Tanzanite's Castle Full of Books

As is the case in most things, there are at least two sides to every story. History –especially war – is no different. With The Red Queen, Philippa Gregory gives us the “other side” of the story than that told by Elizabeth Woodville in last year’s The White Queen. The “other side” is that of the House of Lancaster, descended from Edward III’s second eldest son, John of Gaunt (how the descendants of the second son managed to sit on the throne is another story entirely…) and who are in serious danger of dying out. Their hopes rest on the shoulders of one young girl – Margaret Beaufort and the story is told mostly from her point of view.


Overly serious and pious for a twelve year old, Margaret spends a lot of time praying (congratulating herself on her “saint’s knees”, callused from so much time kneeling) and envisioning herself as Joan of Arc and the savior of England. Despite wishing for a future in a religious establishment, Margaret is informed that her duty is to provide an heir for Lancaster and so, at the age of twelve, she is married off to Edmund Tudor. She decides that her way to save England is to provide a son to be its king. When the long awaited heir finally comes, it nearly kills her. She names the baby Henry and soon after, Margaret finds herself a widow.

The majority of the book follows Margaret through two additional marriages (to Henry Stafford and Thomas Stanley) and her constantly changing fortune as the infamous “cousin’s war” (later known as the Wars of the Roses) heats up, drags on and reaches a crises with Richard III on the throne. Through it all, Margaret never loses sight of what she sees as her and her son’s destiny – to be the ruler of England.

Margaret is not very likeable. She is arrogant, self-centered, self-righteous and annoying. She makes much out of her piety and her references to Joan of Arc become repetitive, and although at times it is irritating, it is a consequence of the first person narration and how Margaret perceived herself. There is no doubt that Margaret loves her son and everything she does is for his future. The scenes with her reuniting with a young Henry where he treats her as a virtual stranger about broke my heart and I felt some sympathy for her. It didn’t last long though and we see just how far a mother would be willing to go to give her son what she thinks should be his.

Unfortunately for Margaret, her show is often stolen by two of the men in her life –her second and third husbands. With eyes to their own future, they are each in their own ways shrewd and calculating men. And Gregory gives them some of the best lines of the book. One of my favorites is when Margaret asks Stafford if he sees how her son walks. His reply - “Both feet. One after the other. Miraculous.”.

I didn’t get much of a sense of Henry’s character since for most of the book he is in Wales or Brittany and far away from Margaret. From what little I could pick up, he is a serious young man who doesn’t seem overly excited about the great destiny his mother has mapped out for him. We do get a slight glimpse into what was originally supposed to be the subject of the next book in the series – Princess Elizabeth of York (but will now be Elizabeth Woodville’s mother, Jacquetta). Touched with some of her mother and grandmother’s “abilities”, she is feisty with a mind of her own and she knows how to put her future mother-in-law in her place when faced with the possibilities of the upcoming battle between King Richard and Henry: “Yes, but either way, shamed or not, I shall be Queen of England, and this is the last time you will sit in my presence.” Margaret is speechless! I hope Gregory goes ahead with the book on Elizabeth as I would love to read a book where she is not portrayed as dull and lifeless as a mop, even if she is in love with her uncle.

The use of first person narrative really creates some problems for most of the book since much of the action happens around Margaret and she’s not really involved in it. This results in a lot of long-winded narratives where Margaret tells us what is happening in the country with regards to the struggle between York and Lancaster which doesn’t always make for interesting or exciting reading. And Gregory makes the mistake of having Margaret and Stanley (who are both really too smart for this) resort to writing letters to each other full of their treasonous activities. As in The White Queen, the narrative occasionally shifts to third person, especially when dealing with the battlefield. The result left me wishing that the entire book had been written in third person.

It seems that after The Boleyn Inheritance Gregory’s writing style changed. Despite its faults regarding accuracy, I thought The Other Boleyn Girl was an intriguing and engaging story that I simply did not want to put down. Those qualities are missing from Gregory’s more recent works and to make matters worse, the writing feels like she is ‘dumbing it down” in order to reach a wider audience. I suppose that is her choice, but I think it is rather unfortunate.  It is however always interesting to see the “other side” of a story and since there are few books written about Margaret, I enjoyed the book from that standpoint.

