A lot of books by Jean Plaidy are being re-released and I am currently enjoying The Queen's Devotion which is about William and Mary.

Karen,
Perfect assessment of Ives.

Chris wrote:
This (Anne Boleyn A New Life of England's Tragic Queen) is a readable book, and a quick read at that. If you are looking for a good biography of Anne Boleyn, however, this isn't it.

Much more articulate than my comments--thanks!

I agree with your assessment of the Ives book. Here's my review:

Whew! Scholarly indeed but tough to read. Ives assumes the reader already knows a lot of detail about the period and offers more with Anne as the focus. For true followers of Anne Boleyn only!

The Ives one is a bit dry, but it is consdiered to be one of the best, if not the best.I belong to an Yahoo group, Tudortalk, and everyone respects Ives. You might also want to try The Rise and Fall of Anne Boleyn Family Politics at the Court of Henry VIII. It is a little dry as well, and it is specualtion, but it is an interesting theory.

Thanks for adding that Chris. I'm a huge AB fan but that seems wayyy to much for me. She wasn't a saint by any means... maybe I'll pass on reading this one after that review. Have you read The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn by Eric Ives? Perhaps that one would be better for me to read?

Jennifer wrote: "How come Denny's is so bad? I have it on my bookshelf at home and planned to read it at some point. What didn't you like about it?"

This a copy of my review.

This is a readable book, and a quick read at that. If you are looking for a good biography of Anne Boleyn, however, this isn' t it. The first thing that any reader should know is that Denny has a very anti-Catholic bias. Every Catholic in this book is evil. Every non-Catholic is a wonderful person.

It's not so much Denny's bias that is disturbing (look at the Church at that time), it's her opinions that she passes off as facts. Denny will state that "Anne was appalled" or "thought" something, but how does Denny know? Such statements are not footnoted, so they are conclusions that Denny is reaching. They might be logical conclusions, but they are Denny's conclusions and not Anne's.

While Denny does defend Anne, she does so at the expense of every other woman in Tudor England, with the exception of Elizabeth I. All other women were either liars, tramps, idiots, schemers, or impious (or all of these combined). Anne was the only good woman in Tudor England. Denny implies that Mary Boleyn gave Henry VIII syphilis; she implies that Mary Tudor's (Henry VIII's sister) dislike of Anne came from Anne's disapproval of Mary Tudor's behavior in France. Worst of all, Denny states that stories about Anne poisoning people should be disregarded, but then just two pages later, relates a story about Catherine de Medici poisoning Jeanne d'Albert that the reader is suppose to take as fact.

Additionally, at times Denny changes her position. For instance, Catherine of Aragon and Henry VIII only have one living child, and that is Catherine's fault, according to Denny. When Henry and Anne, however, have trouble producing children, it's Henry's fault because he might have syphilis (which might have been given to him by Mary Boleyn, so I guess it is really her fault). When Anne acts against tradition, she is being independent and standing for her rights; when another woman does so, the woman is being a shrew. When the common people support a Catholic, they are being misled; when the common people support Anne, they know what they are doing.

What is even worse is that it is hard to form a picture of Anne Boleyn from this book. Denny looks at Anne in terms of religion and how Anne should be seen as a martyr for reform (a Protestant martyr), and compares Anne to Queen Esther from the Bible. This is an interesting idea (and the reason why I gave the book two stars and not one); however, for most of the book Anne seems absent. There is no clear picture of Anne that emerges from this biography. In fact, Anne seems to be cipher, a caricature at best, a shadow at worst, of what Denny wishes Anne to be; instead of who Anne herself was.

Chris wrote: Yes, I had a gander at the Denny book and gave it up pretty quickly.

I'd tagged
Anne Boleyn A New Life of England's Tragic Queen as unreadable, and I can find something good in almost anything. Even knowing the period I couldn't follow this version of events.

How come Denny's is so bad? I have it on my bookshelf at home and planned to read it at some point. What didn't you like about it?

Chris wrote: "Susan wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "Anyone read Jane Boleyn The True Story of the Infamous Lady Rochford by Julia Fox?"

I've read it and enjoyed it; it was interesting to see Fox exam..."

Yes, I had a gander at the Denny book and gave it up pretty quickly.

Susan wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "Anyone read Jane Boleyn The True Story of the Infamous Lady Rochford by Julia Fox?"

I've read it and enjoyed it; it was interesting to see Fox examine how much of ..."

I've read it as well. It was interesting, and something that needed to be done. Fox raised some interesting questions. But I wasn't entirely happy with the amount of guesswork. In fairness to Fox, however, she was no where near as bad as Denny in Anne Boleyn A New Life of England's Tragic Queen.

