A Wetpaint Site

Already a member?
Sign in

Welcome! Wikis are websites that everyone can build together. It's easy!

This page needs improvement. Help by completing a To-Do. (what's this?What is a To-Do?To-Dos are a tool to help users understand what content is needed on the site. They are created by site members to:

identify content or photos a page needs
ask for help with organization on the page
let others know where they can help on the site

Read more about To-Dos at Wetpaint Central.

)

Add content: Add Books and Write Reviews on the Tudors Fiction Bookshelf

The Tudors Bookshelf Fiction

Tudors Fans

Here is a page for you
to review & recommend

your favourite or not so favourite

FICTION
books about the Tudor period

Want to add to this page?

Click EasyEdit to update this page!

(Don't see the EasyEdit button above? Sign in or Sign up.)

About the Book & Author

Reviews & Recommendations

Fiction

About the Author : Margaret George
Her background in science meant that only after thoroughly researching the literature and scholarship on Henry VIII would she embark on the novel itself. She sought the guidance of a Tudor historian at Washington University for a reading list, and proceeded from there.

It was actually fourteen years between her initial idea and the publication of The Autobiography of Henry VIII. The book made an impression for several reasons: first, because no one had ever written a novel sympathetic to the king before; second, because it covered his entire life from before birth until after his death, making it almost a thousand pages long, and third, because it was so fact-filled.

*hear an interview with the author and an excerpt from the book by clicking here

Reviews:
" Margaret George's hugely long, intensely romantic novel about Henry VIII is convincing, moving and (allowing a wide tolerance of romantic bias) faithful to the surviving evidence about Henry and the colorful personalities around him ...

The novel is written as henry's private journal, in which he lets the reader in on how he really felt and thought about his various wives, his ruthless treatment of his officials and courtiers, his mistresses, his daughter Mary, and so on. In each case the novelist contrasts henry's public attitudes - and the historical legends that have grown up around him - with his secret inner fears, doubts,contradictions and insights ... I found it compelling reading" by Carolly Ericson (Author of Great Harry)

Submitted by:

Comments:

Submitted by: MsSquirrly

Comments: A wonderful juicy read, written in the first person and so well researched, I can understand why it took so long to write (14 years). Margaret George describes everything in luscious detail, all the pageantry, feasts and intimate moments of a spectacular King. One who started out as an insecure prince and fell in love, fell in love, fell in love. I have a sneaking suspicion that a lot of what we are seeing on "the Tudors" has been adapted from this work. This novel about Henry shows him as a virile and attractive young man much like the series. Tudor enthusiasts will love this one but be warned it's huge book!

Submitted by:Antoinette2

Comments: Another entertaining novel by Margaret George, author of one of my favorites "The Memoirs of Cleopatra." Miss George does a good job researching her subjects and this "Henry VIII" reflects it in her fiction. Henry will never be one of those people you wish you could know. He's too much of a self-pitying, selfish, egocentric brat but this is a wonderful read.

Submitted by: SemperEadem

Comments: A good, large read. I loved her attempt at getting into the inner thoughts of Henry VIII, and the additions by Hal add a nice contrast to Henry's self-pitying, a weight equal to Henry's. It's definitely easy to see how people fell in love (and into fear) with Henry's majesty and personality. Best fiction on Henry that I have read.

Submitted by:

Comments:

Fiction - Romance

About the Author : Philippa Gregory
Prolific British novelist who writes mainly in the historical fiction genre. Her doctorate was in 18th century literature and she taught courses at several universities. Often appears on TV and radio quiz shows as the resident history "expert".
Lives in the north of England with her husband and two children.

Submitted by: SemperEaden

Comments: As a Tudor enthusiast for many years, I opened The Other Boleyn Girl very tentatively. Author Philippa Gregory is enjoying the title of the queen of royal fiction right now, but any Tudor scholar will tell you that she often takes the most outrageous sources and claims of history to write her books. TOBG is no different; Anne seems all ruthlessness and ambition, Mary is too innocent, and I'm sorry, but i cannot believe that Anne and her brother had sex. However, if you can look past the glaring historical inaccuracies (and if you know the time period and get easily annoyed at writer's license with history, don't take this advice; you will go mad), TOBG is a fast-paced read.

