Books
by Philippa Gregory
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Earthly Joys |
An historical novel following the fortunes of a family of gardeners in the C17th. John Tradescant is uniquely skilled in collecting new species of plants, and in creating wonderful gardens for the great houses and palaces of England. He and his family are caught up in the political upheavals of the time. This is a book I couldn't put down.
(Caroline Winstanley - bwl 7 February 2001) |
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The Boleyn Inheritance |
Anne Boleyn leaves an inheritance of suspicion, betrayal and death which haunts the lives of the three women telling the story: her devious, jealous sister-in-law Jane Boleyn, homely Anne of Cleves and poor little, fun-loving Katherine Howard. Overshadowing them all is the brooding presence of the now monstrous King and the political game being played by the scheming Duke of Norfolk. Meticulously researched, this is a must for any fan of this author's historical novels.
(Jenny Baker - bwl 41 August 2007) |
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The Other Boleyn Girl |
If you like historical novels, read this. It paints a vivid picture of the Tudor court powered by the King's desperate need for an heir and the wiles of the Howard family who are determined that one of their girls will become Queen. Mary at aged 14, captures his eye and becomes his mistress, but it is Anne who wins him, leaving Mary to chronicle her sister's rise and fall and her own escape.
(Jenny Baker - bwl 27 December 2004) |
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The Queen's Fool |
And after having been embroiled in the intrigues of Henry VIII's court, you might care to enjoy this sequel. This time the narrator is a young Jewish girl who with her father has escaped from the Spanish inquisition to England where she becomes Holy Fool to Queen Mary. It speeds along at a tremendous pace and is an extremely palatable way of learning some history.
(Jenny Baker - bwl 27 December 2004) |
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The Taming of the Queen |
Kateryn Parr - a devout, intelligent scholar, unwillingly married to Henry VIII - walked a tightrope and survived. Being a first-person, fictionalised account much is open to interpretation, occasionally salacious, by the author, although Gregory's reputation is of solid research. The Tudor Court, the fear and intrigue surrounding Henry are well described and fascinating. It's an easy read and sparked my interest to read more about her, but may not suit those who enjoy their history in a "purer" form.
(Sue Pratt - bwl 82 Autumn 2016) |
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Three Sisters: Three Queens |
Finished this enthralling book wanting to read it again! It is about Katherine of Aragon, Margaret and Mary Tudor who became Queens of England, Scotland and France. Very little is known about Margaret Tudor and her life story was captivating. United by family loyalties and affections, they find they are set against each other. They all experience betrayal, loss and passion, the only constant in their lives is a special bond more powerful than even Henry VIII.
(Shirley Williams - bwl 82 Spring 2016) |
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Virgin Earth |
The sequel to Earthly Joys and every bit as good. The story continues with John Tradescent's son inheriting the family business and follows his travels across the sea to Virginia, where in his quest for new plants and trees he becomes involved with the Powhatan Indians. The book follows both the civil war in England and the fight between the settlers and the Powhatans.
(Caroline Winstanley - bwl 7 February 2001) |
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Wideacre, The Favoured Child, Meridon |
A sweeping 18th century soap opera, this trilogy traces the fortunes and misfortunes (and the latter are legion) of three generations of Lacey women: Beatrice, proud, passionate and driven to desperate measures by a blind desire to possess Wideacre, the Laceys' ancestral estate; Julia, loving and generous yet drawn despite herself into the legacy of her mother's obsession, and Meridon, raised by gypsies, canny, cold and hard, who dreams of a place called 'Wide'. Murder, incest, inevitability, romance, rightful heirs and a smattering of social commentary all rolled into one long saga. And a happy ending to boot, at least if you read all three in succession.
(Siobhan Thomson - bwl 26 October 2004) |
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