Lets fatten up our TBR list! Recomend a book chain

[Colleen, Mod #3]

Okay here's how it works: I will start by posting a book I recommend and the next person comments on it i.e. Good book, added to TBR list, or not interested. You then recommend a book in turn. If the book you post is one you would like to swap with someone specify that as well. TUDOR RELATED ONLY PLEASE! That can include Mary Queen of Scots as well as any person involved with the Tudor time period.

[Colleen, Mod #3]

The Fifth Queen
Great book about Katherine Howard and well written.

[Misfit]

I've not heard of that one before, and might have to look into it and read it.

My absolute favorite on Elizabeth I is Legacy . Out of print but worth hunting down.

[Colleen, Mod #3]

Thank you Misfit, hopefuly the others will play too... ahem. I love out of print books, often times they are the best. Not fond of Elizabeth I though; in my opinion she inherited her mothers wit and shrewdness and her fathers cruelty and intense narcissism, not a good combination.
The Sisters of Henry VIII The Tumultuous Lives of Margaret of Scotland and Mary of France

[Susan]

I started the Sisters of Henry VIII but found it fairly dry going. I may pick it up again one of these days.

I have Tudor Queens of England by David Loades on order. I'm looking forward to it.

[MAP]

Oooooh, I would definitely love to read about Margaret and Mary; I know almost nothing about the two of them.

I'm currently reading The First Queen of England The Myth of "Bloody Mary" [image error] and it's engaging enough that I'm reading it instead of studying for a midterm, so I'd recommend it.

(Also, Misfit: I've ready Legacy too because it was written by Susan Kay, who also wrote my ultimate guilty pleasure: Phantom.)

[Colleen, Mod #3]

MAP sounds good, I am feeling a Mary Tudor kick coming on so I definitely have to pick that one up.

A Man for All Seasons

[Lindsey]

My favorite is also Legacy by Susan Kay. Threads: The Reincarnation of Anne Boleyn by Nell Gavin is also good.

Threads The Reincarnation of Anne Boleyn

[Terry]

Threads has been on my TBR pile for a long time. Will have to dig it out. Just finished Secrets of the Tudor Court: Pleasure Palace by Kate Emerson and liked it alot
Secrets of the Tudor Court The Pleasure Palace

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads, Mod #4]

Older but I think charming is Tudor Wench, by Elswyth Thane. It's historical fiction (from 1932, I believe), but with a lovely author's note and sources at the back. Long out of print, I think.

Edited to add: The "Tudor Wench" in question being Elizabeth I; the book takes her from about age 6 to her ascension.

[Sierra]

I've read both The Lady Elizabeth and Innocent Traitor and enjoyed them both. My favorites are the books about King Charles II-- after a while I just get angry reading about Henry VIII. I especially enjoyed Susan Holloway Scott's books Royal Harlot: A Novel of the Countess Castlemaine and King Charles II and Duchess: A Novel of Sarah Churchill. I also really liked Karleen Koen's three books set in the same time period (Through a Glass Darkly, Dark Angels, and Now Face To Face) which are incredibly long and historically detailed but also really fun to read. I'll have to check out a few of the suggestions here as well.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads, Mod #4]

If you think you might want to try historical mysteries, I cannot recommend C.J. Sansom's Matthew Shardlake books more. There are (currently as far as I know) four of them, starting with Dissolution, which is set at a monastery that is about to be dissolved, in 1537.

[MAP]

I was actually not a huge fan of Alison Weir's novels. I felt that she seemed to lack an understanding of motivation of her characters, especially with the characters in Innocent Traitor. I was surprised, for someone who writes history in such a way that they read like novels, I felt like her novels were really clunky.

[Susan]

I liked Innocent Traitor, perhaps because I wasn't all that familiar with Lady Jane Grey's story. I tried reading The Lady Elizabeth but couldn't get into it--from what I've heard, that's probably just as well.

[Nona]

Innocent Traitor by Alison Weir is a great book and on someone who is known little of or at least not written about by alot of people, highly recommended.

I would recommend The Last Boleyn by Karen Harper, tells the story of Mary and Anne Boleyn through Mary's eyes and emotions starting wen they were childern and end with Mary and William living peacfully in the country. Marys story is so heart rendering being torn in two by feelings for a King who cares little for her and duty to an older sister whom aspires to be Queen. it's very humbling.

[Nona]

I just bought Plain Jane by Lairen Gardner

[Colleen, Mod #3]

I have never heard of The Last Boleyn but I love to read about Mary Boleyn, good suggestion Nona!

The Boleyn Inheritance

[Susan]

Josephine Wilkinson has a nonfiction book about Mary Boleyn coming out in April:

http://www.amazon.com/Mary-Boleyn-Sto...