This one's a little dry, but gives a good basis for its period:
1688 Revolution in the Family
It includes some observations about the conflicts and motives of Mary and Anne, daughters of James II, during William's bloodless Protestant rebellion in 1688.

Jennifer wrote: "Anyone read Jane Boleyn The True Story of the Infamous Lady Rochford by Julia Fox?"

I've read it and enjoyed it; it was interesting to see Fox examine how much of the reputation Jane has acquired over the years is based in fact. Some people have criticized the book as overly wishy-washy because Fox often has to speculate as to what Jane might have done or thought, but I'd much rather have speculation presented as speculation than have speculation presented as fact.

Thanks Carla!

Jennifer - you can read Margaret Irwin's trilogy in any order. I did, by accident - I read Elizabeth and the Prince of Spain before I knew it was Book 3 of a trilogy, and then managed to read the other two out of order as well :-)

Moving back in time from the Tudors and Plantagenets, I liked The Last English King by Julian Rathbone, covering King Harold and William the Conqueror. Also Warriors of the Dragon Gold by Ray Bryant, though it's a bit sprawling as it covers about 50 years in the run-up to the Battle of Hastings.

I second the recommendation on Chadwick's books, you will fall in love with William (as well as his father in A Place Beyond Courage). I also enjoyed A Traitor's Wife.

Anyone read Jane Boleyn The True Story of the Infamous Lady Rochford by Julia Fox?

Carla wrote: "Agreed about Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Penman. I especially liked her portrayal of Edward IV. Another Richard III novel I've enjoyed is The Seventh Son by Reay Tannahill, which is sympathetic ..."

I've heard so many wonderful reviews on Elizabeth Chadwick but have yet to read anything by her.

I have been picking up Irwin's trilogy as I come across them - I just need to find Young Bess. It's always the first one that eludes me when I buy books like this. lol

Agreed about Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Penman. I especially liked her portrayal of Edward IV. Another Richard III novel I've enjoyed is The Seventh Son by Reay Tannahill, which is sympathetic to Richard without making him into a sugar-sweet saint.

Has anyone recommended Margaret Irwin's trilogy on Elizabth I yet? Young Bess, Elizabeth Captive Princess, Elizabeth and the Prince of Spain. I think these are my favourite novels on Elizabeth so far. I also liked Jean Plaidy's Gay Lord Robert, about Robert Dudley (think it has been reissued recently as Lord Robert, 'gay' having changed its meaning since the original was written).

I'm not that great a fan of Philippa Gregory as a rule, but I enjoyed her The Boleyn Inheritance (Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard and Lady Jane Rochford).

Not strictly about royalty as such, but can I put a word in for Elizabeth Chadwick's Marshal novels (A Place Beyond Courage, The Greatest Knight and The Scarlet Lion). They centre on William Marshal (and I defy you not to fall a little in love with him) and his father John Marshal, and the royals at the time are important secondary characters. Also The Traitor's Wife by Susan Higginbotham, which is about Eleanor de Clare, niece of Edward II and wife of Edward's favourite Hugh le Despenser. Edward II, Edward III and Queen Isabella are secondary characters.

she is a greater reviewer also, specially on HF!!

Cool. Thanks.

Chris wrote: "I'm not sure if this book is any good, but it got a write up in my copy of British Heritage. IT is 1688 The First Modern Revolution and deals with the Glorious Revolution of Willia..."

Chris, Misfit have already read Wolf Hall, take a look to her review.

I'm not sure if this book is any good, but it got a write up in my copy of British Heritage. IT is 1688 The First Modern Revolution and deals with the Glorious Revolution of William and Mary. It's pricy at $40 (U.S). The review called it masterful.

As anyone read Wolf Hall? It's on my TBR stack.

Fraser is good as is Weir. I have, but haven't yet read The Pirate Queen Queen Elizabeth I, Her Pirate Adventurers, and the Dawn of Empire. It looks interesting.

I really like Elizabeth and Mary. It's a good dual biography of both queens.

The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn is really good. I also enjoyed Anne Somerset's work.

For fiction, I enjoy Penman. I read Innocent Traitor A Novel of Lady Jane Grey and enjoyed it. I have the Elizabeth book as well. George is good. I liked The Other Boleyn Girl, but not the other ones in the series. I read the next two and didn't like them.

Susanna wrote: "I have, but have not read yet, her biography of Cromwell."

I like Fraser and I have that book too, but it's huge and I haven't gotten up the nerve to start it yet.

