Alison Weir

Described by Christopher Marlowe as the 'She-Wolf of France', Isabella was one of the most notorious femme fatales in history.

Packed with colourful description, meticulous in historical detail, rich in pageantry, intrigue, passion, and luxury, Weir brilliantly renders King Henry VIII, his court, and the fascinating men and women who vied for its pleasures and rewards.

She lived to be 82, but it was only in old age that she triumphed over the adversities and tragedies of her earlier years and became virtual ruler of England. Eleanor has exerted a fascination over writers and biographers for 800 years, but the prevailing myths and legends that attach to her name still tend to obscure the truth.

An "evocative" (Newsday) biography of Eleanor of Aquitaine, queen of England and France, who transcended the mores of society--from the New York Times bestselling author of The Last White Rose "An alluringly candid portrait of this most public yet elusive of medieval women."--The Boston Globe " Alison Weir] has perfected the art of bringing history to life."--Chicago Tribune Renowned in her time as the most beautiful woman in Europe, the wife of two kings and the mother of three, Eleanor of Aquitaine was one of the great heroines of the Middle Ages. In an era when women were regarded as little more than chattel, Eleanor defied convention as she exercised power in the political sphere and crucial influence over her husbands and sons. Eleanor of Aquitaine lived a long life of many contrasts, of splendor and desolation, power and peril, and in this stunning narrative Weir captures the woman--and the queen--in all her glory. With astonishing historic detail, mesmerizing pageantry, and irresistible accounts of royal scandal and intrigue, Weir paints a vibrant portrait of this truly exceptional woman and provides new insights into her intimate world.

From the bestselling author of SIX TUDOR QUEENS, a captivating new novel about two Boleyn cousins, close as sisters - and the truth that will change everything. 'Vivid and utterly addictive... brings to life a fascinating woman who has remained in the shadows for too long' TRACY BORMAN 'Her story is as fascinating as it is gripping... a remarkable woman who had a ring-side seat to some of the most precarious and pivotal passages of history' ELIZABETH FREMANTLE A BOLEYN WOMAN IS NO STRANGER TO SECRETS... At twelve years old, Kate Carey attends her aunt, Queen Anne Boleyn, to the scaffold. Horrified by what she witnesses, Kate is convinced that King Henry VIII has sent an innocent woman to a terrible death. As the Boleyns fall from favour, Kate serves her now motherless cousin, the young Lady Elizabeth. Bound by Boleyn blood, the two girls are like sisters, until Kate marries for love - and leaves a jealous Elizabeth behind. At court, Kate cannot ignore the sly looks thrown her way, nor the whispers behind her back. Only when her mother, Mary, lies dying, does she learn the life-shattering truth that the Boleyns have been hiding for years. It is a secret that will haunt Kate throughout her life, as her family flee into exile, only returning home when Elizabeth becomes queen. But the bond between the Boleyn cousins will never be the same again... PRAISE FOR ALISON WEIR'S TUDOR FICTION 'History has the best stories and they should all be told like this' CONN IGGULDEN 'As always, Alison Weir is ahead of the curve - and at the top of her game' SARAH GRISTWOOD 'Alison Weir makes history come alive as no one else' BARBARA ERSKINE 'Weir is excellent on the little details that bring a world to life' GUARDIAN 'Profoundly moving... lingers long after the last page' ELIZABETH FREMANTLE

