Recent Posts
A review of Virgin and the Crab: Sketches, Fables & Mysteries from the early life of John Dee and Elizabeth Tudor
This remarkable novel by Robert Parry is one of the best Tudor novels I have ever read. At various points throughout the story, I asked myself ‘How?’ How can a person who has never experienced life in Tudor England bring it to life so spectacularly? The novel revolves around John Dee, a brilliant mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, navigator and consultant to Elizabeth I. Although a respected scientist, Dee was also dedicated to the study of alchemy, divination and essentially, magic. Add … [Read More...]
Anne Boleyn’s Marriage to Henry VIII
There is so much that is unknown, controversial or debated about the life of Anne Boleyn that once she captures our imagination, and heart, there is no escaping her. It’s the mystery that I believe fuels the fire. The need to ‘know’ Anne as best we can, to discover what she looked like, to understand her decisions, her actions and the world, the very different world, in which she lived. And we must never forget that very important fact, she once lived. It might seem like a silly thing to say … [Read More...]
Interview with author of “A New Explanation for the Reproductive Woes and Midlife Decline of Henry VIII”
About a week ago I posted about a new article by Catrina Whitley and Kyra Kramer entitled 'A New Explanation for the Reproductive Woes and Midlife Decline of Henry VIII' (Read my original post here). In the article the authors examine the reasons behind Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn’s multiple miscarriages and stillbirths. The article immediately caught my attention because the new theory proposes that Henry VIII was positive for the Kell blood group and also suffered from McLeod … [Read More...]
Katharine of Aragon Festival 2011
The annual "Katharine of Aragon" Festival will be held at Peterborough Cathedral on 28-30 January 2011. Many wonderful events are planned to commemorate the life of this great woman. A program of service and events from the Cathedral's website: Friday 28th January at 10.30am Katharine of Aragon Commemoration Service Our annual service which commerates the life of Henry VIII first wife, Katharine. This uplifting service is open to all with primary schools from across the Peterborough … [Read More...]
Who was Anne Neville? The Facts
Today's post is a guest article by author Anne O'Brien. She has very kindly written a mini-biography on Anne Neville, the daughter of Richard, Earl of Warwick and wife to the last Plantagenet King Richard III. Anne was Queen of England for almost two years but history has all but forgotten her. One person that has not overlooked this young queen is author Anne O'Brien whose latest novel, 'The Virgin Widow', is told through the eyes of Anne Neville. The Virgin Widow is described as a … [Read More...]
Our interview with Maggie Secara from Renaissance – The Elizabethan World
When I discover a website that is absolutely brimming with useful information about 16th century England I get so excited. This is exactly how I felt when I stumbled across Maggie Secara's site, 'Renaissance - The Elizabethan World', last year. If you are keen to explore and learn more about Elizabethan England then this is the site for you. Maggie offers a plethora of information about everyday life in Elizabeth's England, Life at court, Heraldry, and Sumptuary Laws to name but a few areas … [Read More...]
Tudor Tapestries, Tudor costumes and more!
For those of you that have joined On the Tudor Trail's Facebook page you know that I regularly notify members of upcoming Tudor events, articles and news. I thought I would write a little summary of the events today just in case some of you are defying the trend and staying away from Facebook... Henry VIII's Tapestries You can now explore one of Henry VIII's most precious tapestries thanks to the Historic Royal Palaces interactive guide. You can click on different areas of 'The Meeting … [Read More...]
Exclusive interview with Sandra Worth
I have just posted my interview with Sandra Worth acclaimed author of five books chronicling the demise of the Plantagenet dynasty in England. Sandra’s latest novel, Pale Rose of England: a novel of the Tudors, is a story of love and defiance during the Wars of the Roses. In our interview we discuss the lure of Elizabeth of York, the mystery of the Princes in the Tower and, among other things, I ask Sandra whether or not she sees Richard III as a villain or a hero. Read Sandra's … [Read More...]
Uncovering the Mystery of Perkin Warbeck by Sandra Worth
Today's post is a guest article by Sandra Worth acclaimed author of five books chronicling the demise of the Plantagenet dynasty in England. Sandra holds an honours B.A in Political Science and Economics from the University of Toronto and is a frequent lecturer on the Wars of the Roses. Sandra's latest novel, Pale Rose of England: a novel of the Tudors, is a story of love and defiance during the Wars of the Roses. Here is a brief synopsis: It is 1497. The news of the survival of … [Read More...]
On the Tudor Trail’s interview with Robert Parry
I have just published my interview with Robert Parry author of The Virgin and the Crab: Sketches, Fables & Mysteries from the early life of John Dee and Elizabeth Tudor. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and will be publishing my review soon but what I will say now is that although we may know where the story of Elizabeth I ends we have never journeyed there in this fashion. It is a real page turner, entertaining and vivid. We meet many Tudor characters and they are all … [Read More...]
A NEW EXPLANATION FOR THE REPRODUCTIVE WOES AND MIDLIFE DECLINE OF HENRY VIII
Catrina Whitley recently shared with me an article that she and her colleague Kyra Kramer recently wrote about the reasons behind Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn’s many miscarriages and stillbirths. Interestingly, they affirm that it was not Henry’s queens who ‘failed’ to provide the king with an heir, as history so often remembers them, and neither was it the women who were in some way physiologically responsible for the many miscarriages and stillbirths. Instead, the problem lay in Henry … [Read More...]
New book giveaway competition! C.W Gortner’s ‘The Last Queen’
Last week I announced the winner of our December book giveaway competition at On the Tudor Trail, congratulations again Elina from Finland! Today I am very happy to post the details of our January/February book giveaway competition. This time the lucky winner will receive a copy of C.W Gortner's The Last Queen, the story of Juana of Castile the third child of Isabel of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon. It is an evocative and vivid portrayal of the life of a Queen that history all but … [Read More...]
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