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BOOK REVIEW: ‘Thorns, Lust, and Glory’ by Estelle Paranque

Published on by Caroline AngusLeave a comment

A queen on the edge.

Anne Boleyn has mesmerised the English public for centuries. Her tragic execution, orchestrated by her own husband, never ceases to intrigue. How did this courtier’s daughter become the queen of England, and what was it that really tore apart this illustrious marriage, making her the whore of England, an abandoned woman executed on the scaffold? While many stories of Anne Boleyn’s downfall have been told, few have truly traced the origins of her tragic fate.

In Thorns, Lust and Glory, Estelle Paranque takes us back to where it all started- to France, where Anne learned the lessons that would set her on the path to becoming one of England’s most infamous queens. At the court of the French king as a resourceful teenage girl, Anne’s journey to infamy began, and this landmark biography explores the world that shaped her, and how these loyalties would leave her vulnerable, leading to her ruin at the court of Henry VIII.

A fascinating new perspective on Tudor history’s most enduring story, Thorns, Lust and Glory is an unmissable account of a queen on the edge.

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Thorns, Lust and Glory: The Story of Anne Boleyn offers a fresh and captivating perspective on one of Tudor England’s most enigmatic figures. Anne Boleyn, whose life and tragic death have fascinated historians and the public alike for centuries, is brought to life in this compelling biography that traces her journey from a courtier’s daughter to the queen of England, and ultimately, to the scaffold. Paranque skillfully examines Anne’s early life, particularly her formative years in France, to explore how these experiences shaped the woman who would become Henry VIII’s most controversial wife.

One of the most impressive aspects of Thorns, Lust and Glory is Paranque’s focus on Anne’s time in the French court. This period of Anne’s life is often glossed over in other biographies, but Paranque brings it to the forefront, arguing that it was in France that Anne developed the skills, charm, and political acumen that would later captivate Henry VIII. At the French court, Anne was exposed to a sophisticated culture of courtly love, intellectual debate, and political strategy, all of which she would later use to her advantage in England. Paranque vividly depicts the French court as a place of both opportunity and danger, where Anne honed her abilities but also where she learned the harsh realities of court life—lessons that would both elevate and then doom her.

Paranque’s portrayal of Anne is nuanced and empathetic. Rather than depicting her simply as a victim of Henry VIII’s whims or as a scheming temptress, Paranque presents Anne as a complex and resourceful woman who was deeply influenced by her upbringing and experiences. Anne’s time in France, Paranque suggests, not only gave her the tools to rise to power but also left her with vulnerabilities that would later be exploited by her enemies at the English court. This duality is central to Paranque’s interpretation of Anne’s life, making this biography both a study of her strengths and a poignant exploration of her tragic flaws.

The book also provides a compelling analysis of the forces that led to Anne’s downfall. While many accounts focus on the immediate events leading to her execution—her inability to produce a male heir, the rise of Jane Seymour, and the political machinations of her enemies—Paranque traces the origins of Anne’s fate back to her early alliances and the lessons she learned in France. This approach offers a broader and more complex understanding of why Anne ultimately became the “whore of England” in the eyes of her detractors and why Henry, who had once moved heaven and earth to marry her, so ruthlessly discarded her.

BOOK REVIEW: ‘The Waiting Game’ by Nicola Clark

Published on by Caroline AngusLeave a comment

Every Tudor Queen had ladies-in-waiting. They were her confidantes and her chaperones. Only the Queen’s ladies had the right to enter her most private chambers, spending hours helping her to get dressed and undressed, caring for her clothes and jewels, listening to her secrets. But they also held a unique power. A quiet word behind the scenes, an appropriately timed gift, a well-negotiated marriage alliance were all forms of political agency wielded expertly by women.

The Waiting Game explores the daily lives of ladies-in-waiting, revealing the secrets of recruitment, costume, what they ate, where (and with whom) they slept. We meet Maria de Salinas, who travelled to England with Catherine of Aragon when just a teenager and spied for her during the divorce from Henry VIII. Anne Boleyn’s lady-in-waiting Jane Parker was instrumental in the execution of not one, but two queens. And maid-of-honour Anne Basset kept her place through the last four consorts, negotiating the conflicting loyalties of her birth family, her mistress the Queen, and even the desires of the King himself. As Henry changed wives, and changed the very fabric of the country’s structure besides, these women had to make choices about loyalty that simply didn’t exist before. The Waiting Game is the first time their vital story has been told.

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Nicola Clark’s The Waiting Game: Ladies-in-Waiting at the Tudor Court delves into the fascinating world of the women who served the queens of Tudor England, offering readers a unique perspective on the courtly life that is often overlooked. While much has been written about the kings and queens who shaped this era, Clark shines a spotlight on the ladies-in-waiting who played a critical, though largely behind-the-scenes, role in the political and personal dramas of the Tudor court.

