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Philippa Gregory was our Guest Editor in October 2011 - click here - to see the books that inspired her writing.
Philippa Gregory was an established historian and writer when she discovered her interest in the Tudor period and wrote the international bestseller The Other Boleyn Girl, which became a major film starring Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson. Several books later, she is looking at the family that precedes The Tudors in the The Cousins' War series, which was televised by the BBC as The White Queen.
Philippa's other great interest is the charity that she founded nearly twenty years ago: Gardens for The Gambia. She has raised funds and paid for several hundred wells for the primary schools of this poor African country. A former student of Sussex University, and a PhD and Alumna of the Year at Edinburgh University, her love of history is the hallmark of her writing. She lives with her family on a small farm in Yorkshire.
Author photo copyright: Johnny Ring.
Menace, madness and medieval adventure abound in this thrilling fourth volume of the atmospheric Order of Darkness series by a doyenne of historical fiction. Luca Vero belongs to the Order of Darkness and has been charged with investigating disturbing occurrences that seem to herald the imminent end of the world. Travelling through medieval Europe with Lady Isolde and her companion Ishraq, he witnesses the alarming outbreak of “dancing sickness”. As Luca seeks to discover the truth behind this phenomenon – are the victims possessed by Satan? – Isolde herself succumbs to an overwhelming urge to dance after acquiring an irresistible pair of scarlet shoes from a travelling tradesman. Alongside being an epic adventure, and richly rewarding for history and mystery buffs, a powerful thread about rejecting prejudice and hatred weaves its way through this novel. “You have to do the right thing, not just the certain thing... Surely you want to be a good lord, not just a powerful one?” Such remarks about social responsibility and acting honorably resonate sharply, as does a potent sense of female empowerment. While women were believed to “have little determination and they are not strong”, the principle female protagonists here display much resolve, with Isolde determined to raise an army to win back her inheritance from her brother, and Ishraq being a highly educated free woman. ~ Joanne Owen Click here to view all titles in the 'Order of Darkness' series; They are: Vol One: Changeling Vol Two: Stormbringers Vol Three: Fools' Gold Vol Four: Dark Tracks A note from Philippa Gregory: “I am delighted to move into a new area of writing. I know I have many young adult readers already and it will be a pleasure to write a series especially for them. Bringing history alive is a great joy and to bring it to a younger generation doubly so.”
In a Nutshell: Drive Out the Devil Dancers Menace, madness and medieval adventure abound in this thrilling fourth volume of the atmospheric Order of Darkness series by a doyenne of historical fiction. Luca Vero belongs to the Order of Darkness and has been charged with investigating disturbing occurrences that seem to herald the imminent end of the world. Travelling through medieval Europe with Lady Isolde and her companion Ishraq, he witnesses the alarming outbreak of “dancing sickness”. As Luca seeks to discover the truth behind this phenomenon – are the victims possessed by Satan? – Isolde herself succumbs to an overwhelming urge to dance after acquiring an irresistible pair of scarlet shoes from a travelling tradesman. Alongside being an epic adventure, and richly rewarding for history and mystery buffs, a powerful thread about rejecting prejudice and hatred weaves its way through this novel. “You have to do the right thing, not just the certain thing... Surely you want to be a good lord, not just a powerful one?” Such remarks about social responsibility and acting honorably resonate sharply, as does a potent sense of female empowerment. While women were believed to “have little determination and they are not strong”, the principle female protagonists here display much resolve, with Isolde determined to raise an army to win back her inheritance from her brother, and Ishraq being a highly educated free woman. ~ Joanne Owen Click here to view all titles in the 'Order of Darkness' series; They are: Vol One: Changeling Vol Two: Stormbringers Vol Three: Fools' Gold Vol Four: Dark Tracks A note from Philippa Gregory: “I am delighted to move into a new area of writing. I know I have many young adult readers already and it will be a pleasure to write a series especially for them. Bringing history alive is a great joy and to bring it to a younger generation doubly so.”
A Review for Changeling, the first in the Order of Darkness series: Best-selling Philippa Gregory’s first book for teenagers is a thrilling story of malice and betrayal, courage and passion. Tricked out of her inheritance by her greedy and duplicitous brother, Isolde must swap ruling over her own castle and estate for a life of confinement as the Lady Abbess of the local nunnery. Bad things are happening among the nuns and soon Isolde’s life is in grave danger as she is accused of heresy, a crime which carries the penalty of being burnt at the stake. How clever and feisty Isolde is rescued from her fate and turns the tables on her persecutors with the help of Luca Vero, the handsome young enforcer of true religion, is a spellbinder of a story. ~ Julia Eccleshare A note from Philippa Gregory: “I am delighted to move into a new area of writing. I know I have many young adult readers already and it will be a pleasure to write a series especially for them. Bringing history alive is a great joy and to bring it to a younger generation doubly so.”
