Books 2024 – on sale today – Tudor Executions: From Nobility To The Block by Helene Harrison


(c) Pen and Sword


‘The Tudors as a dynasty executed many people, both high and low. But the nobility were the ones consistently involved in treason, either deliberately or unconsciously. Exploring the long sixteenth century under each of the Tudor monarchs gives a sense of how and why so many were executed for what was considered the worst possible crime and how the definition of treason changed over the period. This book examines how and why Tudor nobles like Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham; Queen Consort Anne Boleyn; Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey; and Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, fell into the trap of treason and ended up on the block under the executioner’s axe. Treason and the Tudor nobility seem to go hand in hand as, by the end of the sixteenth century and the advent of the Stuart dynasty, no dukes remained in England. How did this happen and why?’

From – Amazon.co.uk

Further details – Amazon.co.uk



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Lady Katherine Grey – ‘Now You See Us’ Exhibition at Tate Britain


(c) Tate Britain


The V&A’s miniature of Lady Katherine Grey is part of the ‘Now You See Us’ exhibition’ at the Tate Britain. The exhibition runs until 13th October.


(c) V & A Museum, London


‘Spanning 400 years, this exhibition follows women on their journeys to becoming professional artists. From Tudor times to the First World War, artists such as Mary Beale, Angelica Kauffman, Elizabeth Butler and Laura Knight paved a new artistic path for generations of women. They challenged what it meant to be a working woman of the time by going against society’s expectations – having commercial careers as artists and taking part in public exhibitions.

Including over 150 works, the show dismantles stereotypes surrounding women artists in history, who were often thought of as amateurs. Determined to succeed and refusing to be boxed in, they daringly painted what were usually thought to be subjects for male artists: history pieces, battle scenes and the nude.

The exhibition sheds light on how these artists championed equal access to art training and academy membership, breaking boundaries and overcoming many obstacles to establish what it meant to be a woman in the art world.’

From Tate Britain: Now You See Us

For further details and tickets – Tate Britain – Now You See Us



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Stephan Edwards investigates…


Stephan Edwards investigates ‘Where was Jane Grey Dudley Born?’.




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Lady Jayne/Streatham portrait back on display at the National Portrait Gallery



The ‘Lady Jayne/Streatham’ portrait is back on display in the Tudor Gallery at the National Portrait Gallery.


A look at how the Streatham portrait has been displayed over the years



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My review of ‘Women’s Lives in the Tudor Era’ by Amy McElroy


(c) Pen and Sword


‘Women’s Lives in the Tudor Era’ aims to focus on the life stages of women and the differences experienced by these women due to their social standing.

McElroy divides up women’s lives into 9 sections: growing up, adolescence, brides, married life, motherhood, working women, recreation, widowhood and wills left by women. I particularly enjoyed the sections on growing up, brides and working women.

While the educations received by Elizabeth I and Lady Jane Grey are well documented, what was really interesting to learn about were the different educational establishments available such as Dame schools and petty schools, which girls could attend when not helping their families.

Katherine and Mary Grey are both known for falling foul of Elizabeth I for marrying without consent, but the author highlights that the records show that this was a particular problem among the middle classes but that the lower classes could not afford to bring court proceedings.

I hadn’t realised how many roles were available to women, that children could be apprenticed by the parish as young as 4 or that this was one of 3 types of service, the others being a contract in husbandry and domestic service.

I would say that McElroy certainly succeeds in her aim, as I came away with a clear understanding of what life was like for Tudor women.


Thank you to Pen and Sword and Net Galley for my review copy



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