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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.
*A stunning brand new unabridged recording* A splendid and sumptuous historical novel from the internationally bestselling author, Philippa Gregory, telling of the early life of Katherine of Aragon. As a little girl Katherine of Aragon was betrothed to Arthur, Prince of Wales, the eldest son of Henry VII of England, and was raised in the palace of the Alhambra, knowing that she would be queen of England. In 1501, the teenage Spanish princess arrives in her new kingdom, but the future is turned upside down with the death of her handsome young husband - only six months after the wedding. Transformed from beloved bride to superfluous widow, Katherine endures hardship and loneliness as the Tudor court slowly squeezes her out of royal circles. But Katherine never forgets her promise to her young husband that she would be a good Queen of England; and Katherine is determined not to fail, even if it means the greatest lie in English royal history... With an exclusive afterword written and read by Philippa Gregory, exploring the inspiration behind The Constant Princess.
*A stunning brand new unabridged recording* The acclaimed international bestseller of the Tudor court, during the years of Henry VIII's pursuit of Anne Boleyn - and the revolutionary sequence of events that followed. 1521. Young Mary Boleyn arrives at court, maid in waiting and favourite to Queen Katherine of Aragon. Yet Mary catches the eye of the capricious king and - propelled by the ambitions of the powerful Boleyn family - she betrays her queen, and takes her place as Henry VIII's new mistress. But while Mary is in childbed, a rival comes to court - her sister Anne, a young woman ruthless in her drive to become queen. With her own destiny unknown, and the Boleyn enemies gathering, Mary must defy her family - and command her own fate. With an exclusive afterword written and read by Philippa Gregory, exploring the inspiration behind Mary's story.
*A stunning new unabridged recording* A sumptuous historical novel set in the court of Elizabeth I, from Sunday Times No.1 bestseller Philippa Gregory, the author of The Other Boleyn Girl. 1558. After years of waiting, Princess Elizabeth accedes to the throne of England. For many, Elizabeth's ascension is a glorious new dawn. Not so for Amy Dudley, whose ambitious husband, Sir Robert, is the acknowledged favourite of the new queen - a queen who must marry to secure her survival. But Robert Dudley has many powerful enemies. And although she is clearly besotted with him, the virgin queen will not risk her hold on the throne. Desire and ambition are unleashed at the court and at her home, Amy Dudley will face the ultimate betrayal. With an exclusive afterword written and read by Philippa Gregory, exploring the inspiration behind The Virgin's Lover.
*A stunning new unabridged recording* From the bestselling author of The Other Boleyn Girl, Philippa Gregory, comes a wonderfully atmospheric evocation of the court of Henry VIII and his final queens. 1539. Anne of Cleves wins the dangerous prize of becoming Henry VIII's fourth wife. From the start, Anne's royal blood, education and fierce intelligence count for nothing as the king pursues young Katherine Howard. Katherine is a pawn in the political manoeuvres of her ambitious family; unprepared for the dangers that await, she steps into their trap. At her side is kinswoman Jane Boleyn, who has served - and betrayed - one queen already: her sister-in-law Anne, who died on Henry's scaffold. Will Jane betray a second queen to the headsman? As the three women's fates entwine in the most volatile court in Europe, each must survive an increasingly tyrannical, murderous king. With an exclusive afterword written and read by Philippa Gregory, exploring the inspiration behind The Boleyn Inheritance.
*A stunning new unabridged recording.* A dramatic novel of passion, politics and betrayal from the No.1 bestselling author of The Other Boleyn Girl. 1568. Mary Queen of Scots, fleeing rebellion in her kingdom, is offered a safe haven by Elizabeth I with George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, and his indomitable wife, Bess of Hardwick. The arrival of an extravagant queen turns the household upside down, as it becomes clear that the visit is a house arrest. Queen Mary makes Bess' hard-won house a centre for unrest and treason, and - perhaps worst of all - Mary Queen of Scots' fabled beauty starts to work on the Tudor loyalist, Bess' own husband, George. The two women fight for their own rights: Mary to regain the crown and the kingdom of Scotland; Bess to win back her husband and houses. A third woman can decide: Elizabeth the First, and nobody knows how far she will go to protect her own safety. With an exclusive afterword written and read by Philippa Gregory, exploring the inspiration behind The Other Queen.
*A stunning new unabridged recording of one of Philippa Gregory's bestselling novels of the Tudor court - available on audio download* 1553. Hannah Green, the young daughter of a Jewish bookseller, is forced out of Spain by the Inquisition, and becomes an unlikely player at the fractious Tudor Court. Her gifts of foresight mean that she is given as a Holy Fool to the newly crowned Mary I. But as Mary's grip on the throne loosens, threatened by the ambitions of her sister, Elizabeth, Hannah is trapped in the deadly rivalry between the daughters of Henry VIII. As a secret Jew and unwitting spy in the struggle between a Catholic queen and a Protestant princess, Hannah must hide her own identity. And as a girl watching a passionate queen and her cold-hearted sister, Hannah must learn how to be a woman. With an exclusive afterword written and read by Philippa Gregory, exploring the inspiration behind Hannah Green's story.
Drei Schwestern. Drei Leben. Drei Wege zur Macht. JaneKnigin von England fr neun Tage, wird die junge Jane Grey von der Halbschwester des Knigs Mary in den Tower gesperrt und bezahlt fr die Machtgier ihres Vaters auf dem Schafott. KatherineLerne zu sterben, schreibt Jane an ihre lebensfreudige Schwester Katherine - der die unfruchtbare Knigin Mary und dann Knigin Elizabeth niemals zugestehen werden, einen Tudor-Sohn zu gebren. Als ihre Schwangerschaft entdeckt wird, steht sie nur noch wenige Schritte von Janes Los entfernt. MaryMissachtet zu Hofe, meidet die kleinwchsige Mary die misstrauischen Blicke der Knigin. Nach dem Schicksal ihrer Schwestern wird ihr nur allzu bewusst, in welcher Gefahr sie schwebt. Was wird geschehen, wenn die Letzte aus dem Geschlecht der Tudors der skrupellosen Knigin Elizabeth die Stirn bietet?Der letzte Teil der Tudor-Saga.
Slava iskusnogo sadovnika Dzhona Tradeskanta gremit po vsej Anglii semnadcatogo veka. No bescennym slugoj ego delayut ne masterstvo i bezuprechnyj vkus, a chestnost' i vernost' svoemu gospodinu. Buduchi doverennym licom sehra Roberta Sesila, sovetnika korolya YAkova I, Tradeskant stanovitsya svidetelem togo, kak delaetsya istoriya - ot Porohovogo zagovora do voskhozhdeniya na prestol korolya Karla I i vozrastayushchej vrazhdebnosti mezhdu parlamentom i dvorom. Vskore talanty sadovnika privlekayut vnimanie samogo mogushchestvennogo cheloveka v strane - gercoga Bekingema. On ne pohozh ni na kogo: ehpatazhnyj, besshabashnyj, beskonechno obayatel'nyj. Vse, chto predstavlyalo kogda-to cennost' dlya Tradeskanta - olicetvoreniya anglijskoj poryadochnosti i dobrodeteli, - merknet pered ego predannost'yu gercogu, za kotorym on gotov idti v ogon' i v vodu. Odnako iskrennyaya vera Dzhona v svoego hozyaina postepenno oborachivaetsya razocharovaniem, i zhestokie somneniya, terzayushchie ehtogo udivitel'nogo cheloveka - botanika, sobiratelya redkostej, sozdatelya nastoyashchih sadov EHdema, privodyat k neozhidannoj razvyazke. "e;Zemnye radosti"e; - pervaya kniga dilogii, posvyashchennoj sem'e Tradeskant.
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.”
Net pokoya golove, uvenchannoj koronoj, skazal SHekspir. Razve chto slozhit' golovu na plahe, i ehto ne bylo redkost'yu v zhestokom veke, kogda Angliej pravil Genrih VIII. Podobno zloj zvezde, on prityagival i gubil tekh, kto volej ili nevolej okazyvalsya v ego okruzhenii. Ne izbezhala strashnoj uchasti i koronovannaya izbrannica monarha Anna Bolejn. Kazniv ee, Genrih zhenitsya na Anne Klevskoj, chej portret kisti Gol'bejna ocharoval ego. Uvy, chayaniya korolya, mechtavshego o semejnom schast'e, snova ne sbylis', i popavshej v nemilost' molodoj koroleve prihoditsya byt' ochen' ostorozhnoj: pri dvore odno nevpopad skazannoe slovo mozhet stoit' zhizni... Mezh tem yunaya frejlina Ekaterina Govard napropaluyu koketnichaet s vsesil'nym monarhom, upivayas' soznaniem togo, chto ona prekrasna i vse muzhchiny na svete zhelayut ee. Ej nevdomek, chto krasota ee sluzhit razmennoj monetoj v rukah tekh, kto umelo vtiraetsya v doverie radi sobstvennoj vygody, kak ehto delaet intriganka Dzhejn Rochford. No ni izvorotlivyj um, ni zhenskie chary ne mogut protivostoyat' vole bezzhalostnogo i nepredskazuemogo korolya Anglii.
