Most Popular Books by Alison Weir

Over the years of his reign, six different women took their place beside King Henry VIII of England as his wife and queen. But the real stories of the six Tudor queens belong to those who lived among them. Played out in glittering palaces and whispering courts, these are tales of the people who loved and served these women, and those who lied and betrayed. Collected together for the first time, In the Shadow of Queens reveals thirteen startling stories from the Tudor court, told by those at the very heart of that world.

It''s 1152 and a beautiful woman of 30 is riding southwards through what is now France, leaving behind her crown, her two young daughters and a shattered marriage to Louis of France. This woman is Eleanor, Duchess of Aquitaine, and her sole purpose now is to return to her vast duchy and marry the man she loves, Henry Plantagenet.

In this extraordinary historical novel, the New York Times bestselling author hailed as “the finest historian of English monarchical succession writing” (The Boston Globe) explores the private side of the legendary King Henry VIII and his dramatic and brutal reign. “A delightful yarn . . . an all-around fun read about a king and a cad.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Having completed her Six Tudor Queens series of novels on the wives of Henry VIII—extensively researched and written from each queen’s point of view—Alison Weir now gives Henry himself a voice, telling the story of his remarkable thirty-six-year reign and his six marriages. Young Henry began his rule as a magnificent and chivalrous Renaissance prince who embodied every virtue. He had all the qualities to make a triumph of his kingship, yet we remember only the violence. Henry famously broke with the Pope, founding the Church of England and launching a religious revolution that divided his kingdom. He beheaded two of his wives and cast aside two others. He died a suspicious, obese, disease-riddled autocrat. His reign is remembered as one of dangerous intrigue and bloodshed—and yet the truth is far more complex. The King’s Pleasure brings to life the idealistic monarch who expanded Parliament, founded the Royal Navy, modernized medical training, composed music and poetry, and patronized the arts. A passionate man in search of true love, he was stymied by the need to produce a male heir, as much a victim of circumstance as his unhappy wives. Had fate been kinder to him, the history of England would have been very different. To his contemporaries, Henry was a great king, a legend in his own lifetime. And he left an extraordinary legacy—a modern Britain.

*A Sunday Times Top Ten Bestseller* Katherine of Aragon: The True Queen by bestselling historian Alison Weir, author of The Lost Tudor Princess, is the first in a spellbinding six novel series about Henry VIII''s Queens. Alison takes you on an engrossing journey at Katherine''s side and shows her extraordinary strength of character and intelligence. Ideal for fans of Philippa Gregory and Elizabeth Chadwick. ''Shatters the many myths about Henry VIII''s long-suffering first wife'' Tracy Borman ''Weir is excellent on the little details that bring a world to life'' Guardian A Spanish princess. Raised to be modest, obedient and devout. Destined to be an English Queen. Six weeks from home across treacherous seas, everything is different: the language, the food, the weather. And for her there is no comfort in any of it. At sixteen-years-old, Catalina is alone among strangers. She misses her mother. She mourns her lost brother. She cannot trust even those assigned to her protection. KATHERINE OF ARAGON. The first of Henry''s Queens. Her story. History tells us how she died. This captivating novel shows us how she lived. SIX TUDOR QUEENS. SIX NOVELS. SIX YEARS. Praise for Alison Weir and Katherine of Aragon: ''A tender understanding of and genuine sympathy for this proud, much-loved and honourable Queen. . . I was gripped [from] start to finish'' Mavis Cheek ''Well-researched and engrossing'' Good Housekeeping ''Yet again, Alison Weir has managed to intertwine profound historical knowledge with huge emotional intelligence, to compose a work that throws light on an endlessly fascinating historical figure. Yet her real gift in all of this is making it feel so fresh and alive'' Earl Spencer ''This exquisite book charts the rise and fall of Henry VIII''s first wife, Katherine. . . A fascinating insight into this period of our history. Weir''s undeniable strength is her immaculate description, enabling the reader to be transported back to Tudor England'' Sun ''Katherine of Aragon, The True Queen is a true tour de force. Finely crafted, this novel is wonderful historical fiction and an outstanding introduction to the Six Tudor Queens series'' Queen Anne Boleyn Blog ''Known for bestselling historical biographies, Alison Weir is in command of her detail . . . her handling of Katherine''s misery and dignified response to her predicament is very touching'' Elizabeth Buchan, Daily Mail