The importance of a son to a woman: “A husband can come and go; he can leave on his own account. He can go to war or get sick or kill himself; but if you make your son your own, your own creation, then you are safe. A boy is your guardian.”
So much for witchcraft:  “She is as fertile as a stable cat…The joke is on her, for they say she married him by enchantment and comes from a long line of women who dabble in magic. Now all she can make are little witches for the burning.” Margaret reflecting on Elizabeth Woodville’s inability to give birth to a prince.

They aren't named the Riverses for nothing:  “She should use her black arts and fly away, or summon the river and swim to safety.” Margaret on Jacquetta Woodville.



In case the FTC asks: The publisher sent me a copy of the book to review.

Margaret Beaufort was born in 1443, the only child of John Beaufort, 1st Duke of Somerset and Margaret Beauchamp.  At the age of 12, she was married to Edmund Tudor.  Despite her young age, Margaret quickly became pregnant and in 1457, she gave birth to her son Henry, who would later defeat Richard III at Bosworth Field and become king of England (Henry VII).  Margaret would marry two more times, live through the Wars of the Roses and see her grandson, Henry VIII, crowned as king.  She died in 1509, shortly after the death of her son.

Elizabeth longs to gain her liberty-and her sister-s crown. In Honor and Richard Thornleigh and their son, Adam, the young princess has loyal allies. Disgusted by Queen Mary-s proclaimed intent to burn heretics, Honor visits Elizabeth in the Tower and they quickly become friends. And when Adam foils a would-be assassin, Elizabeth-s gratitude swells into a powerful-and mutual-attraction. But while Honor is willing to risk her own safety for her future queen, aiding in a new rebellion against the wrathful Mary will soon lead her to an impossible choice.  Riveting, masterfully written, and rich in intricate details, The Queen-s Captive brings one of history-s most fascinating and treacherous periods to vibrant, passionate life.




When a mutilated corpse turns up near Rome, Falco and his vigiles friend Petronius investigate, even though it means traveling in the dread marshes. But just as they are making progress, the Chief Spy, Anacrites, snatches their case away from them. As his rivalry with Falco escalates, he makes false overtures of friendship, but fails to cover up the fact that the violent Claudii have acquired corrupt protection at the highest level. Making further enquiries after they have been warned off can only be dangerous—but when did that stop Falco and Petronius?   Egged on by the slippery bureaucrats who hate Anacrites, the dogged friends dig deeper while a psychotic killer keeps taking more victims, and the shocking truth creeps closer and closer to home.   After Alexandria, the first book in this long-running series to hit the New York Times Bestseller list, Lindsey Davis brings her beloved characters and series back to Rome in a book that brings together a number of long-running plot threads to surprising and compelling conclusions.





When Roger Bigod arrives at King Henry II's court to settle a bitter inheritance dispute, he becomes enchanted with Ida de Tosney, young mistress to the powerful king. A victim of Henry's seduction and the mother of his son, Ida sees in Roger a chance to begin a new life. But Ida pays an agonizing price when she leaves the king, and as Roger's importance grows and he gains an earldom, their marriage comes under increasing strain. Based on the true story of a royal mistress and the young lord she chose to marry, For the King's Favor is Elizabeth Chadwick at her best.
















The Death of Elizabeth I:  Remembering and Reconstructing the Virgin Queen by Elizabeth Loomis.  Us release August 31, 2010;  UK release October 1, 2010. 
The death of Queen Elizabeth I in 1603 was greeted by an outpouring of official proclamations, gossip-filled letters, tense diary entries, diplomatic dispatches, and somber sermons. English poets wrote hundreds of elegies to Elizabeth, and playwrights began bringing her onto the stage. This book uses these historical and literary sources, including a maid of honor’s eyewitness account of the explosion of the Queen’s corpse, to provide a detailed history of Elizabeth’s final illness and death, and to show Elizabeth’s subjects—peers and poets, bishops and beggars, women and men—responding to their loss by remembering and reconstructing their Queen.

Almost twenty years ago I did one of the best things I have ever done in my life - I married a very special guy.  We've had good times and we've had bad, but through it all, we have always been there for each other even if we don't always see eye to eye on things.  A few months ago we started talking about taking a trip for our anniversary in October - something more than a "normal vacation" my husband said.  Remembering the great time we had in London last year, we thought about going back with a plan to see more of the country. But then life (in the form of our daughter with her cancelled wedding, transfer to a private college and car accident where she totaled her car all in the span of two months) threatened to derail it. 