The spellbinding new Tudor novel from Sunday Times bestseller Alison Weir. 'Nobody brings historical characters to life like Alison Weir, with her instinct for illuminating period detail and dramatic storytelling' TRACY BORMAN Boleyn women. Passionate, legendary, full of secrets... At twelve years old, Kate Carey attends her aunt, Queen Anne Boleyn, to the scaffold. Horrified by what she witnesses, Kate is convinced that King Henry VIII has sent an innocent woman to a terrible death. As the Boleyns fall from favour, Kate serves her now motherless cousin, the young Lady Elizabeth. Bound by Boleyn blood, the two girls grow as close as sisters, until Kate marries for love - and leaves a jealous Elizabeth behind. At court, Kate cannot ignore the sly looks thrown her way, nor the whispers behind her back. Only when her mother, Mary, lies dying, does she learn the life-shattering truth that the Boleyns have been hiding for years. It is a secret that will follow Kate throughout her life, as she flees religious persecution with her husband and lives abroad in fear, only returning home when Elizabeth becomes queen. But the bond between the Boleyn cousins will never be the same again... PRAISE FOR ALISON WEIR'S TUDOR FICTION 'History has the best stories and they should all be told like this' CONN IGGULDEN 'As always, Alison Weir is ahead of the curve - and at the top of her game' SARAH GRISTWOOD 'Alison Weir makes history come alive as no one else' BARBARA ERSKINE 'Weir is excellent on the little details that bring a world to life' GUARDIAN 'Profoundly moving... lingers long after the last page' ELIZABETH FREMANTLE

The New York Times bestselling author of the Six Tudor Queens series explores the dramatic, mysterious life of Katherine Carey, niece of Anne Boleyn, in this surprising novel that delves into one of the deepest secrets of Henry VIII's court. At twelve years old, Katherine Carey attends her aunt, Queen Anne Boleyn, to the scaffold. Horrified by what she witnesses, Kate is convinced that King Henry VIII is a murderer and has sent an innocent woman to a terrible death. Although the Boleyn family, once so influential at Court, has now fallen from favor, Katherine still manages to secure a coveted role as companion to her now motherless cousin, the young Lady Elizabeth. Bound by Boleyn blood, the two girls grow as close as sisters, though Katherine has trouble ignoring the sly looks thrown her way and continual whispers behind her back. Only when her mother lies dying does Katherine learn the life-shattering truth that the Boleyns have been hiding for years. It is a secret that follows Katherine throughout her life, as she flees religious persecution with her husband and lives abroad in fear, returning home only when Elizabeth becomes queen. But the bond between the Boleyn cousins will never be the same again... With her usual entertaining and authoritative style beloved by readers, renowned historian Alison Weir exposes a dramatic, little-known Tudor mystery in this fascinating, revelatory novel.

Step into the thrill and intrigue of Tudor England in the rich, compelling new novel from Sunday Times bestseller Alison Weir.'Alison Weir makes history come alive as no one else' BARBARA ERSKINEAN EXTRAORDINARY RISE TO POWER. A TRAGIC FALL FROM GRACE.It begins with young Tom Wolsey, the bright and brilliant son of a Suffolk tradesman, sent to study at Oxford at just eleven years old.It ends with a disgraced cardinal, cast from the King's side and estranged from the woman he loves.The years in between tell the story of a scholar and a lover, a father and a priest. From the court of Henry VIII, Tom builds a powerful empire of church and state. At home in London, away from prying eyes, he finds joy in a secret second life.But when King Henry, his cherished friend, demands the ultimate sacrifice, what will Wolsey choose?Alison Weir's riveting new Tudor novel reveals the two lives of Cardinal Wolsey, a tale of power, passion and ambition.PRAISE FOR ALISON WEIR'S TUDOR FICTION'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'As always, Alison Weir is ahead of the curve - and at the top of her game' SARAH GRISTWOOD'Weir is excellent on the little details that bring a world to life' GUARDIAN'Profoundly moving... lingers long after the last page' ELIZABETH FREMANTLE