Osen'yu 1558 goda vse cerkovnye kolokola vozveshchayut o vosshestvii na anglijskij prestol Elizavety Tyudor - korolevy, dlya kotoroj dolg pered stranoj byl prevyshe vsego. Dlya blestyashchego politika sehra Roberta Dadli vocarenie Elizavety oznachalo to, chto on s pochestyami vozvratitsya ko dvoru. No, poluchiv pochti neogranichennuyu vlast', sehr Robert zavoeval i serdce molodoj korolevy. I teper' ego oburevaet mechta - zhenit'sya na nej i sest' ryadom s Elizavetoj na trone Tyudorov. Emu kazhetsya, chto dlya ehtogo nuzhno reshit'sya vsego lish' na odin shag: izbavit'sya ot lyubyashchej ego zheny... Filippa Gregori - odna iz samyh populyarnyh sovremennyh anglijskih pisatel'nic. Ee blistatel'nye istoricheskie romany ob anglijskih korolyah i korolevah perevedeny na mnogie yazyki, a roman "e;Eshche odna iz roda Bolejn"e; stal mirovym bestsellerom i uspeshno ehkranizirovan s Natali Portman i Skarlett Johansson v glavnyh rolyah.
Angliya. 1553 god. YUnyj korol' EHduard smertel'no bolen, i stranoj prakticheski pravit gercog Nortumberlendskij, zhelayushchij vozvesti na tron svoego starshego syna. CHetyrnadcatiletnyaya Hanna Grin i ee otec, bezhavshie ot inkvizicii Ispanii, pytayutsya naladit' svoyu zhizn' v Londone. Sluchajno devushka znakomitsya s krasivym i harizmatichnym Robertom Dadli, mladshim synom gercoga. Uznav, chto Hanna obladaet sposobnost'yu predvidet' budushchee, Robert ustraivaet ee shutihoj v svitu korolya i zastavlyaet shpionit' v pol'zu sem'i Dadli. Zatem Hanna igraet te zhe roli pri dvore korolevy Marii, a potom i princessy Elizavety. Pod ugrozoj obvineniya v eresi, izmene i koldovstve Hanna dolzhna vybirat' mezhdu bezopasnoj zhizn'yu prostogo cheloveka i opasnymi intrigami korolevskoj sem'i, kotorye nerazryvno svyazany s ee sobstvennymi stremleniyami i zhelaniyami.
V dvorcovyh intrigah i bor'be za vlast' net mesta miloserdiyu, iskrennej privyazannosti, uzam semejnoj lyubvi. Sestrinskaya nezhnost', kotoraya svyazyvala Annu i Mariyu Bolejn, prevrashchaetsya v nenavist', kogda oni stanovyatsya sopernicami v poedinke za blagosklonnost' korolya Genriha VIII. "e;...Odna sestrica Bolejn ili drugaya - kakaya raznica. Kazhdaya iz nas mozhet stat' korolevoj Anglii, a sem'ya... sem'ya nas ni v grosh ne stavit"e;, - s gorech'yu govorit Anna sestre. Nesmotrya na to, chto odna iz nih vzojdet na tron, obe oni tol'ko peshki v igrah sil'nyh mira sego. Prineset li pobeditel'nice schast'e lyubov' monarha, cheloveka stol' zhe mogushchestvennogo, skol' i zhestokogo, i kakova budet cena ehtoj pobedy?
`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
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.”
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.
Ramasa vaduva pentru a doua oara la doar treizeci de ani, Kateryn Parr este curtata de regele Henric al VIII-lea si trebuie sa-l accepte drept sot, caci cine ar refuza un suveran capricios, care are putere de viata si de moarte asupra intregii tari? Noua regina este nevoita sa isi invinga repulsia fata de acest barbat batran si bolnav, sa faca fata intrigilor de la curte si, in acelasi timp, sa lupte pentru impunerea religiei anglicane. Odata cu trecerea timpului, Kateryn se dovedeste a fi mai puternica si mai inteligenta decat pare, iar personalitatea ei il cucereste treptat pe Henric. Insa ea trebuie sa-si ascunda adevarata iubire, fata de lordul Thomas Seymour, caci descoperirea acestei taine le-ar aduce amandurora moartea.
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...
Die Autorin von The White Queen schreibt fur junge LeserItalien, 1453: Alles deutet auf das bevorstehende Ende der Welt hin. Geruchte uber schwarze Magie, Werwolfe und andere mysteriose Erscheinungen ranken sich quer durch das Land. Im Auftrag eines geheimen Ordens macht sich der junge Novize Luca auf, diese ratselhaften Vorkommnisse aufzuklaren. An seiner Seite: sein treuer Diener Freize, sein Schreiber Peter, die junge Furstin Isobel und ihre Begleiterin Ishraq. In der schillernden Handelsmetropole Venedig soll Luca die Herkunft geheimnisvoller Goldmunzen ergrunden. Doch ihr heiliger Auftrag bietet ihm und seinen Gefahrten keinerlei Schutz mehr. Venedig funktioniert nach ganz eigenen Gesetzen. Vor allem Isolde gerat in grote Gefahr - und ihre Gefuhle fur Luca werden immer intensiver. Doch die Machte, denen sie sich stellen mussen, scheinen nicht von dieser Welt zu sein ...Der Abschluss der spannenden Trilogie: Bestsellerautorin Philippa Gregory at her best!
Curtea regelui Henric al VII-lea al Angliei este un loc dur, primejdios si nimeni nu stie asta mai bine decat Margaret Pole, tanara mostenitoare a Plantagenetilor. Fratele ei a fost intemnitat si executat din porunca monarhului, iar ea s-a casatorit, impotriva vointei sale, cu un nobil modest, sustinator al Tudorilor. Margaret pare sortita sa ramana in umbra pentru tot restul vietii, dar intamplarea o aduce la rangul de protectoare si apoi doamna de companie a reginei Caterina de Aragon, prima sotie a legendarului Henric al VIII-lea. Din aceasta ipostaza, Margaret trebuie sa infrunte o tripla provocare: sa-si apere regina, careia ii este loiala, sa-si protejeze interesele si familia la curtea Angliei si sa se fereasca de suspiciunea crescanda a unui rege vanitos. Mai mult decat orice, Henric isi doreste cu disperare un mostenitor, pe care Caterina pare incapabila sa i-l ofere. Cu cat deznadejdea lui creste, cu atat dusmania i se indreapta mai mult impotriva lui Margaret, de al carei nume ilustru Henric se simte amenintat.
Einst trug sie ihren Namen mit Stolz. Doch nun meidet Margaret Plantagenet aus dem Hause York jeden Hinweis auf ihre Herkunft - ihr Leben ware sonst nicht sicher. Denn durch Verrat auf dem Schlachtfeld haben die Tudors die englische Krone an sich gerissen und furchten alles, das an die rechtmaige Thronfolge unter den Yorks erinnert. Im Haus ihres Gemahls wird Margaret zur Vertrauten der spanischen Prinzessin Katharina von Aragn. Als diese Tudor-Knig Henry VIII. heiratet, wird Margaret von ihr zur ersten Hofdame ernannt. Ungeduldig wartet Henry auf einen Erben. Aber ein Sohn nach dem anderen stirbt. Sind all seine Nachkommen verflucht? Henrys Gromtigkeit schlgt in Misstrauen um. Auch Margaret muss pltzlich seinen Zorn frchten. Der geliebte Herrscher wird zum Tyrann, ganz England leidet unter seiner Willkr Eine packende und detaillierte Chronik. Wrmstens empfohlen!"e; (Library Journal)"e;Mit ihrem umfassenden Wissen erweckt die Historikerin diese berhmte Geschichte zum Leben."e; (The Sun-News)"e;Ein erhellendes Portrt."e; (Publishers Weekly)"e;Eine exzellente Erweiterung des Genres. Nicht nur wegen der einzigartigen Perspektive auf die Ereignisse, sondern auch wegen der wunderbar dahinflieenden Erzhlung und der beeindruckend komplex dargestellten Charaktere."e; (Historical Novel Society)
Die Autorin von The White Queen schreibt fur junge LeserItalien, 1453: Alles deutet auf das bevorstehende Ende der Welt hin. Geruchte uber schwarze Magie, Werwolfe und andere mysteriose Erscheinungen ranken sich quer durch das Land. Im Auftrag eines geheimen Ordens macht sich der junge Novize Luca auf, diese ratselhaften Vorkommnisse aufzuklaren. An seiner Seite: sein treuer Diener Freize, sein Schreiber Peter, die junge Furstin Isobel und ihre Begleiterin Ishraq. Lucas Auftrag fuhrt die ungleichen Reisegefahrten in eine kleine Kustenstadt, die von Aberglauben zerfressen ist. Ein charismatischer Prediger will von hier aus einen Kinderkreuzzug ins Heilige Land fuhren, um den gefurchteten Aufstieg des Osmanischen Reichs zu verhindern. Wahrend er seinen Anhangern verspricht, das Meer werde sich vor ihnen teilen, ahnt niemand, welche Gefahr ihnen allen droht ...Die Fortsetzung der spannenden Trologie: Bestsellerautorin Philippa Gregory at her best!
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... From an author who has described all of Henry's queens comes a deeply intimate portrayal of the last: a woman who longed for passion, power and education at the court of a medieval killer.
By the #1 New York Times bestselling author behind the Starz original series The White Queen, a riveting new Tudor tale featuring King Henry VIIIs sixth wife Kateryn Parr, the first English queen to publish under her own name.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 wivesKing Henry VIIIcommands 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 Kateryns 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 Henrys dangerous gaze turns on her. The traditional churchmen and rivals for power accuse her of heresythe punishment is death by fire and the kings name is on the warrant From an author who has described all of Henrys queens comes a deeply intimate portrayal of the last: a woman who longed for passion, power, and education at the court of a medieval killer.