Submitted by:antoinette2

Comments: I hated this book. It was historical drivel and bears no resemblance to accurate history. The thing that bothers me about these kinds of books is that they cater to the romantic and uninformed, then they start to be quoted as historical fact. There are better bodice-rippers out there. This is shallow and yes, it did make me a bit mad.

Submitted by:

Comments:

Fiction

About the Author: Karen Harper

Submitted by:

Comments:

The Tudors Book Reviews & Recommendations - The Tudors Wiki

Fiction - Romance

About the Author: Margaret Cambell Barnes

Margaret Cambell Barnes (1891 - 1962) grew up in Sussex, England during the waning years of the Victorian Era. After her marriage to a furniture salesman she began to write short stories until her agents Curtis Brown Ltd. encouraged her to write historical novels, which was a very popular genre in the 1940's and 50's in which Barnes became a leading author. Between 1944 and 1962, Barnes wrote 10 historical novels, most of them best sellers and translated in several different languages. Barnes is admired as an author for her ability to accurately express her character's psyche while still maintaining a level of historical integrity to the original subject. First published in 1949, "Brief Gaudy Hour" has been most recently reprinted in March, 2008. Her other works include: "My Lady of Cleves" (which is due for re-release September 1, 2008!), "The Tudor Rose", "With All My Heart", "The King's Bed".

Submitted by:

Comments:

Fiction - Romance

About the Author: Norah Lofts

Norah Lofts (1904 - 1983) has written over 50 books both fiction and non fiction. Before writing full time, she was an English and history teacher at a school for girls. Many of her most popular books have been reprinted in new editions such as "The Concubine" which was first printed in 1963. Her works served as an inspiration for later authors of historical fiction such as Philippa Gregory.

Submitted by:

Comments:

Fiction - Romance

About the Author: Philippa Gregory
[see above]

Submitted by: SemperEadem

Comments: As a general rule, I usually rant against Phillipa Gregory. Like I've said before, she takes the most audacious spin to a story and goes with it (and people unfortunately believe her). The Constant Princess is her one book that I let slip by, if only because its basis intrigues me: what if Katherine did consumate the marriage with Arthur, and they were happy? How would she have to justify that to herself and live the lies? I think its an interesting point to consider. Of course, she also killed me with her usual antics: not only was the 1501 marriage consumated, but they had a passionate love affair with Katherine putting on Middle Eastern garb. Hmm. And she also leaves Katherine puzzled as to why her parents are suddenly so intolerant to those they conquered in Grenada. Double hmm. I'm sorry, but I think we all know Isabella and Ferdinand were not the most tolerant people who ever lived. Inquisition, anyone?

Submitted by:

Comments:

Fiction

About the Author: Laurien Gardner
Laurien Gardner is the pseudonym for the authors of a series of books distributed by Jove publishing on the wives of Henry VIII. "Plain Jane: A Novel of Jane Seymour" was written by Sarah A. Hoyt, who normally writes science fiction or historical fiction with a Sci-Fi twist ("Plain Jane" is strictly historical). Hoyt was born in Portugal in 1962 and graduated from the University of Porto with a Masters in Modern Languages and Literature. She is a member of Mensa International and has won many awards and recognition for her writing.

Submitted by:

Comments:

Fiction

About the Author: Laurien Gardner
Laurien Gardner is the pseudonym for the authors of a series of books distributed by Jove Publishing on the wives of Henry VIII. "The Spanish Bride: A Novel of Catherine of Aragon" was written by Julianne Lee, who writes historic romance / fantasy and historical fiction. Lee's next book, "Question of Guilt: A Novel of Mary Stuart and Lord Darnley" is due for release fall, 2008.