There is only one bond that I trust: between a woman and her sisters. We never take our eyes off each other. In love and in rivalry, we always think of each other. When Katherine of Aragon is brought to the Tudor court as a young bride, the oldest princess, Margaret, takes her measure. With one look, each knows the other for a rival, an ally, a pawn, destined - with Margaret's younger sister Mary - to a sisterhood unique in all the world. The three sisters will become the queens of England, Scotland and France. United by family loyalties and affections, the three queens find themselves set against each other. Katherine commands an army against Margaret and kills her husband James IV of Scotland. But Margaret's boy becomes heir to the Tudor throne when Katherine loses her son. Mary steals the widowed Margaret's proposed husband, but when Mary is widowed it is her secret marriage for love that is the envy of the others. As they experience betrayals, dangers, loss and passion, the three sisters find that the only constant in their perilous lives is their special bond, more powerful than any man, even a king.
There is only one bond that I trust: between a woman and her sisters. We never take our eyes off each other. In love and in rivalry, we always think of each other. When Katherine of Aragon is brought to the Tudor court as a young bride, the oldest princess, Margaret, takes her measure. With one look, each knows the other for a rival, an ally, a pawn, destined - with Margaret's younger sister Mary - to a sisterhood unique in all the world. The three sisters will become the queens of England, Scotland and France. United by family loyalties and affections, the three queens find themselves set against each other. Katherine commands an army against Margaret and kills her husband James IV of Scotland. But Margaret's boy becomes heir to the Tudor throne when Katherine loses her son. Mary steals the widowed Margaret's proposed husband, but when Mary is widowed it is her secret marriage for love that is the envy of the others.
Why would a woman marry a serial killer? Because she cannot refuse...Kateryn Parr, a thirty-year-old widow in a secret affair with a new lover, has no choice when a man old enough to be her father who has buried four wives - King Henry VIII - commands her to marry him. Kateryn has no doubt about the danger she faces: the previous queen lasted sixteen months, the one before barely half a year. But Henry adores his new bride and Kateryn's trust in him grows as she unites the royal family, creates a radical study circle at the heart of the court, and rules the kingdom as Regent. But is this enough to keep her safe? A leader of religious reform and the first woman to publish in English, Kateryn stands out as an independent woman with a mind of her own. But she cannot save the Protestants, under threat for their faith, and Henry's dangerous gaze turns on her.The traditional churchmen and rivals for power accuse her of heresy - the punishment is death by fire and the king's name is on the warrant...
Why would a woman marry a serial killer? Because she cannot refuse...Kateryn Parr, a thirty-year-old widow in a secret affair with a new lover, has no choice when a man old enough to be her father who has buried four wives - King Henry VIII - commands her to marry him. Kateryn has no doubt about the danger she faces: the previous queen lasted sixteen months, the one before barely half a year. But Henry adores his new bride and Kateryn's trust in him grows as she unites the royal family, creates a radical study circle at the heart of the court, and rules the kingdom as Regent. But is this enough to keep her safe? A leader of religious reform and the first woman to publish in English, Kateryn stands out as an independent woman with a mind of her own. But she cannot save the Protestants, under threat for their faith, and Henry's dangerous gaze turns on her. The traditional churchmen and rivals for power accuse her of heresy - the punishment is death by fire and the king's name is on the warrant...
The riveting story of Margaret Pole, daughter of George, Duke of Clarence, and was one of the few surviving members of the Plantagenet dynasty after the Wars of the Roses. Plantagenet, once carried proudly by Margaret like a crown upon her head, is now, at the end of the 15th century, the most dangerous name in England...
In the wild, decadent atmosphere of Venice Carnival, dark forces are at work. Philippa Gregory is well known for her historical fiction but has now turned her talents to teen fiction with a rich and dramatic adventure series set in Europe just after the fall of Byzantium. This is the third in the Order of Darkness series. In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion for Fools' Gold a small number of members were lucky enough to be invited to review this title. Here's a taster....'What I liked best was the originality of the storyline...The brilliance of the characters shine out so well in the plans they make, be it sneaking into parties or breaking into the alchemist's house.' - Mukunth Kowsik Scroll down to read more reviews...
The haunting story of the mother of the Tudors, Elizabeth of York, wife to Henry VII. Beautiful eldest daughter of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville - the White Queen - the young princess Elizabeth faces a conflict of loyalties between the red rose and the white. Forced into marriage with Henry VII, she must reconcile her slowly growing love for him with her loyalty to the House of York, and choose between her mother's rebellion and her husband's tyranny. Then she has to meet the Pretender, whose claim denies the House of Tudor itself.
