The Tudors

I am a huge fan of historical fiction, particularly when it takes place in Tudor England. I don't know what it is about that particular time period, but I love reading about Henry VIII and his six wives, the reigns of his children Mary, Elizabeth and Edward, and the tragic and short-lived reign of Lady Jane Grey. I find that time period so fascinating. I am also a big fan of the show, The Tudors. That show is alive with the colours and passions of the Tudor court, and while it is not 100% historically accurate, it is a pleasure to watch. Like many who are interested in the Tudor era, I am a fan of Ms. Phillipa Gregory's Tudor novels. I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with Phillipa Gregory- I love her Tudor novels as well as a few others, and I can't stand some of her others. Let me explain by telling you about some of her great ones.

First, the classic. The Other Boelyn Girl wouldn't be so well-known if it wasn't for the poor film rendition. But please, don't judge this book by its movie. It tells the story of Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boelyn through the voice of his former mistress and the mother of two of his illegitimate children. She also happens to be Anne's sister. Mary Boelyn is manipulated into place by her scheming family as Henry's mistress. Although he seems to love her at first, his eyes soon start to wonder and Anne steps in to take her place. Cast aside, Mary watches Anne's triumphant rise to the throne of England, as well as her tragic downfall to the executioner's block. After a lifetime of being manipulated and used, Mary decides to take control of her own life, and perhaps even find real love. The Other Boelyn Girl is a unique account of the tragic Boelyn family, portraying Anne in a desperate and unflattering light. It is a well-researched and highly entertaining novel. Equally as good is The Boelyn Inheritance, which tells the story of Henry VIII's third and fourth Queens, Anne of Cleves and Katherine Howard, as well as Jane Boelyn, sister in law to Anne Boelyn.

In The Queen's Fool, Gregory tells the story of the Tudor court through the eyes of a young girl. Hannah Green is a young Jewish girl, trying to escape the Spanish Inquisition. She finds her way to Edward VI's court where she becomes the court fool, mentored by Will Sommers. She is sent to spy on Mary, and she witnesses Mary's victorious ascension to the throne following the unsuccessful attempt to put Jane Grey on the throne. Hannah is witness to court intrigues and battles, and like Mary Boelyn, she must take control of her own life and find love and a family.


In The Virgin's Lover, Gregory tells the story of a young Elizabeth I as she ascends to the throne and falls passionately in love with Robert Dudley. Robert plots a way to divorce his wife, Amy, and marry the Queen, but when Amy turns up dead under suspicious circumstances, Elizabeth's throne is at risk. Gregory gives her interpretation of a long unsolved mystery, doing so with style.

The Other Queen is another great Tudor novel, narrating the imprisonment and execution of Mary, Queen of Scots by her rival, Elizabeth I. The Constant Princess tells the story of Katherine of Aragon, her short marriage to prince Arthur, his premature death and her marriage to Henry VIII. Gregory even answers the question of the King's Great Matter. Though not a Tudor novel, The White Queen tells the story of Elizabeth Woodville, Queen consort to Edward IV and mother to the tragic Princes in the Tower. A Respectable Trade is another great piece of historical fiction, telling the story of a slave, kidnapped from Africa and sent to England where he falls in love with his unhappy white mistress.

Gregory novels I did not like? The Wideacre trilogy, and The Wise Woman.  I found them to be way too graphic, depicting things that made me uncomfortable (like incest). She is a skilled writer, but some of her novels are not for the faint of heart (or stomach)! Fallen Skies was pretty good (set in 1920s England), but it just couldn't compare to her Tudor novels.

So, if you like the Tudor period or just a great piece of historical fiction, try Phillipa Gregory. She is able to capture the intrigues and mysteries of the royal court. Her books will keep you absorbed and they're historically accurate enough that you might even learn something!

Past and Present, Intertwined

I love novels that alternate between the past and the present. When a novel like this is well done, the historical story enriches the story taking place in contemporary times. Two novels that do a brilliant job of intertwining the past and present to make one richly complex story are The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton, and The Tenth Gift by Jane Johnson.