The New York Times bestselling author of the Six Tudor Queens series explores the dramatic and poignant life of King Henry VIII’s daughter—infamously known as Bloody Mary—who ruled England for five violent years. “An exquisitely drawn, poignant portrayal of one of history’s most complex, maligned, and fascinating figures.”—Tracy Borman, author of Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I Born from young King Henry’s first marriage, his elder daughter, Princess Mary, is raised to be queen once it becomes clear that her mother, Katherine of Aragon, will bear no more children. However, Henry’s passion for Anne Boleyn has a devastating influence on the young princess’s future when, determined to sire a male heir, he marries Anne, has his marriage to Katherine declared unlawful, brands Mary illegitimate, and banishes them both from the royal court. But when Anne too fails to produce a son, she is beheaded and Mary is allowed to return to court as the default heir. At age twenty, she waits in vain for her own marriage and children, but who will marry her, bastard that she is? Yet Mary eventually triumphs and becomes queen, after first deposing a seventeen-year-old usurper, Lady Jane Grey, and ordering her beheading. Any hopes that Mary, as the first female queen regent of England, will show religious toleration are dashed when she embarks on a ruthless campaign to force Catholicism on the English by burning hundreds of Protestants at the stake. But while her brutality will forever earn her the name Bloody Mary, at heart she is an insecure and vulnerable woman, her character forged by the unhappiness of her early years. In Alison Weir’s masterful novel, the drama of Mary I’s life and five-year reign—from her abusive childhood, marriage, and mysterious pregnancies to the cruelty that marks her legacy—comes to vivid life.

Packed with dramatic true stories from one of European history’s most romantic and turbulent eras, this epic narrative chronicles the five vividly rendered queens of the Plantagenet kings who ruled England between 1299 and 1399. The Age of Chivalry describes a period of medieval history dominated by the social, religious, and moral code of knighthood that prized noble deeds, military greatness, and the game of courtly love between aristocratic men and women. It was also a period of high drama in English history, which included the toppling of two kings, the Hundred Years War, the Black Death, and the Peasants’ Revolt. Feudalism was breaking down, resulting in social and political turmoil. Against this dramatic milieu, Alison Weir describes the lives and reigns of five queen consorts: Marguerite of France was seventeen when she became the second wife of sixty-year-old King Edward I. Isabella of France, later known as “the She-Wolf,” dethroned her husband, Edward II, and ruled England with her lover. In contrast, Philippa of Hainault was a popular queen to the deposed king’s son Edward III. Anne of Bohemia was queen to Richard II, but she died young and childless. Isabella of Valois became Richard’s second wife when she was only six years old, but was caught up in events when he was violently overthrown. This was a turbulent and brutal age, despite its chivalric color and ethos, and it stands as a vivid backdrop to the extraordinary stories of these queens’ lives.