In the wild, decadent atmosphere of Venice Carnival, dark forces are at work. Philippa Gregory is well known for her historical fiction but has now turned her talents to teen fiction with a rich and dramatic adventure series set in Europe just after the fall of Byzantium. This is the third in the Order of Darkness series. In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion for Fools' Gold a small number of members were lucky enough to be invited to review this title. Here's a taster....'What I liked best was the originality of the storyline...The brilliance of the characters shine out so well in the plans they make, be it sneaking into parties or breaking into the alchemist's house.' - Mukunth Kowsik Scroll down to read more reviews...
The second in this epic series, Order of Darkness, from the Queen of Historical Fiction. Stormbringers is a dramatic adventure, with a hint of romance, set in medieval Europe after the fall of the Byzantine empire. Philippa Gregory excels in this new area of writing for a YA audience. Her first novel in the series was the hugely successful Changeling.
The second in this epic series, Order of Darkness, from the Queen of Historical Fiction. Stormbringers is a dramatic adventure, with a hint of romance, set in medieval Europe after the fall of the Byzantine empire. Philippa Gregory excels in this new area of writing for a YA audience. Her first novel in the series was the hugely successful Changeling - download an extract here.
4th instalment of the fascinating Cousins’ War series again, cleverly blending fact and fiction together to bring to life the riveting story of Anne Neville, youngest daughter of the ruthless Earl of Warwick, the most powerful magnate in 15th century England. These stories of little known but significant women of the time give a fresh perspective and if you love Philippa Gregory’s historical fiction you should not miss her fascinating non-fiction companion volume - The Women of the Cousins' War - that tells the extraordinary true stories behind the heroines of her books. The Cousins' War series:1. The White Queen2. The Red Queen3. The Lady of the Rivers4. The Kingmaker's Daughter
Bestselling Philippa Gregory’s first book for teenagers is a thrilling story of malice and betrayal, courage and passion. Tricked out of her inheritance by her greedy and duplicitous brother, Isolde must swap ruling over her own castle and estate for a life of confinement as the Lady Abbess of the local nunnery. Bad things are happening among the nuns and soon Isolde’s life is in grave danger as she is accused of heresy, a crime which carries the penalty of being burnt at the stake. How clever and feisty Isolde is rescued from her fate and turns the tables on her persecutors with the help of Luca Vero, the handsome young enforcer of true religion, is a spellbinder of a story. A note from Philippa Gregory:“I am delighted to move into a new area of writing. I know I have many young adult readers already and it will be a pleasure to write a series especially for them. Bringing history alive is a great joy and to bring it to a younger generation doubly so.”Click here to visit The Order of Darkness website.
August 2012 Book of the Month. 4th instalment of the fascinating Cousins’ War series again, cleverly blending fact and fiction together to bring to life the riveting story of Anne Neville, youngest daughter of the ruthless Earl of Warwick, the most powerful magnate in 15th century England. These stories of little known but significant women of the time give a fresh perspective and if you love Philippa Gregory’s historical fiction you should not miss her fascinating non-fiction companion volume - The Women of the Cousins' War - that tells the extraordinary true stories behind the heroines of her books. The Cousins' War series:1. The White Queen2. The Red Queen3. The Lady of the Rivers4. The Kingmaker's Daughter
June 2012 New Gen Book of the Month. Best-selling Philippa Gregory’s first book for teenagers is a thrilling story of malice and betrayal, courage and passion. Tricked out of her inheritance by her greedy and duplicitous brother, Isolde must swap ruling over her own castle and estate for a life of confinement as the Lady Abbess of the local nunnery. Bad things are happening among the nuns and soon Isolde’s life is in grave danger as she is accused of heresy, a crime which carries the penalty of being burnt at the stake. How clever and feisty Isolde is rescued from her fate and turns the tables on her persecutors with the help of Luca Vero, the handsome young enforcer of true religion, is a spellbinder of a story. Featured on The Book Show on Sky Arts at the Hay Festival on 3 June 2012. Click here to visit The Order of Darkness website.
Fact and fiction are woven beautifully together to bring to life the story of Jacquetta Woodville, mother of the White Queen in this 3rd instalment of medieval history from the perspective of little known but significant women of the time. If you love Philippa Gregory’s historical fiction you should not miss her fascinating non-fiction companion volume - The Women of the Cousins' War - that tells the extraordinary true stories behind the three heroines of her books; The White Queen, The Red Queen and this latest and third one, The Lady of the Rivers. The Cousins' War series:1. The White Queen2. The Red Queen3. The Lady of the Rivers4. The Kingmaker's Daughter
September 2011 Book of the Month. Fact and fiction are woven beautifully together to bring to life the story of Jacquetta Woodville, mother of the White Queen in this 3rd installment of medieval history from the perspective of little known but significant women of the time. If you love Philippa Gregory’s historical fiction you should not miss her fascinating non-fiction companion volume - The Women of the Cousins' War - that tells the extraordinary true stories behind the three heroines of her books; The White Queen, The Red Queen and this latest and third one, The Lady of the Rivers. In 2012 Philippa Gregory will be bringing history alive for yonger readers with the publication of her first young adult fiction title. We can't wait!