Earlier this week my husband decided we should go ahead and go because you only celebrate twenty years together once!  So - the tickets are bought and we've borrowed every travel book on the UK from the library and now the fun part begins.  We've decided we won't be staying in London; rather we will rent a car and drive up to Scotland and back, stopping at various castles, cathedrals and villages along the way.  Being the planners that we are, I am in the process of putting together my "long list" of places I want to see which we will then plot on a map and see what we think we can reasonably do in the 10 days that we'll have.  If anyone has any suggestions, please feel free to give them!!

In about six weeks, we'll be on our way...

Young Lucrezia de Medici has her whole life ahead of her – or so she thinks. Betrothed to Alfonso d’Este, the Duke of Ferrara, she is looking forward to her marriage to the handsome Duke.  But Lucrezia quickly finds that marriage to Alfonso is not all she thought or hoped it would be. Their wedding night is a disaster which sets the tone for her marriage. As her unhappiness builds, she finds solace watching the creation of a large fresco that will grace the walls of her home and along with it, a forbidden attraction.


Initially, Lucrezia desperately wants to please her husband. But his dark moods frighten and confuse her and Alfonso begins spending long periods of time away from home. This does nothing to help him with his primary goal – to father a legitimate heir in order to prevent the Pope from reclaiming his family’s nine hundred year old duchy – and as their continued attempts in the bedroom fail completely, Alfonso’s resentment of  Lucrezia grows. He becomes increasingly paranoid that everyone knows the truth about his marriage and he begins to look for a way to deal with his "dangerous" duchess.

Alfonso is tormented by voices and images in his head he cannot control. He has a twisted cruel streak and a need to control that makes unwilling victims out of his wife and his long time mistress, Francesca. Although he finds his wife charming, beautiful and desirable, there is something about her that seems to freak him out. Not allowed to run her new household, Lucrezia feels she is nothing more than Alfonso’s “newly acquired artistic treasure”.

Lucrezia’s charm, graciousness and bubbly personality earn her lots of friends and admirers and her tendency to be on friendly terms with those "beneath her" only antagonize Alfonso more. Any smile or glance that she happens to give to anyone fuels a raging jealously that drives Alfonso to his ultimate solution for dealing with his wife. But unknown to both Alfonso and Lucrezia, an ally appears from an unlikely source which may ruin Alfonso’s carefully laid plans.

Based on the poem My Last Duchess by Robert Browning, Gabrielle Kimm creates a story around Lucrezia and Alfonso who many believe are the subjects of the poem. In her Author’s Note, Kimm makes clear that her story is not based solely on the known facts of their lives but rather on the poem itself. As I read through the poem (printed in the back of the book along with a short interview with Kimm and a few book club discussion questions), I was amazed at the number of small references Kimm managed to include. A great deal of detail is also provided on the art of creating a fresco.

The plot is a little slow in a few places and there is the over used "girl dressing up as boy" on one ocassion in order for Lucrezia to sneak out.  But the plot twists and turns that make up the last 100 or so pages more than made up for it and managed to bring together threads and characters from the early part of the book that frankly, initially had me wondering how they were relevant to the story. I enjoyed His Last Duchess very much and am looking forward to Kimm’s next book which will focus on Francesca. 

Although the book is not available in the US, you can order it from the UK's Book Depository with free worldwide shipping.





In case the FTC asks: The author had a copy sent to me – I’m so glad she did!

The Black King by Francesco Da Mosto. UK release March 31, 2011. It's Venice, 1600. A dangerous place for free-thinkers and gamblers alike and Choradino da Mosto is both. Once the student of Giordano Bruno - newly tried and executed in Rome - Choradino is already being watched. When he is finally arrested he is offered a harsh choice: to remain in gaol or become a spy for the Republic. All eyes are on England, where an ageing Elizabeth has yet to name her successor. The Venetian authorities have intercepted coded messages from the Queen's magician, John Dee. They know Dee is chasing a mysterious manuscript - rumoured to have been brought back from Macedonia centuries before by Marco Polo. Choradino is charged with finding - and destroying - the heretical text before it falls into the hands of the Protestants. Choradino has no choice but to follow his orders. But as he joins a ship bound for Korcula, he discovers another cipher running beneath Dee's code. And the whisper of a secret which could strike at the very heart of the English court...