''This series is a serious achievement'' THE TIMES on SIX TUDOR QUEENS''Weir is excellent on the little details that bring a world to life'' GUARDIANAlison Weir, Sunday Times-bestselling author of the SIX TUDOR QUEENS series, returns with a captivating new trio of novels spanning three generations of history''s most iconic family, the Tudors.---Mother. Survivor. Queen. The spellbinding story of Elizabeth of York, the first Tudor queen.---AN ENGLISH PRINCESS, BORN INTO A WAR BETWEEN TWO FAMILIES.Eldest daughter of the royal House of York, Elizabeth dreams of a crown to call her own. But when her beloved father, King Edward, dies suddenly, her destiny is rewritten.Her family''s enemies close in. Two young princes are murdered in the Tower. Then her uncle seizes power - and vows to make Elizabeth his queen.But another claimant seeks the throne, the upstart son of the rival royal House of Lancaster. Marriage to this Henry Tudor would unite the white rose of York and the red of Lancaster - and change everything.A great new age awaits. Now Elizabeth must choose her allies - and husband - wisely, and fight for her right to rule. ---PRAISE FOR THE SIX TUDOR QUEENS SERIES:''This brilliant series has brought Henry VIII''s six wives to life as never before'' Tracy Borman ''Profoundly moving... lingers long after the last page'' Elizabeth Fremantle''Well researched and engrossing'' Good Housekeeping''Vivid characters and a wonderful sense of time and place'' Barbara Erskine''An unforgettable portrait of the ambitious woman whose fate we know all too well, but whose true motivations may surprise you'' Telegraph''This brilliant book is a bombshell! Jane Seymour the shy mouse type? Think again! . . . She is vibrant, determined and she sets the King''s court on fire . . . A magnificent novel'' Kate Williams''Hugely enjoyable . . . Alison Weir knows her subject and has a knack for the telling and textural detail'' Daily Mail

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.

In this “immersive tale of Tudor intrigue” (Publishers Weekly), the New York Times bestselling author of The Last White Rose explores the rise of Thomas Wolsey, who was Henry VIII’s chief adviser—until the king accused him of treason. “Henry VIII’s beloved cardinal leaps from the page in all his brilliance, complexity, and humanity. Fans of Wolf Hall have a treat in store.”—Tracy Borman, author of Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I Cardinal Thomas Wolsey enjoyed one of the most meteoric careers in history. His rise from humble beginnings coincided with young Henry VIII’s ascension to the throne in 1509. The two grew to be cherished friends, and by 1515 Wolsey, now a cardinal, had become the controlling figure in all matters of church and state. Wolsey operated on an international stage and worked hard to broker universal peace. All was going dazzlingly well until Henry fell in love with Anne Boleyn—the woman whom Wolsey would one day call “the night crow”—and sought to end his marriage to his first wife, Katherine of Aragon. Swept up in the maelstrom of “the Divorce,” Wolsey, who had successfully given his master everything he wanted, found himself in an impossible situation. As he drew the ire of the future queen, the cardinal found his privileged life and his relationship with Henry crumbling around him. Alison Weir’s poignant novel tells the story of Wolsey the man—his incredible rise to power and his tragic fall. She delves beyond the splendor and political machinations of the Tudor court to reveal the secrets of Wolsey’s private life, the mistress and children he was devoted to, and the tragedy that overtook them. It is a tale of two women, one who loved him and one who hated him—and also a tale of two men, king and commoner, the special, deep-rooted bonds that brought them together and the forces that drove them apart.

A SUNDAY TIMES TOP 10 BESTSELLER ''A riveting read, I simply could not put it down'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ''Seeing her story through her own eyes makes it even more emotional'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ''Told with empathy and understanding. I lived every moment'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ''We get to know the real Katheryn'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ''What a page turner'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The fifth mesmerising novel in the Six Tudor Queens series by Sunday Times bestseller Alison Weir relates one of the most tragic stories in English history. ''This six-book series looks likely to become a landmark in historical fiction'' THE TIMES ''With characteristic verve and stunning period detail, this novel will captivate you and break your heart. Utterly sublime'' TRACY BORMAN A NAIVE YOUNG WOMAN AT THE MERCY OF HER AMBITIOUS FAMILY. At just nineteen, Katheryn Howard is quick to trust and fall in love. She comes to court. She sings, she dances. She captures the heart of the King. But Henry knows nothing of Katheryn''s past - one that comes back increasingly to haunt her. For those who share her secrets are waiting in the shadows, whispering words of love... and blackmail. KATHERYN HOWARD THE FIFTH OF HENRY''S QUEENS HER STORY Acclaimed, bestselling historian Alison Weir draws on extensive research to recount the tale of a vivacious young woman used by powerful men for their own gain. History tells us she died too soon. This mesmerising novel brings her to life. SIX TUDOR QUEENS. SIX NOVELS. SIX YEARS. --- Praise for Alison Weir and Katheryn Howard: ''Conveys the heart-rending pathos of a young woman executed, whose only real crime was her naïveté and her desire to be loved... It is a profoundly moving story that lingers long after the last page is turned'' Elizabeth Fremantle ''Alison''s sensitively drawn novel will change everyone''s preconceptions'' Susan Ronald ''Weir is excellent on the little details that bring a world to life'' Guardian ''Alison Weir makes history come alive as no one else'' Barbara Erskine

