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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.
Awash with atmosphere, passion and suspense, this first novel in a new series by the mistress of popular historical fiction is an immersive, entertaining, feminist-spirited feast. Impoverished midwife and herbalist healer Alinor goes to a graveyard on Midsummer Eve wondering if she might find the ghost of her missing abusive husband. Instead she encounters James, a wealthy, handsome man who will change the course of her life. With England in the throes of civil war, James is a fugitive and Alinor puts herself at risk to take him across the dangerous marsh to his place of sanctuary. James cannot comprehend meeting “a woman like you in a place like this”, words that ignite Alinor’s heart and soul through her otherwise bleak existence: “I am bound as a tenant to a neglectful lord and I cannot leave. I am wife to a vanished man and cannot marry, and I am sister to the ferryman and he will never carry me across to the mainland and set me free”. While helping James does lift Alinor from the mire, the tongues of local gossip women and bawdy men are set wagging, threatening her very existence and her daughter’s shot at a new life, and wise Alinor knows only too well that “no woman is innocent… Everything is our fault: sin and death are at our door, from now to Judgment Day”. The love story and evocation of time and place are utterly enthralling but, most of all, this is a dazzlingly compelling portrait of a complex, dignified woman standing strong and proud against the cruel confines of her class and sex.
THE BRAND NEW SERIES FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLING AUTHOR England 1648. A dangerous time for a woman to be different . . . Midsummer's Eve, 1648, and England is in the grip of civil war between renegade King and rebellious Parliament. The struggle reaches every corner of the kingdom, even to the remote Tidelands - the marshy landscape of the south coast. Alinor, a descendant of wise women, crushed by poverty and superstition, waits in the graveyard under the full moon for a ghost who will declare her free from her abusive husband. Instead she meets James, a young man on the run, and shows him the secret ways across the treacherous marsh, not knowing that she is leading disaster into the heart of her life. Suspected of possessing dark secrets in superstitious times, Alinor's ambition and determination mark her out from her neighbours. This is the time of witch-mania, and Alinor, a woman without a husband, skilled with herbs, suddenly enriched, arouses envy in her rivals and fear among the villagers, who are ready to take lethal action into their own hands.
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
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.
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.
Princess Florizella may live in a classic fairy-tale world, but she's no ordinary princess... These three stories were originally published under the titles Princess Florizella, Princess Florizella and the Wolves and Princess Florizella and the Giant. They were originally dedicated to her daughter but have been reimagined in this edition which she has dedicated to her grandchildren. Princess Florizella was friends with some of the princesses who had studied the Princess Rules, and behaved just as the Rules said they should. Florizella thought their hair was lovely: so golden and so very long. And their clothes were nice: so richly embroidered. And their shoes were delightful: so tiny and handmade in silk. But their days bored her to death... Instead, Princess Florizella rides her horse, Jellybean, all over the kingdom, having adventures of her own... ...perfect for newish readers who are gaining confidence and ready for a challenge The Times Review These are enchanting, simply written stories that have lost none of their pertinence - and this timely new edition deserves to win Florizella another generation of admirers. 5 star review in the Saturday Telegraph
Awash with atmosphere, passion and suspense, this first novel in a new series by the mistress of popular historical fiction is an immersive, entertaining, feminist-spirited feast. Impoverished midwife and herbalist healer Alinor goes to a graveyard on Midsummer Eve wondering if she might find the ghost of her missing abusive husband. Instead she encounters James, a wealthy, handsome man who will change the course of her life. With England in the throes of civil war, James is a fugitive and Alinor puts herself at risk to take him across the dangerous marsh to his place of sanctuary. James cannot comprehend meeting “a woman like you in a place like this”, words that ignite Alinor’s heart and soul through her otherwise bleak existence: “I am bound as a tenant to a neglectful lord and I cannot leave. I am wife to a vanished man and cannot marry, and I am sister to the ferryman and he will never carry me across to the mainland and set me free”. While helping James does lift Alinor from the mire, the tongues of local gossip women and bawdy men are set wagging, threatening her very existence and her daughter’s shot at a new life, and wise Alinor knows only too well that “no woman is innocent… Everything is our fault: sin and death are at our door, from now to Judgment Day”. The love story and evocation of time and place are utterly enthralling but, most of all, this is a dazzlingly compelling portrait of a complex, dignified woman standing strong and proud against the cruel confines of her class and sex.