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads, Mod #4]

I liked The Boleyn Inheritance better than The Other Boleyn Girl, and almost as much as Virgin Earth (not Tudor, but the Philippa Gregory I've liked best).

[Nona]

thanks Susan I'm looking forward to this one, thanks for the heads up on it.

[Lizzy]

Loved The Other Boleyn Girl- in fact it was the reason for my love affair with all things Henry VIII!

My book suggestion is one of my all time fav books:
The Autobiography of Henry VIII: With notes by his fool, Will Somers by Margaret George.

[Susan]

There's also the recently reissued King's Fool by Margaret Campbell Barnes (also told by Will Somers).

[Nona]

have you read it Susan? I have My Lady of Cleves on my bookshelf but as of yet have not read any of Maragret Campbell Barnes.

[Susan]

Nona wrote: "have you read it Susan? I have My Lady of Cleves on my bookshelf but as of yet have not read any of Maragret Campbell Barnes."

Yes, I did, and thought it was excellent. It was written in the 1940's, if I recall correctly, but it doesn't feel at all dated.

[Donna]

Margaret Campbell Barnes books are very easy reading. Not the 'best researched,' (so much information has been discovered since she wrote her novels) but still fun.

Jean Plaidy's books are similar.
Tudor series is:
1. Uneasy Lies the Head (1982)
2. Katharine, the Virgin Widow (1961)
3. The Shadow of the Pomegranate (1962)
4. The King's Secret Matter (1962)
5. Murder Most Royal (1949) (aka King's Pleasure)
6. Saint Thomas' Eve (1954)
7. The Sixth Wife (1953)
8. The Thistle and the Rose (1963)
9. Mary, Queen of France (1964)
10. The Spanish Bridegroom (1954)
11. Gay Lord Robert (1955) (first by Eleanor Burford, republished as Lord Robert in 2007)

* Katharine of Aragon (omnibus of 2-4)

Also - her Queens series
The Queens of England Series

1. Myself My Enemy (1983) (aka Loyal in Love)
2. Queen of This Realm (1984)
3. Victoria Victorious (1985)
4. The Lady in the Tower (1986)
5. The Courts of Love (1987)
6. In the Shadow of the Crown (1988)
7. The Queen's Secret (1989)
8. The Reluctant Queen (1990)
9. The Pleasures of Love (1991)
10. William's Wife (1992)
11. Rose Without a Thorn (1993)

(there are also series about the Plantagenets, Stuarts, Normans, Queen Victoria, etc. etc. etc.

[Marie]

"The Queen's Handmaiden" by Jennifer Ashley was a fun read for me. A quickie.

[Robin]

Wow, I have most of those books or they're on my "to read" list. I really loved I, Elizabeth by Rosalind Miles.

I just finished "The Virgin Queen's Daughter" and while I don't buy into the theory that Elizabeth might have had a child, it was a good book and I enjoyed it. I'm working on "Katherine of Aragon" by Plaidy at the moment and I have "The King's Grace" by Anne Easter Smith to read next.

[Bridget]

Not long ago I read The King's Daughter by Sandra Worth. I found this book about Elizabeth of York (who went on to become the first Tudor Queen as wife to Henry VII) to be wonderfully compelling. A lot of it is based on the author's imagination, but this woman surely must have had a constitution of steel to deal with and survive all that she did. The depiction of Henry VIII as a child in this novel is incredibly interesting and sets the stage for what was to come in his reign.

[Robin]

Bridget wrote: "Not long ago I read The King's Daughter by Sandra Worth. I found this book about Elizabeth of York (who went on to become the first Tudor Queen as wife to Henry VII) to be wonderfully compelling. ..."

I just got this book from the library and am really looking forward to reading it! I also have "The Queen's Sorrow" by Suzannah Dunn here to read as well.

[Darbus, Mod #2]

The Queen's Sorrow sounds good.

I just readHer Majesty's Spymaster Elizabeth I, Sir Francis Walsingham, and the Birth of Modern Espionage, and I thought it was really good. It gave a fairly complete picture of the time, in addition to a basic summary of some of the major events of part of Elizabeth's reign. I definitely liked it.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads, Mod #4]

I read that one a few years ago and enjoyed it, Darbus.

[Mrs. C.]

Thanks, Darbus, for the tip on the Walsingham book. I've just ordered it!
Eileen

[Marie]

I ordered from Paperbackswap this week:
"The Walsingham Woman" by Jan Westcott, published 1954
and a 2003 edition of "Mary Tudor: The Spanish Tudor" by HFM Prescott, first published as "Spanish Tudor" (1940) by Constable & Co.
I can't wait to read them!

[Jill]

Has anyone read any of the Alison Plowden books? My favorite was "Tudor Women : Queens and Commoners."

[Robin]

I just finished "The King's Daughter" and I really enjoyed it. It was interesting to read about Elizabeth of York and her life. Gave some interesting theories to some of history's mysteries. Lol.