Die Autorin von The White Queen schreibt fur junge LeserItalien, 1453: Alles deutet auf das bevorstehende Ende der Welt hin. Geruchte uber schwarze Magie, Werwolfe und andere mysteriose Erscheinungen ranken sich quer durch das Land. Im Auftrag eines geheimen Ordens macht sich der junge Novize Luca auf, diese ratselhaften Vorkommnisse aufzuklaren. Sein erster Fall fuhrt ihn in ein Kloster, dessen Nonnen unter schrecklichen Visionen leiden und die Wundmale Christi zeigen. Angeklagt wird die hubsche Isobel - einzig Luca glaubt an ihre Unschuld. Doch kann er sie auch beweisen? Die Suche nach der Wahrheit fuhrt ihn tief in den Abgrund der dunkelsten Angste und Geheimnisse des Mittelalters.Der Auftakt zu einer spannenden Trilogie: Bestsellerautorin Philippa Gregory at her best!
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...
Orbirea zugraveste o lume stranie, o lume a nebuniei în care cu totii sufera de o forma oarecare de dementa, de la personajul central, savantul Kien, pâna la menajera si, ulterior, sotia sa, Therese, de la intendentul Pfaff la piticul cocosat Fischerle si chiar la psihiatrul Kien, fratele savantului. Toti sunt marcati de tare fizice, psihice si spirituale care le reduc existenta la o singura preocupare obsesiva, prin prisma careia înteleg lumea. Kien este carturarul închis în turnul de fildes al imensei sale biblioteci, intelectualul care nu întelege sa accepte vreo alta preocupare si care nu vrea sa jertfeasca nici o clipa daca nu are legatura cu cercetarile sale. El este „capul fara lume“, cu viata rânduita si planificata pâna la secunda, a carui obsesie este declansata de teama de orbire, care-i aminteste de Eratosthene si de arderea bibliotecii din Alexandria.
E cunoscuta drept sotia stearpa a unui rege puternic, dar în spatele acestei imagini se ascunde o poveste seducatoare. Katherine de Aragon este Infanta Spaniei, nascuta din stirpe de razboinici, din parinti cu sânge nobil. La nici patru ani ea e fagaduita unui Print de Wales, lui Arthur, si crescuta ca viitoare Regina a Angliei. Nu are nici o farâma de îndoiala ca soarta o va aduce la curtea unei tari de la capatul lumii, o tara rece si uitata de Dumnezeu. Arthur este înca un copil când se întâlnesc; obiceiurile noii ei lumi sunt aspre, mâncarea e ciudata, ca si oamenii, care o privesc cu raceala. Încet-încet îsi uita însa temerile, viata devine mai usoara; dar Arthur moare de timpuriu si Katherine e din nou în voia sortii. Visul ei de a conduce un regat se întuneca iar. Salvarea va veni însa de la Henric, rasfatatul si mai tânarul frate al lui Arthur, cu care Katherine se va casatori. Curtea regala se împotriveste, parintii îi sunt prea putin de ajutor. Katherine nu-si dezminte însa stirpea razboinica: va face orice sa-si împlineasca visul, va minti daca va fi nevoie si va muri mintind, dar va fi sotia viitorului Henric al VIII-lea si Regina Angliei.
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...
From the bestselling author of The Other Boleyn Girl and The White Princess comes 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...
Weie Rose, rote Rose - ein Kampf zwischen Liebe und VernunftHenry Tudor hat sich nach der siegreichen Schlacht von Bosworth 1485 zum Knig krnen lassen. Doch der neugewonnene Frieden ist fragil: Um die verfeindeten Huser York und Lancaster miteinander zu vereinen, heiratet er Elizabeth von York. Die Loyalitt der Knigin wird auf eine harte Probe gestellt, als ein junger Mann auftaucht und Anspruch auf den Thron erhebt. Elizabeth muss sich entscheiden, wem ihre Treue gilt: ihrem Gemahl, den sie langsam zu lieben lernt, oder dem Mann, der behauptet, ihr Bruder zu sein. "e;Philippa Gregory schreibt wirklich verdammt gut."e; (Brigitte)
The final novel in the Cousins War series, the basis for the critically acclaimed Starz miniseries The White Queen, by #1 New York Times bestselling author and the queen of royal fiction (USA Today) Philippa Gregory tells the fascinating story of Margaret Pole, cousin to the White Princess, Elizabeth of York, and lady-in-waiting to Katherine of Aragon.Regarded as yet another threat to the volatile King Henry VIIs claim to the throne, Margaret Pole, cousin to Elizabeth of York (known as the White Princess) and daughter of George, Duke of Clarence, is married off to a steady and kind Lancaster supporterSir Richard Pole. For his loyalty, Sir Richard is entrusted with the governorship of Wales, but Margarets contented daily life is changed forever with the arrival of Arthur, the young Prince of Wales, and his beautiful bride, Katherine of Aragon. Margaret soon becomes a trusted advisor and friend to the honeymooning couple, hiding her own royal connections in service to the Tudors. After the sudden death of Prince Arthur, Katherine leaves for London a widow, and fulfills her deathbed promise to her husband by marrying his brother, Henry VIII. Margarets world is turned upside down by the surprising summons to court, where she becomes the chief lady-in-waiting to Queen Katherine. But this charmed life of the wealthiest and holiest woman in England lasts only until the rise of Anne Boleyn, and the dramatic deterioration of the Tudor court. Margaret has to choose whether her allegiance is to the increasingly tyrannical king, or to her beloved queen; to the religion she loves or the theology which serves the new masters. Caught between the old world and the new, Margaret Pole has to find her own way as she carries the knowledge of an old curse on all the Tudors.
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.
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.
From the author of THE WHITE QUEEN and THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL, discover Philippa Gregory's sweeping and passionate epic, The Wideacre TrilogyWIDEACRE is Philippa Gregory's first novel, a tale of passion and intrigue set in the eighteenth century. Wideacre Hall, set in the heart of the English countryside, is the ancestral home that Beatrice Lacey loves. But as a woman of the eighteenth century she has no right of inheritance. Corrupted by a world that mistreats women, she sets out to corrupt others. No-one escapes the consequences of her need to possess the land...In THE FAVOURED CHILD, the Wideacre estate is bankrupt, the villagers are living in poverty and Wideacre Hall is a smoke-blackened ruin. But in the Dower House two children are being raised in protected innocence. Equal claimants to the inheritance of Wideacre, rivals for the love of the village, only one can be the favoured child. Only one can be Beatrice Lacey's true heir.MERIDON is a desolate Romany girl, determined to escape the hard poverty of her childhood. Riding bareback in a travelling show, while her sister Dandy risks her life on the trapeze, Meridon dedicates herself to freeing them both from danger and want. But Dandy, beautiful, impatient and thieving, grabs too much, too quickly. And Meridon finds herself alone, riding in bitter grief through the rich Sussex farmlands towards a house called Wideacre - which awaits the return of the last of the Laceys.
All that glitters may well be gold in the third book in the Order of Darkness quartet filled with intrigue, mystery, and romance, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Philippa Gregory.Tasked to expose a coin counterfeiting scheme, Luca and Isolde travel to Venice just in time for Carnival. Amid the masks, parties, and excitement, the romantic attraction between the two reaches a new intensity that neither can deny. Their romance is interrupted by the arrival of the alchemist, who may be the con artist theyve been looking for. But as Luca starts to investigate the original charge, the alchemist reveals his true goalhe plans to create the Philosophers Stone, a mystical substance said to be capable of turning base metals into gold and producing the elixir of life. With pounds of undocumented gold coins and an assistant who claims to be decades older than she appears, all evidence points to the possibility that the alchemist has succeeded in his task. But as Luca and Isolde get closer to the truth, they discover that reality may be more sinister than they ever could have imagined.
Slova imeyut ves. Slovo - kak kamen', broshennyj v prud: krugi idut po vode, i ne znaesh', kakogo berega oni dostignut. Kogda-to ona skazala odnomu yunoshe: "e;YA tebya lyublyu i budu lyubit' vechno"e;. No ehto byla lozh', i ona byla uverena, chto ej pridetsya derzhat' otvet pered Gospodom, no ne predpolagala, chto pridetsya derzhat' otvet pered lyud'mi. Katalina, doch' velikih ispanskih monarhov Ferdinanda Aragonskogo i Izabelly Kastil'skoj, vyrosla v tverdom ubezhdenii, chto obyazatel'no budet korolevoj Anglii, no put' k britanskoj korone okazalsya truden. I vse zhe ona stala Ekaterinoj Aragonskoj, suprugoj Genriha VIII. No kakovo ehto - byt' zhenoj vzdornogo i samonadeyannogo Genriha? Vse predydushchie knigi Filippy Gregori stali mirovymi bestsellerami, a ee roman "e;Eshche odna iz roda Bolejn"e; byl ehkranizirovan s uchastiem takih zvezd Gollivuda, kak Natali Portman, Skarlett Johansson i EHrik Bana, i stal mezhdunarodnoj kinosensaciej.