Shortlisted for the Galaxy Paperback of the Year Award 2011. April 2011 Book of the Month. The second book in Philippa's stunning new trilogy, The Cousins' War, brings to life the story of Margaret Beaufort, a shadowy and mysterious character in the first book of the series - The White Queen - but who now takes centre stage in the bitter struggle of The War of the Roses. The Red Queen tells the story of the child-bride of Edmund Tudor, who, although widowed in her early teens, uses her determination of character and wily plotting to infiltrate the house of York and ultimately ensure that her only son, Henry Tudor, triumphs as King of England. Page turning historical drama, written with intelligence. The Cousins' War series:1. The White Queen2. The Red Queen3. The Lady of the Rivers4. The Kingmaker's Daughter
A 2013 World Book Night selection. This is a must for any of you who devour their historical fiction. Focusing on one of the most scandalous and intriguing times in British history The White Queen centres around Elizabeth Woodville, the mother of the Princes in the Tower. Incredibly rich in historical fact and with characters so convincingly imagined you will be totally drawn in to this story of politics, power, murder and scandal. This is Philippa Gregory at the top of her game and we thoroughly recommend it. The Cousins' War series:1. The White Queen2. The Red Queen3. The Lady of the Rivers4. The Kingmaker's Daughter
Featured on The Book Show on Sky Arts on 20 November 2008. A former Author of the Month on Lovereading Philippa Gregory is back with another fantastic historical novel, this time the focus in the "other queen" Mary Queen of Scots. Gregory's books are methodically researched for spot on historical fact along with brilliant story telling. She's in a class of her own.
Featured on The Book Show on Sky Arts on 20 November 2008. A former Author of the Month on Lovereading Philippa Gregory is back with another fantastic historical novel, this time the focus in the "other queen" Mary Queen of Scots. Gregory's books are methodically researched for spot on historical fact along with brilliant story telling. She's in a class of her own.
Interestingly told from the point of view of three women, Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard and the dreadful Jane Boleyn, this is the Tudor Court brought vividly to life again by a real pro. What a violent and frightening man Henry VIII was. Gregory notes at the end of the book that little is known about Anne or Katherine so she has a free run of how things went, consequently she has produced a thrilling tale.Similar this month: None.Comparison: Jean Plaidy, Reay Tannahill, Suzannah Dunn.
Interestingly told from the point of view of three women, Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard and the dreadful Jane Boleyn, this is the Tudor court brought vividly to life again by a real pro. What a violent and frightening man Henry VIII was. Gregory notes at the end of the book that little is known about Anne and Katherine so she has had a free run of how things went, consequently she has produced a thrilling tale.
Katherine of Aragon may be better known as the first wife of Henry VIII but as a young girl she was being groomed to be the wife of a King and she herself was determined to become Queen. She married Arthur Prince of Wales (older brother to Henry VIII) at an early age but when he died her determination to become Queen knew no bounds and her fighting spirit found her betrothed to Henry VIII. But as we find out in this enjoyable historical novel, to get there she told a great lie that was to have massive consequences. As with some of her other novels, Gregory hones her skill yet again on giving a different slant to what one's heard before of this important woman in history. Terrific storyline although perhaps a little too drawn out for my liking.Similar this month: None but try Isabel Allende.Comparison: Posie Graeme-Evans, Sarah Dunant, Rose Tremain.
Returning to the strength and originality of The Other Boleyn Girl (for I felt her last couple not quite up to scratch), this is the life of Catherine of Aragon from her childhood in Spain, her betrothal and eventual marriage to Prince Arthur and the acceptance of her destiny to be Queen of England. Upon Arthur’s death this becomes a burning ambition and despite knowing the outcome, Philippa Gregory makes the journey up to the arrival of Anne Boleyn, a compelling one.Comparison: Will Davenport, Reay Tannahill, Sharon Penman.Similar this month: C C Humphreys, Liz Carlyle.
Based on fact but infused with Gregory's own take on history, this is an inspiring and sumptuous novel with Elizabeth I at centre stage. It's full of romance, scheming, intrigue and passion with Robert Dudley a key player in Elizabeth's game of lust despite the fact that of course he was married to someone who, like Elizabeth was no pushover. The characters are well drawn and the storyline spot on.Comparison: Rose Tremain, Tracy Chevalier, C C Humphreys.Similar this month: Jude Morgan, Janet Gleeson.
Full of convincing historical facts of the Tudor period and intertwined with rich authentic drama this is Philippa Gregory at her best. She writes quite brilliantly about the massive power struggle between Elizabeth and Mary, and a girl under the employ of Robert Dudley, called Hannah whose twisted loyalties are portrayed so well. Full of realism, wonderfully heart-warming and brimming with love and betrayal this is sure to have you reading long into the night.
