In the Footsteps of Anne Boleyn by Sarah Morris and Natalie Grueninger

In the Footsteps of Anne Boleyn by Sarah Morris and Natalie Grueninger

The Tudor fan's guide to all the places Anne Boleyn would have traveled, from Hever Castle to the room in Windsor Castle where Anne was made Marquess of Pembroke, including maps and narrative information, unearthing hidden stories and artifacts pivotal to Anne's life. 

288 pages.

Anna, Duchess of Cleves: The King's Beloved Sister by Heather R. Darsie

Anna, Duchess of Cleves: The King's Beloved Sister by Heather R. Darsie

Author Heather Darsie takes an in-depth look at the fourth wife of Henry VIII, Anne of Cleves. She examines Anne’s childhood and relationship with her family, life in the Cleves court, and the accomplishments of Anne’s siblings, particularly Wilhelm and Sibylle. Darsie delves into the political climate of the Continent and issues that would shape Cleves as well as Anne’s marriage, focusing especially on Anne’s brother-in-law, John Frederick, Elector of Saxony, and his impact on Lutheranism.

304 pages.

Anne Boleyn: 500 Years of Lies by Hayley Nolan

Anne Boleyn: 500 Years of Lies by Hayley Nolan

Anne Boleyn has gone down in history as the scheming woman who bewitched Henry VIII into divorcing his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, and breaking with the Catholic Church in his mad quest for an heir to the British throne. But was Anne really the cunning woman she was made out to be, or a passionate reformer who married the king, not for love and the crown, but as a way of furthering causes she held near and dear?

327 pages.

The Tudors: The Complete Story of England's Most Notorious Dynasty by G.J. Meyer

The Tudors: The Complete Story of England's Most Notorious Dynasty by G.J. Meyer

Author G.J. Meyer explores the lives and reigns of the Tudor monarchs, including Henry VII (briefly), Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I.

612 pages.

The White Queen by Philappa Gregory

This series is now being made into a TV series; I think it would play well there - there's lots of improbable plot twists and overwrought romance.  The back of the book says it well "three different, yet equally relentless women who will scheme, manipulate, and seduce their way onto the English throne."  This is the second one that I've read, and it continues the story of the War of the Roses.  In this title, Elizabeth Woodville, a beauty, captivates the attentions of the newly crowned King of England, Edward IV, and proceeds to try to entrench her family in the royal line.  Of course many other factions are dismayed by this, and the story describes all the plotting and petty battles that ensue. There's also an undercurrent of witchcraft to add a bit of extra spice. It's somewhat surprising how the reins of power, and even the crown itself, can shift from one family to another in the space of a few weeks.  Gregory excels at conveying a sense of time and place, but certainly plays up the drama.  415 p.

"Lancelot and The Wolf (The Knights of Camelot #1)" by Sarah Luddington

This was a really unusual retelling of the King Arthur/Guinevere/Lancelot love triangle.  The story begins with Lancelot banished from England by Arthur after being publicly flogged for his affair with Guinevere, Arthur's wife.  Once in France, Lancelot saves the life of a squire, who then comes under his employ.  But the Fey are hunting Arthur and want to end his reign as King, so Lancelot and his new squire must return to England to convince Arthur that only with the help of the missing Merlin, can they battle the Fey and save his place on the throne.  As an added twist, Arthur and Lancelot have a much deeper relationship than the king and his wife.  This was an interesting story with lots of action and some unrequited love thrown in to the mix.  I'd like to read the next in the series.  253 pages (Kindle edition).

The Lady of the Rivers by Phillippa Gregory

Jacquetta, a young French noblewoman is married off to an English lord, the Duke of Bedford, who is only interested in her inherited ability to see into the future.  In fact, he even thinks he has to maintain her status as a virgin in order to preserve her powers.  His interest is in foretelling the location and outcomes of future battles with the French.  This tells the embellished story of a historical character, during the Wars of the Roses in 1400s England and France.  Jacquetta soon tires of her solitary husband and his narrow interest in her as a fortune teller, and of course falls in love with one of his squires.  Conveniently, the Duke falls ill and dies, leaving Jacquetta free to marry her lover, an act which results in a heavy fine from the king and loss of her wealth.  The story follows the intrigues of the royal court of King Henry VI.  While Gregory is a well-respected writer of historical fiction, I found a number of the plot twists to be implausible, and she puts modern criticisms of the place of women in the culture into the mouths of the characters. She does paint a very vivid description of the setting and the historical characters.  435 pages

Book of the Maidservant by Rebecca Barnhouse read by Susan Duerden

Yet another book about a pilgrimage! Joanna is the young servant girl of Margery Kempe, a famous medieval holy woman.  When Dame Margery is divinely inspired to journey to Rome, she demands that Joanna accompany her. Joanna must cook, clean,wash and mend clothes not only for her mistress but for all the other nobles traveling with her.  Will Joanna ever make it back home? Will there be a home for her to return to? Was the real Margery Kempe the hypocrite portrayed in the book?  Unabridged Listening Library audiobook.  223 pages.  6 hrs. 44 mins.

Ghost map, by Steven Johnson

This was an interesting and satisfying piece of nonfiction. The first part is caught up in the major cholera outbreaks in Britain and follows the actions of a few people who were curious enough about the workings of cholera to brave the infested areas of London to try to figure out how cholera worked. It outlines the contesting theories of contagion at the time, and how established ideas can be so detrimental to understanding a phenomenon.
The second part of the books goes into how an innovative way of mapping outbreaks was generated, so as to better visualize the spread of the contagion on a broader level.
The third part of this book brings us into the 21st century, where the basic principles of that early way of mapping are being applied today.
Very interesting, but the beginning sections are probably not for the squeamish.
audio: 8.5 hours
text: 240 pages

London Under: The Secret History beneath the Streets, by Peter Ackroyd

London Under goes into what lies beneath the streets of London - everything from historical sites to infrastructure and how each affects the other. I don't know much about London, but this book is an interesting look at history, geography and politics, and how a society has bent its environment to suit its wants and needs.
text: 228 pages

Lionheart, by Sharon Kay Penman

A grand historical fiction about Richard the Lionheart's failed 3rd crusade to liberate Jerusalem in 1191. Penman excels at period detail, but she also provides fleshed out characters and plenty of action. There's lots of court intrigue, interspersed with battles, romance, banquets, and sex. The story follows multiple characters, including Richard, his sister, his new bride, and several of the major knights in his entourage. Richard was unique in that he approached the Saracens and their leaders with respect, and was willing to listen and learn from them. I learned quite a lot about the crusades and the political intrigue and jockeying for power that continued throughout the expeditions. Penman provides several pages of historical notes at the end, describing how she used chronicles from the period to provide authenticity to the work, also noting where she has embellished. The story ends with Richard's departure from the Holy Land. Penman is at work on the sequel, to cover the rest of his life's adventures. 589 pages.

The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell

This is the first book in the The Saxon Stories, which tell the tale of Alfred the Great and his descendants through the eyes of Uhtred, an English boy born into the aristocracy of ninth-century Northumbria, captured by the Danes and taught the Viking ways. The story begins with the Danes invading Uhtred's north England home, killing his father in battle, and his capture. His captor takes a liking to him, and teaches him to be a warrior. As he matures, he fights for the Danes, but plot twists lead him back to the English side, to serve King Alfred. This book concludes with Uhtred, now a man and married with an infant son, winning a decisive battle against the invading Danes. Cornwell plays up the contrast between the English Catholics and their priests, who heavily influence King Alfred, and the pagan Danes with their lusty warrior ways. A great start to the series. 329 p.