Clark begins by exploring the multifaceted roles these women played in the lives of the Tudor queens. Far more than mere attendants, ladies-in-waiting were companions, friends, and even political operatives. They were the only individuals granted access to the queen’s most private chambers, assisting with everything from dressing and bathing, to listening to her innermost thoughts. In this intimate setting, these women wielded a subtle but significant power, capable of influencing royal decisions through a private conversation, a thoughtful bribe, or a strategically arranged marriage.

One of the strengths of The Waiting Game is how Clark brings to life the daily existence of these women, revealing the intricate details of their backgrounds, selections and how they lived at court day-to-day. The book offers a vivid portrayal of what it was like to live at the Tudor court in both public and private.  Clark’s research is thorough, drawing on a wide range of sources to provide an authentic and immersive experience for the reader.

The Waiting Game stands out as the first comprehensive account of the vital role these women played in the Tudor court. Clark’s writing is both engaging and insightful, making this book accessible to both scholars and general readers interested in Tudor history. By focusing on the ladies-in-waiting, Clark provides a fresh perspective on the era, one that underscores the importance of women’s roles in shaping the course of history, even if they did so from the shadows.

BOOK REVIEW: ‘The Son of Prophecy’ by Nathen Amin

Published on by Caroline AngusLeave a comment

As England’s most celebrated royal dynasty, it’s often overlooked that the Tudors have their origins in rural Wales, far from the urban centres of English power where they dared to become great. When Henry Tudor won the English crown by defeating Richard III in battle, he was a stranger to the people he now ruled, an ‘unknown Welshman’ in the words of his defeated foe. In his native Wales, however, Henry had long been championed as the Son of Prophecy, a foretold national messiah who would free his oppressed people from their lengthy misery. How had this remarkable situation come about? In this lucid and riveting account, Nathen Amin deftly explores how one redoubtable Welsh family thrived during lean years of political chaos, national instability, and intergenerational bloodshed to leave behind a complex legacy that changed the face of England and Wales forever. It is a passionately told tale of treachery, cunning, love, and heartbreak. From Penmynydd to Bosworth, this is the enthralling, action-packed story of the Tudors, but not as you know it.

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The Tudors have long been seen as the powerful family of the English court, but their origins cast a much wider story. Nathen Amin’s Son of Prophecy: Henry Tudor’s Road to Bosworth brings to life the story of how this remarkable dynasty began in the rural landscapes of Wales, far removed from the heart of English politics. Amin’s book is a masterful exploration of the journey that transformed Henry Tudor from a quiet figure into a monarch capable of reshaping English history.

Amin begins by illuminating the humble origins of the Tudor family, rooted in the remote Welsh countryside. The book paints a vivid picture of how this family, despite being on the fringes of English power, navigated the treacherous waters of politics, turmoil and decades of war. The Tudors’ survival and eventual rise were not mere accidents of history but the result of strategic alliances, sheer determination, and an unyielding belief in their destiny. Amin deftly explores how these factors created the conditions that allowed Henry Tudor to emerge as a contender for the English throne.

One of the most compelling aspects of Son of Prophecy is Amin’s exploration of the Welsh cultural and prophetic traditions that framed Henry’s rise. In Wales, Henry was not just a claimant to the English throne, but someone destined to rescue his people. This deeply rooted belief in Henry as a national saviour added a layer of significance to his quest for the crown that extended beyond mere political ambition. Amin effectively captures the sense of hope and desperation that accompanied Henry’s rise, making it clear that his victory at Bosworth was not just a military triumph but a fulfilment of a long-held national dream.

Amin’s account of the Battle of Bosworth, where Henry defeated Richard III, is particularly riveting. He skillfully details the strategy, key players, and the high stakes involved, all while keeping the reader engaged with the human elements of the story. The battle is portrayed not just as a clash of armies but as the culmination of a complex and perilous journey that had its roots in the rugged hills of Wales.

What sets Son of Prophecy apart from other Tudor biographies is its focus on the personal perspective and the emphasis on the Tudors’ cultural identity before they became synonymous with English royalty. Amin’s passion for the subject shines through in his writing, making this not just a history book but a story rich with emotion and drama. His portrayal of the Tudors as a family that thrived against all odds, in a time of great uncertainty, adds depth to our understanding of their legacy.

 

HISTORICAL BOOK REVIEW SERIES: ‘Women in Medieval England’ by Lynda Telford

Published on by Caroline AngusLeave a comment

This fascinating book explores the status of women in medieval England, both before and after the Norman Conquest.

The author starts by contrasting the differences in status between Anglo/Danish or Saxon women with those who fell under the burden of the feudal system imposed by the Normans. She covers such subjects as marriage and childbirth, the rights and responsibilities of wives, separation and divorce, safety and security and the challenges of widowhood. She also examines such issues as virginity and chastity and the pressures placed on women by religious groups.