This is an absolutely cracking read, gripping from the very start. Gregory creates an intriguing story that's historically true and she mixes fact with fiction seemlessly that you find the whole story completely believable. Anne Boleyn's sister led an extraordinary life at the heart of one of the most exciting and glamorous courts in Europe and yet until I read this book had never in fact heard of her. A very impressive historical family drama full of love and betrayal that is also a romping good read.
A world away from the Royal courts of Europe, this is set in and around the aftermath of the slave trade in Bristol. Gregory brings her unique combination of a vivid sense of history and inimitable storytelling skills to illuminate a complex period of our past, a past that unlike the American slave trade is much less well known but no less disgraceful. Riveting, heart-breaking, powerful, haunting, intensely disturbing, this is a novel of desire and shame, of individuals, of a society, and of a whole continent devastated by the greed of others.
Join the Order of Darkness in their quest to witness the end of the world in the fourth volume of Philippa Gregory's epic adventure series. PRAISE FOR THE ORDER OF DARKNESS SERIES: ';attractive characters, several layers of mystery, and as one might expect, meticulously researched historical detail' The Daily Mail ';The plot is deftly conceivedand the setting richly detailed.' The Daily Telegraph ';This is still one of the most enthralling historical series of recent years, with Gregorys descriptions bringing 15th century Venice vividly to life' The BookbagLuca Vero is a member of the secret Order of Darkness, tasked by his master to uncover the truth behind strange happenings, Lady Isolde, her friend and confidant Ishraq, Luca's manservant Freize, and Brother Peter travel miles across medieval Europe seeking out the signs of the end of days, judging the supernatural and testing the new science. Trapped in a village possessed by a dancing madness, the group fights to keep their own sanity. When Isolde dances away in red shoes and Ishraq takes dramatic revenge on their covert assassin the young people discover that the greatest danger is in the men who have come to their rescue. These are the truly dangerous madmen of Europe who carry a dark hatred that will last for centuries.Dive deep into the world of medieval legends and disentangle reality from fear inthis powerful series from the internationally renowned author of historical fiction Philippa Gregory.
Herrscherinnen, Rivalinnen, LiebendeEin kurzer Blick in die Augen von Katharina von Aragn gengt, und Margaret Tudor wei Auf ewig wird ihr Schicksal miteinander verbunden sein - ob in Aufstieg oder Fall. Wenig spter ist Katharina Knigin von England. Margaret heiratet den schottischen Knig und sichert so den Frieden zwischen beiden Lndern. Doch das Bndnis hlt nicht lang. Margarets Mann fllt in der Schlacht, Katharina verschleppt seine Leiche als Trophe nach England - und beide Frauen werden zu Feindinnen. Ein leidenschaftlicher Reigen voller Rnkespiele entspinnt sich, und nur eines ist sicher: Nie lsst sich das Band, das die beiden Herrscherinnen verbindet, lsen.
`How long do I have?' I force a laugh. `Not long,' he says very quietly. `They have confirmed your sentence of death. You are to be beheaded tomorrow. We don't have long at all.' Jane Grey was Queen of England for nine days. Using her position as cousin to the deceased king, her father and his conspirators put her on the throne ahead of the king's half-sister Mary, who quickly mustered an army, claimed her crown and locked Jane in the Tower. When Jane refused to betray her Protestant faith, Mary sent her to the executioner's block. There Jane turned her father's greedy, failed grab for power into her own brave and tragic martyrdom. `Learn you to die' is the advice that Jane gives in a letter to her younger sister Katherine, who has no intention of dying. She intends to enjoy her beauty and her youth and find love. But her lineage makes her a threat to the insecure and infertile Queen Mary and, when Mary dies, to her sister Queen Elizabeth, who will never allow Katherine to marry and produce a potential royal heir before she does. So when Katherine's secret marriage is revealed by her pregnancy, she too must go to the Tower. `Farewell, my sister,' writes Katherine to the youngest Grey sister, Mary. A beautiful dwarf, disregarded by the court, Mary finds it easy to keep secrets, especially her own, while avoiding Elizabeth's suspicious glare. After watching her sisters defy the queen, Mary is aware of her own perilous position as a possible heir to the throne. But she is determined to command her own destiny and be the last Tudor to risk her life in matching wits with her ruthless and unforgiving cousin Elizabeth. Praise for Philippa Gregory: `Meticulously researched and deeply entertaining, this story of betrayal and divided loyalties is Gregory on top form' Good Housekeeping `Gregory has popularised Tudor history perhaps more than any other living fiction writer...all of her books feature strong, complex women, doing their best to improve their lives in worlds dominated by men' Sunday Times `Engrossing' Sunday Express `Popular historical fiction at its finest, immaculately researched and superbly told' The Times