Geliebte Schwester. Erbitterte Rivalin. Der mchtige Herzog Richard Neville, Vater der jungen Schwestern Anne und Isabel, schumt vor Wut. Denn all seinen Einflsterungen zum Trotz hat der liebesblinde Knig Edward IV. weit unter seinem Stand geheiratet - die schne Elizabeth Woodville, eine skandalse Verbindung. Dabei verdankt Edward den Thron ihm allein, ihm, dem "e;Knigsmacher"e;. Heimlich vermhlt Neville seine Tchter mit den nchsten Thronanwrtern, intrigiert, blst zum Angriff auf das Knigshaus - und scheitert. Wie Spielblle katapultiert sein Machthunger die Schwestern als Thronanwrterinnen in die Hhe oder als Landesverrterinnen in den Abgrund. Mit aller Kraft versuchen Anne und Isabel, ihr Schicksal in die eigenen Hnde zu nehmen und den grten Wunsch ihres Vaters zu erfllen: die englische Krone fr einen Knig aus dem Hause Neville. "e;Dornenschwestern ist Philippa Gregory in Hchstform."e; (Associated Press)"e;Gregory ist der Superstar des historischen Romans, und Dornenschwestern zeigt, warum: Diese Autorin bietet ihren Lesern intelligente Unterhaltung und eine Reise in eine bewegte Vergangenheit."e; (Historical Novels Review)"e;Ihre vielen Fans werden die lebendigen Figuren, den ppigen und bewegenden Stil und die faszinierende Geschichte aus Frauenperspektive lieben."e; (Library Journal)"e;Intrigen und Kampf bis zum Tod um Macht und Liebe."e; (Los Angeles Times)"e;Groartige Unterhaltung."e; (New York Daily News)
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.
From the bestselling author of THE WHITE QUEEN, now a hit BBC TV production - the last three novels of her Tudor Court series: THE QUEEN'S FOOL, THE VIRGIN'S LOVER and THE OTHER QUEENTHE QUEEN'S FOOL is a stunning novel set in the Tudor court, depicting the rivalry between Queen Mary and her half-sister Elizabeth, played out against a background of betrayal, conflict and passion. Elizabeth's bitter struggle to claim the throne she believes is hers by right, and the man she desires almost more than her crown, is watched by her 'fool': a girl who has been forced to leave her homeland of Spain, as a Jew fleeing the Inquisition. In these dangerous times, a woman must choose between ambition... and love.THE VIRGIN'S LOVER is a sumptuous historical novel set in the court of Elizabeth I, who has acceded to the throne of England, a position she has waited and schemed for all her life. She is surrounded by advisers, all convinced that a young woman cannot form political judgements. Elizabeth feels that she can rely on just one man: her oldest friend, Robert Dudley. As the pressure grows for Elizabeth to marry, her preference is clear, but he is unavailable. But what if the unthinkable were to happen... In a blend of passion, personalities and politics, this is a stunning novel of the Tudor court and a country divided.In the final book of the Tudor Court series, THE OTHER QUEEN is a dramatic novel of passion, politics and betrayal. Mary, Queen of Scots, is fighting to regain her kingdom whilst under the guard of Queen Elizabeth's trusted accomplice, Bess of Hardwick. Bess is a self-made woman, a shrewd survivor. She is newly married to her fourth and most distinguished husband, the Earl of Shrewsbury. But what marriage can withstand the charms of Mary? Or the threat of rebellion that she always carries?With her characteristic combination of superb storytelling and authentic historical background, Philippa Gregory brings to life this period of great change, in a riveting tale of betrayal, loyalty, politics and passion.
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. Read by Sarah Feathers
From the bestselling author of The Other Boleyn Girl comes 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.
The newest novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author and queen of royal fiction (USA TODAY) Philippa Gregory tells the passionate story of Elizabeth of York, daughter of the White Queen, who gets caught in the middle of a battle for the crown of England. The White Princess opens as the news of the battle of Bosworth is brought to Princess Elizabeth of York, who will learn not only which rival royal house has triumphed, Tudor or York, but also which suitor she must marry: Richard III her lover, or Henry Tudor her enemy. A princess from birth, Elizabeth fell in love with Richard III, though her mother made an arranged betrothal for her with the pretender to the throne: Henry Tudor. When Henry defeats Richard against all odds, Elizabeth has to marry the man who murdered her lover in battle, and create a new royal family with him and his ambitious mother: Margaret Beaufort, The Red Queen. But, while the new monarchy can win, it cannot, it seems, hold power in an England which remembers the House of York with love. The new kings greatest fear is that somewhere, outside England, a prince from the House of York is waiting to invade and re-claim the throne for the house of York. Fearing that none of his new allies can be trusted, Henry turns to his wife to advise him, all the time knowing that her loyalties must be divided. When the young man who would be king finally leads his army and invades England, it is for Elizabeth to decide whether she recognizes him as her brother and a claimant to the throne, or denies him in favor of the husband she is coming to love
A study of the women, Elizabeth Woodville, Jacquetta of Luxembourg and Margaret Beaufort, behind Philippa Gregory’s cycle of novels, The Cousins’ War. This is also a welcome examination of historical fiction, the role of women in history and the truth behind the novels. The very best historical fiction can lead the reader into an understanding of the period and lead to a quest for more information. Philippa Gregory’s powerful novels, are one such example, who were these women, what do we know about them and their times and how are their stories woven into fiction?Like for Like ReadingThe Lady of the Rivers, Philippa GregoryWinter King, Thomas Penn The Lovereading view... September 2011 Non-Fiction Book of the Month. If you love Philippa Gregory’s historical fiction you should not miss this fascinating companion volume that tells the extraordinary true stories behind the three heroines of her books; The White Queen, The Red Queen and 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!
From the bestselling author of THE WHITE QUEEN - the first three novels of her Tudor Court series: THE CONSTANT PRINCESS, THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL, THE BOLEYN INHERITANCETHE CONSTANT PRINCESS tells the story of Henry VIII's first wife, Katherine of Aragon, the Spanish princess raised to be Queen of England and first brought to England to marry Henry's older brother, Prince Arthur. But when her new husband dies, she must fight for her birthright - and in marrying the now heir to the throne, she must tell the greatest lie... and hold to it.THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL, made famous by the film adaptation, tells the story of the less notorious Boleyn sister, Mary, who catches the wandering eye of the young King Henry VIII. But when he tires of her, she sets out to school her sister, Anne, as a replacement - and before their story is over, the course of English history has been irrevocably changed. Politics and passion are inextricably bound together in this compelling drama.In THE BOLEYN INHERITANCE, the court of Henry VIII is increasingly fearful at the moods of the ageing sick king. With only a baby in the cradle for an heir, Henry must take another wife and the dangerous prize of the crown of England is won by Anne of Cleves. Anne, although fascinated by the glamour of her new surroundings, senses a trap closing around her. Katherine Howard is confident that she can follow in the steps of her cousin Anne Boleyn to dazzle her way to the throne but her kinswoman Jane Boleyn, haunted by the past, knows that Anne's path led to Tower Green and to an adulterer's death.
The second book in a YA quartet filled with intrigue, mystery, and romance, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Philippa Gregory.The year is 1453, and the end of the world is closer than ever.As Luca and Isolde continue their journey, their attraction grows with each passing day. Even as they try to remain focused on the mysteries theyve been ordered to investigate, the tension between them builds.Their budding, illicit relationship is put on hold when a boy, Johann, and his army of children arrive in town. Johann claims to have divine orders to lead the children across Europe to the Holy Land, and the townspeople readily accept his claims. Luca wants to believe, but his training tells him to question everything...but when Johanns prophecy begins to come true, Luca wonders if they have finally stumbled upon a real miracle.Yet even the greatest miracles have the potential for darknessand the chaos that follows Johann is unlike anything anyone could have imagined.
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.
Herrin der Flusse, Seherin des Schicksals, Mutter der weien KoniginSie sei so rein, dass sie ein Einhorn fangen knne, sagt man ber Jacquetta von Luxemburg. Ihrer Vermhlung mit dem mchtigen Duke of Bedford, dem engsten Berater Knig Henrys VI., sieht die junge Frau mit Furcht entgegen. Denn ihr Herz gehrt Bedfords Junker Richard Woodville. Als der ungeliebte Gemahl unerwartet stirbt, schlieen die beiden heimlich den Bund der Ehe - eine beispiellose berschreitung der Standesgrenzen. Dann nimmt der Knig die junge Maguerite d'Anjou zur Frau, und Jacquetta steigt zur engsten Vertrauten der neuen Knigin auf. Intrigen und Missgunst beherrschen bald das Leben zu Hofe. Doch mit unerschtterlicher Loyalitt kmpft Jacquetta fr das Herrscherpaar - und fr ihre Tochter Elizabeth, die sie fr etwas Hheres geboren sieht: die Krone des englischen Knigreichs und die weie Rose von York. "e;Perfekt recherchiert und grandios erzhlt."e; (The Times)"e;Philippa Gregory ist wahrlich die Meisterin des historischen Romans! Geschichte kann kaum unterhaltsamer, lebendiger oder bezaubernder erzhlt werden."e; (Sunday Express)"e;Niemand schreibt besser ber die Tudors als Philippa Gregory. Sie stellt alle ihre Nacheiferer in den Schatten."e; (Publishers Weekly)"e;Eine wrdige Ergnzung dieser faszinierenden Serie."e; (Library Journal)
I have lost my father in battle, my sister to Elizabeth Woodville's spy, my brother-in-law to Elizabeth Woodville's executioner, my nephew to her poisoner, and now my son to her curse...' The gripping and ultimately tragic story of Anne Neville and her sister Isabel, the daughters of the Earl of Warwick, the most powerful magnate in England through the Cousins' Wars. In the absence of a son and heir, he ruthlessly uses the two girls as pawns but they, in their own right, are thoughtful and powerful actors. Against the backdrop of the court of Edward IV and his beautiful queen, Elizabeth Woodville, Anne turns from a delightful child growing up in intimacy and friendship with the family of Richard Duke of York to become ever more fearful and desperate as her father's enemies turn against her, the net closes in and there is, in the end, simply nowhere she can turn, no one she can trust with her life.
