Attention fans of Tom Rob Smith's Child 44: be on the lookout for The Holy Thief, William Ryan's debut novel, which hits shelves in September.
The place: Moscow. The year: 1936. Stalin's purges have started, no one's safe from denunciation, and to make matters worse, the city is shocked by a brutal murder. On the face of it, it's merely a gruesome crime, but as Captain Alexei Korolev begins his investigation, he senses there might be more to it than just a random act of violence.
There's intrigue involving the NKVD, the criminal underworld of the Soviet capital, a stolen religious relic, and the question of just how much one can really know of another person in a totalitarian state where every gesture, every word, must be carefully guarded. Reserve your copy today!
--Nora
Showing posts with label historical novels. Show all posts
Showing posts with label historical novels. Show all posts
Monday, August 23, 2010
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
More Historical Intrigue
What began as just another Showtime series soon became my obsession.
Life in Tudor England and especially the court of Henry VIII caught my attention not only for the main character Jonathan Ryes Myers but also the subject line that followed.
I knew it would be a fictional tale with liberties taken in the plot but soon it proved to be an interesting adaptation of this time in history.
Because of this Showtime series I found myself reading books, some fiction others nonfiction, in an attempt to sort out the true facts from the surreal; what follows are a list of books I found myself reading in a futile attempt to unravel the story.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Six Wives of Henry VIII
By: Alison Weir
The author uses many public records and personal letters of the early 1500's to offer a comprehensive version of the tempestuous private and public lives of Henry VIII and his six wives.
In Triumph's Wake: Royal Mothers, Tragic Daughters, and the Price They Paid for Glory
By: Julia P. Gelardi
Historian Gelardi focuses on the fates of three pairs of royal mothers and daughters: Isabella of Castile and Catherine of Aragon, Maria Theresa and Marie Antoinette, and Queen Victoria and Empress Frederick.
The Constant Princess
By: Philippa Gregory
As youngest daughter to the Spanish monarchs King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, Catalina was promised to the English Prince Arthur when she was three. She leaves Spain at 15 to fulfill her destiny as queen of England but things do not turn out as planned, in this dramatization it shows how Catalina uses her faith, her cunning and her utter belief in destiny to reclaim her rightful title after the death of Price Arthur.
Mademoiselle Boleyn
By: Robin Maxwell
A look at the future queen of England before Henry VIII comes into her life.
Anne Boleyn; A new Life of England’s Tragic Queen
By: Denny, Joanna
For a change of pace read about the true life and tragedy associated with the life of Anne Boleyn.
The Other Boleyn Girl
Starring: Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson
DVD 2008
This is a tale of two sisters competing for the same king. This movie version uses some historical but mostly fictional details to weave an interesting and entertaining story.
The Last Wife of Henry VIII
By Carolly Erickson
In this first-person account of the life of Catherine Parr, who survived marriage to the dangerous and mercurial Henry Tudor, is arguably his most interesting bride. Cultured, well-educated and beautiful, "Cat" catches Henry's eye as a young girl and benefits and suffers from his favor all her life but in the end, gets everything she wants.
The Children of Henry VIII
By: Alison Weir
The tragedy of four accidental rivals to a throne, three of them children by different mothers of a much married king does not lose any of its drama by frequent retelling. Along with the royal siblings the doomed Lady Jane Grey is included.
Innocent Traitor: A Novel of Lady Jane Grey
By: Alison Weir
Lady Jane Grey (1537–1554), whose ascension to the English throne was briefly and unluckily. Jane's parents groomed her from infancy to be the perfect consort for Henry's son, Prince Edward. When Edward dies, Lord and Lady Dorset maneuver the throne for their 16-year-old daughter. Using multiple narrators, Weir weaves a conspiratorial web with Jane caught at the center.
The Lady Elizabeth
By Alison Weir
The tale chronicles the life of Elizabeth I from her early childhood to her coronation, through the final years of her father, Henry VIII, and the brief reigns of her siblings, Edward VI and Queen Mary.
The Mistresses of Henry VIII
By: Kelly Hart
This is a behind the scenes look at the many other women in King Henry VIII’s life.
I find myself anxiously awaiting the start of season four of Showtime’s “The Tudors” and reading, not only about the wives and children, but the many other fascinating people during this time period.
--Lois
Life in Tudor England and especially the court of Henry VIII caught my attention not only for the main character Jonathan Ryes Myers but also the subject line that followed.
I knew it would be a fictional tale with liberties taken in the plot but soon it proved to be an interesting adaptation of this time in history.
Because of this Showtime series I found myself reading books, some fiction others nonfiction, in an attempt to sort out the true facts from the surreal; what follows are a list of books I found myself reading in a futile attempt to unravel the story.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Six Wives of Henry VIII
By: Alison Weir
The author uses many public records and personal letters of the early 1500's to offer a comprehensive version of the tempestuous private and public lives of Henry VIII and his six wives.