Lady on the Loch by Betty McInnes. US release April 1, 2011.
A compelling historical novel from a much-loved author - 1567. A young man – Lachlan Gilmore – rescues a lady whose cart has become stuck in a ditch, but unbeknownst to him, Lady Annabel Erskine has a secret mission: to keep Mary, Queen of Scots, imprisoned on Castle Island in Lochleven, supplied with garments fit for her high estate. Soon, Lachlan’s sister, talented seamstress Christina, is assisting Lady Annabel in her work. But as their friendship grows, she is unwittingly drawn deeper into the doomed Queen’s affairs . . .





The Maid by Kimberly Cutter. UK release May 2, 2011. No description yet but the subject is Joan of Arc.



















Shield Wall by Justin Hill. UK release May 5, 2011.
It is nearly a thousand years since England was invaded in 1066. But not many people know that the seeds of the Norman Conquest were sown nearly fifty years earlier, during the height of the Viking Age. Vivid, compelling and firmly rooted in fact, Shieldwall begins during the reign of Ethelred the Unready in 1066 and brings to life a vividly drawn cast of characters, including Macbeth, Godwin, Canute and Harald Hardrada, as well as fascinating and powerful women, such as Lady Godiva and Emma of Normandy who married two kings and gave birth to two more. Beautifully evoking 11th century England, Shieldwall chronicles a period of unprecedented change, immigration and upheaval - the destruction of Christendom's most vibrant civilisation and the eventual survival and reforging of the English nation.



Empire of the Moghul: Ruler of the World by Alex Rutherford. UK release May 12, 2011. Keep your enemies close, and your sons closer...The story of the third great Moghul Emperor, Akbar, leader of a triumphant dynasty which contained the seeds of its own destruction. Akbar, ruler of a sixth of the world's people, colossally rich and utterly ruthless, was a contemporary of Elizabeth I, but infinitely more powerful. His reign began in bloodshed when he strangled his treacherous ‘milk-brother’, but it ended in glory. Akbar extended his rule over much of Asia, skillfully commanding tens of thousands of men, elephants and innovative technology, yet despite the unimaginable bloodshed which resulted his empire was based on universal religious tolerance. However, Akbar's homelife was more complicated. He defied family, nobles and mullahs to marry a beautiful Rajput princess, whose people he had conquered; but she hated Akbar and turned Salim, his eldest son, against him. What's more, as any Moghul prince could inherit his father's crown and become Emperor, his sons were brought up to be intensely competitive and suspicious of each other: to see eachother as rivals for the greatest prize of all. And, as Salim grew to manhood, the relationship between father and son became tainted by rebellion and competition to be the greatest Moghul of them all.

Lucrezia de Medici was one of several children of Cosimo I, Grand Duke of Tuscany, and his first wife, Eleanor of Toledo.  Born in 1545, at a young age she married Alfonso d'Este, Duke of Ferrara (a small region in northern Italy).  She died suddenly a few years later leaving some to speculate that she had been poisoned.  She was only about 17.  Many believe she is the subject of the Robert Browning poem, My Last Duchess.  I am currently reading a book based on the poem (by the same title) by Gabrielle Kimm.

Maria is the daughter of a minor Norman “robber baron” in southern Italy in the 11th century. She is married off to a knight, Richard d’Alene, but finds his brother Roger more attractive – an attraction that is mutual. As the Christians and Saracens battle for control of the region , Richard acquires more land and power, becomes somewhat friendly with some of the “heretics” and struggles to hold onto what he has.

It took a while for me to warm up to this book. For the first 75 pages or so I kept wondering what in the heck the point of the story was as there doesn’t appear to be any real plot. It’s more of a “this is Maria’s life” narrative that focuses on Maria’s relationship with those around her – and in particular with her husband.  Richard is not a likeable person but he is a man of his time. In his domain his word is law yet he also tries to instill some sense of justice. He hits his wife – often. But at the same time, he values her opinion more highly than he would ever admit to anyone, including himself.