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
In The Kingmakers Daughter, #1 New York Times bestselling author Philippa Gregory presents the riveting story of Anne Neville, her sister Isabel, and their ever-changing fortunes.The Kingmakers Daughter is the gripping and ultimately tragic story of the daughters of the man known as the Kingmaker, the most powerful magnate in England through the Cousins Wars. In the absence of a son and heir, he uses the two girls as pawns in his political games, but they grow up to be influential players in their own right. In this novel, her first sister story since The Other Boleyn Girl, Gregory explores the lives of two fascinating young women. At the court of Edward IV and his beautiful queen, Elizabeth Woodville, Anne grows from a delightful child brought up in intimacy and friendship with the family of Richard, Duke of Gloucester, to become ever more fearful and desperate when her father makes war on his former friends. Her will is tested when she is left widowed and fatherless, with her mother in sanctuary and her sister married to the enemy. Fortunes wheel turns again when Richard rescues Anne from her sisters house, with danger still following Anne, even as she eventually ascends to the throne as queen. Having lost those closest to her, she must protect herself and her precious only child, Prince Edward, from a court full of royal rivals.
Dark myths, medieval secrets, intrigue, and romance populate the pages of this first in a four-book teen series from the #1 bestselling author of The Other Boleyn Girl.The year is 1453 and all signs point to it being the end of the world. Accused of heresy and expelled from his monastery, handsome seventeen-year-old Luca Vero is recruited by a mysterious stranger to record the end of times across Europe. Commanded by sealed orders, Luca is sent to map the fears of Christendom and travel to the very frontier of good and evil.Seventeen-year-old Isolde, a Lady Abbess, is trapped in a nunnery to prevent her from claiming her rich inheritance. As the nuns in her care are driven mad by strange visions, walking in their sleep, and showing bleeding wounds, Luca is sent to investigate and driven to accuse her.Forced to face the greatest fears of the dark ageswitchcraft, werewolves, madnessLuca and Isolde embark on a search for truth, their own destinies, and even love as they take the unknown ways to the real historical figure who defends the boundaries of Christendom and holds the secrets of the Order of Darkness.
The first book in the thrilling YA sequence, Order of Darkness. The year is 1453, and all signs point to it being the end of the world. Accused of heresy and expelled from his monastery, handsome seventeen-year-old, Luca Vero, is recruited by a mysterious stranger to record the end of times across Europe. Commanded by sealed orders, Luca is sent to map the fears of Christendom, and travel to the very frontier of good and evil. Seventeen-year-old Isolde, a Lady Abbess, is trapped in a nunnery to prevent her claiming her rich inheritance. As the nuns in her care are driven mad by strange visions, walking in their sleep, and showing bleeding wounds, Luca is sent to investigate and all the evidence points to Isolde's criminal guilt. Outside in the yard they are building a pyre to burn her for witchcraft. Forced to face the greatest fears of the dark ages - black magic, werewolves, madness - Luca and Isolde embark on a search for truth, their own destinies, and even love as they take the unknown ways to the real historical figure who defends the boundaries of Christendom and holds the secrets of the Order of Darkness.
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.
The first book in the thrilling YA sequence, Order of Darkness. The year is 1453, and all signs point to it being the end of the world. Accused of heresy and expelled from his monastery, handsome seventeen-year-old, Luca Vero, is recruited by a mysterious stranger to record the end of times across Europe. Commanded by sealed orders, Luca is sent to map the fears of Christendom, and travel to the very frontier of good and evil. Seventeen-year-old Isolde, a Lady Abbess, is trapped in a nunnery to prevent her claiming her rich inheritance. As the nuns in her care are driven mad by strange visions, walking in their sleep, and showing bleeding wounds, Luca is sent to investigate and all the evidence points to Isolde's criminal guilt. Outside in the yard they are building a pyre to burn her for witchcraft. Forced to face the greatest fears of the medieval world - dark magic, werewolves, madness - Luca and Isolde embark on a search for truth, their own destinies, and even love as they take the unknown ways to the real historical figure who defends the boundaries of Christendom and holds the secrets of the Order of Darkness.
England, 1464: Die Adelshauser York und Lancaster kampfen erbittert um den Thron. Als Konig Edward, der Erbe der Weien Rose, der schonen jungen Witwe Elizabeth Woodville begegnet, ist es um beide geschehen. Doch Elizabeth weigert sich, Edwards Matresse zu werden. Da heiratet der Konig sie entgegen allen Standesschranken - ein ungeheurer Skandal!Und keine Frau im Knigreich hatte je so viele Feinde. Neid, Missgunst und Intrigen bringen Elizabeth und ihre Familie in grte Gefahr. Ihre Widersacher nennen sie eine Hure. Sie nennen sie eine Hexe. Doch Elizabeth wei: Sie ist die Knigin. "e;Philippa Gregory ist wahrlich die Meisterin des historischen Romans! Geschichte kann kaum unterhaltsamer, lebendiger oder bezaubernder erzhlt werden."e; (Sunday Express)"e;Die Knigin der Weien Rose"e; ist der erste Band ihrer Trilogie ber die Zeit der Rosenkriege. Mit diesem Buch gelang der Autorin in Grobritannien wie den USA auf Anhieb der Sprung an die Spitze der Bestsellerlisten. Die Folgebnde der Reihe werden ebenfalls im Rowohlt Verlag erscheinen. "e;Gekonnt erzhlt, mit Detailreichtum und Tempo. Gregorys Heerscharen von Fans werden begeistert sein."e; (Booklist)
Blutrot bluht die Rose von Lancaster. Mit kaum zwlf Jahren wird Margaret Beaufort aus dem Hause Lancaster 1455 mit Edmund Tudor verheiratet. Die Familie wartet ungeduldig auf einen Thronfolger. Tatschlich bekommt Margaret, selbst noch ein Kind, einen Sohn: Henry. Als mit dem Rosenkrieg ein tdlicher Kampf um die Krone entbrennt, gilt Margarets ganzes Streben einem einzigen Ziel: Ihr Sohn soll Knig von England werden. Denn in einem ist Margaret sich sicher: Gott steht auf ihrer Seite. "e;Niemand schreibt besser ber die Tudors als Philippa Gregory. Sie stellt alle ihre Nacheiferer in den Schatten."e; (Publishers Weekly)"e;Gregory ist ohne Frage auf der Hhe ihres Knnens."e; (The Huffington Post)"e;Gregorys lebendige, souverne Erzhlweise macht diese Figur zu einer wrdigen Heldin ihrer Zeit."e; (Booklist)"e;Ein von Beginn an spannender und mitreiender historischer Roman dramatisch und ergreifend."e; (histo-couch.de ber "e;Die Knigin der Weien Rose"e;)
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
Jacquetta, daughter of the Count of Luxembourg and kinswoman to half the royalty of Europe, was married to the great Englishman John, Duke of Bedford, uncle to Henry VI. Widowed at the age of nineteen she took the extraordinary risk of marrying a gentleman of her household for love, and then carved out a life for herself as Queen Margaret of Anjou's close friend and a Lancaster supporter - until the day that her daughter Elizabeth Woodville fell in love and married the rival king Edward IV. Of all the little-known but important women of the period, her dramatic story is the most neglected. With her links to Melusina, and to the founder of the house of Luxembourg, together with her reputation for making magic, she is the most haunting of heroines.
The Red Queen In a novel of conspiracy, passion, and coldhearted ambition, number one bestselling author Philippa Gregory has brought to life the story of a proud and determined woman who believes that she alone is destined, by her piety and lineage, to shape the course of history. In The Red Queen, Gregory illuminates the fascinating woman who founded Englands most powerful ruling line, the Tudors: Margaret Beaufort. The White QueenElizabeth Woodville, a woman of extraordinary beauty and ambition, secretly marries the newly crowned boy king of England. While she rises to the demands of her exalted position and fights for the success of her family, her two sons become the central figures in a famous unsolved mystery that has confounded historians for centuries: the lost princes in the Tower of London. Philippa Gregory brings the artistry and intellect of a master writer and storyteller to a new era in history and begins what is sure to be another bestselling classic series. The Lady of the RiversThe Lady of the Rivers is #1 New York Times bestselling author Philippa Gregorys remarkable story of Jacquetta, Duchess of Bedford, a woman who navigated a treacherous path through the battle lines in the Wars of the Roses.
The six-book bosed set of the bestselling Tudor Court novels by Philippa Gregory, #1 New York Times bestselling author and "e;the queen of royal fiction"e; (USA TODAY): The Constant Princess, The Other Boleyn Girl, The Boleyn Inheritance, The Queen's Fool, The Virgin's Lover, and The Other Queen.