In Triumph's Wake: Royal Mothers, Tragic Daughters, and the Price They Paid for Glory
By: Julia P. Gelardi
Historian Gelardi focuses on the fates of three pairs of royal mothers and daughters: Isabella of Castile and Catherine of Aragon, Maria Theresa and Marie Antoinette, and Queen Victoria and Empress Frederick.
The Constant Princess
By: Philippa Gregory
As youngest daughter to the Spanish monarchs King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, Catalina was promised to the English Prince Arthur when she was three. She leaves Spain at 15 to fulfill her destiny as queen of England but things do not turn out as planned, in this dramatization it shows how Catalina uses her faith, her cunning and her utter belief in destiny to reclaim her rightful title after the death of Price Arthur.
Mademoiselle Boleyn
By: Robin Maxwell
A look at the future queen of England before Henry VIII comes into her life.
Anne Boleyn; A new Life of England’s Tragic Queen
By: Denny, Joanna
For a change of pace read about the true life and tragedy associated with the life of Anne Boleyn.
The Other Boleyn Girl
Starring: Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson
DVD 2008
This is a tale of two sisters competing for the same king. This movie version uses some historical but mostly fictional details to weave an interesting and entertaining story.
The Last Wife of Henry VIII
By Carolly Erickson
In this first-person account of the life of Catherine Parr, who survived marriage to the dangerous and mercurial Henry Tudor, is arguably his most interesting bride. Cultured, well-educated and beautiful, "Cat" catches Henry's eye as a young girl and benefits and suffers from his favor all her life but in the end, gets everything she wants.
The Children of Henry VIII
By: Alison Weir
The tragedy of four accidental rivals to a throne, three of them children by different mothers of a much married king does not lose any of its drama by frequent retelling. Along with the royal siblings the doomed Lady Jane Grey is included.
Innocent Traitor: A Novel of Lady Jane Grey
By: Alison Weir
Lady Jane Grey (1537–1554), whose ascension to the English throne was briefly and unluckily. Jane's parents groomed her from infancy to be the perfect consort for Henry's son, Prince Edward. When Edward dies, Lord and Lady Dorset maneuver the throne for their 16-year-old daughter. Using multiple narrators, Weir weaves a conspiratorial web with Jane caught at the center.
The Lady Elizabeth
By Alison Weir
The tale chronicles the life of Elizabeth I from her early childhood to her coronation, through the final years of her father, Henry VIII, and the brief reigns of her siblings, Edward VI and Queen Mary.
The Mistresses of Henry VIII
By: Kelly Hart
This is a behind the scenes look at the many other women in King Henry VIII’s life.
I find myself anxiously awaiting the start of season four of Showtime’s “The Tudors” and reading, not only about the wives and children, but the many other fascinating people during this time period.
--Lois
Monday, September 28, 2009
What I'm reading
1. Just finished Jeff Lindsay's fourth installment in his Dexter series, Dexter by Design. When his sister is stabbed in the line of duty, our favorite serial killer tracks down the person he thinks is responsible. But this time Dexter's made a rare mistake, and somebody's out for revenge. What's a psychopathic predator to do when the tables are turned and he becomes the prey?
2. Currently wrapped up in American On Purpose, Craig Ferguson's hilarious, heartbreaking memoir of his misadventures on the road from substance-abusing Scottish punk rocker to sober comedian with his own late-night TV show - and an American citizen. Enjoying it immensely, even if I'm never up late enough to catch Craig's show!
3. Next up will be An Echo in the Bone, the long (long, long, long)-awaited next chapter in Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series. I can't wait to see what Claire and Jamie Fraser are up to, as the American Revolution gets closer and closer; and whatever happened to their daughter Brianna and her family, once they returned to the twentieth century? I'm not even going to peek at the last page on this one - I'd rather be surprised.
How about you? What have you read lately that you want to tell us about?
--Nora
2. Currently wrapped up in American On Purpose, Craig Ferguson's hilarious, heartbreaking memoir of his misadventures on the road from substance-abusing Scottish punk rocker to sober comedian with his own late-night TV show - and an American citizen. Enjoying it immensely, even if I'm never up late enough to catch Craig's show!
3. Next up will be An Echo in the Bone, the long (long, long, long)-awaited next chapter in Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series. I can't wait to see what Claire and Jamie Fraser are up to, as the American Revolution gets closer and closer; and whatever happened to their daughter Brianna and her family, once they returned to the twentieth century? I'm not even going to peek at the last page on this one - I'd rather be surprised.
How about you? What have you read lately that you want to tell us about?
--Nora
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Historical Intrigue
Looking for scandal, political intrigue and religious turmoil? Then check out the goings on in England and France by following the escapades of Elizabeth I of England, Princess Alais of France, and the Boleyn sisters. Cloak and dagger, secrets whispered behind tapestries, unrequited love, courtly misadventures and countries in turmoil abound in The Lady Elizabeth by Alison Weir, The Rebel Princess by Judith Koll Healey and The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillipa Gregory. Be transported.
--Alana F.
--Alana F.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Intrigue in Elizabethan England
The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory is the author’s take on what happened while Mary, Queen of Scots was a “guest” in England from 1568-1587. After a failed uprising in May 1568, Mary fled to England seeking protection from her cousin Queen Elizabeth I. Instead, Elizabeth had her arrested and imprisoned.