Maria is a strong young woman who manages to come off as feisty, independent minded and intelligent without sounding too modern. She can be ruthless when necessary but is also very compassionate. She definitely knows her place and takes Richards physical and verbal abuse rather nonchalantly. What I came to appreciate about Maria and Richard was Holland’s ability to make them 100% believable as human beings. They are both far from perfect and even their relationship is less than ideal. Despite a rocky start, it becomes clear that Maria and Richard come to love and respect each other in their own way. They argue and joke with each other. They say things they don’t mean – sometimes with the intent to hurt each other and sometimes not. They have sex and they make love (most of which is not graphic). They find stolen moments and raise their children.

Having recently finished Holland’s latest novel, The Secret Eleanor, and enjoyed it, I was wondering how this one would compare. Written 35 years earlier, Great Maria’s writing style is definitely different and took some getting used to. There are no flowing, elaborately worded passages; no beautifully descriptive landscapes or paragraphs devoted to clothes, food and the like. Yet somehow, through its short, often choppy sentences, I got the essence of what it truly must have been like to live nearly a thousand years ago. Some of it comes for the monotony of everyday life – there are babies to be fed, children to keep from squabbling and a myriad of other domestic situations that must be dealt with. This is not an action-packed story and not much seems to happen, yet somehow, much does. I didn’t care much for the ending as I thought it was rather abrupt. I turned the page expecting more and was like, “that’s it?”

Although I liked the book, I wasn't blown away by it and it took me a little longer to read it than I would have liked as it wasn't one of those "can't put it down" books for me. 


Anything worth having:  “Why does being good have to be hard?” “If it were easy, it would be worthless.” Maria and her young son Robert.

Richard the politician:  “Say what people want to hear, and do as you please. No one will ever notice the difference.” Richard to their second son, Stephen.


In case the FTC asks: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review.

The Virgin Queen: A Personal History of Elizabeth I by Christopher Hibbert. Non-fiction. UK release September 30, 2010.
The years of Elizabeth's childhood were troubled - fraught with danger and beset with the political and religious plots of those around her. At the age of two her mother, Anne Boleyn, was beheaded by her father, Henry VIII; Elizabeth was declared illegitimate and banished from the royal court. At 21, she was imprisoned in the Tower of London by her sister, Mary. And at 25 she was crowned Queen of England and Ireland, ruling as the last monarch of the Tudor dynasty until her death in 1603. The reign of Elizabeth was characterized by the virgin queen cult that grew up around her fierce independence, by her epic defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588, by England's seafaring prowess personified in the figures of Francis Drake and Walter Raleigh and by the great flowering of artistic and literary creativity that was catalyzed in the plays of Shakespeare and Marlowe. In this classic biography, Christopher Hibbert paints a compelling and evocative portrait of one of history's most fascinating women, illuminated against a backdrop of the tumultuous, glorious events of the Elizabethan era - England's Golden Age.



Atlas of Medieval Britain by Christopher Daniell. Non-fiction. UK release December 1, 2010. Christopher Daniell's Atlas of Medieval Britain presents a sweeping visual survey of Britain from the Roman occupation to 1485. Annotated throughout with clear commentary, this volume tells the story of the British Isles, and makes visually accessible the varied and often complex world of the Middle Ages. The Atlas depicts the spatial distribution of key events and buildings between 1066 and 1485, as well as providing the relevant Anglo-Saxon background. Charting the main political, administrative and religious features of medieval society, the maps also locate cultural landmarks such as the sites of mystery plays, universities and specific architectural styles.
Topics covered include:
• Iron Age and Roman occupation
• Anglo-Saxons and Vikings
• changing political scenarios within England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland
• religious framework, including diocesan boundaries, monasteries and friaries
• government, society and economy.
Complete with recommended further reading, this volume is an indispensable reference resource for all students of medieval British history.