#1 New York Times bestselling author Philippa Gregory weaves witchcraft, passion, and adventure into the story of Jacquetta, Duchess of Bedford, a woman who navigated a treacherous path through the battle lines in the War of the Roses. Descended from Melusina, the river goddess, Jacquetta has always had the gift of second sight. As a child visiting her uncle, she meets his prisoner, Joan of Arc, and recognizes her own power in the young woman accused of witchcraft. They share the mystery of the tarot card of the wheel of fortune before Joan is taken to a horrific death at the hands of the English rulers of France. Jacquetta understands the danger for a woman who dares to dream. Married to the Duke of Bedford, English Regent of France, Jacquetta is introduced by him to a mysterious world of learning and alchemy. Her only friend in the great household is the Dukes squire Richard Woodville, who is at her side when the Dukes death leaves her a wealthy young widow. The two become lovers and marry in secret, returning to England to serve at the court of the young King Henry VI, where Jacquetta becomes a close and loyal friend to his new queen.A sweeping, powerful story based on history and rich in passion and legend, The Lady of the Rivers tells the story of the real-life mother to the White Queen. Philippa Gregory is writing at the height of her talent.
Jacquetta, daughter of the Count of Luxembourg and kinswoman to half the royalty of Europe, was married to the great Englishman John, Duke of Bedford, uncle to Henry VI. Widowed at the age of nineteen she took the extraordinary risk of marrying a gentleman of her household for love, and then carved out a life for herself as Queen Margaret of Anjou's close friend and a Lancaster supporter - until the day that her daughter Elizabeth Woodville fell in love and married the rival king Edward IV. Of all the little-known but important women of the period, her dramatic story is the most neglected. With her links to Melusina, and to the founder of the house of Luxembourg, together with her reputation for making magic, she is the most haunting of heroines.
A Simon & Schuster audiobook. Simon & Schuster has a great book for every listener.
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
When Mary Boleyn comes to court as an innocent girl of fourteen, she catches the eye of Henry VIII. Dazzled by the king, Mary falls in love with both the golden prince and her growing role as an unofficial queen. However, she soon realizes just how much she is a pawn in her family's ambitious plots when the king's interest begins to wane and she is forced to step aside for her best friend and rival: her powerfully ambitious sister, Anne Boleyn. As Mary watches Anne manipulate her rise to the throne, Mary knows that she must defy her family and her king and take her fate into her own hands. A rich and compelling tale of love, ambition, lust, and intrigue, The Other Boleyn Girl introduces a woman of extraordinary determination and desire who lived at the very center of the most exciting and glamorous court in Europe and survived by following her own heart.
Daughter of Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain, Katherine of Aragon has been fated her whole life to marry Prince Arthur of England. The match becomes as passionate as it is politically expedient. But tragically, Arthur falls ill and extracts from his young bride a death bed promise to marry his brother Henry, become Queen, and fulfill their dreams and her destiny. Widowed and alone in the avaricious world of the Tudor court, Katherine has to sidestep her father-in-law's desire for her and convince him, and an incredulous Europe, that her marriage to Arthur was never consummated, that there is no obstacle to marriage with Henry. For seven years she endures the treachery of spies, the humiliation of poverty, and intense loneliness and despair while she waits for the inevitable moment when she will step into the role she has prepared for all her life.
A Simon & Schuster audiobook. Simon & Schuster has a great book for every listener.
New York Times bestselling author Philippa Gregory brings to life one of historys most misunderstood heroines in a vivid tale of love, ambition, and jealousynow from Encore. A heroine everyone recognizes but few truly know, Mary Queen of Scots is remembered mostly for her death on the scaffold than for her turbulent, romantic life. In The Other Queen, Philippa Gregory resurrects Mary and her world by way of a chapter from her life that is all but forgotten: Marys long imprisonment as a guest of the Earl of Shrewsbury and his wife, Bess of Hardwick. With the earl and his wife, whose fortune and marriage are jeopardized by the extraordinary woman under their charge, Gregory has found the perfect means for understanding Mary herself, a queen who will lie, seduce, plot, and sacrifice the lives of thousands in her quest to regain her Scots throneand to take over Queen Elizabeths.
In the autumn of 1558, church bells across England ring out the joyous news that Elizabeth I is the new queen. Elizabeth's excited triumph is short-lived. She has inherited a bankrupt country where treason is rampant and foreign war a certainty. Her only chance for survival is to marry, but the one man Elizabeth desires is her childhood friend, the ambitious -- and married -- Robert Dudley. As the young couple falls in love, a question hangs in the air: can he really set aside his wife and marry the queen? Intelligent, romantic, and compelling, The Virgin's Lover is the story of a young woman on the brink of greatness.
A contemporary psychological thriller in the style of Ruth Rendell, from one of today's most versatile and compelling storytellers. It was easy for Elizabeth. She married the man she loved, bore him two children and made a home for him which was the envy of their friends. It was harder for Ruth. She married Elizabeth's son and then found that, somehow, she could never quite measure up... Isolation, deceit and betrayal fill the gaps between the two individual women and between their different worlds. In this complex thriller, Philippa Gregory deploys all her insight into what women want and what women fear, as Ruth confronts the shifting borders of her own sanity. Laying bare the comfortable conventions of rural England, this spine-tingling novel pulses with suspense until the whiplash double-twist of the denouement.
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 Queentells 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 under the guise of loyal friend and servant, undermine the support for Richard III and ultimately ensure that her only son, Henry Tudor, triumphs as King of England. Through collaboration with the dowager Queen Elizabeth Woodville, Margaret agrees a betrothal between Henry and Elizabeth's daughter, thereby uniting the families and resolving the Cousins War once and for all by founding of the Tudor dynasty.
The second book in The Cousins War series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Philippa Gregory, The Red Queen moves to the Lancaster side, in a story of a determined woman who believes she is destined to shape the course of history. Believing that her piety and lineage has destined her for greatness beyond her ordinary looks and expedient marriage, Margaret Beaufort is determined to see her son Henry on the throne of Englandregardless of the cost. And after constant battles kill any other claimants, the little boy is the last Lancaster male to bear a claim to the throne.Sending her son out of the country to keep him safe and betrothing him to her enemy Queen Elizabeth Woodvilles daughter, Margaret feigns loyalty to King Richard III and marries one of his faithful supportersall while laying secret plans for the battle between the houses of York and Lancaster that will see her son the King of England.When King Richards only son dies, Margaret launches her plan with a deadly command that strikes to the heart of the White Queen. Henry Tudor invades from France and with the support of Margarets husband, defeats the Kings army, gaining the throne and sealing his marriage to the White Rose princess. The ultimate triumph belongs to Lady Margaret; she has founded the greatest dynasty that England will ever know: the Tudors.
The second book in The Cousins War series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Philippa Gregory, The Red Queen moves to the Lancaster side, in a story of a determined woman who believes she is destined to shape the course of history. Believing that her piety and lineage has destined her for greatness beyond her ordinary looks and expedient marriage, Margaret Beaufort is determined to see her son Henry on the throne of Englandregardless of the cost. And after constant battles kill any other claimants, the little boy is the last Lancaster male to bear a claim to the throne.Sending her son out of the country to keep him safe and betrothing him to her enemy Queen Elizabeth Woodvilles daughter, Margaret feigns loyalty to King Richard III and marries one of his faithful supportersall while laying secret plans for the battle between the houses of York and Lancaster that will see her son the King of England.When King Richards only son dies, Margaret launches her plan with a deadly command that strikes to the heart of the White Queen. Henry Tudor invades from France and with the support of Margarets husband, defeats the Kings army, gaining the throne and sealing his marriage to the White Rose princess. The ultimate triumph belongs to Lady Margaret; she has founded the greatest dynasty that England will ever know: the Tudors.
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
Philippa Gregory, "e;the queen of royal fiction"e; (USA Today) Presents the first of a new series set amid the deadly feuds of England known as the Wars of the Roses. Brother turns on brother to win the ultimate prize, the throne of England, in this dazzling account of the wars of the Plantagenets. They are the claimants and kings who ruled England before the Tudors, and now Philippa Gregory brings them to life through the dramatic and intimate stories of the secret players: the indomitable women, starting with Elizabeth Woodville, the White Queen. The White Queen tells the story of a woman of extraordinary beauty and ambition who, catching the eye of the newly crowned boy king, marries him in secret and ascends to royalty. While Elizabeth rises to the demands of her exalted position and fights for the success of her family, her two sons become central figures in a mystery that has confounded historians for centuries: the missing princes in the Tower of London whose fate is still unknown. From her uniquely qualified perspective, Philippa Gregory explores this most famous unsolved mystery of English history, informed by impeccable research and framed by her inimitable storytelling skills. With The White Queen, Philippa Gregory brings the artistry and intellect of a master writer and storyteller to a new era in history and begins what is sure to be another bestselling classic series from this beloved author. Compact Disk Includes a Bonus MP3 CD of Philippa Gregory's The Virgin's Lover
Internationally bestselling author Philippa Gregory brings the tumult and intrigue of The Wars of the Roses to vivid life through the women of the House of Lancaster and the House of York, beginning with the story of Elizabeth Woodville, the White Queen. A woman who won the love of a king and ascended to royalty by virtue of her beauty, Elizabeth fought tenaciously for the success of her family -- her daughter who would one day unite the warring dynasties, and her two sons whose eventual fate has confounded historians for centuries: the Princes in the Tower. An active player in the power struggles that surrounded her, she made hard and courageous choices, always trying to protect those whom she loved. Informed by impeccable research and framed by her inimitable storytelling skills, Philippa Gregory gives an unforgettable voice to an extraordinary woman at the heart of a devastating conflict.