The Forgotten Garden is a title that I instantly fell in love with. A few chapters in, I knew that I loved this novel, and the rest of the story did not disappoint. Morton beautifully weaves this story, seamlessly blending mystery, history and fairy tale together, and telling a story across several generations. I was captivated and absorbed by this book and deeply invested in the fate of each heroine. It is an exquisite story- deeply moving, acutely tragic and yet profoundly uplifting and hopeful.

It is 1913. A small child is found at the docks in Australia. The dockmaster and his wife decide to raise the child as their own, since she is unable to tell them who she is or why she is alone. As an adult, Nell sets out to solve the mystery of her past. But it is a complex, layered mystery, and it is not until after her death that her grandaughter is able to fully solve the mystery. This novel takes place at several different points in time. As you read, you slowly put the pieces together until you have a truly wonderful story. I just loved it. I have recommended this novel many times, and everyone who has read it has really enjoyed it as well. I also read Morton's A House at Riverton, and while it can't compete with The Forgotten Garden, it is an excellent read as well.

More recently, I read The Tenth Gift by Jane Johnson. This novel takes place in Cornwall, in the 17th century, and in present day. Julia is a woman in a dysfunctional relationship with her friend's husband. He breaks up with her to make amends with his wife, and he gives her an antique embroidery book. Written in the book are diary entries from 19 year old Catherine, an embroider living in Cornwall in 1625. Catherine is kidnapped from her church by pirates and brought to Morocco as a slave. Catherine writes about her terrifying experiences, and Julia journeys to Morocco to learn more about Catherine's story. As Julia encounters Catherine in her writings, she must find her own path, and perhaps her own love story as well. The Tenth Gift offers a glimpse into a different time and place, a different culture, and an oft ignored part of history.

Both novels are enchanting, and Johnson and Morton demonstrate the ways the past can enrich the present. I highly recommend them both.

Laurie Halse Anderson

As you no doubt have figured out by now, I am a huge fan of juvenile and teen fiction. I'd like to talk about an excellent teen writer named Laurie Halse Anderson. Anderson is very good at addressing tough issues and she creates balanced characters with whom the reader can identify. I have read four of her novels, and I would recommend them all.

The novel that introduced me to Ms. Anderson is her masterpiece Speak. Melinda starts her freshman year of high school and it is hell. Her former friends hate her and everyone at school gossips about her. She is burdened with a dark secret and she is unable to tell anyone. Her parents are concerned but preoccupied- and IT is harassing her. Will Melinda find her voice? Will she find the courage to face her fears? This is a powerful, deeply moving novel that tackles a really serious issue for teens.

In Wintergirls, Laurie Halse Anderson discusses anorexia through the two main characters of the novel. Best friends, the girls encourage and enable each-other in their eating disorders, until one girl dies and the other is left behind, plagued by guilt. The surviving girl copes with her grief by continuing to starve herself and sabotage herself. Will she find the strength to survive? While this one didn't have the same impact for me as Speak, I thought that Anderson addressed the issue well.

In Twisted, Laurie Halse Anderson tackles another tough issue, but from a male perspective. A teen's world is shattered when he is falsely accused of rape. Will anyone believe him? This novel tackles some moral issues that are crucial to teen guys and girls. I thought that the author was very believable writing as a male. I could identify with him despite the gender difference. Excellent.

Halse Anderson takes on historical fiction in Chains: Seeds of America. The young protagonist, Isabel, is a slave girl who is responsible for her younger epileptic sister, Ruth. When their mother dies, the girls are cruelly sold to wealthy and calcualting loyalists in New York City. As the intrigues of the revolutionary war rise up around them, Isabel must decide which side she should help- which side will grant her her freedom? She is disillusioned by both the patriots and the Britons as neither side is interested in helping her or her sister. And when the cruel Mrs. Lockton sells Ruth, Isabel isn't even sure if she can find the strength to carry on. I was immediately emotionally invested in the fate of the sisters, and I was unable to put this book down. I finished it in one sitting.

In short, Laurie Halse Anderson is a great teen writer. She is a refreshing change from the superficial, poorly-written novels that have inundated the teen market.