I am fascinated by Tudor England specifically Anne Boleyn, any book recommendations?
I am fascinated by Tudor England specifically Anne Boleyn, any book recommendations?
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Fiction or Non?
Honestly id love non fiction but i enjoy both
The 6 wives of Henry viii by Alison weir is brilliant and non fiction.
I liked The Concubine by Norah Lufts, it is fiction
The Other Boleyn Girl
Read it twice and one of my favorite books, though not historically accurate
Btw if you liked it you should read the rest of that series, just as good
I think Margaret George has some books about the Tudors.
Anything by Alison Weir
Was just going to say that
@Christina she made that time period so interesting
https://windsor.bibliocommons.com/item/show/626566017_rival_to_the_queen
I found How To Be a Tudor: A Dawn-to-Dusk Guide to Tudor Life by Ruth Goodman as well as How To Be a Victorian fascinating.
Non fiction?
Yes, non-fiction but really interesting reads
If you love that time period it explains so much about how people lived then
Thank you I’ve read a lot about that time period and can’t wait to look into this!
If you’re looking for Tudor romance, Letitia Knowles and Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, Queen Elizabeth I’s lover and Master of Horse beats all.
Thank you!
I have been to the Beauchamp Chapel in England where Rodbert Dudley and Letitia Knowles (his wife) are interred. Their child’s armor was also kept there. It was child sized armor. The children wore suits of armor too for state occasions and probably for training. I won’t tell you the story. You have to read it for yourself.
I love fiction Betina Small books around that time period
The Other Boleyn Girl Phillipa Gregory
I’ve read it twice and love it ?
Btw if you liked it you should read the rest of that series, just as good
Her books are good stories but her history is inaccurate.
Phillipa Gregory has a number of books on this period and most of them are really good.
I’ve read 5 of her books about the Tudors, I’m looking for non fiction ?
Pillars of the Earth.
Non fiction?
It is fiction. One of my favorites.
Pillars of the earth is a fabulous book
Amazing. The whole Kingsbridge Series. Almost done with Column of Fire.
I don’t remember if it’s Tudor England, but I loved The Girl with a Pearl Earring. Similar genre anyway.
This is one I’ve considered before but never got around to, maybe I’ll revisit this!
Not Tudor and not England but great book.
Thank you, I knew I recognized the name, it is a painting as well correct? @Mary
Yes it’s s story of the fictional muse behind the Dutch Master painting. I think it was Vermeer but could be remembering wrong.
And beautiful film w Scarlett Johansson & Colin Firth. Filmed in incredible light— translated well from text.
Yes Vermeer.
I absolutely loved this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Autobiography-Henry-VIII-Notes-Somers/dp/0312194390?SubscriptionId=AKIAIC4DTHWMHZAANS6Q&tag=speculativefic05&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=0312194390
Wow this looks really intriguing thank you so much
She is an amazing writer, and this was very readable. Enjoy.
My mom’s really into the Tudors (and reading), and I remember this big book sitting out on a side table for many years!
You’ve probably read Wolf Hall, but if not, it’s excellent!
the Eric Ives biography of Anne Boleyn is excellent. Six Wives of Henry VIII by Antonia Fraser is very good on all the wives. Henry VIII, King and Court by Alison Weir is very good also, lots of interesting detail about what life was like at court etc. the House of Tudor by alison Plowden is a good general book on the Tudor dynasty, and Tudor Women by the same author is aslo very good. If you feel like having a look at what daily life was like for more ordinary people, How to be a Tudor by Ruth Goodman is excellent, as is The Tudor Housewife by Alison Sim.
Thank you so much!
Wolf Hall
I was about to recommend the Antonia Fraser, so I second that suggestion. Fraser also wrote a book about Mary Queen of Scots.
Norah Lofts has several!
Wolf Hall, Bring up the Bodies-
Wolf Hall and Bring up the Bodies – Anne Boleyn from a different angle
The Tudos tv series was awesome!
