Pussy Cat, Pussy Cat, Where Have You Been? I've Been to London to Visit the Queen
Daniel Taylor and Russell Punter
Book
Take a virtual tour of London in this original picture book based on the classic English rhyme,...
The Prince and the Pauper
6.5
Rate It
Book
Tom Canty and Edward Tudor could have been identical twins. Their birthdays and their faces match,...
Anne Boleyn
7.5
Rate It
Book
Traditionally seen as a pawn manoeuvred into Henry VIII's bed by an ambitious father and his...
The Reign of Mary I
Robert Tittler and Judith Richards
Book
Until recently, the reign of Mary Tudor was generally seen as a 'sterile interlude' in the Tudor...
Katherine the Queen: The Remarkable Life of Katherine Parr
7.5
Rate It
Book
'Linda Porter has done a marvellous job in bringing Katherine Parr to life. In so doing, she evokes...
Arbella Stuart: The Uncrowned Queen
Book
In 1562, Elizabeth I, the last of Henry VIII's children, lay dying of smallpox, and the curse of the...
Nothing Proved (Regina #1)
Book
Danger lined her path, but destiny led her to glory… Elizabeth Tudor learned resilience young....
Historical Tudor
Hayley Hornibrook (48 KP) rated Innocent Traitor in Books
Jul 6, 2018
Lemon (2017)
5.0
Rate It
Movie Watch
-After Isaac's blind girlfriend walks out on him, his life goes into free fall, and he directs an...
Deborah (162 KP) rated The Queen's Promise in Books
Dec 21, 2018
This one I think is worth reading though. Although Anne carries one of the main narrative threads the book is really more about Henry Percy, 6th Earl of Northumberland, who had some sort of understanding with Anne before she caught the eye of that other Henry. I don't think his life is as well documented as other more prominent figures at court, but there is enough information there to give a foundation to his story. Our other main character is Will Chatton, who, along with his wife, is a fictional character created to give us a broader view of Tudor society and to assist Henry Percy and move the narrative along. Will is also friends in the novel with Robert Aske, who was a real historical figure.
Henry Percy has not generally been given much prominence, even in fiction, so this was a new angle, drawing out his character. His is not really a happy story, but he is certainly a sympathetic character and the author uses the forced break up of their relationship as a sort of catalyst for the change in Anne's behaviour to a harder outlook, so the reader can still sympathise with her. One thing that does puzzle me in 'real' history, and which I feel the author didn't convincingly explain in her own narrative, was why it was found necessary to break up Anne and Henry's relationship? That point aside, I thought this was a good read and a bit different to the usual court focused novels.