Tudor History Lovers discussion

Hello people. I am new to this site and am glad to have found a group of people who love Tudor history. I am just rediscovering it after a long break. So far I have read all of Phillipa Gregory's books, and enjoyed them for their fictional merits more than the accuracy. My least fave was The Other Queen, although it has sparked an interest in Mary Queen of Scots. I've read both of Alison Weirs novels, Innocent Traitor and the Lady Elizabeth.

So what other books are there that might tickle my literary tastebuds?

Suggestions welcome :)

Stella x

Do you want just fiction or are you interested in biographies too? And are there any people you're more interested in than others?

Hello Map

I am interested in both non fiction and fiction. I have read David Starkey's 6th Wives and I read Alison Weirs 6th Wives of Henry the VIII years ago.

I'm starting a History degree in October and part of that covers the Reformation in England. So I would quite like to read about that. So Henry VIII is of particular interest, but also the back stories and all the characters involved in all the plots would be of interest :)

Well I am just getting into reading about the Tudor time period this past year and have read several I really enjoyed.
These are all fictional works
Carolly Erickson The Last Wife of Henry VIII
Margaret Campbell Barnes Brief Gaudy Hour
Robin Maxwell The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn
Laurien Gardiner Plain Jane
Jean Plaidy Katherine of Aragon (3 movels in one)
Jean Plaidy Murder Most Royal

Those are some I have read in the last months in the Henry VIII time period. Again all are fictional works and there are some things that are not accurate but I enjoyed all of them.

If you like historical mysteries - the novels by C.J. Sansom, starting with Dissolution.

Antonia Fraser's The Six Wives of Henry VIII is excellent.

Thanks guys :)

Will have a look at your recomendations :)

Stella

Henry VIII and Katherine Howard make an appearance in the third one in Sansom's series - Sovereign.

Stella wrote: "Hello people. I am new to this site and am glad to have found a group of people who love Tudor history. I am just rediscovering it after a long break. So far I have read all of Phillipa Gregory's b..."

Hi Stella! Have a look at the Fatten up our TBR lists, if you haven't yet. There are some great reads on there. Also, we're doing a group read on Edward VI if you're interested in joining in. It starts on Aug 1 and info for that one is under Thoughts on Edward VI?

Sharon Kay Penman and Anne Easter Smith are two authors I have often seen recommended.

I now own their books, but haven't read them yet!

If you're interested in non-fiction there's the catalogue that accompanies the British Library's Exhibition on Henry VIII - Henry VIII Man and Monarch. It has loads of pictures. I just got mine today in the mail and I'm vibrating with excitement!!!!!!!

Thalia wrote: "If you're interested in non-fiction there's the catalogue that accompanies the British Library's Exhibition on Henry VIII - Henry VIII Man and Monarch. It has loads of pictures. I..."


I will definitely have to look for this. I was fortunate enough to get to listen to a lecture give by David Starkey when he was promoting the Man & Monarch exhibition. I have to say that I was very impressed.

I got the Man and Monarch book about six months ago, and it is EXCELLENT. Definitely worth the price.

The Lady Elizabeth by Alison Weir

I recently finished The Tudors: The Complete Story of England's Most Notorious Dynasty (non-fiction) by G.J. Meyer and thought it did quite a good job of getting one through the dynasty with some interesting side bits to understand the times better. I haven't been overly impressed by the Tudor fiction I've read lately but I've got a bit more planned...perhaps there will be a gem I can recommend.

Marylou wrote: "The Lady Elizabeth by Alison Weir"

I LOVED this book - I couldn't put it down.

Thalia, I was just looking at that book today at Borders LOL. I really wanted it, but it's cheaper off of Amazon. I'm glad that you liked it!!

And even cheaper at Costco

I'd like to suggest my own novel The Marlowe Conspiracy.

It's an historical thriller set in 1593 Elizabethan England, and features Christopher Marlowe teaming-up with William Shakespeare to uncover a high-level government conspiracy.

Tudor fiction with male central characters (outside of a palace) is not so common nowadays, so perhaps you guys might be interested?

An older book, but a definite goody, is "I, Elizabeth" by Rosalind Miles. It's written as if this were Elizabeth's autobiography. While it's lengthy, it reads fast and is absolute one of the best Tudor books I've ever read.

I really enjoyed that one, Beth.