`How long do I have?' I force a laugh. `Not long,' he says very quietly. `They have confirmed your sentence of death. You are to be beheaded tomorrow. We don't have long at all.' Jane Grey was Queen of England for nine days. Using her position as cousin to the deceased king, her father and his conspirators put her on the throne ahead of the king's half-sister Mary, who quickly mustered an army, claimed her crown and locked Jane in the Tower. When Jane refused to betray her Protestant faith, Mary sent her to the executioner's block. There Jane turned her father's greedy, failed grab for power into her own brave and tragic martyrdom. `Learn you to die' is the advice that Jane gives in a letter to her younger sister Katherine, who has no intention of dying. She intends to enjoy her beauty and her youth and find love. But her lineage makes her a threat to the insecure and infertile Queen Mary and, when Mary dies, to her sister Queen Elizabeth, who will never allow Katherine to marry and produce a potential royal heir before she does. So when Katherine's secret marriage is revealed by her pregnancy, she too must go to the Tower. `Farewell, my sister,' writes Katherine to the youngest Grey sister, Mary. A beautiful dwarf, disregarded by the court, Mary finds it easy to keep secrets, especially her own, while avoiding Elizabeth's suspicious glare. After watching her sisters defy the queen, Mary is aware of her own perilous position as a possible heir to the throne. But she is determined to command her own destiny and be the last Tudor to risk her life in matching wits with her ruthless and unforgiving cousin Elizabeth. Praise for Philippa Gregory: `Meticulously researched and deeply entertaining, this story of betrayal and divided loyalties is Gregory on top form' Good Housekeeping `Gregory has popularised Tudor history perhaps more than any other living fiction writer...all of her books feature strong, complex women, doing their best to improve their lives in worlds dominated by men' Sunday Times `Engrossing' Sunday Express `Popular historical fiction at its finest, immaculately researched and superbly told' The Times
';How long do I have?' I force a laugh.';Not long,' he says very quietly. ';They have confirmed your sentence of death. You are to be beheaded tomorrow. We don't have long at all.' Jane Grey was Queen of England for nine days. Using her position as cousin to the deceased king, her father and his conspirators put her on the throne ahead of the king's half-sister Mary, who quickly mustered an army, claimed her crown and locked Jane in the Tower. When Jane refused to betray her Protestant faith, Mary sent her to the executioner's block. There Jane turned her father's greedy, failed grab for power into her own brave and tragic martyrdom. ';Learn you to die' is the advice that Jane gives in a letter to her younger sister Katherine, who has no intention of dying. She intends to enjoy her beauty and her youth and find love. But her lineage makes her a threat to the insecure and infertile Queen Mary and, when Mary dies, to her sister Queen Elizabeth, who will never allow Katherine to marry and produce a potential royal heir before she does. So when Katherine's secret marriage is revealed by her pregnancy, she too must go to the Tower. ';Farewell, my sister,' writes Katherine to the youngest Grey sister, Mary. A beautiful dwarf, disregarded by the court, Mary finds it easy to keep secrets, especially her own, while avoiding Elizabeth's suspicious glare. After watching her sisters defy the queen, Mary is aware of her own perilous position as a possible heir to the throne. But she is determined to command her own destiny and be the last Tudor to risk her life in matching wits with her ruthless and unforgiving cousin Elizabeth. Read by Bianca Amato, narrator ofThree Sisters, Three QueensandThe Taming of the Queen.
The latest novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Philippa Gregory features one of the most famous girls in history, Lady Jane Grey, and her two sisters, each of whom dared to defy her queen.Jane Grey was queen of England for nine days. Her father and his allies crowned her instead of the dead king's half sister Mary Tudor, who quickly mustered an army, claimed her throne, and locked Jane in the Tower of London. When Jane refused to betray her Protestant faith, Mary sent her to the executioner's block, where Jane transformed her father's greedy power grab into tragic martyrdom. ';Learn you to die,' was the advice Jane wrote to her younger sister Katherine, who has no intention of dying. She intends to enjoy her beauty and her youth and fall in love. But she is heir to the insecure and infertile Queen Mary and then to her half sister, Queen Elizabeth, who will never allow Katherine to marry and produce a Tudor son. When Katherine's pregnancy betrays her secret marriage, she faces imprisonment in the Tower, only yards from her sister's scaffold. ';Farewell, my sister,' writes Katherine to the youngest Grey sister, Mary. A beautiful dwarf, disregarded by the court, Mary keeps family secrets, especially her own, while avoiding Elizabeth's suspicious glare. After seeing her sisters defy their queens, Mary is acutely aware of her own danger but determined to command her own life. What will happen when the last Tudor defies her ruthless and unforgiving Queen Elizabeth?
