JULY - THE TUDOR PERIOD

 At our July Book Club meeting we had a lively and interesting discussion about the "Tudors".  It was a fascinating period in history.  We had a large group today.  It was also our annual "Christmas in July" lunch after the meeting.

 SHEILA:  Elizabeth and Mary by Jane Dunn (Cousins, Rivals and Queens)

This book is historical non fiction.  By the second page Sheila was enjoying this book and said it was an extremely good read.  She had to read some of it and then go away to think about.  It is historically true.  It gives a human face to the two women.  Sheila thought that some of the men who were vying for either woman were horrible.  She found the story riveting.

MARIE:   Mary Queen of Scots by Jacob Abbott

This book is historical non fiction.  Marie thought it would be statistical but it wasn't. Marie found it very enjoyable.

JUDY DE LA TORRE:  The Tudors by G.J. Meyer

Judy said this book was a beautiful written history, mostly about King Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn.  It was engrossing, engaging and well presented.  She would thoroughly recommend it to anyone.

JOAN:  The Tudor Age by Jasper Ridley

This book was also historical non fiction.  Jasper Ridley is a barrister turned author.  Joan didn't think the author was as good a writer as others have mentioned but the book had some very interesting facts about medicine, fashion, housing, food etc.  The book begins in 1485 with Henry VII and ending in 1603 with the death of Queen Elizabeth I. Some of the facts mentioned by Joan were: London was a walled city with London Bridge being the only bridge over the Thames river, prisoners were brought by barge to the Tower of London and many of the houses built at the time are still standing.

CONNIE:  A History of English Speaking People's by Winston Churchill

Connie just read the section on Queen Mary I, daughter of King Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon and half sister to Elizabeth. Mary was a devout Catholic.  She was considered illegitimate as Henry VIII had his marriage annulled. Henry changed the religion from Catholic to Protestant. Before Henry died he decreed his successor would be his son and if Edward was childless, it would be Mary and if she was childless, Elizabeth would be next.  Mary was the first queen to reign in her own right in 1553.  The first thing she did was to change the religion back to Catholic.  She became known as Bloody Mary for the number of Protestants she had put to death. She married Philip II of Spain in 1554.  She eventually died childless.  Connie enjoyed reading it.

JUDY 4:  Henry VIII by Alison Weir

 This is an historical non fiction - a biography of Henry VIII's life and after his death. Henry's son, Edward takes the throne as Edward VI after his father's death and in his will he excludes his half sisters, Mary and Elizabeth from succession and nominates his cousin, Jane Grey, a granddaughter of Henry VII.  When Edward dies Jane Grey is on the throne for nine days until Mary declares herself Queen. Judy enjoyed it so much.

PAMELA:  The Constitutional History of Modern Britain 1483-1951 by L. Keir

This book is historical non fiction.  When Henry VIII died his son, Edward, born to Jane Seymour, comes to the throne age 10.   His uncle was Lord Protector. Edward wrote a will and made Jane Grey, his cousin and granddaughter to Henry VII, his successor instead of Mary his half sister. Lady Jane Grey was married to the Duke of Northumberland's son.  When Edward dies Lady Jane Grey becomes Queen.  Mary had travelled 90 miles just after Edward died and with a large Catholic following, she was proclaimed Queen. Lady Jane Grey was Queen for only nine days and then she was taken to the Tower of London.  Pamela said the history is interesting.
 From 1547 to 1603 there were 3 Queens and a King.

PRUE:  The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory

This book is historical fiction.  It is about Catherine of Aragon. She is promised to the King of England to make a bond between Spain and England.  When Arthur dies, he asks his wife to promise to marry Henry, his younger brother.  She is a little bit older than Henry who becomes Henry VIII after his brother's death.  Prue said it was an entertaining story and she enjoyed it.

ED:  Last Queen of Spain by C. W. Gortner

This book is historical fiction.  It is about Juana the the younger sister of Catherine of Aragon  and the third child of Isabella and Ferdinand of Spain.   Her two brothers died fighting when trying to unite Spain. She is sent to marry the Duke of Flanders, sole heir to the Hapsburg empire at the age of sixteen.  When her mother dies and she becomes heir to the Spanish throne, she is thrown into battle with her power hungry husband. She is strong and intelligent but she becomes known as Juana La Loca, Spain's mad queen.

KRIS:  The Confessions of Catherine de Medici by C.W. Gortner

Most historical novels depict Catherine de Medici, the Italian born French Queen in the 16th century as an evil woman.  This book depicts her as a determined woman who wants to protect her acquired realm and her children's right to the throne.  She is betrothed, at the age of 14 to Henri, the King of France's son, who was also 14. Catherine is widowed, aged 40 to bring up six young children as regent of a kingdom torn apart by religious discord and the ambitions for power by the treacherous nobility, particularly the de Guise family.  Eventually the Guise's control is diminished when Philip of Spain's Armada against England is defeated by Queen Elizabeth's navy.  Philip of Spain had funded the Guise family to rid the country of Protestants.  Kris enjoyed the book.  It was fast paced and the subject was interesting.