At a time when women’s rights were minimal, the author charts their struggles against the sexual politics of the era, its inequalities and its hypocrisies. She also examines the problems of the woman alone, from forced marriage to prostitution. The lives of ordinary women are the centre of attention, painting a fascinating picture of their courage and resilience against the background of their times.

cover and blurb via amazon

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Resting on the theme of women in history is Women in Medieval England. My initial interest in this book was the pre-conquest women included. England and its rulers is so often detailed as post-1066, so someone like myself with limited knowledge of the Anglo-Saxon era found the overview and laws of the time useful. New leaders made for new husbands for noble women, who may not even be able to understand them, given language barriers. A nightmare of any woman, and to cap it off, not speaking your new husband/owner’s language is a scary thought.

What classified as marriage was quite different (as I’m sure everyone knows) which made for a messy history and difficult lives for the women traded to their husbands. The book even delves into what was birth control in the pots-1066 era, and lol-worthy concepts for cures for impotence. Life for women was exceptionally difficult, mostly due to the largely uncontrollable act of pregnancy, and the book shows just how damned awful it was for our predecessors to battle on creating a new generation.
Married life was all kinds of awful – as everyone knows the ‘rule of thumb,’ in that a man cannot beat his wife with anything thicker than his thumb. Though, in some ways, you read this and wonder how much life has altered for many women. This book digs through a realities of being a woman in the medieval period, where men are cast as sword-wielding heroes, women have been left standing in mud-floor huts. This shines a light on those women, who had the temperament of saints, strength tougher than any soldier, and bravery beyond that of a king. The world was a strange place for women; you could die of the plague, or you could survive an outbreak and clean up in the vacant jobs market.
This is no heavy book you will be reaching for when researching, it is a read on the lives of women in a world none of us would want to return to. There is plenty of information to be had in here, without feeling like you’re in a history lesson, a book for those who would like to read for pleasure, not study.

HISTORICAL BOOK REVIEW SERIES: ‘Heroines of the Medieval World’ by Sharon Bennett Connolly

Published on by Caroline AngusLeave a comment

These are the stories of women, famous, infamous and unknown, who shaped the course of medieval history. The lives and actions of medieval women were restricted by the men who ruled the homes, countries and world they lived in. It was men who fought wars, made laws and dictated religious doctrine. It was men who were taught to read, trained to rule and expected to fight. Today, it is easy to think that all women from this era were downtrodden, retiring and obedient housewives, whose sole purpose was to give birth to children (preferably boys) and serve their husbands. Heroines of the Medieval World looks at the lives of the women who broke the mould: those who defied social norms and made their own future, consequently changing lives, society and even the course of history.

Some of the women are famous, such as Eleanor of Aquitaine, who was not only a duchess in her own right but also Queen Consort of France through her first marriage and Queen Consort of England through her second, in addition to being a crusader and a rebel. Then there are the more obscure but no less remarkable figures such as Nicholaa de la Haye, who defended Lincoln Castle in the name of King John, and Maud de Braose, who spoke out against the same king’s excesses and whose death (or murder) was the inspiration for a clause in Magna Carta.

Women had to walk a fine line in the Middle Ages, but many learned to survive – even flourish – in this male-dominated world. Some led armies, while others made their influence felt in more subtle ways, but all made a contribution to their era and should be remembered for daring to defy and lead in a world that demanded they obey and follow.

cover and blurb viz amazon

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I have spent a long time with my head in academic history books, so to read something that reads more like a story was a welcome relief. Heroines of the Medieval World is a book hard to get here in NZ, so when a copy generously floated my way, I grabbed it with both hands. The first thing I thought was – do we still use the word ‘heroine?’ Should it not just be ‘heroes?’ But then people may purchase and then get their egos crushed by finding out all the heroes are women. That only made me like this book more.

The book is great, separated into chapters about women from all over Europe. The book writes about the women of England and France, but also from Spain (yay!) and even as far east as Kiev. There are Warrior Heroines, Literary Heroines, Religious Heroines and Scandalous Heroines. You can read them in order, or however you like depending on your mood. I enjoyed how The Pawns weren’t simply bartering gifts, but smart women in their own right, and the Medieval Mistresses were more fleshed out (excuse the pun) than the simply fallen women ideal.

You won’t be confused between your Eleanors, your Matildas or your Isabels, and while you will read about well-known heroines, they are also great forgotten women given fresh air. The women are not viewed as heroines through 21st century eyes, rather they are simply celebrated for their strength in the time period while on their own crusades. They are heroines for all centuries. Putting together such a thorough assembly of women must have taken considerable time and energy, so treat yourself to the author’s hard work and gain further insight to the women that came before us. Heroines have far more skills and techniques than any hero.