A Review for Changeling, the first in the Order of Darkness series: Best-selling Philippa Gregory’s first book for teenagers is a thrilling story of malice and betrayal, courage and passion. Tricked out of her inheritance by her greedy and duplicitous brother, Isolde must swap ruling over her own castle and estate for a life of confinement as the Lady Abbess of the local nunnery. Bad things are happening among the nuns and soon Isolde’s life is in grave danger as she is accused of heresy, a crime which carries the penalty of being burnt at the stake. How clever and feisty Isolde is rescued from her fate and turns the tables on her persecutors with the help of Luca Vero, the handsome young enforcer of true religion, is a spellbinder of a story. ~ Julia Eccleshare A note from Philippa Gregory: “I am delighted to move into a new area of writing. I know I have many young adult readers already and it will be a pleasure to write a series especially for them. Bringing history alive is a great joy and to bring it to a younger generation doubly so.”
Beatrice Lacey, daughter of Wideacre Hall, will not accept society's rules that women cannot inherit...The internationally bestselling debut from the author of The Other Boleyn Girl and Three Sisters, Three Queens. Wideacre Hall, set in the heart of the English countryside, is the ancestral home that Beatrice Lacey loves. Built from yellow stone, facing due south and surrounded by the rich woodlands and rolling downs of Sussex, it has been in her family for generations. But as a woman in England in the 1770s she has no right of inheritance; only a loveless arranged marriage lies ahead. Beautiful, sensual and passionate, Beatrice sets out to pursue her own goal: control over Wideacre - at any cost. Yet even as her scheming succeeds, Beatrice is haunted by the one person alive who fully understands her obsession and knows her capacity to let nothing - and no-one - stand in her way. The 30th anniversary edition, with new foreword by the author.
There is only one bond that I trust: between a woman and her sisters. We never take our eyes off each other. In love and in rivalry, we always think of each other. When Katherine of Aragon is brought to the Tudor court as a young bride, the oldest princess, Margaret, takes her measure. With one look, each knows the other for a rival, an ally, a pawn, destined - with Margaret's younger sister Mary - to a sisterhood unique in all the world. The three sisters will become the queens of England, Scotland and France. United by family loyalties and affections, the three queens find themselves set against each other. Katherine commands an army against Margaret and kills her husband James IV of Scotland. But Margaret's boy becomes heir to the Tudor throne when Katherine loses her son. Mary steals the widowed Margaret's proposed husband, but when Mary is widowed it is her secret marriage for love that is the envy of the others. As they experience betrayals, dangers, loss and passion, the three sisters find that the only constant in their perilous lives is their special bond, more powerful than any man, even a king.
There is only one bond that I trust: between a woman and her sisters. We never take our eyes off each other. In love and in rivalry, we always think of each other. When Katherine of Aragon is brought to the Tudor court as a young bride, the oldest princess, Margaret, takes her measure. With one look, each knows the other for a rival, an ally, a pawn, destined - with Margaret's younger sister Mary - to a sisterhood unique in all the world. The three sisters will become the queens of England, Scotland and France. United by family loyalties and affections, the three queens find themselves set against each other. Katherine commands an army against Margaret and kills her husband James IV of Scotland. But Margaret's boy becomes heir to the Tudor throne when Katherine loses her son. Mary steals the widowed Margaret's proposed husband, but when Mary is widowed it is her secret marriage for love that is the envy of the others. As they experience betrayals, dangers, loss and passion, the three sisters find that the only constant in their perilous lives is their special bond, more powerful than any man, even a king.
Meisterin des WortesHeimlich unterhlt die Witwe Kateryn Parr eine Affre mit ihrer groen Liebe, dem Baron Thomas Seymour. Doch als Knig Henry VIII. um ihre Hand anhlt, hat sie keine Wahl: Sie muss das Angebot annehmen und darf Thomas nie wiedersehen. Kateryn wei genau, in welche Gefahr sie sich begibt - schlielich wird sie die sechste Gemahlin des launischen Knigs. Von zwei ihrer Vorgngerinnen trennte er sich, zwei lie er hinrichten. Mit der Zeit whnt sie sich aber in Sicherheit: Im Herzen des Hofes grndet sie einen Studierzirkel und bestimmt als Regentin die Geschicke des Landes in Henrys Abwesenheit. Doch als Befrworterin religiser Reformen zieht sie schlielich doch Henrys Zorn auf sich Philippa Gregory, Knigin des historischen Romans, setzt dieser Heldin ein unvergessliches Denkmal."e; (People Magazine)"e;Niemand schreibt besser ber die Tudors als Philippa Gregory."e; (Publishers Weekly)"e;Die letzte Gemahlin des Knigs ist nicht nur ein faszinierender Roman ber eine berraschend wenig bekannte Zeit der Tudor-Dynastie, sondern vermittelt auch das bedrckende Gefhl des puren Terrors, den das Leben unter einem launischen Tyrannen mit sich bringt - besonders, wenn man mit ihm verheiratet ist."e; (Reader's Digest)"e;Drastisch schildert Gregory die Beziehung von Kateryn Parr und ihrem Gemahl Henry VIII. Genauso gut beschreibt sie auch die religisen und politischen Spannungen im England der Tudors. Fesselnd."e; (The Times)"e;Gregorys komplexes Portrt des alternden Knigs und seiner sinnlichen, gelehrten Braut wird Tudor-Fans begeistern."e; (Publishers Weekly)
There is only one bond that I trust: between a woman and her sisters. We never take our eyes off each other. In love and in rivalry, we always think of each other. When Katherine of Aragon is brought to the Tudor court as a young bride, the oldest princess, Margaret, takes her measure. With one look, each knows the other for a rival, an ally, a pawn, destined - with Margaret's younger sister Mary - to a sisterhood unique in all the world. The three sisters will become the queens of England, Scotland and France. United by family loyalties and affections, the three queens find themselves set against each other. Katherine commands an army against Margaret and kills her husband James IV of Scotland. But Margaret's boy becomes heir to the Tudor throne when Katherine loses her son. Mary steals the widowed Margaret's proposed husband, but when Mary is widowed it is her secret marriage for love that is the envy of the others. As they experience betrayals, dangers, loss and passion, the three sisters find that the only constant in their perilous lives is their special bond, more powerful than any man, even a king.