THE BRAND NEW SERIES FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLING AUTHOR England 1648. A dangerous time for a woman to be different . . . Midsummer's Eve, 1648, and England is in the grip of civil war between renegade King and rebellious Parliament. The struggle reaches every corner of the kingdom, even to the remote Tidelands - the marshy landscape of the south coast. Alinor, a descendant of wise women, crushed by poverty and superstition, waits in the graveyard under the full moon for a ghost who will declare her free from her abusive husband. Instead she meets James, a young man on the run, and shows him the secret ways across the treacherous marsh, not knowing that she is leading disaster into the heart of her life. Suspected of possessing dark secrets in superstitious times, Alinor's ambition and determination mark her out from her neighbours. This is the time of witch-mania, and Alinor, a woman without a husband, skilled with herbs, suddenly enriched, arouses envy in her rivals and fear among the villagers, who are ready to take lethal action into their own hands. The unmissable read for Summer 2019. Praise for Philippa Gregory: 'Popular historical fiction at its finest, immaculately researched and superbly told' The Times 'Philippa Gregory is truly the mistress of the historical novel. It would be hard to make history more entertaining, lively or engaging' Sunday Express '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 'Immaculate research, pacy narratives and a stubborn insistence that history is not only about men . . . a powerful reminder of how precarious the lives of the Tudor women could be' Daily Mail
Princess Florizella may live in a classic fairy-tale world, but she's no ordinary princess... These three stories were originally published under the titles Princess Florizella, Princess Florizella and the Wolves and Princess Florizella and the Giant. They were originally dedicated to her daughter but have been reimagined in this edition which she has dedicated to her grandchildren. Princess Florizella was friends with some of the princesses who had studied the Princess Rules, and behaved just as the Rules said they should. Florizella thought their hair was lovely: so golden and so very long. And their clothes were nice: so richly embroidered. And their shoes were delightful: so tiny and handmade in silk. But their days bored her to death... Instead, Princess Florizella rides her horse, Jellybean, all over the kingdom, having adventures of her own... ...perfect for newish readers who are gaining confidence and ready for a challenge The Times Review These are enchanting, simply written stories that have lost none of their pertinence - and this timely new edition deserves to win Florizella another generation of admirers. 5 star review in the Saturday Telegraph
THE BRAND NEW SERIES FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLING AUTHOR England 1648. A dangerous time for a woman to be different . . . Midsummer's Eve, 1648, and England is in the grip of civil war between renegade King and rebellious Parliament. The struggle reaches every corner of the kingdom, even to the remote Tidelands - the marshy landscape of the south coast. Alinor, a descendant of wise women, crushed by poverty and superstition, waits in the graveyard under the full moon for a ghost who will declare her free from her abusive husband. Instead she meets James, a young man on the run, and shows him the secret ways across the treacherous marsh, not knowing that she is leading disaster into the heart of her life. Suspected of possessing dark secrets in superstitious times, Alinor's ambition and determination mark her out from her neighbours. This is the time of witch-mania, and Alinor, a woman without a husband, skilled with herbs, suddenly enriched, arouses envy in her rivals and fear among the villagers, who are ready to take lethal action into their own hands.
'Gregory is an experienced storyteller and doesn't let you down. Tidelands is a gripping and intelligent portrait of a woman fighting to survive in a hostile world' THE TIMES THE BRAND NEW SERIES FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLING AUTHOR England 1648. A dangerous time for a woman to be different . . . Midsummer's Eve, 1648, and England is in the grip of civil war between renegade King and rebellious Parliament. The struggle reaches every corner of the kingdom, even to the remote Tidelands - the marshy landscape of the south coast. Alinor, a descendant of wise women, crushed by poverty and superstition, waits in the graveyard under the full moon for a ghost who will declare her free from her abusive husband. Instead she meets James, a young man on the run, and shows him the secret ways across the treacherous marsh, not knowing that she is leading disaster into the heart of her life. Suspected of possessing dark secrets in superstitious times, Alinor's ambition and determination mark her out from her neighbours. This is the time of witch-mania, and Alinor, a woman without a husband, skilled with herbs, suddenly enriched, arouses envy in her rivals and fear among the villagers, who are ready to take lethal action into their own hands. 'The first in a planned series . . . The author crafts her material with effortless ease. Her grasp of social mores is brilliant, the love story rings true and the research is, as ever, of the highest calibre' Elizabeth Buchan, Daily Mail 'Vivid and beguiling - Philippa Gregory at her best' woman&home 'A compelling novel that shines a light on the struggles of 17th century women' Daily Mirror 'The novel's power lies in Gregory's evocative portrayal of the tidelands and the everyday lives of those who are bound to them' Sunday Express 'Philippa Gregory returns with an English Civil War novel that excels in everything she does best. Historical events are written with breathless immediacy, keeping the reader enthralled even if they know the outcome. She pays close attention to the plight of women in the past, so often unchanged despite men's wars, and gives them a voice . . . Fans will not be disappointed' Alys Key, The i 'Shines a light on the struggles of 17th century women . . . If this novel is the first sign of what's to come then readers are in for a treat' Emma Lee-Potter, Daily Express 'Tidelands evokes a world of suspense and superstition. Its fascinating fictional heroine, Alinor, is caught in a net of in-between spaces . . . I was completely swept up in this wonderful, immersive story set in the English Civil War when women who lived unconventional lives risked being accused of witchcraft' Tina Jackson, Writing Magazine
*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.
*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 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 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* 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.
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.