Wolf Hall. Enjoy!
@Zoë this one has you written all over it. Any suggestions??
Fiction or non-fiction?
Anything by Phillipa Gregory.
Following
Check out the author Robin Maxwell. She has several Tudor historical fiction novels that are fabulous. I’ve read nearly everything she’s published and not been disappointed. There are still 2 or 3 in my TBR list.
There’s also Jean Plaidy. She’s written DOZENS of historical fiction on different monarchs. A few years ago I️ got myself wrapped up in reading 7 or 8 in a row. ?
Watch The Tudors on Netflix! It’s fantastic.
I’m such a nerd I’ve watched that show too many times lol probably will a few more ?
the other boleyn girl
not a good book – wildly historically inaccurate.
I agree I hated the way she made Anne look, yet I read it twice because it was still a good story.. but yes I’m looking for non fiction
Churchill’s ‘History of the English Speaking Peoples.’
Yes, Philippa Gregory and I have also enjoyed Anne Easter Smith
Phillipa Gregory writes historical fiction about Henry VIII wives. My favorite is The Other Boleyn Girl.
It’s an excellent fiction but i really want a more historically correct read, I’ve read that twice and the rest of the series and did really enjoy it though
Love that era of history and always have. I am right now enjoying Wolf Hall/Bring up the Bodies. I find it exceptionally entertaining, exquisitely written fiction focusing on Thomas Cromwell’s role. For historically (mostly) accurate non-fiction, try the Six Wives of Henry VIII by Alison Weir. I don’t know if it’s possible to still find a copy, but I recall the movie Anne of the thousand Days from the late 60s. I saw it in college. Starred gorgeous Genevieve Bujold as Anne Boleyn.
Cromwell was always so interesting to me, that entire era is a moving subject for me, it was the start of change and awakening. In many ways our own government is influenced but the movement of the Tudor era!
Bring up the bodies has been suggested so many times I can’t not read it, I know, I know double negative ?
@Libby try the audiobook, particularly for Wolf Hall. Wonderful narration Helps keep all the characters straight. (All the men except the King are named Thomas).
Wolf hall has also been suggested so many times! I’m so excited I wish I could buy every single one right now! Now I know what to look for!
Wolf Hall is Part one—rise of Cromwell, King’s divorce from Katherine and ends with Anne as Queen and the death of Thomas More. Bring up the Bodies is Part two—death of Katherine, rise of Jane Seymour, downfall, trial and death of Anne Boleyn with focus on Cromwell’s role. Hilary Mantel has not finished Part three, but it will be about the downfall of Cromwell.
Does it continue wirh anne of cleves?
Yes in part 3 to be written. Publication likely 2019. Read Wolf Hall first. Then Bring up the Bodies. Then wait with me and many others for the final installment. ?
Gasp! I just ordered 3 Margaret Atwood books, now I kind of want to start this series!
Decisions decisions! At least either way I will not be bored apparently!
I think Anne of the Thousand Days is on YouTube
I don’t really use YouTube
Jean Plaidy also wrote some great books about the Tudors
Non fiction?
Fact based fiction
Wolf Hall, Bring up the Bodies….wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!
Katherine by Anya Seton – pre-Henry VIII era. It’s fiction but soooo good!
By the way, my husband and I just got back from a trip to England. We visited the Tower of London. I got to see the exact spot where Anne Boleyn was beheaded and buried. The whole history of the place was fascinating! It was so cool to walk around and see these places I’ve read about brought to life!
That’s on my bucket list of places to visit along with hever castle
My daughter, Kate Jensen, is obsessed with Anne Boleyn. She’s convinced she was her in a previous life. I will ask her for recommendations. She also has a couple of blogs, one devoted solely to Anne Boleyn, one to the all the wives of Henry the VIII.
That’s very interesting, I always felt a real connection to her, Idk what I believe about past lives, but I may have known her in a past life!