I liked Alison Weir's book about Katherine Swynford, and her book on Queen Isabella, the wife of Edward II, and her book on The Wars of the Roses.

Elizabeth Longford has a good biography of Queen Victoria.

I enjoyed An Uncommon Woman, by Hannah Pakula, which is about Queen Victoria's eldest daughter Vicky, who became Empress of Prussia.

Marion Meade's biography of Eleanor of Aquitaine is good.

For fiction, I love everything by Penman.

I've yet to read a biography of Antonia Fraser's that I haven't liked. The Wives of Henry VIII and Royal Charles Charles II and the Restoration are excellent.

I have, but have not read yet, her biography of Cromwell.

She's also written about Mary Queen of Scots and The Gunpowder Plot, among other things.

Jennifer wrote: "I definitely value Misfit's reviews :)"

Claire wrote: "By Pamela Belle. look at Misfits reviews on amazon she really is the guru when it comes to what is worth reading."

***blushes***

Thanks, guys.

I definitely value Misfit's reviews :)

By Pamela Belle. look at Misfits reviews on amazon she really is the guru when it comes to what is worth reading.

By who Claire?

.I must say read Treason as well and look at the Lodestar.

I love historical crushes! Mine is Robert Dudley. I think he's fascinating!

Someone should nominate Sunne for our group read. I've already nominated one so if you haven't done so yet I think that would be a great one :)

I hear you on the "historical crush", Robin... and I hold Sunne in Splendour responsible for my conversion to the cause too.

Misfit wrote: "Pro-Richard or not, The Sunne in Splendour is the be-all to end-all books on R3 IMHO. Not that I'm partial to Penman or anything. Her Richard isn't nearly as pure-as-the-driven-snow-and-saintly-and..."

I second the notion on Sunne. Everything I read that involves Richard, I compare with Sunne (and I read a lot on the man as I believe I've developed a historical crush on him LOLOL!).

Pro-Richard or not, The Sunne in Splendour is the be-all to end-all books on R3 IMHO. Not that I'm partial to Penman or anything. Her Richard isn't nearly as pure-as-the-driven-snow-and-saintly-and-perfect as a couple of other current HF novelists write him.

I would love to read Sunne in Splendor, also. I will have to see if I can find a used copy of it.

I haven't read Sunne in Splendour yet but would love to... I'll keep searching for it as I don't own it yet.

Kate I know you're going to love the Autobiography. Fun to see the world from Henry's eyes.

As for more on English royalty...the Margaret George one that was mentioned in a previous post is really good, really long, but really good.

Some really like Rosalind Miles's I, Elizabeth. I loved it, some hated it.

Jean Plaidy also has very good books dealing with the Tudors, though some of her earlier works on the Plantagenets are a bit dry.

Thanks Tisha that would be great !!

You are sure to love it Kate!
I would love to read The Sunne in Splendour with you next year as I have not yet read it.

Jennifer wrote: "Tisha wrote: "The Autobiography of Henry VIII With Notes by His Fool, Will Somers

One of my all time favorites."

Loved it!"

Jennifer/Tisha , you know i bought this because you both raved about it so much :)
I have it down for a reading challenge next year.

I will have to order the Sunne in Spendour for a read next year too. Anyone up for a joint read or a monthly group read next year ?
Though im sure many people on here have read it.

Kate wrote: "I stumled across The Sunne in Splendour (Novel about Richard III) while reading reviews for The White Queen A Novel on Amazon. I think it was Misfit who gave the recom..."

SKP's Sunne is about the best novel on Richard out there (I'm not the only one that says this either lol!). It does portray R3 in a bit of a saintly light, which I don't think he was, but it is certainly extremely well written and researched.

Tisha wrote: "The Autobiography of Henry VIII With Notes by His Fool, Will Somers

One of my all time favorites."

Loved it!

Kate wrote: "I stumled across The Sunne in Splendour (Novel about Richard III) while reading reviews for The White Queen A Novel on Amazon. I think it was Misfit who gave the recom..."

I just purchased A Sunne in Spendour after hearing it recommended alot.

The Autobiography of Henry VIII With Notes by His Fool, Will Somers

One of my all time favorites.

I stumled across The Sunne in Splendour (Novel about Richard III) while reading reviews for The White Queen A Novel on Amazon. I think it was Misfit who gave the recommendation.
It looks really good and have it down on my TBR for next year

This thread is designed to make our TBR piles even more unwieldy and to make book recommendations easier to find. So recommend a book that you have read, either recently,or in the past. Can't wait to see what all is out there.