Sarah Gristwood takes up the story in 1919, when Princess Patricia of Connaught revived the tradition of royal brides marrying in Westminster Abbey, and goes on to examine the weddings of the Queen Mother (1923), the Queen (1947), and Princess Margaret in 1960. Lastly, Tracy Borman brings the book right up to date, with accounts of the wedding of Prince Charles and Diana Spencer through to the fanfare that will celebrate the nuptials of Kate and William. Every kind of wedding features - from those attended by great public celebrations, to the many that took place in private chapels, parish churches and even in secret.

The Sunday Times top 10 bestseller ''Alison Weir makes Henry VIII''s story feel like it has never been told before... This novel will open your eyes and, at times, break your heart. By the end of it, I felt like I had met Henry for the first time'' Tracy Borman Six wives. One King. You know their stories. Now it''s time to hear his. Prince Harry is born the second son, his brother destined to rule. But Arthur''s untimely death sees Harry crowned King Henry of England. As Henry''s power and influence extends, so commences a lifelong battle between head and heart, love and duty. The fate of the Tudor dynasty depends on an heir, but his prayers for a son go unanswered. And the crown weighs heavy on a king with all but his one true desire... HENRY VIII. HIS STORY. Alison Weir''s most ambitious Tudor novel yet reveals the captivating story of a man who was by turns brilliant, romantic, and ruthless: the king who changed England forever. --- PRAISE FOR ALISON WEIR''S TUDOR FICTION ''This is where the story of the Tudors begins and is historical fiction at its absolute best'' Tracy Borman ''History has the best stories and they should all be told like this'' Conn Iggulden ''A serious achievement'' The Times ''Weir is excellent on the little details that bring a world to life'' Guardian

Christmas in Tudor times was a period of feasting, revelry and merrymaking ‘to drive the cold winter away’. A carnival atmosphere presided at court, with a twelve-day-long festival of entertainments, pageants, theatre productions and ‘disguisings’, when even the king and queen dressed up in costume to fool their courtiers. Throughout the festive season, all ranks of subjects were freed for a short time from everyday cares to indulge in eating, drinking, dancing and game-playing. We might assume that our modern Christmas owes much to the Victorians. In fact, as Alison Weir and Siobhan Clarke reveal in this fascinating book, many of our favourite Christmas traditions date back much further. Carol-singing, present-giving, mulled wine and mince pies were all just as popular in Tudor times, and even Father Christmas and roast turkey dinners have their origins in this period. The festival was so beloved by English people that Christmas traditions survived remarkably unchanged in this age of tumultuous religious upheaval. Beautifully illustrated with original line drawings throughout, this enchanting compendium will fascinate anyone with an interest in Tudor life – and anyone who loves Christmas.