The Resurrection of the Romanovs: The Life of Anastasia, the Birth of Anna Anderson and the World’s Greatest Royal Mystery by Greg King and Penny Wilson. Non-fiction. US release January 11, 2011; UK release January 19, 2011.
The truth of the enduring mystery of Anastasia′s fate–and the life of her most convincing impostor The passage of more than ninety years and the publication of hundreds of books in dozens of languages has not extinguished an enduring interest in the mysteries surrounding the 1918 execution of the last Russian Tsar Nicholas II and his family. The Resurrection of the Romanovs draws on a wealth of new information from previously unpublished materials and unexplored sources to probe the most enduring Romanov mystery of all: the fate of the Tsar′s youngest daughter, Anastasia, whose remains were not buried with those of her family, and her identification with Anna Anderson, the woman who claimed to be the missing Grand Duchess.
• Penetrates the intriguing mysteries surrounding the execution of Tsar Nicholas II and the true fate of his daughter, Anastasia
• Reveals previously unknown details of Anderson′s life as Franziska Schanzkowska
• Explains how Anderson acquired her knowledge, why people believed her claim, and how it transformed Anastasia into a cultural phenomenon
• Draws on unpublished materials including Schanzkowska family memoirs, legal papers, and exclusive access to private documents of the British and Hessian Royal Families
• Includes 75 photographs, dozens published here for the first time
• Written by the authors of The Fate of the Romanovs
Refuting long–accepted evidence in the Anderson case, The Resurrection of the Romanovs finally explodes the greatest royal mystery of the twentieth–century.



Kings and Queens: Fact Cards by Struan Reid. Non-fiction and also not a book. UK release January 28, 2011. This is a pack of 50 cards crammed with information of some of Britain's most prominent and important sovereigns throughout history, from the time of the Anglo-Saxons to the present day. Each card focuses on a King or Queen with a photograph or portrait on one side and lots of information on the other, including the dates of their reign, some of the main events of their life and a few 'did-you-know' facts. It is presented with illustrations by Ian McNee.












Towtown: The Battle of Palm Sunday by John Sadler. Non-fiction. UK release February 17, 2011. The battle at Towton in Yorkshire on 29 March 1461 was the largest, longest fought and bloodiest day in English medieval history. In terms of the number of troops involved, the ruthlessness of the fighting, the quantity of casualties and the decisive nature of its outcome, Towton stands out from the long sequence of battles fought for control of England in the fifteenth century. This bitter contest of arms was a turning point in the Wars of the Roses and - as a result of the discoveries of modern archaeological research - it is one of the best known. John Sadler, in this vivid reconstruction of the battle, offers a fresh view of a pivotal episode in English history and an unflinching insight into the cruelties of medieval warfare.










Agnes Strickland’s Lives of the Queens of England by Antonia Fraser. Non-fiction. UK release February 22, 2011; US release April 21, 2011.
Strickland was possibly the most celebrated English female historical biographer of the 19th Century. Antonia Fraser selects her best writing and explains its importance. "The Lives of the Queens of England" were among the most popular of all Victorian historical publications. They remain an important pioneering achievement in the writing of historical biography. Agnes Strickland worked in manuscript collections and managed to obtain access to the state paper office. 'Facts not opinions' was her credo and the "Lives" were an important resource for later scholars, decades after their original publication. Antonia Fraser, the doyenne of modern historical biographers, makes a selection of her favourite passages from Strickland's work and writes an extensive introduction in which she states that the Lives 'remain in many ways as fresh and as entertaining as their first delighted readers must have found them'. Her selection concerns Anne Boleyn and her daughter Elizabeth I. "Continuum Histories" will attract a new generation of readers to some of the greatest narrative history ever written. Each volume includes a dramatic episode from a major work of history, prefaced with an introduction by a leading modern authority.



A Brief History of Roman Britain by JP Alcock. Non-fiction. UK release March 24, 2011. In BC 55 Julius Caesar came, saw, conquered and then left. It was not until AD 43 that the Emperor Claudius crossed the channel and made Britain the western outpost of the Roman Empire that would span from the Scottish border to Persia. For the next 400 years the island would be transformed. Within that period would see the rise of Londinium, almost immediately burnt to the ground in 60 AD by Boudicca; Hadrian's Wall which was constructed in 112 AD to keep the northern tribes at bay as well as the birth of the Emperor Constantine in third century York. This book is interwoven with the historical narrative is a social history of the period showing how roman society grew in Britain.








Henry VIII (Yale English Monarchs) by J.J. Scarisbrick. Non-fiction. US reissue May 28, 2011. First published in 1968, Jack Scarisbrick's "Henry VIII" is a book which focuses on the personality of this flamboyant and forceful monarch, exploring an impulsive interventionist king whose impact on the government, society and religion of England is felt more than four centuries on.