Submitted by:

Comments:

Fiction

About the Author: Vanora Bennett

Vanora Bennett is a journalist and author of non fiction and historical fiction. "Portrait of An Unknown Woman" is her first novel, and will be released in the U.S. in paperback in May 2008. The novel is centered around Margaret Giggs, the adopted daughter of Sir Thomas More, and her relationships with the men in her life including the artist Hans Holbein. Her second novel, entitled "Figures in Silk" set after the War of the Roses, is due for release in the U.K. May 2008.
*hear an excerpt from the book and discussion with the author by clicking here*

Submitted by:

Comments:

Fiction - Mystery

About the Author: C.W. Gortner

This is Book 1 in C.W. Gortner's "The Spymaster Chronicles".

Submitted by:

Comments:

Fiction

About the Author: Alison Wier

This is the first work of Fiction by Alison Weir, her second novel "The Lady Elizabeth" is due for release in the U.S. April 29th 2008.

Reviews for Innocent Traitor:
"A sensitive and fast pasted tale...Wier conveys the age's political intrigue, religious fanaticism, sexism." - USA Today
"Every bit as good as anything [Phillipa] Gregory has ever done... Weir makes a familar story vibrant and fresh." - The Atlanta Journal Constitution

Submitted by: SemperEadem

Comments: Alison Weir is traditionally known for her non-fiction books about the Tudors, but she makes a nice entrance into the world of fiction with Innocent Traitor. The book covers the short, sad life of Lady Jane Grey, daughter of Francis Brandon Grey (daughter of Charles Brandon!), and her doomed placement as the Nine Days Queen. Forced into taking the crown, Jane's story is told by those who influenced her life: Jane Grey herself, Francis Brandon Grey, Queen Mary, Catherine Parr, her nurse Mrs. Ellen, and the Duke of Northumberland. I felt Weir did a good job of staying to historical fact, except I tried to figure out why while I was reading it that it felt like I had read it before. I realized, halfway through, that it was because it felt like passages I had read from Weir's nonfiction books. However, this was fine for me since I like historical accuracy, but it might annoy people who like to "discover" characters and not be told about them. A few scenes are of Weir's contrivance, and she admits to it: for example, Jane Grey finds and delivers the dropped arrest warrant for Catherine Parr, ultimately helping the sixth wife to become the one that "survived," and Jane also is present for the burning of Anne Askew for heresy. However, these small liberties (which we don't know if Jane did or did not take part in), help to establish religious convictions and fears of death for Jane in the long run of the book. Weir also did a good job, I felt, of showing the religious feelings of both her Catholic and Protestant characters, although admittedly you will get more of the Protestant side since Jane narrates most of the story. Nevertheless, Weir does a good job of letting the Catholics share the feelings and opinions, too, and her Queen Mary is one of the best fiction depictions of the Queen during her early reign that I have read. A highly recommended book!

Submitted by: Boudica

Comments: To the Phillipa Gregory fans, this is the sort of book for readers who like a little fiction with their history, and not a little history with their fiction. Wier's "Innocent Traitor" is saturated in history, dates, names, and facts. Unless you are already familiar with the time period and the story line, it's hard to tell where the fiction lies (although Wier leans some assistance in her Author's Note at the back of the book). Wier's book succeeds at bringing long dead characters to life, creating a compelling narrative out of an already compelling story based on the inner machinations of court politics. Certainly Wier's book reads like a novel, I couldn't put it down as I reached the last 100 pages, but I kept thinking the author must have had such a hard time writing this book and letting go of the nonfiction genre. The content of the book is various streams of consciousness of various characters in Jane's life, but their thoughts sound more like scripted actors from a costumed historical reenactment than a candid, believable event. Certainly the book is creative and captivating in its content, but in Wier's execution I was a bit disappointed, I hope her style of writing improves in her next book.

Submitted by:

Comments:

Fiction - Mystery

About the Author: C.J. Sansom

C.J. Sansom is the author of the best selling Matthew Shardlake mysteries, about a reformist who works for Thomas Cromwell to uncover treasonous plots. "Sovereign" is the third in the series. "Revelation", next in the series, is due for release May 6, 2008.