The captivating new Tudor novel from Alison Weir, Sunday Times bestselling author of Six Tudor Queens. ''Alison Weir gives us her most compelling heroine yet... This is where the story of the Tudors begins'' Tracy Borman ''History has the best stories and they should all be told like this'' Conn Iggulden ''A stunning read, and the perfect piece of historical fiction'' Reader review ''This is novel that captured my imagination, educated me and emotionally moved me'' Reader review --- A princess born into a war between two families... Firstborn of the royal House of York, Elizabeth dreams of wearing a crown. But in England, queens do not rule. When her beloved father, King Edward, dies suddenly, his brother seizes power. Two young princes disappear into the Tower. Yet another claimant seeks the crown, the upstart heir of the rival House of Lancaster. Marriage to this Henry Tudor would unite their warring families - and help Elizabeth to the throne she knows is hers by right. A glorious new age awaits. Now Elizabeth must choose her allies wisely as she fights to become mother and queen of a great new dynasty. Elizabeth of York. The first Tudor queen. Her story. --- READERS FELL IN LOVE WITH ELIZABETH OF YORK... ''I found her an inspirational woman, full of strength...I truly adored this book'' ''She becomes the matriarch of the Tudor destiny after a series of intrigue, conflict, and most likely murder... a brilliant read'' ''Alison Weir''s writing just makes history that bit more exciting and accessible'' ''It was refreshing to read such a detailed and informative book of an almost forgotten Queen'' ''An amazing read as expected from Alison Weir, she breathes life into Elizabeth and those around her''

The surprising and dramatic life of the least known of King Henry VIII''s wives is illuminated in the fourth volume in the Six Tudor Queens series--for fans of Philippa Gregory, Hilary Mantel, and The Crown. Newly widowed and the father of an infant son, Henry VIII realizes he must marry again to ensure the royal succession. Forty-six, overweight, and suffering from gout, Henry is soundly rejected by some of Europe''s most eligible princesses. Anna of Kleve, from a small German duchy, is twenty-four, and has a secret she is desperate to keep hidden. Henry commissions her portrait from his court painter, who depicts her from the most flattering perspective. Entranced by the lovely image, Henry is bitterly surprised when Anna arrives in England and he sees her in the flesh. Some think her attractive, but Henry knows he can never love her. What follows is the fascinating story of an awkward royal union that somehow had to be terminated. Even as Henry begins to warm to his new wife and share her bed, his attention is captivated by one of her maids-of-honor. Will he accuse Anna of adultery as he did Queen Anne Boleyn, and send her to the scaffold? Or will he divorce her and send her home in disgrace? Alison Weir takes a fresh and astonishing look at this remarkable royal marriage by describing it from the point of view of Queen Anna, a young woman with hopes and dreams of her own, alone and fearing for her life in a royal court that rejected her almost from the day she set foot on England''s shore.

The new novel from the New York Times bestselling historian Alison Weir tells the story of one of history''s most scandalous love affairs: the romance between the new, young "Virgin Queen" Elizabeth I and her handsome married courtier, Lord Robert Dudley. He is her dashing Master of Horse. She is the 25-year-old newly crowned English Queen, a title she holds only because there is no male heir to inherit it. Yet in spite of her tenuous hold on the throne, young Queen Elizabeth begins a flagrant flirtation with the handsome but married Lord Robert, taking long unchaperoned horseback rides with him and constantly having him at her side. Many believe them to be lovers, and over time the rumors grow that Elizabeth is no virgin at all, and that she has secretly borne Lord Robert''s child. When Robert''s wife is found dead, lying at the bottom of a staircase with her neck broken, there is universal shock followed by accusations of murder. Picking up where Alison Weir''s bestselling novel to date, The Lady Elizabeth, left off (but standing completely alone), The Marriage Game tells the dramatic story of the "Virgin Queen''s" reign, framed by Elizabeth''s long and tumultuous relationship with Lord Robert. Did they or didn''t they? Rivers of ink have been spilled in determining the answer to this burning historical question, and you can be sure Alison Weir has strong opinions about Elizabeth''s questionable virginity, based on a lifetime of research. But fiction gives her a free hand to explore this intriguing love affair in its every colourful detail, and the resulting novel is one of her best."

Mary Boleyn is remembered by posterity as a ''great and infamous whore''. She was the mistress of two kings, Francois I of France and Henry VIII of England, and sister to Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII''s second wife.