Philip of Spain, King of England: The Forgotten Sovereign by Harry Kelsey. Non-fiction. UK release July 30, 2011. The Spanish Armada conjures up images of age-old rivalries, bravery and treachery. However the same Spanish monarch who sent the Armada to invade England in 1588 was, just a few years previously, the King of England and husband of Mary Tudor. This important new book sheds new light on Philip II of Spain, England's forgotten sovereign. Previous accounts of Mary's brief reign have focused on the martyrdom of Protestant dissenters, the loss of English territory, as well as Mary's infamous personality, meaning that her husband Philip has remained in the shadows. In this book, Harry Kelsey uncovers Philip's life - from his childhood and education in Spain, to his marriage to Mary and the political manoeuvrings involved in the marriage contract, to the tumultuous aftermath of Mary's death which ultimately led to hostile relations between Queen Elizabeth and Philip, culminating in the Armada. Focusing especially on the period of Philip's marriage to Mary, Kelsey shows that Philip was, in fact, an active King of England and took a keen interest in the rule of his wife's kingdom. Casting fresh light on both Mary and Philip, as well as European history more generally, this book will be essential reading for anyone interested in the Tudor era.

Russian royalty is out of my usual subjects to read about, but in addition to the early 20th century Romanovs, there are a number of others who sound just as interesting. Several months ago I happened upon a trilogy from the 50’s written about the family of Catherine the Great. Imperial Highness is the first and covers Catherine’s early life and marriage.


Princess Augusta Fredericka is the daughter of Christian of Anhalt-Zerbst, a minor German prince and his wife Princess Joanna of Holstein-Gottorp (parts of present day Germany and Denmark). Her life is rather lonely, cold, and bleak – and her mother is mean to her. When word comes that the Empress Elizabeth of Russia (who is related to Joanna) wants Catherine as a bride for her heir, Peter, the young teenager sees a way out of her miserable existence. Little did she realize she’d be jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire!

Sophia finds herself taken from her relatively poor and obscure homeland to one of the most opulent and prestigious courts of the day. The Empress Elizabeth is kind to her since she has gambled the security of her throne and country on the marriage but Peter is another matter entirely. Deformed, demented and just downright cruel, he seems to love everything German/Prussian – except for his wife. Many in the country fear Peter will turn the country over to his “hero”, Frederick of Prussia, the moment his aunt dies. It is not a foolish fear – and one Elizabeth and her ministers fear as well. Their only hope? That the young bride, renamed Catherine, will produce a son that Elizabeth can name as her heir. Their only problem? Peter refuses to consummate his marriage.

In a fit of frustration, the Empress decides to make the young couple virtual prisoners in the hopes that Catherine will become pregnant. For eight years she waits with no result, and in desperation she decides that if Peter will not father an heir to the throne than she will find someone who will!

As Peter struts around in Prussian military uniforms, Catherine does everything in her power to become “Russian” and the people love her for it. The realization does not sit well with Peter, but he is too wrapped up in his own delusions to do much about it. Others however are looking out for Peter's interests - and their own.   Peter constantly looks for ways to get rid of his wife until finally and the demonic monster is out in full force when he pulls his sword and prepares to play midwife to catch the "proof" of Catherine's adultery.  But as the years go by and Elizabeth finally dies, Catherine decides its time to get rid of her husband.

I knew nothing about Catherine the Great other than her name so I found this book interesting especially since all of the information was new to me. At times the writing seemed rather detached, particularly in the first half, but as Catherine and Peter play a game of cat and mouse with Russia ast he prize, I found myself enjoying it more and am looking forward to reading the rest of the trilogy.

Imperial Highness was originally published as Rebel Princess. The other two books in the trilogy are Royal Intrigue (a/k/a Curse Not the King) which covers Catherine and her son Paul and Far Flies the Eagle (a/k/a The Warrior’s Mistress) about Catherine’s Grandson Alexander I and Napoleon.   I posted some great covers of these books (as well as a few others about Catherine) here

This week the furniture my daughter wanted for her room finally arrived (it had been out of stock for several weeks) and we've been working on putting her room together - again...(she got rid of a lot of stuff when she moved in with her then fiance last year, and now that the wedding is off and she moved out to Colorado with us, well, we pretty much had to start over).  It inspired me to actually get off my butt and do a fairly extensive re-model of my blog which I had been thinking about for a while, playing around with some ideas and trying to have a little fun.  We'll have a new name (same URL though), new look and some new friends who will popping in to help out.  A few things are already completed and I hope to have everything finished by the end of the week.  A huge "thank you" to everyone who reads my blog and I hope you'll be patient during the renovations!  Tanzy's excited - she's tired of having to do everything herself...

