On the Tudor Trail

On the First Day of Christmas – Book 2

On the 1st day of Christmas On the Tudor Trail gave to me… the chance to win an autographed copy of Owen – Book One of The Tudor Trilogy by Tony Riches. To be in the running to win this book, leave a comment after this post. Conditions of Entry For your chance to win an autographed copy of Owen – Book One of The Tudor Trilogy by Tony Riches, you must be subscribed to On the Tudor Trail’s newsletter (if you are not already, sign up on our homepage where it says ‘Free Enewsletter … [Read More...]

On the First Day of Christmas – Book 1

On the 1st day of Christmas On the Tudor Trail gave to me… the chance to win a copy of Sexuality and Its Impact on History: The British Stripped Bare by Hunter S. Jones. To be in the running to win this book, leave a comment after this post. Conditions of Entry For your chance to win a copy of Sexuality and Its Impact on History: The British Stripped Bare, you must be subscribed to On the Tudor Trail’s newsletter (if you are not already, sign up on our homepage where it says ‘Free … [Read More...]

12 Days of Christmas Mega Book Giveaway!

I'm absolutely thrilled to share that I'll be hosting a Mega Book Giveaway in December. This fortnight of fun is made possible by the generosity of the following wonderful historians and authors: Starting on 1 December, I will post details of two giveaways per day, all open internationally! All you need to do to be in the running to win the daily giveaways is leave a comment after each individual post. Winners will be randomly selected and notified by email in early … [Read More...]

Catherine of Aragon by Amy Licence

“Divorced, beheaded, died; divorced, beheaded, survived”: Henry VIII’s six wives must be among the most famous groups of women in history, a collection of brides bundled together by historians, teachers and TV producers despite them having very little in common beyond their having married the same man. Biographies have often tended towards this all-encompassing approach, focusing more on the monarch than the individual women, and it’s been refreshing in recent years to see the queens given … [Read More...]

Review of The House of Beaufort by Nathen Amin

The House of Beaufort – The Bastard Line That Captured the Crown by Nathen Amin This book charts the origin, rise and fall of one of the most notorious dynasties in English history, the Beaufort family. The Beaufort family line descends from the union of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster and son of Edward III and Katherine Swynford. They had four children together: John, Henry, Thomas and Joan. Katherine was initially a mistress of John of Gaunt, but the pair eventually married in 1396 … [Read More...]

She is my death and I am hers – Anne Boleyn & Mary Tudor

I’m delighted to be hosting Day 5 of Melita Thomas' blog tour for her debut book, The King's Pearl: Henry VIII and his daughter Mary. Melita has written a fascinating guest article about Anne Boleyn's relationship with her step-daughter, Mary. You can read a review of Melita's new book here. Enjoy! She is my death and I am hers. One of the most bitter relationships in English history must be that between Mary, daughter of Henry VIII and Katharine of Aragon, and the woman who was, in … [Read More...]

US Publication Day!

I'm very excited to share that it's US publication day for 'Colouring History: The Tudors'! It's available from Barnes and Noble bookstores and online here. I hope you love it, America! It will also be stocked in a number of independent bookstores, so watch this space for more information. I can't wait to see pics of it on shelves. Every author's dream. Natalie x PS. Colouring History is also available online at Walmart and Target. If you've bought a copy and love it, please consider … [Read More...]

The Wars of the Roses in 100 Facts by Matthew Lewis

The ‘Wars of the Roses’ were a series of battles fought between the House of Lancaster and the House of York to control the throne of England. Author Matthew Lewis takes us on a journey through this tumultuous period of history via 100 ‘bite-size’ facts, including a number of interesting ones about the ‘run-up’ to the Wars of the Roses. There are tales of bloody battles, bravery, allegiance (including switching sides!), deceit and murder. We learn more about the significant battles, … [Read More...]

The King’s Pearl by Melita Thomas

England’s first crowned queen has been in the shadow of England’s second crowned queen for centuries. Just as Elizabeth supplanted Mary as heir to the throne in life, so she has supplanted her in posterity, with Gloriana, the Virgin Queen, heroine who defied the Armada attracting far more praise and admiration than the cruel caricature of Bloody Mary. In her preface to ‘The King’s Pearl’, Melita Thomas sets out her aim to interrogate the stereotype of Mary Tudor as “an unskilled political … [Read More...]

How to be a Tudor by Ruth Goodman

As a TV presenter Ruth Goodman shows such enthusiasm for her subject that you cannot help but be drawn into it - it is quite infectious! This also translates into her books, and you are gripped from the first chapter. Ruth is an expert on social history with an emphasis on 'ordinary' people which is why her books are so interesting. This book is as per its title 'A Dawn-to-Dusk Guide to Everyday Life' from early rising to bedtime - it describes the different elements/tasks of daily life … [Read More...]

The Queen’s Mary by Sarah Gristwood

Book Blurb Mary Seton is lady-in-waiting to the legendary Mary Queen of Scots. Torn between her own desires and her duty to serve her mistress, she is ultimately drawn into her Queen's web of passion and royal treachery - and must play her part in the game of thrones between Mary and Elizabeth I. Must she choose between survival, and sharing the same fate as the woman she has served, loyally and lovingly, since a child? The Queen's Mary is an engaging and insightful novel, which … [Read More...]

‘Bosworth – Psychology of a Battle’ by Michael Jones

Everyone knows about Richard III: the scheming, duplicitous, evil crookback who murdered his nephews to steal the throne. Or do they? Shakespeare’s notorious villain has been so ingrained in our minds for centuries that the “winter of our discontent” and the horse worth more than a kingdom are practically viewed as historical facts. Perhaps inevitably, it’s become something of a fashion among historians and novelists to attempt a rehabilitation of Richard, from Josephine Tey and Sharon Penman … [Read More...]