DIANE:   Elizabeth and Leicester (Power, Passion and Politics) by Sarah Gristwood

This is historical fiction.  Diane said she wasn't sure what was true.  Elizabeth was the virgin queen.  She was surrounded by so many men but she loved the Earl of Leicester (Robert Dudley). 
They were both really well educated.  Why didn't she marry him? Did she get pregnant as rumours suggested?  Di was intrigued. She didn't like the writing but was fascinated with the subject.

DIANN:  The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

This is historical fiction.  Diann said it was a good read.  It's loosely based on Mary Boleyn, Anne Boleyn's sister who was a mistress of King Henry VIII.   The book is a mixture of historical fact and fun.

TAM:  Earthly Joys by Philippa Gregory

This book is historical fiction, although not of the Tudor period. There are three main characters.  The first is a talented gardener to the dukes and other nobles and is aware of the goings on in the court.  The story is told from his perspective.  The second character is the irresistible Duke of Buckingham, who was a homosexual.  The third character is King Charles of England, son of James I. He was also homosexual.  He was a weak king and he was married to a Frenchwoman who dominated him. Tam said it was a good read.

JO:  Memoirs of Mary Queen of Scots by Carolly Erickson

This is a fictional memoir.  The book begins with the beheading of Mary Queen of Scots.  Her lover was the Earl of Bothwell.  They had a little girl which was kept a secret.  She was married at 16.  She was tall for her age and had lovely red hair.  She married Francis, son of King Henri and Queen Catherine of France.  Francis was a sickly boy.  Jo read the whole book and loved it.  She said it was a fantastic story.

BEV:  Blood and Roses by Helen Castor

This book follows the story of the Paston family.  They were originally a peasant family but with generations of families falling dead with plague, the Paston family rose up to become quite rich.  The book is based on Paston letters following four generations.  Helen Castor spent ten years researching the letters which were found in 2004.  Bev hasn't finished the book yet.

PAT:  Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette by Carolly Erickson

This book is historical fiction, although not of the Tudor period. Pat said it was interesting, a combination of embellished fact and fiction.  It is a journal of Marie Antoinette's time in Austria and then her time as queen until her imprisonment and death during the French revolution.  Marie Antoinette was an Austrian who was sent off to King Louis of France at age 14.  He wasn't interested in her.  He was a weak husband and she was strong.  She was blamed for everything.  Pat said it was a good read and she found it very interesting.

LAURA:  The Taming of the Queen by Philippa Gregory

This is historical fiction.  It is a romance and Laura doesn't enjoy romance but she liked the history.  It is about Catherine Parr, King Henry VIII's last wife.  Laura didn't feel she found out anything about her.  The characters were two dimensional.  Catherine was so intelligent and kind and madly in love with another man.  Laura didn't find the story believable.

JUDY 1:   The Last Wife of Henry VIII by Carolly Erickson

This book is historical fiction.  It is written as from Catherine Parr's perspective.  She was forthright and opinionated which was unusual in those days.  Henry often went to her for advice as he trusted her.  She was married twice before she married Henry and was in love with Thomas Seymour.  This led to much intrigue at the court.  From what she writes Henry had a strong affection for her and often left her in charge.  Judy said, although it was not as historically accurate as it could be, it was a good overview.

ROSEMARIE:  The Boleyn Inheritance (The Tudor Court Novels) by Philippa Gregory

This is historical fiction.  Rosemarie said it was easy to read.  It is the first person narratives of Anne of Cleaves, Katherine Howard and Jane Boleyn..  Both Katherine and Jane were related to Anne Boleyn.  Anne of Cleaves and Katherine Howard were the 4th and 5th wives of Henry VIII.

JULIA:  Royal Inheritance (Secrets of the Tudor Court) by Kate Emerson

Kate Emerson writes many history novels.  Julia really enjoyed it and will read more of her books, although Julia is not sure what is true in the story.  A young girl is sent to live with the tailor of King Henry VIII.  All Tudors have red hair so the young girl becomes intrigued as she has red hair as well.  She suspects she may be the illegitimate offspring of Henry VIII.  Julia said there were maps in the back.  She also liked the fact that the all the characters were listed on the back of the book.

WENDY:  Heartstone by C J Sansom

There are five in this series of historical crime fiction and this book is no 5.  Wendy says she is addicted. She said it is well researched and the stories are fascinating.  The main character is a lawyer at the time of King Henry VIII, who is getting very old at this time.  It's set against the French war.  It's written amazingly well and it is very informative about life at the court, the intrigue and the plots.

ANNE:  Dissolution by C J Sansom

This is book 1 of the series mentioned previously.  It is the author's first published novel. It is an historical mystery. King Henry VIII is still mourning Jane Seymour. Thomas Cromwell, King Henry VIII's vicar general is shutting down the monasteries.  One of his commissioners is killed and Cromwell sends another emissary, a lawyer to investigate the murder.  Anne enjoyed it and found life at the monastery interesting.

IN THE MONTH OF AUGUST WE WILL BE READING BOOKS ABOUT HORSES