Social mores come under bestselling author Philippa Gregory's acute scrutiny in this reissue of a long-unavailable novel of betrayal, revenge and liberation... Alice Hartley can no longer arouse the interest of her pompous husband, the adulterous professor. Despite her efforts, she still leaves him cold. Just as she is compelled to face this chilling truth, she meets Michael, a young student with an excessive libido. In Michael, Alice discovers an endless supply of all she has sought: revenge, sex and a large house suitable for conversion. Soon the house is thigh-deep with women joyfully casting off the shacles of their oppression. Sadly, some narrow-minded neigbours and numerous forces of the law seem completely impervious to all those healing vibrations...
Two women competing for a man's heart Two queens fighting to the death for dominance The untold story of Mary Queen of Scots New York Times bestselling author Philippa Gregory presents a new and unique view of one of history's most intriguing, romantic, and maddening heroines. Biographers often neglect the captive years of Mary Queen of Scots, who trusted Queen Elizabeth's promise of sanctuary when she fled from rebels in Scotland and then found herself imprisoned as the "e;guest"e; of George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury and his indomitable wife, Bess of Hardwick. The newly married couple welcome the doomed queen into their home, certain that serving as her hosts and jailors will bring them an advantage in the cutthroat world of the Elizabethan court. To their horror, they find that the task will bankrupt them, and as their home becomes the epicenter of intrigue and rebellion against Elizabeth, their loyalty to each other and to their sovereign comes into question. If Mary succeeded in seducing the Earl, or if the great spy master William Cecil linked them to the growing conspiracy to free Mary from her illegal imprisonment, they will all face the headsman. Heralded as "e;the queen of royal fiction"e; by USA Today, Philippa Gregory uses new research and her passion for historical accuracy to place a well-known heroine in a completely new story full of suspense, passion, and political intrigue. The Other Queen is the result of her determination to present a story worthy of this extraordinary heroine.
A dramatic novel of passion, politics and betrayal from the author of The Other Boleyn Girl, Philippa Gregory. Mary, Queen of Scots, fights to regain her kingdom whilst under the guard of Queen Elizabeth's trusted accomplice, Bess of Hardwick.Mary is Queen of Scotland but she has been forced to flee her land and take refuge in an England that is ruled by her cousin Elizabeth. But England, precarious in its Protestant state, set against the mighty powers of Spain, France and Rome, doesn't need a charismatic Catholic figurehead at large. So Elizabeth's chief advisor, Cecil, devises a plan in which Mary will live under guard with his trusted accomplice: Bess of Hardwick.Bess is a self-made woman, a shrewd survivor. She is newly married to her fourth and most distinguished husband, the Earl of Shrewsbury. But what marriage can withstand the charms of Mary? Or the threat of rebellion that she always carries? Mary must wait in her privileged imprisonment for the return to Scotland and her infant son; but waiting is not the same as doing nothing...With her characteristic combination of superb storytelling and authentic historical background, Philippa Gregory brings to life this period of great change, in a riveting tale of betrayal, loyalty, politics and passion.
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.
THE MILLION-COPY BESTSELLER...NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE Two sisters competing for the greatest prize: the love of a king. A rich and compelling novel of love, sex, ambition, and intrigue, The Other Boleyn Girl introduces a woman of extraordinary determination and desire who lived at the heart of the most exciting and glamorous court in Europe and survived by following her heart. When Mary Boleyn comes to court as an innocent girl of fourteen, she catches the eye of Henry VIII. Dazzled, Mary falls in love with both her golden prince and her growing role as unofficial queen. However, she soon realizes just how much she is a pawn in her family's ambitious plots as the king's interest begins to wane and she is forced to step aside for her best friend and rival: her sister, Anne. Then Mary knows that she must defy her family and her king and take her fate into her own hands.
A stunning novel set in the Tudor court, as the rivalry between Queen Mary and her half-sister Elizabeth is played out against a background of betrayal, conflict and passion.The savage rivalry of the daughters of Henry VIII, Mary Tudor and Elizabeth, mirrors that of their mothers, Katherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn. Each will fight by any available means for the crown and future of the kingdom.Elizabeth's bitter struggle to claim the throne she believes is hers by right, and the man she desires almost more than her crown, is watched by her 'fool': a girl who has been forced to leave her homeland of Spain, as a Jew fleeing the Inquisition. In a court where truth is wittily denied and lies are mere games, it is the fool who can speak plainly: in these dangerous times, a woman must choose between ambition and love. Elizabeth will not make the same mistakes as her mother.
The devastating consequences of the slave trade in 18th century are explored through the powerful but impossible attraction of well-born Frances and her slave, Mehuru. From the bestselling author of The Other Boleyn Girl.Bristol in 1787 is booming, from its stinking docks to its elegant new houses. Josiah Cole, a small dockside trader, is prepared to gamble everything to join the big players of the city. But he needs ready cash and a well-connected wife.An arranged marriage to Frances Scott is a mutually convenient solution. Trading her social contacts for Josiah's protection, Frances enters the world of the Bristol merchants and finds her life and fortune dependent on the respectable trade of sugar, rum and slaves.Once again Philippa Gregory brings her unique combination of a vivid sense of history and inimitable storytelling skills to illuminate a complex period of our past. 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.
Splendid and sumptuous historical novel from the internationally bestselling author, Philippa Gregory, telling of the early life of Katherine of Aragon. We think of her as the barren wife of a notorious king; but behind this legacy lies a fascinating story.Katherine of Aragon is born Catalina, the Spanish Infanta, to parents who are both rulers and warriors. Aged four, she is betrothed to Arthur, Prince of Wales, and is raised to be Queen of England. She is never in doubt that it is her destiny to rule that far-off, wet, cold land.Her faith is tested when her prospective father-in-law greets her arrival in her new country with a great insult; Arthur seems little better than a boy; the food is strange and the customs coarse. Slowly she adapts to the first Tudor court, and life as Arthur's wife grows ever more bearable. But when the studious young man dies, she is left to make her own future: how can she now be queen, and found a dynasty? Only by marrying Arthur's young brother, the sunny but spoilt Henry. His father and grandmother are against it; her powerful parents prove little use. Yet Katherine is her mother's daughter and her fighting spirit is strong. She will do anything to achieve her aim; even if it means telling the greatest lie, and holding to it.Philippa Gregory proves yet again that behind the apparently familiar face of history lies an astonishing story: of women warriors influencing the future of Europe, of revered heroes making deep mistakes, and of an untold love story which changes the fate of a nation.
From the bestselling author of 'The Other Boleyn Girl', Philippa Gregory, comes a wonderfully atmospheric evocation of the court of Henry VIII and his final queens.The Last Boleyn is Jane, Lady Rochford - widow of the disgraced George Boleyn. Caught in the intrigues of the Tudor court, she manoeuvres for personal position as her family in turn tries to manipulate her.The king has married again; his bride is the deceptively astute Anne of Cleves. Her wits are tested as she senses a trap closing around her, with the Howards ready to take advantage of her fall. Central to their plot is the pretty, flirtatious Catherine, ready to take the place once held by her cousin Anne Boleyn.Jane briefly believes that she will escape the fate of all who attempt to betray the royal trust but she reckons without Henry's growing maliciousness. Her fate is sealed; she will be the last Boleyn.Philippa Gregory is the acknowledged queen of historical fiction and this novel again displays her trademark blend of passion and politics, authenticity and tremendously gripping storytelling.
Fabulous historical by Philippa Gregory, the queen of Tudor novels. Set in the court of King Henry VIII, Mary Boleyn attracts the attention of the young king and becomes his mistress; when he tires of her, she sets out to school her sister, Anne, as a replacement.When Henry VIII tires of pretty young Mary Boleyn, her powerful family instructs her to promote her sister, Anne, as a replacement. But Anne Boleyn, newly returned from the French court, intelligent and spirited, doesn't agree to be Henry's mistress - only his wife. PItting the king's desperation for an heir against his powerful advisors - Wolsey, Cromwell and Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk - what Anne brings about will change the course of a country's history.Told with all of Philippa Gregory's characteristic perceptiveness, backed by meticulous historical research and superb storytelling skills, The Other Boleyn Girl brings a legendary court, its politics, personalities and scheming vividly to life.
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.
Sumptuous historical novel set in the court of Elizabeth I. By Philippa Gregory, the bestselling author of THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL and THE QUEEN'S FOOL.Elizabeth I has acceded to the throne of England, a position she has waited and schemed for all her life. She is surrounded by advisers, all convinced that a young woman cannot form political judgements. Elizabeth feels that she can rely on just one man: her oldest friend, Robert Dudley. It is soon plain that he is more than merely a friend.In a house in the countryside waits a very different woman, Amy Robsart - Robert's wife. She has no taste for life at court and longs for the day when her husband will return home. She has loved him since she was a girl, but now they are adults she hardly sees him.Meanwhile, the pressure grows for Elizabeth to marry, for it is unthinkable that a queen should rule on her own. Elizabeth's preference is clear, but he is unavailable. But what if the unthinkable were to happen...Philippa Gregory blends passion, personalities and politics in this stunning novel of the Tudor court and a country divided.
Three women share one fate: the Boleyn Inheritance From the bestselling author of The Other Boleyn Girl comes a novel about three women whose positions brought them wealth, power, deceit, and terror in England after the death of Anne Boleyn. Anne of Cleves must literally save her neck in a court ruled by a deadly game of politics and the terror of an unpredictable and vengeful king. Her Boleyn Inheritance: accusations and false witnesses. Katherine Howard catches the king's eye within moments of arriving at court, setting in motion a dreadful machine of politics, intrigue, and treason that she does not understand. Her Boleyn Inheritance: the threat of the axe. Jane Rochford's name is a byword for malice, jealousy and twisted lust throughout Europe. Her Boleyn Inheritance: a fortune and a title in exchange for her soul. The Boleyn Inheritance is Gregory at her spellbinding best.
