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Anyone who is familiar with the Tudors is also familiar with Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk. A fixture at court, Norfolk’s fortunes hit highs and lows as he became a wily politician capable of staying a couple of steps ahead of the game. He helped two of his nieces become Queens of England – only to see them die by the hand of an executioner and yet somehow, he managed to keep his own head attached to his shoulders.


But what about Thomas Howard the man? Who was he and where did he come from? What about his private life? D.L. Bogdan tries to answer some of these questions in her second book, Rivals in the Tudor Court. Before reading this, I didn’t really know that much about Thomas: his daughter Mary was married to Henry VIII’s illegitimate son, he had a wife and a mistress in the same household and he narrowly escaped execution due to Henry VIII’s death.

What I didn’t know is that he had been married to Anne Plantagenet (one of Elizabeth of York’s younger sisters ) and that they had – and buried – four children. Bogdan portrays their marriage as a happy one and that the death of their children, as well as Anne’s death at the age of 35, shaped the man that he would later become.

Thomas’s second wife was the daughter of the Duke of Buckingham – Elizabeth. Several years his junior, Elizabeth was in love with someone else and didn’t want to marry Howard, but of course, she did what her family told her to do. Having both known and lost love, Thomas and Elizabeth try to make the best of their life together. Elizabeth especially tries hard to understand what he has been through and wants to be the best wife she can be – and hopes that one day she can bring him joy.

Whatever amount of happiness the pair were able to find was put to the test as Thomas sought to gain royal favor through his niece, Anne, and Elizabeth remained a steadfast support of Katherine of Aragon. Their relationship is further complicated when Thomas takes a mistress, Elizabeth “Bess” Holland who is everything his clever, outspoken wife is not. Their marriage deteriorates to the point where it mirrors that of the king and queen – Thomas asking for a divorce, Elizabeth refusing to give him one and becoming a virtual prisoner in her own home.

Told in first person by Thomas, Elizabeth and Bess, Rivals in the Tudor Court is the fascinating story of one man and how he managed to survive both personal and political tragedies. Although I don’t usually care for first person narration, this one works pretty well and I especially enjoyed Thomas’s voice which is made clear from the first line: “Two bitches, a bewildered dolt, and a hothead have condemned me to this wretched place.”

Bogdan makes all three of the main characters fascinating people in their own right, but it is their relationships with each other that really drive the story. At times, I felt sorry for each of them and sometimes, I thought they got what they deserved. If there is one thing missing, it is the historical detail that immerses you in the time and place (like you get with Penman or Chadwick) and much of the story felt like it could be taking place anywhere. But to a certain extent, that is also one of the book’s strengths – it is a timeless story of love, pain, betrayal and redemption. And how the corrupting power of ambition can bring a family to ruin.

There are also some great lines in this book:

Better to be a peasant?  “We are not a breed who can afford to love. That is left to the peasants; call it their one great extravagance, their compensation for their miserable lot in life.” Thomas’s father to him after the death of his first wife, explaining to him the need for him to take another.

The joy of children:  “[Heirs and pawns] is all they can be. Or else I think we should die of heartbreak.” Thomas warning Elizabeth not to get too attached to their children.

Sons and daughters:  “It seems sons are destined to lead lives of glory; to them we hand our fortunes and our names and our titles. But the daughters, they are a mother’s salvation. To them we hand our hearts.” Elizabeth thinking about her children.

To tempt a king:  “It appears she is blessed with the body of a twenty year old, the angelic face of a ten year old and the mind of a complete idiot: a perfect combination for my purposes…” Thomas assessing young Katherine Howard.



In case the FTC asks: I was sent a copy for review by the author.