BBC History Magazine article by Tracy Borman

Tracy Borman (author of ‘King’s Mistress, Queen’s Servant: the Life and Times of Henrietta Howard’) has an article in the September issue (vol 10 no 9) of BBC History Magazine. ‘Virgin Queen to Vindictive Queen’ focuses on Elizabeth I’s relationships with the ladies around her in the later years of her reign.

It also briefly mentions the Grey sisters (Katherine and Mary).

‘…far from being the man’s woman that she is so often portrayed as, she had been profoundly influenced by the women who had surrounded her throughout her life.

From her bewitching mother, Anne Boleyn, to her dangerously obsessive sister, Mary Tudor, and from the rivals to her throne such as the Grey sisters and Mary Queen of Scots, to her closest friends at court, such as Kat Astley and Helena Snakenbourg. These were the women who shaped the Virgin Queen, and it is through their eyes that the real Elizabeth stripped of her carefully cultivated image, is revealed.’

BBC History Magazine, September 2009, vol 10 no 9, p26

An accompanying article, ‘Making the Virgin Queen’, also mentions the Grey sisters.

‘Similar fates would await Elizabeth’s other rivals, notably Katherine and Mary Grey (the sisters of Lady Jane), and Arbella Stuart, who each forfeited their claim to the throne by marrying in secret.’

BBC History Magazine, September 2009, vol 10 no 9, p25

Elizabeth’s Women: the Hidden Story of the Virgin Queen’ will be published on 24th September 2009.

Further information.

It will be Radio 4’s ‘Book of the Week’ in September. More details to follow.

In the BBC History Magazine September Podcast 2 (available from Sep 17th):

‘Tracy Borman looks back at the life of Queen Elizabeth I and reveals how she became consumed by jealousy in her later years.’

BBC History Magazine, September 2009, vol 10 no 9, p7

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Leanda de Lisle to give talk at National Gallery

Leanda de Lisle e-mailed to say she will be giving a talk at the National Gallery on March 5th 2010. The talk is part of the ‘Painting History: Delaroche and Lady Jane Grey’ exhibition which runs from 24th February to 23rd May 2010.

Further details when they are available.

For more information about the exhibition:

Painting History: Delaroche and Lady Jane Grey

News articles

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Catherine Grey article by Leanda de Lisle

Leanda de Lisle has an article about Katherine Grey in the September issue of ‘History Today’ magazine.

History Today is published on the penultimate Thursday of each month.

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Forthcoming Books – Updated 2 November

September 24th – Elizabeth’s Women by Tracy Borman

It will explore all of the most important women in Elizabeth’s life: from her bewitching mother, Anne Boleyn, to her dangerously obsessive sister, Mary Tudor, and from the rivals to her throne such as Mary, Queen of Scots and the sisters of Lady Jane Grey, to the ‘flouting wenches’ like Lettice Knollys who stole her closest male favourite. These were the women who shaped the Virgin Queen and it is through their eyes that the real Elizabeth, stripped of her carefully cultivated image, is revealed.

From Tracy Borman.co.uk

Tracy Borman

Further details – Random House
Further details – Amazon

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October 1st – The Lady in the Tower: The Fall of Anne Boleyn by Alison Weir

Not Jane related but a fascinating subject!

Never before has there been a book devoted entirely to Anne Boleyn’s fall. Alison Weir has reassessed the evidence and created a richly researched and detailed portrait of the last days of one of the most influential and important figures in English history.

From Amazon.co.uk

Alison Weir

Further details – Amazon
Further details – Random House

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October 2nd – Lady Jane Grey: A Tudor Mystery by Eric Ives

History has portrayed Jane as both a hapless victim of political intrigue and a Protestant martyr, but most of all as an irrelevance, hence the popular but erroneous label, the ‘nine days queen’. Revisiting the sources surrounding Jane Grey’s upbringing, Eric Ives challenges these views, presenting Jane Grey as an accomplished young woman with a fierce personal integrity, and England’s outstanding female scholar. He teases out the complex evidence of the 1553 crisis and dissects the moves and motives of each of the other protagonists: Edward VI himself, feverishly re–writing his will during his dying days; Mary Tudor, the woman who ‘won’ the crown; John Dudley, Jane’s father–in–law, traditionally the villain of the piece; and her father, Henry Grey. As the story moves through the summer of 1553 to Jane’s execution, we see these people as agents in Jane Grey’s unfolding tragedy and her eventual moral triumph. The result is a new and compelling dissection by a master historian and storyteller of one of history’s most shocking injustices.