The book begins when George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, and his wife, Bess of Hardwick, agree to take on Queen Mary as a “guest” in their home at Tutbury Castle during her stay in England. They believe this privilege will gain them favor at Elizabeth’s court. However, Elizabeth and her advisors cannot decide quite what to do with Mary, and the “visit” goes on longer than George or Bess ever thought it would.
Queen Elizabeth’s advisors know England cannot support Mary retaking the Scottish throne; if she succeeds, Scottish lords - and some English ones - will support her claim to the throne of England. She remains a “guest,” moving with the family to their different homes.
Early on, Bess is assured that she and her husband will be reimbursed for the cost of keeping Mary with them. As time goes on and there’s no repayment, she begins to wonder if she will ever see the money again. Mary still insists on being treated as a queen and having her entourage with her at all times, which causes a strain on Bess and George’s finances. Will housing all these people bankrupt Bess and George?
The financial strain is unbearable for Bess, who is a self-made woman. She grew up with next to nothing and, through her first three marriages, amassed a small fortune of her own. Bess is the one who keeps the books for all of the property she and her husband own, so she knows better than he how Mary’s stay is hurting them. George becomes so smitten with Mary that he does not care about the finances; he thinks she should have whatever she desires and whatever will make her the happiest.
Queen Elizabeth’s chief advisor William Cecil and his large group of spies are concerned with gathering information about Mary: whom she sees, what she does, who writes to her, whom she writes to, and more. They hope that her activities and whom she socializes with will show that, even from within the borders of England, Mary is plotting with the Scots to overthrow Elizabeth and take the throne. Bess is Cecil’s informant in her household, which upsets the besotted George when he finds out.
Even though I knew how Mary’s part of the story would end, I read to see how she’d react to being imprisoned while being referred to as a guest. I read to learn how hosting Mary would affect Bess and George, personally, financially, as well as how it would affect their relationship with each other. For me, this is proof of Gregory’s abilities as a storyteller.
Gregory’s knowledge about the Tudors in general, and the research she conducts for on each story’s specific subject, make all of her novels historically accurate, as well as good reads. Of course she takes liberties with some parts of her novels, such as conversations between characters; it’s not possible to know exactly what was said between Mary and Bess during Mary’s stay. Gregory’s knowledge of the Tudors also earned her a spot as the Tudor expert on a show called Time Team, a British show about archeological digs in England.
I recommend this book for anyone looking to enjoy a good historical novel about Mary, Queen of Scots and Tudor England.
--Erika E.
The book begins when George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, and his wife, Bess of Hardwick, agree to take on Queen Mary as a “guest” in their home at Tutbury Castle during her stay in England. They believe this privilege will gain them favor at Elizabeth’s court. However, Elizabeth and her advisors cannot decide quite what to do with Mary, and the “visit” goes on longer than George or Bess ever thought it would.
Queen Elizabeth’s advisors know England cannot support Mary retaking the Scottish throne; if she succeeds, Scottish lords - and some English ones - will support her claim to the throne of England. She remains a “guest,” moving with the family to their different homes.
Early on, Bess is assured that she and her husband will be reimbursed for the cost of keeping Mary with them. As time goes on and there’s no repayment, she begins to wonder if she will ever see the money again. Mary still insists on being treated as a queen and having her entourage with her at all times, which causes a strain on Bess and George’s finances. Will housing all these people bankrupt Bess and George?
The financial strain is unbearable for Bess, who is a self-made woman. She grew up with next to nothing and, through her first three marriages, amassed a small fortune of her own. Bess is the one who keeps the books for all of the property she and her husband own, so she knows better than he how Mary’s stay is hurting them. George becomes so smitten with Mary that he does not care about the finances; he thinks she should have whatever she desires and whatever will make her the happiest.
Queen Elizabeth’s chief advisor William Cecil and his large group of spies are concerned with gathering information about Mary: whom she sees, what she does, who writes to her, whom she writes to, and more. They hope that her activities and whom she socializes with will show that, even from within the borders of England, Mary is plotting with the Scots to overthrow Elizabeth and take the throne. Bess is Cecil’s informant in her household, which upsets the besotted George when he finds out.
Even though I knew how Mary’s part of the story would end, I read to see how she’d react to being imprisoned while being referred to as a guest. I read to learn how hosting Mary would affect Bess and George, personally, financially, as well as how it would affect their relationship with each other. For me, this is proof of Gregory’s abilities as a storyteller.
Gregory’s knowledge about the Tudors in general, and the research she conducts for on each story’s specific subject, make all of her novels historically accurate, as well as good reads. Of course she takes liberties with some parts of her novels, such as conversations between characters; it’s not possible to know exactly what was said between Mary and Bess during Mary’s stay. Gregory’s knowledge of the Tudors also earned her a spot as the Tudor expert on a show called Time Team, a British show about archeological digs in England.
I recommend this book for anyone looking to enjoy a good historical novel about Mary, Queen of Scots and Tudor England.
--Erika E.
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