[Susan]

I'm reading Henry VIII's Last Victim by Jessie Childs. It's nonfiction about Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey.

[Wen]

Terry wrote: "Threads has been on my TBR pile for a long time. Will have to dig it out. Just finished Secrets of the Tudor Court: Pleasure Palace by Kate Emerson and liked it alot
[bookcover:Secrets of the Tu..."

I am not sure I am jumping in at the right spot. Just joined today so still figuring the group out.
But I just finished the Pleasure Palace by Kate Emerson 2 weeks agoa nd really enjoyed it. I liked seeing the Tudor court told through the eyes of a lady in waiting.
Some I have really enjoyed have been Brief Gaudy Hour by Margaret Campbell Barnes. While more recent may have better facts I truly liked the character of Anne Boleyn that she created.
The Last Wife of Henry VIII by Carolly Erickson I really liked too. It is the life of Cathering Parr. Shows her at court through all of Henry VIIIs previous wives and her view of them.
Presently am ready Plain Jane by Laurien Gardner about Jane Seymour and so far really like this one too. Was the first one I had found on Jane Seymour.

[Colleen, Mod #3]

Welcome to the group Wen! Anywhere you jump in is just fine. I am really diggin' Carolly Erickson right now so
Bloody Mary

[Susan]

If you enjoy reading about Katherine Parr, you might try The Ivy Crown by Mary Luke. It's a novel that covers her life from childhood onward--very well done.

[Wen]

Colleen wrote: "Welcome to the group Wen! Anywhere you jump in is just fine. I am really diggin' Carolly Erickson right now so
Bloody Mary"

Well the Last Wife of Henry VIII is the only ones I have read by Carolly Erickson and I liked it so much just got a few more of her historicals to try out.

Susan Thanks for the suggestion on the Ivy Crown book I will have to look it up and see if I can get a copy of it.

Right now am reading The Kings Daughter by Barbara Kyle. It is Good BUT the title and even the opening of the book are a little misleading. It makes you think it will have much to do with Queen Mary (bloody mary),despite it being about another young woman of this time period, but it really does not. It is set during her reign and while she is mentioned, she is in the background and not a major player in the books story line. I will have to find Carolly Ericksons book about Bloody Mary to read something about her it seems.

[Connie]

I am new too (and late to the discussion), but I'll put in a plug for "The Tower and the Dream" by Jan Westcott. Out of print but you can find it. It is the story of Bess Hardwick, Countess of Shrewsbury, and contemporary of Elizabeth I. Thanks to it, I got completely hooked to the Tudors when I was only 12.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads, Mod #4]

Sounds cool, Connie.

I got addicted very young, too - I blame The Six Wives of Henry VIII and Elizabeth R, both on PBS. Great series.

[Connie]

Susanna wrote: "Sounds cool, Connie.

I got addicted very young, too - I blame The Six Wives of Henry VIII and Elizabeth R, both on PBS. Great series."

Me too. I had just read this book, then when on a tour of Hampton Court they had an exhibition of the costumes from "Six Wives". I was done for. (Remember them detailing that they were on such a budget they bought fabric & spray painted it to give it damask patterns & had cardboard in the headdresses!)

[MAP]

+1 on the getting addicted very young because of the BBC miniseries. I like to say that while most of my friends were watching Sesame Street, my mom was making me watch The Six Wives of Henry VIII with her. Those BBC series are the standard to which I hold all other Tudor movies/TV shows, and so far, none of them can hold a candle to it!

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads, Mod #4]

My mother and I re-watched Six Wives (And Elizabeth R) on Netflix in the last year or so - and my mother's comment after we saw the "Ann Boleyn" episode was "I can not believe I let you watch this when you were six!"

[Wen]

MAP wrote: "+1 on the getting addicted very young because of the BBC miniseries. I like to say that while most of my friends were watching Sesame Street, my mom was making me watch The Six Wives of Henry VIII..."

Oh I would love to watch a GOOD Tudor show. Is this BBC series something that can be purchased on DVD now?

[MAP]

http://www.amazon.com/Six-Wives-Henry...
Six Wives of Henry VIII

http://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-R-Gle...
Elizabeth R

I highly recommend both of them!

[Wen]

MAP wrote: "http://www.amazon.com/Six-Wives-Henry...
Six Wives of Henry VIII

http://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-R-Gle......"


Thanks I just added them both to my Half.com wish list to get in the near future.

[Misfit]

Those are excellent and I'm ashamed to admit I'm old enough to have watched the first time they aired on public television.

[Brooke]

They also have The Six Wives of Henry VIII and Elizabeth R on Netflix. You can watch them instantly on your computer - I've never seen either but plan on watching them soon. Thanks for the recommendation.