From Amazon.co.uk

Further details – Wiley
Further details – Amazon

Read excerpts at:

Amazon
Wiley

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October 13th (USA) – The Sisters Who Would Be Queen: Mary, Katherine and Lady Jane Grey: A Tudor Tragedy by Leanda de Lisle

Exploding the many myths of Lady Jane Grey’s life, unearthing the details of Katherine’s and Mary’s dramatic stories, and casting new light on Elizabeth’s reign, Leanda de Lisle gives voice and resonance to the lives of the Greys and offers perspective on their place in history and on a time when a royal marriage could gain a woman a kingdom or cost her everything.

From Amazon.com

Further details – Amazon.com
Further details – Random House

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December 11th – Mary Tudor Old and New Perspectives edited by Susan Doran and Thomas S Freeman

This collection of interdisciplinary essays examines the origins and growth of Mary Tudor’s historical reputation, from the reign of Elizabeth I up to the 20th century. Re-appraising aspects of her reign that have been misrepresented the book creates a more balanced, objective portrait of England’s last Catholic, and first female, monarch.

From Amazon.co.uk

Further details – Amazon
Further details – Palgrave Macmillan

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31st January 2010 – Catherine Parr by Elizabeth Norton

Wife, widow, mother, survivor, the story of the last queen of Henry VIII. The sixth wife of Henry VIII was also the most married queen of England, outliving three husbands before finally marrying for love.

…Catherine is remembered as the wife who survived but, without her strength of character it could have been very different…Catherine Parr is often portrayed as a matronly and dutiful figure. Her life was indeed one of duty but, throughout, she attempted to escape her destiny and find happiness for herself.

From Amazon.co.uk

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March 4th 2010 – Traitors of the Tower by Alison Weir

More than four hundred years ago, seven people – five of them women – were beheaded in the Tower of London. Three had been queens of England. The others were found guilty of treason. Why were such important people put to death? Alison Weir’s gripping book tells their stories: from the former friend betrayed by a man set on being king, to the young girl killed after just nine days on the throne. Alison Weir is a wonderful storyteller. Through her vivid writing, history comes alive.

From Amazon.co.uk

Alison Weir

Further details – Amazon

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March 12th 2010 – Katherine the Queen: The Remarkable Life of Katherine Parr

The book reveals the truth about Katherine Parr, establishing her as a leading figure among the female rulers of her time….Set amidst the lusts, intrigue and violence of a turbulent age, this book is the first serious but readable life of Henry’s last queen.

From LindaPorter.net

Further details – Linda Porter
Further details – Amazon

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The Sisters Who Would Be Queen – US Reviews – Updated 5 Sep

US reviews for ‘The Sisters Who Would Be Queen: The Tragedy of Mary, Katherine and Lady Jane Grey’ by Leanda de Lisle have started appearing.

For UK reviews

Nine Day Queen -by Virginia Stem Owens – Books and Culture – September 2010 – added 5th September 2010.

The Sisters Who Would Be QueenCurled Up With A Good Book – January 2010 – added 8th January 2010.

The Grey Sisters: In the Shadow of the Throne – A Tudor TragedySan Francisco Sentinel.com – 26 December 2009 – added 30 December 2009.

The Nine-Day Reign: An odd blip in British royal history hinted at big changes to come – by William Anthony Hay – Wall Street Journal – 26 December 2009 – added 25 December 2009.

Well-crafted book shows tragic side of royalty – by Amy Pollick – Decatur Daily.com – 13 December 2009 – added 14 December.

About Books – Ellenville Shawangunk Journal – by Claire Ernsberger – 5th November 2009 – added 2nd December.

‘…very dramatic and just purely enjoyable…’

Copyright Ellenvile Shawangunk Journal

England’s Jane Grey trapped by tragedy– by Betty Lytle – NewsOk – 22 November 2009 – added 23 November.

The Sisters Who Would Be Queen – Historical Novels Review – by Susan Higginbothan – (Issue 50 November 2009) – added 23 November.

’Concisely and engagingly written, yet scholarly and well documented, this book was a refreshing reminder that sound research and objectivity need not be sacrificed for the sake of popular appeal.’

Copyright Historical Novels Review

Royal and Ravaged in 16th Century by Muriel Dobbin – The Washington Times – 1 November 2009 – added 1 November

Steve Goddard’s History Wire – Where the Past Comes Alive – 29/10/09 – added 30 October

This Week’s Hot Reads – by The Daily Beast 30/10/2009 – added 30 October

Power grabs, punishment in pursuit of crown – by Carl Rollyson – Star Tribune 23/10/2009 – added 30 October

Publishers Weekly added 18 August 2009

The Sisters Who Would Be Queen – Kirkus Reviews (1st August 2009)

‘The Grey sisters receive a compelling treatment from De Lisle (After Elizabeth: The Rise of James of Scotland and the Struggle for the Throne of England, 2006)…A slow-smoldering, steadily argued work of historical significance.’

Copyright Kirkus Reviews

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