Submitted by:

Comments:

The Tudors Bookshelf - Fiction - The Tudors Wiki

Fiction - Mystery
About the Author: Karen Harper

Karen Harper is the author of the nine book series "The Elizabeth I Mysteries". The Poyson Garden is the first and The Hooded Hawk is the most recent. Harper has also written other historical fiction including "The Last Boleyn" and "The First Princess of Wales: A Novel".

Submitted by: SemperEadem

Comments: Set just before Elizabeth becomes queen of England, when Mary still rules, Elizabeth puts on the hat of the sleuth. She's confined to a castle, but she sneaks out to investigate the murders/attempted murders of the Boleyn family. Of course, the history is not always the greatest, but it was fun to see Elizabeth as a detective, her relationship with those close to her, her fears concerning Mary, and her meeting with Mary Boleyn and Henry Carey. I really doubt she could have escaped from her house confinement for as long as she did in the book, and I'm even more doubtful as to her taking on the disguise of a young boy, but when I read this when it first came out (I was still in high school and little background in Tudor histoy), I enjoyed it.

Submitted by:

Comments:

Fiction - Romance
About the Author: Suzannah Dunn
Suzannah Dunn is a graduate of Creative Writing program at the University of East Anglia. She is the author of several books including, "the Queen of Subtleties: A Novel of Anne Boleyn" and "The Sixth Wife".
"The Queen's Sorrow", a novel about Mary I, will be released July, 2008.

Submitted by:

Comments:

Fiction - Romance / Adventure

About the Author: Margaret Irwin

Margaret Irwin is another author of historical fiction whose following extends across generations. Her Elizabeth trilogy was first printed in the 1940's, was made into a feature film staring Jean Simmons in 1953, and the latest reprint was in 2007. Irwin has also written: "The Galliard: The Great Love of Mary Queen of Scots" (Fiction) and "The Great Lucifer: A Portrait of Sir Walter Raleigh" (non-Fiction).

Submitted by: SemperEadem

Comments: Another of the fiction books I read in high school, Young Bess was a favorite of mine. Set during Elizabeth's teen years, it covers her time under Catherine Parr's household, and her time spent with the Lord High Admiral, Thomas Seymour. Historically, I thought Irwin did a fantastic job of documenting the times and the teenage turmoil that Elizabeth would have faced when around Seymour. She did a good job of highlighting the danger of the attraction Elizabeth may have felt for him, and even dabbled in some Tudor economics and property issues! Definitely a book for those familiar with British history, especially Tudor times. An oldie but a goodie, it is easy to understand why this book is still in print after so many years.

Submitted by:

Comments:

Fiction

About the Author: Hilda Lewis

Hilda Lewis (1896 - 1974) wrote dozens of popular historical novels in her lifetime. Most, including her trilogy about Mary Tudor, are currently out of print, but some like "Wife to the Bastard" and "Harlot Queen" have been reprinted in recent years since the genre of histoical fiction has regained in popularity. "I am Mary Tudor" is the first in her trilogy, followed by "Mary the Queen" and "Bloody Mary".

Submitted by: angelosdaughter

Comments: An epic tale told from the point of view of Princess/Queen Mary Tudor who is here the fictional author of her memoir. A lively and engaging retelling of events in the Tudor court as wtinessed by the daughter of Henry VIII and Katharine of Aragon either at first or second hand, "I am Mary Tudor" gives the reader a glimpse of the mind of the princess at first celebrated and adored by her parents and later bastardized and humiliated by her father after his divorce from Katharine. Mary's love for both of her parents, her dismay at the unfolding betrayal of her father, her grief at the separation from her mother, and her conflicted (and it seems unreciprocated) love for her little half sister, Ellizabeth, the daughter of her mother's supplanter are convincingly portrayed. The author has done her research and lists the sources consulted in the back of the book. Readers of nonfiction on the period will recognize the characters. This novel may be out of print, but is well worth borrowing from your local llibrary if you can find it.

Submitted by:

Comments:

Fiction

About the Author: Anthony Burgess

In 1993, "A Dead Man in Deptford" was the last book Anthony Burgess published in his lifetime. The novel is based loosely on the life of Christopher Marlowe, playwright and spy of Elizabethan England, and his struggles with the political and sexual conflicts of his time. Anthony Burgess is a British novelist famous for such works as "A Clockwork Orange" and "Nothing Like the Sun".