Lili is a thoughtful and serious girl growing up as the ward of a Parisian noblewoman, Julie de Bercy. Madame de Bercy, a friend of Lili’s late mother, a brilliant and controversial scientist, has a daughter, Delphine, the same age as Lili. Though they could hardly be more different, the two girls grow up as sisters, steadfast friends, and confidantes. Delphine sets her sights on a courtly marriage, while Lili pursues a love based on a shared life of the mind.  Lili can never understand Delphine’s fascination with frivolous things like beautiful dresses, perfect curtsies, and fairytale endings. She prefers a life in pursuit of the truth about nature and people. But when she boards with Delphine at a convent school where independent thinking is punished, it becomes clear to Lili that she is expected to be satisfied with having no goals in life other than to be a supportive wife, charming conversationalist, and pious mother.  Set in France during the last decades before the French Revolution, The Laws of Motion explores the complicated tensions between the frivolity of court and the serious pursuit of scientific knowledge, and the perils of being caught between the demand for conformity and the need to fulfill one’s genius. Through Lili’s discoveries, we are reminded of the importance of remaining true to ourselves—regardless of the consequences.

  Thanks to everyone who entered and to the nice folks at Penguin Publishing!

The first novel in a major new series as Robert Low moves from the Vikings to the making of Scotland. It is 1296 and Scotland is in turmoil. The old king, Alexander III, has died after falling off his horse one dark and stormy night. Scotland’s future is in peril. Edward I of England, desperate to keep control of his northern borders, arranges for John Baliol, a weak man who Edward knows he can manipulate, to take leadership of Scotland. But unrest is rife and many are determined to throw off the shackles of England. Among those men is Robert the Bruce, darkly handsome, young, angry and obsessed by his desire to win Scotland's throne. He will fight for the freedom of the Scots until the end. But there are many rival factions and the English are a strong and fearsome opponent. The Lion Wakes culminates in the Battle of Falkirk which proves to be the beginning of a rivalry that will last for decades…


The Tudors: The Kings and Queens of England’s Golden Age by Jane Bingham.  Non-fiction.  UK release April 1, 2011. 

The book is a highly readable account of a fascinating era - an era that witnessed barbaric public executions and courtly conspiracies, the Great Fire of London and the plague, as well as being the age of Shakespeare, Bacon and Raleigh, the Reformation, exploration and victory over the Spanish Armada. Full of colourful detail and intrigue, the book explores the shocking contrasts of the Tudor age, where the splendour of court life contrasted with the squalor of the overcrowded, rat-infested cities and the harsh treatment meted out to heretics and traitors, real and imagined.


A Place Called Armageddon by C.C. Humphreys.  UK release April 21, 2011. 

To the Greeks who love it, it is Constantinople. To the Turks who covet it, the Red Apple. Safe behind its magnificent walls, the city was once the heart of the vast Byzantine empire. 1453. The empire has shrunk to what lies within those now-crumbling walls. A relic. Yet for one man, Constantinople is the stepping stone to destiny. Mehmet is twenty when he is annointed Sultan. Now, seeking Allah's will and Man's glory, he brings an army of one hundred thousand, outnumbering the defenders ten to one. He has also brings something new - the most frightening weapon the world has ever seen... And yet, through seven weeks of sea battles, night battles, by tunnel and tower, the defence holds... and will until the final assault and a single bullet that will change history. But a city is more than stone, its fate inseparable from that of its people. Men - like Gregoras, a mercenary and exile, returning to the hated place he once loved. Like his twin and betrayer, the subtle diplomat, Theon. Sofia, loved by two brothers but forced to make a desperate choice between them. And Leilah, a powerful mystic and assassin, seeking her own destiny in the flames. This is the tale of one of history's greatest battles for one of the world's most extraordinary places. This is the story of people, from peasant to emperor - with the city's fate, and theirs, undecided... until the moment the Red Apple falls.