman she was beautiful and proud but much loved for her kindness. I enjoyed how the author showed the many trying events and people that caused Cecily to become very pious later in her life (having just had a baby myself my heart ached for Cecily when she lost her first children). It was fascinating to watch not only Cecily's character develop and grow because of what she was dealing with but her husband Richard's as well. Theirs was a unique relationship in a time when men generally did not discuss business or politics with their wives. Richard not only discussed issues with Cecily but (sometimes) listened to her advice. Richard, Duke of York, was another character that I genuinely enjoyed learning about since, as with Cecily, his character and personality is usually not developed in novels covering this time period as most authors prefer to focus on their sons. Beyond the wonderful character development, Ms. Smith has created a very realistic and believable medieval world for the reader. There is not an abundance of action in this novel but I did not expect much considering it is based on the life of a woman; much of the information comes from word of mouth or letters. This does not detract from the story in my opinion and I had no problem with the way the novel was laid out.

I have no problems recommending this novel to any reader. Yorkists will enjoy this look into the life of the family matriarch and those just beginning to delve into this very chaotic time period will not find themselves overwhelmed with the story. Queen by Right is intended to be the first of the author's York series but it certainly can be read as a stand alone novel. Bravo to Anne Easter Smith for another beautiful and fantastic look at the York family.

Mailbox Monday - July 25, 2011

Mailbox Monday is a weekly meme originally created by Marcia at A Girl and Her Books (formerly known as The Printed Page) and is now located here. It is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

Mailbox Monday is being hosted this month by A Sea of Books.

I got a couple that I can't wait to read; gotta get through a couple of others and post reviews first.

The King's Grey Mare, Rosemary Hawley Jarman

Ms. Jarman's novels have come highly recommended so I'm looking forward to getting into this novel about Elizabeth Woodville, Edward IV's wife. This came from Paperbackswap.com.





We Speak No Treason: The White Rose Turned to Blood, R. H. Jarman

Another Jarman novel from Paperbackswap.com. Unfortunately I do not have the first in this series so I am going to have to wait to read this one!