Submitted by:

Comments:

Fiction

About the Author: Jean Plaidy

Jean Plaidy is the pseudonym of Eleanor Hibbert (1906 - 1993) a British author who has written approximately 200 historical novels during her lifetime. Many of her books were set in the Tudor period, "Uneasy Lies the Head" is chronologically the earliest in her Tudors Series is about Henry VII.

Submitted by:

Comments:

Fiction: Fantasy / Adventure

About the Author: Mark Twain

Mark Twain (1835-1910) is a classic American author and humorist. His real name was Samuel Langhorne Clements, but he adopted his famous pen name after his career as a steam-boat pilot on the Mississippi River. Much of his writings, such as "The Prince and the Pauper" (1881), satirized class and social differences in order to focus on universal themes of humanity. The book involves prince Edward Tudor switching identities with a street boy named Tom Candy.

Submitted by:

Comments:

Fiction

About the Author: Rosalind Miles

Submitted by:

Comments:

Fiction: Fantasy / Adventure

About the Author: Robin Maxwell

Robin Maxwell has written five works of fiction set in the Tudor Era: "The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn", "Mademoiselle Boleyn", "Wild Irish", "Virgin: Prelude to the Throne", and "The Queen's Bastard". "To the Tower Born" involves "Princess Bessie" = Elizabeth of York, the future wife of Henry VII and beloved mother of Henry VIII.

Submitted by:

Comments:

Fiction: Fantasy / Adventure

About the Author: Robin Maxwell

[see above]

"Wild Irish" is a fictionalized account of the meeting of Elizabeth I with Irish pirate Grace O'Malley in 1593.

Submitted by:

Comments:

Fiction

About the Author: Alison Weir

[see above]

Submitted by:

Comments:

Fiction- Mystery / Adventure

About the Author: Patricia Finney
Patricia Finney is a gifted British author who wrote her first award-winning novel at age 18 before attending Oxford. She has written a mystery/adventure trilogy set in the Elizabethan Era around two fictional courtiers David Becket and Simon Ames. "Gloriana's Torch" the last in the series, takes place during the Spanish Armada. Aside from adult historical fiction, Finney also writes children's books including the Lady Grace Mystery series which has the daughter of George Cavendish as the protagonist.

Submitted by:

Comments:

Fiction

About the Author: Robin Maxwell

[see above]

Submitted by:

Comments:

Fiction

About the Author: Carolly Erickson

Submitted by:

Comments:

Fiction

About the Author: Jean Plaidy

[see above]

Part of "The Queens of England" Series

Submitted by:

Comments:

Fiction

About the Author: Jean Plaidy

[see above]

Part of the "Tudor Princesses" Series

Submitted by:

Comments:

Fiction

About the Author: Victioria Holt

Victoria Holt is another psuedonym of Eleanor Hibbert, who also wrote under the name Jean Plaidy, (see above). "My Enemy The Queen" revolves around Lettice Knollys / Devereux and her at times heated relationship with her cousin, the Queen of England, Elizabeth I.

Submitted by:

Comments:

Fiction - Mystery

About the Author: Fiona Buckley

Fiona Buckley is the pseudonym of British author Valerie Anand. "To Shield the Queen" is the first in her series of eight books revolving around the fictional courtier Ursula Blanchard.

Submitted by:

Comments:

Fiction

About the Author: Jean Plaidy

[see above]

Submitted by:

Comments:

Fiction

About the Author: Margaret Campbell Barnes

[see above]

Submitted by:

Comments:

Fiction

About the Author: Sir Walter Scott

Walter Scott was born in Edinburgh, Scottland in 1771. He is known for such classics as "Ivanhoe". His novel "Kenilworth" is set in 1575 in the court of Elizabeth I. The plot centers on the secret marriage of Robert Dudley and Amy Robsart, who is murdered.