There is only one bond that I trust: between a woman and her sisters. We never take our eyes off each other. In love and in rivalry, we always think of each other. When Katherine of Aragon is brought to the Tudor court as a young bride, the oldest princess, Margaret, takes her measure. With one look, each knows the other for a rival, an ally, a pawn, destined - with Margaret's younger sister Mary - to a sisterhood unique in all the world. The three sisters will become the queens of England, Scotland and France. United by family loyalties and affections, the three queens find themselves set against each other. Katherine commands an army against Margaret and kills her husband James IV of Scotland. But Margaret's boy becomes heir to the Tudor throne when Katherine loses her son. Mary steals the widowed Margaret's proposed husband, but when Mary is widowed it is her secret marriage for love that is the envy of the others.
There is only one bond that I trust: between a woman and her sisters. We never take our eyes off each other. In love and in rivalry, we always think of each other. When Katherine of Aragon is brought to the Tudor court as a young bride, the oldest princess, Margaret, takes her measure. With one look, each knows the other for a rival, an ally, a pawn, destined - with Margaret's younger sister Mary - to a sisterhood unique in all the world. The three sisters will become the queens of England, Scotland and France. United by family loyalties and affections, the three queens find themselves set against each other. Katherine commands an army against Margaret and kills her husband James IV of Scotland. But Margaret's boy becomes heir to the Tudor throne when Katherine loses her son. Mary steals the widowed Margaret's proposed husband, but when Mary is widowed it is her secret marriage for love that is the envy of the others. As they experience betrayals, dangers, loss and passion, the three sisters find that the only constant in their perilous lives is their special bond, more powerful than any man, even a king.
There is only one bond that I trust: between a woman and her sisters. We never take our eyes off each other. In love and in rivalry, we always think of each other. From the #1 New York Times bestselling author behind the upcoming Starz original series The White Princess, a gripping new Tudor story featuring King Henry VIIIs sisters Mary and Margaret, along with Katherine of Aragon, vividly revealing the pivotal roles the three queens played in Henry VIIIs kingdom.When Katherine of Aragon is brought to the Tudor court as a young bride, the oldest princess, Margaret, takes her measure. With one look, each knows the other for a rival, an ally, a pawn, destinedwith Margarets younger sister Maryto a sisterhood unique in all the world. The three sisters will become the queens of England, Scotland, and France. United by family loyalties and affections, the three queens find themselves set against each other. Katherine commands an army against Margaret and kills her husband James IV of Scotland. But Margarets boy becomes heir to the Tudor throne when Katherine loses her son. Mary steals the widowed Margarets proposed husband, but when Mary is widowed it is her secret marriage for love that is the envy of the others. As they experience betrayals, dangers, loss, and passion, the three sisters find that the only constant in their perilous lives is their special bond, more powerful than any man, even a king.
';There is only one bond that I trust: between a woman and her sisters.We never take our eyes off each other.In love and in rivalry, we always think of each other.' When Katherine of Aragon is brought to the Tudor court as a young bride, the oldest princess, Margaret, takes her measure. With one look, each knows the other for a rival, an ally, a pawn, destined with Margaret's younger sister Mary to a sisterhood unique in all the world. The three sisters will become the queens of England, Scotland and France. United by family loyalties and affections, the three queens find themselves set against each other. Katherine commands an army against Margaret and kills her husband James IV of Scotland. But Margaret's boy becomes heir to the Tudor throne when Katherine loses her son. Mary steals the widowed Margaret's proposed husband, but when Mary is widowed it is her secret marriage for love that is the envy of the others. As they experience betrayals, dangers, loss and passion, the three sisters find that the only constant in their perilous lives is their special bond, more powerful than any man, even a king.