The tumultuous period in English history that marked the end of the medieval era and the rise of the Tudors comes to stunning life in the final volume of the four-part series, filled with dramatic true stories chronicling the turbulent reigns of the last five Plantagenet queens, who occupied the consort's throne from 1403 to 1485. The fifteenth century was a violent age and all five of the queens who appear in this book were caught up in wars that changed the courses of their lives: the Hundred Years War between England and France, and the Wars of the Roses between the royal Houses of Lancaster and York. Against this tempestuous backdrop, Alison Weir describes the lives and reigns of five queen consorts: Joan of Navarre was happily married to King Henry IV, but was accused of witchcraft by Henry's heir and imprisoned. Paris-born Katherine of Valois's political marriage to Henry V was meant to bring peace between England and France. It didn't, and Henry died on the battlefield without ever seeing his newborn heir, Henry VI, who was wed to another French princess, Margaret of Anjou, in 1445. Margaret had to endure the murder of her husband and son. Henry's successor, Edward IV, made a secret marriage for love to Elizabeth Wydeville, mother of the tragic Princes in the Tower. The notorious King Richard III usurped Edward's throne and married Anne Neville who died after losing her only child, forsaken by her husband. "Underpinned by extensive reading of original sources" (The Washington Post), Weir's series strips away centuries of historical mythologizing to shed light on the genuine accomplishments and bravery of these fascinating female monarchs. Queens at War brings the Medieval Queens series to an action-packed close.

Triumph and tragedy, love and loss, murder and malice in the lives of five fifteenth-century queensThe fifteenth century was a turbulent age: the Hundred Years War between England and France, and the Wars of the Roses dominated the lives of people both inside and out of the royal courts.Joan of Navarre, Katherine of Valois, Margaret of Anjou, Elizabeth Wydeville and Anne Neville were the queens who stood by England's sovereigns, caught up in wars that changed the course of their lives, and the course of history.They were also formidable women who defied the limitations of their times, often living out the brutal consequences of their determination.Alison Weir uncovers their stories in this final volume of her ground-breaking series on the queens of medieval England. Queens at War is a stunning culmination of research by a historian at the full extent of her powers and gripping account of five women on the throne.

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.

Step into the thrill and intrigue of Tudor England in the rich, compelling new novel from Sunday Times bestseller Alison Weir.'Alison Weir makes history come alive as no one else' BARBARA ERSKINEAN EXTRAORDINARY RISE TO POWER. A TRAGIC FALL FROM GRACE.It begins with young Tom Wolsey, the bright and brilliant son of a Suffolk tradesman, sent to study at Oxford at just eleven years old.It ends with a disgraced cardinal, cast from the King's side and estranged from the woman he loves.The years in between tell the story of a scholar and a lover, a father and a priest. From the court of Henry VIII, Tom builds a powerful empire of church and state. At home in London, away from prying eyes, he finds joy in a secret second life.But when King Henry, his cherished friend, demands the ultimate sacrifice, what will Wolsey choose?Alison Weir's riveting new Tudor novel reveals the two lives of Cardinal Wolsey, a tale of power, passion and ambition.PRAISE FOR ALISON WEIR'S TUDOR FICTION'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'As always, Alison Weir is ahead of the curve - and at the top of her game' SARAH GRISTWOOD'Weir is excellent on the little details that bring a world to life' GUARDIAN'Profoundly moving... lingers long after the last page' ELIZABETH FREMANTLE

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.

'A must for Tudor fans everywhere' Tracy Borman'Thrilling, captivating... unforgettable' Kate WilliamsSunday Times bestselling novelist Alison Weir returns with the spellbinding story of Mary I.A DESTINY REWRITTEN. A ROYAL HEART DIVIDED.Adored only child of Henry VIII and his Queen, Katherine of Aragon, Princess Mary is raised in the golden splendour of her father's court. But the King wants a son and heir.With her parents' marriage, and England, in crisis, Mary's perfect world begins to fall apart. Exiled from the court and her beloved mother, she seeks solace in her faith, praying for her father to bring her home. But when the King does promise to restore her to favour, his love comes with a condition.The choice Mary faces will haunt her for years to come - in her allegiances, her marriage and her own fight for the crown. Can she become the queen she was born to be?MARY I. HER STORY.Alison Weir's new Tudor novel is the tale, full of drama and tragedy, of how a princess with such promise, loved by all who knew her, became the infamous Bloody Mary.---PRAISE FOR ALISON WEIR'S TUDOR FICTION'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'As always, Alison Weir is ahead of the curve - and at the top of her game' Sarah Gristwood'Weir is excellent on the little details that bring a world to life' Guardian'Profoundly moving... lingers long after the last page' Elizabeth Fremantle