Submitted by:

Comments:

Fiction

About the author : Judith Merkle Riley

teaches in the Department of Government at

Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, California,

and holds a Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley.

The adventures of a woman miniature painter caught in the dynastic intrigues of Henry VIII and his arch-rival, Francis I.

Review: " A new and enchanting Riley period masque...Spooky, riotous, headlong action, ivory-clear satires of power players, a spot of comic grue, enticing period ambiance, and prose alluringly luminous: a top-notch re-creation" Kirkus Reviews

Submitted by:

Comments:

Submitted by:

Comments

Latest page update: made by Boudica , Thursday, 3:48 PM EDT (about this update About This Update

Edited by Boudica

14 words added

view changes
- complete history)

Keyword tags: None

More Info: links to this page

Bookmark:

Del.icio.us

StumbleUpon

Start thread

Threads

happyhelen

Ideas for novels to read? (page: 1 2 3 4 5 ... last page)

173

Yesterday, 11:28 PM EDT by SemperEadem

Thread started: Feb 18 2008, 3:54 PM EST Watch

Hey all-

Does anybody have suggestions for novels to read regarding the Tudor period? Actual novels, not biographies- novels like Phillpa Gregory or Alison Weir's "Innocent Traitor", or Jean Plaidy's novels. I like to read it with a little flair and dialogues! Suggestions are welcome! I want to read more.

Thanks!

1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you find this valuable? Do you?

Keyword tags: None

Post reply

Show Last Reply

Last Reply:
RE: Ideas for novels to read?
By: SemperEadem, Yesterday, 11:28 PM EDT

"It was definately a good read, but it wasn't the best thing I've ever read. I agree with you, any Tudor fan should definately give it a try, and I'm hoping to read her next book on Elizabeth soon. I'm currently reading "Portrait of an Unknown Woman" by Vanora Bennett, and it's so far very, very good! If you enjoyed "Girl with a Pearl Earring" or "Passion of Artemiesia" you will love this book too, it's about Meg Giggs (one of Thomas More's adopted daughters) and her relationship with the men in her life, including Hans Holbein (who has a crush on her in the story). It's chock full of art history as well as our beloved Tudor history...it's one of those books where you can't wait to find out what happens next but you don't want it to end.
I didn't know Boudica had a monument in Wales! That's interesting, when I was doing research for my theisis I read a lot of the work of Graham Webster who thought she was originally from Caledonia (Scotland) and that she may have also been a powerful druid preistess as well as queen of the Iceni. It's amusing, long before Elizabeth, there was another queen in Britain who may have both head of church and state. :) "

I know, I want to read the one on Elizabeth, too. Thanks for the suggestion; I did love "Girl with a Pearl Earring" (the book!).

If you want to see the statue of Boudica in Wales (she's called "Buddug" there), go to http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://pmsa.cch.kcl.ac.uk/images/nrpAH/AHPOWYS01212.jpg&imgrefurl=http://pmsa.cch.kcl.ac.uk/AH/Region.htm&h=640&w=360&sz=48&hl=en&start=4&um=1&tbnid=6nUJKAv4ToCnJM:&tbnh=137&tbnw=77&prev=/images%3Fq%3DBoadicea%2Bstatue%2BCardiff%26gbv%3D2%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN

Do you find this valuable?

sutterica

New

May 10 2008, 12:40 PM EDT by funnysunny

Thread started: Jan 23 2008, 1:02 PM EST Watch

I am new to the wiki, but I look forward to all the controversy when the new season comes out. I love the Tudors. I was reading Phillipa Gregory's The Other Boleyn girl and then Lo and behold they had made this drama that was On Demand. I watched the entire first season in one week. If you all are so in love with the show I highly suggest The Other Boleyn Girl, The Boleyn Inheritance, and the constant princess.

10 out of 12 found this valuable. Do you find this valuable? Do you?

Keyword tags: None

Post reply

Show Last Reply

Subject:
Message:
Quote:
Keyword tags:

The Tudors Bookshelf Fiction

Threads

Start a New Thread as Reply as Anonymous (Get credit for your thread)