The second novel in the bestselling Wideacre Trilogy, a compulsive drama set in the eighteenth century. By Philippa Gregory, the author of The Other Boleyn Girl and The Virgin's Lover. The Wideacre estate is bankrupt, the villagers are living in poverty and Wideacre Hall is a smoke-blackened ruin. But in the Dower House two children are being raised in protected innocence. Equal claimants to the inheritance of Wideacre, rivals for the love of the village, they are tied by a secret childhood betrothal but forbidden to marry. Only one can be the favoured child. Only one can inherit the magical understanding between the land and the Lacey family that can make the Sussex village grow green again. Only one can be Beatrice Lacey's true heir. Sweeping, passionate, unique: 'The Favoured Child' is the second novel in Philippa Gregory's bestselling trilogy which began with 'Wideacre' and concluded with 'Meridon'.
Philippa Gregory's first novel and first in the bestselling Wideacre trilogy. A compelling tale of passion and intrigue set in the eighteenth century. From the author of The Other Boleyn Girl and The Virgin's Lover. `If it was the way of the world that girls left home, then the world would have to change. I would never change.' Wideacre Hall, set in the heart of the English countryside, is the ancestral home that Beatrice Lacey loves. But as a woman of the eighteenth century she has no right of inheritance. Corrupted by a world that mistreats women, she sets out to corrupt others. Sexual and wilful, she believes that the only way to achieve control over Wideacre is through a series of horrible crimes, and no-one escapes the consequences of her need to possess the land. Sweeping, passionate, unique: 'Wideacre' is the novel which brought Philippa Gregory to bestselling fame and is the first of the trilogy which continued with 'The Favoured Child' and concluded with `Meridon'.
Terrific novel set in the Roaring Twenties, reissued to accompany Philippa Gregory's new bestselling novel, The Other Boleyn Girl Lily Valance wants to forget the war. She's determined to enjoy the world of the 1920s, with its music, singing, laughter and pleasure. When she meets Captain Stephen Winters, a decorated hero back from the Front, she's drawn to his wealth and status. In Lily he sees his salvation - from the past, from the nightmare, from the guilt at surviving the Flanders plains where so many were lost. But it's a dream that cannot last. Lily has no intention of leaving her singing career. The hidden tensions of the respectable facade of the Winters household come to a head. Stephen's nightmares merge ever closer with reality and the truth of what took place in the mud and darkness brings him and all who loves him to a terrible reckoning...
Sweeping historical novel from Philippa Gregory the author of The Other Boleyn Girl and The Virgin's Lover. Set in the 1600s and seen through the eyes of John Tradescant, gardener to the great men of the age. A traveller in a time of discovery, the greatest gardening pioneer of his day, yet a man of humble birth: John Tradescant's story is a mirror to the extraordinary age in which he lives. As gardener and confidante to Sir Robert Cecil, Tradescant is well placed to observe the social and political changes that are about to sweep through the kingdom. While his master conjures intrigues at Court, Tradescant designs for him the magnificent garden at Hatfield, scouring the known world for ever more wonderful plants: new varieties of fruit and flower, the first horse chestnuts to be cultivated in England, even larches from Russia. Moving to the household of the flamboyant Duke of Buckingham, Tradescant witnesses at first hand the growing division between Parliament and the people; and the most loyal of servants must find a way to become an independent squire.
Sequel to the outstanding historical novel Earthly Joys, and written by the bestselling Philippa Gregory, the author of The Other Boleyn Girl and The Virgin's Lover. John Tradescant the Younger has inherited his father's unique collection of plants along with his unerring ability to nurture them. But as gardener to Charles I, he confronts an unbearable dilemma when England descends into Civil War. Fleeing from the chaos, John travels to the Royalist colony of Virginia in America. But the virgin land is not uninhabited. John's plant hunting brings him to live with the native people, and he learns to love and respect their way of life just as it is threatened by the colonial settlers. In the new world and the old, the established order is breaking down and every family has to find its own way of surviving. For the Tradescants, through the upheavals of the Commonwealth and the Restoration, this means consolidating their reputations as the greatest gardeners in the country.
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.
"e;I am Catalina, Princess of Spain, daughter of the two greatest monarchs the world has ever known...and I will be Queen of England."e; Thus, bestselling author Philippa Gregory introduces one of her most unforgettable heroines: Katherine of Aragon. Daughter of Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain, Katherine has been fated her whole life to marry Prince Arthur of England. When they meet and are married, the match becomes as passionate as it is politically expedient. But tragically, Arthur falls ill and extracts from his young bride a deathbed promise to marry his brother Henry, become Queen, and fulfill their dreams and her destiny. Widowed and alone in the avaricious world of the Tudor court, Katherine has to sidestep her father-in-law's desire for her and convince him, and an incredulous Europe, that her marriage to Arthur was never consummated, that there is no obstacle to marriage with Henry. For seven years, she endures the treachery of spies, the humiliation of poverty, and intense loneliness and despair while she waits for the inevitable moment when she will step into the role she has prepared for all her life. In The Constant Princess, Philippa Gregory brings to life one of history's most inspiring women and creates one of the most compelling characters in historical fiction.
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.
In the autumn of 1558, church bells across England ring out the joyous news that Elizabeth I is the new queen. One woman hears the tidings with utter dread. Amy Dudley, wife of Sir Robert, knows that the peal of bells she hears will summon her husband once more to power, intrigue, and a passionate love affair with the young queen. Elizabeth's excited triumph is short-lived. She has inherited a bankrupt country where treason is normal and foreign war a certainty. Her faithful advisor William Cecil warns her that she will survive only if she marries a strong prince to govern the rebellious country, but the one man Elizabeth desires is her childhood friend, the irresistible, ambitious Robert Dudley. Only Robert truly revels in the opportunities of the new reign. He knows he can reclaim his destiny at Elizabeth's side. Elizabeth cannot resist his courtship, and as the young couple slowly falls in love, Robert starts to think the impossible: can he set aside his wife and marry the young queen? Philippa Gregory paints a picture of a country on the brink of greatness, a young woman grasping at her power, a young man whose ambition is greater than his means, and the wife who cannot forgive them.
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.
A collection of short stories from one of our most popular novelists - the perfect gift. A rich and wonderful selection of short stories. A TV chef who specialises in outrageous cakes tempts a monk who bakes bread for his brothers; a surprise visitor invites mayhem into the perfect minimalist flat in the season of good will; a woman explains her unique view of straying husbands; straying husbands encounter a variety of effective responses. Just some of the delicacies on offer in this sumptuous box of delights...
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.
Reissue of Philippa Gregory's disturbing novel of passion and betrayal in Tudor England. A haunting story of a woman's desire in a time of turbulence. Alys joins the nunnery to escape hardship and poverty but finds herself thrown back into the outside world when Henry VIII's wreckers destroy her sanctuary. With nothing to support her but her looks, her magic and her own instinctive cunning, Alys has to tread a perilous path between the faith of her childhood and her own female power. When she falls in love with Hugo, the feudal lord and another woman's husband, she dips into witchcraft to defeat her rival and to win her lover, but finds - as her cynical old foster-mother had advised - that magic makes a poor servant but a dominant master. Since heresy against the new church means the stake, and witchcraft the rope, Alys's danger is mortal. A woman's powers are no longer safe to use...
The third volume in the bestselling Wideacre Trilogy of novels. Set in the eighteenth century, they launched the career of Philippa Gregory, the bestselling author of The Other Boleyn Girl and Three Sisters, Three Queens. Meridon, a desolate Romany girl, is determined to escape the hard poverty of her childhood. Riding bareback in a travelling show, while her sister Dandy risks her life on the trapeze, Meridon dedicates herself to freeing them both from danger and want. But Dandy, beautiful, impatient, thieving Dandy, grabs too much, too quickly. And Meridon finds herself alone, riding in bitter grief through the rich Sussex farmlands towards a house called Wideacre - which awaits the return of the last of the Laceys. Sweeping, passionate, unique: 'Meridon' completes Philippa Gregory's bestselling trilogy which began with 'Wideacre' and continued with 'The Favoured Child'.
Delicious combination of confused identities, personal dramas and moral dilemmas in a contemporary chiller from one of our most outstanding novelists. For years, Isobel Latimer has composed serious novels for serious people, but to dwindling acclaim and ever-more dwindling gain. Now her husband is ill and she must carry their financial burden alone, and in secret. But if the public don't want careful moral fables any longer, why not provide an outrageous tale of sex and satanism, and an author to match? The incomparable, uncontrollable Zelda de Vere is born. What began with the best of intentions snowballs into a disorienting blur of passion, gender-bending, loss of innocence, to betrayal and beyond. Isobel Latimer might feel she's on the brink of losing everything, but what would Zelda do?
A wickedly witty tale of modern manners, happily suggesting that PC is not the only way to be. Dr Louise Case has the right career, the right country cottage and a commitment-free relationship with a fellow academic. According to contemporary codes, it's all very correct - except that Louise begins to suspect that it's far from perfect. Then along comes Rose, eighty if she's a day, who effortlessly disrupts everything. Soon both campus and cottage are in chaos, while the old lady commences to set her own house - a decrepit old van - in order. And this includes an unthinkably traditional role for Louise...
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.
