Alison Weir

_____________________________________A wrenching novel about the life and death of Lady Jane Grey, one of the most complex and sympathetic figures in Tudor England, by popular historian Alison Weir: ideal for fans of Wolf HallLady Jane Grey was born into times of extreme danger.

A portrait of the notorious and charismatic English queen Isabella of France describes her marriage to the English king Edward II, the king's homosexual affairs, her flight back to France, and her alliance with her husband's arch-enemy, Roger Mortimer, with whom she launched a revolution that forced Edward II to abdicate and placed her son Edward III on the throne. Reader's Guide available. Reprint.

"Fascinating . . . Alison Weir does full justice to the subject."—The Philadelphia InquirerAt his death in 1547, King Henry VIII left four heirs to the English throne: his only son, the nine-year-old Prince Edward; the Lady Mary, the adult daughter of his first wife Katherine of Aragon; the Lady Elizabeth, the teenage daughter of his second wife Anne Boleyn; and his young great-niece, the Lady Jane Grey. In this riveting account Alison Weir paints a unique portrait of these extraordinary rulers, examining their intricate relationships to each other and to history. She traces the tumult that followed Henry's death, from the brief intrigue-filled reigns of the boy king Edward VI and the fragile Lady Jane Grey, to the savagery of "Bloody Mary," and finally the accession of the politically adroit Elizabeth I.As always, Weir offers a fresh perspective on a period that has spawned many of the most enduring myths in English history, combining the best of the historian's and the biographer's art."Like anthropology, history and biography can demonstrate unfamiliar ways of feeling and being. Alison Weir's sympathetic collective biography, The Children of Henry VIII does just that, reminding us that human nature has changed—and for the better. . . . Weir imparts movement and coherence while re-creating the suspense her characters endured and the suffering they inflicted."—The New York Times Book Review

A brilliant investigation of one of Britain's notorious unsolved mysteries: the murder of Lord Darnley, second husband of Mary, Queen of Scots--from the New York Times bestselling author hailed as "the finest historian of English monarchical succession writing" (The Boston Globe) "All the elements of a juicy murder mystery are within these pages."--Fort Worth Star-Telegram "As dramatic as witnessing firsthand the most riveting court case."--Booklist, starred review Tall, handsome, accomplished, and charming, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, had it all, including a strong claim to the English throne, a fact that threatened the already insecure Elizabeth I. She therefore opposed any plan for Darnley to marry her cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots, who herself claimed to be Queen of England. But in 1565 Mary met and fell in love with Darnley--and defied Elizabeth by marrying him. It was not long before she discovered that her new husband was weak and vicious, and interested only in securing sovereign power for himself. Then, on February 10, 1567, an explosion at his lodgings left Darnley dead; the intrigue thickened after it was discovered that he had apparently been suffocated before the blast. The murder of Darnley ultimately led to Mary's ruin. After her deposition, there conveniently came to light a box of documents--the notorious Casket Letters--that her enemies claimed were proof of her guilt. But Mary was never allowed to see them, and they disappeared in 1584. The question of their authenticity has haunted historians ever since. After exhaustive reexamination and reevaluation of the source material, Alison Weir has come up with a solution to this enduring mystery that shatters many of the misconceptions about Mary, Queen of Scots. Complete with bright writing and stunning characterizations, Mary, Queen of Scots, and the Murder of Lord Darnley is an engaging excursion into Britain's bloodstained, power-obsessed past.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - "Beautifully written, exhaustive in its research . . . a gem that] outshines all previous studies of Henry."--The Philadelphia Inquirer For fans of Wolf Hall, an intimate biography of Henry VIII, one of English history's most turbulent, complex rulers, and the glittering court he made his own, from "the finest historian of English monarchical succession writing" (The Boston Globe) " Weir] has perfected the art of bringing history to life."--Chicago TribuneHenry VIII, renowned for his command of power and celebrated for his intellect, presided over the most stylish--and dangerous--court in Renaissance Europe. Scheming advisers and courtiers vied for power with newly rich landowners and merchants, brilliant painters and architects introduced a new splendor into art and design, and each of Henry's six queens brought her own influence to bear upon the life of the court. In an age when a monarch's domestic and political lives were inextricably intertwined, Henry VIII exercised enormous sway over the laws, the customs, and the culture of his kingdom. Yet as Alison Weir shows in this swift, vivid narrative, Henry's ministers, nobles, and wives were formidable figures in their own right, whose influence both enhanced and undermined the authority of the throne. In Henry VIII, Weir records the many complex human dramas that swirled around Henry while deftly weaving in an account of the intimate rituals and desires of England's ruling class--their sexual practices, feasts and sports, tastes in books and music, houses and gardens. Packed with colorful 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 fought for its pleasures and rewards.

This volume profiles each of Henry VIII's six wives, describing their backgrounds, personalities, relationship to the king, and ultimate demise, and shows how each reflected the perceptions of women and marriage at the time.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - An intimate, captivating biography of Queen Elizabeth I that brings the enigmatic ruler to vivid life, from "the finest historian of English monarchical succession writing" (The Boston Globe) "An extraordinary piece of historical scholarship."--The Cleveland Plain Dealer Perhaps the most influential sovereign England has ever known, Queen Elizabeth I remained an extremely private person throughout her reign, keeping her own counsel and sharing secrets with no one--not even her closest, most trusted advisers. Now, in this brilliantly researched, fascinating chronicle, Alison Weir shares provocative new interpretations and fresh insights on this enigmatic figure. Against a lavish backdrop of pageantry and passion, intrigue and war, Weir dispels the myths surrounding Elizabeth I and examines the contradictions of her character. Elizabeth I loved the Earl of Leicester, but did she conspire to murder his wife? She called herself the Virgin Queen, but how chaste was she through dozens of liaisons? She never married--was her choice to remain single tied to the chilling fate of her mother, Anne Boleyn? An enthralling epic, The Life of Elizabeth I is a mesmerizing, stunning chronicle of a trailblazing monarch.

Lancaster and York. For much of the fifteenth century, these two families were locked in battle for control of the English throne. Kings were murdered and deposed. Armies marched on London. Old noble names were ruined while rising dynasties seized power and lands. The war between the royal houses of Lancaster and York, the most complex in English history, profoundly altered the course of the monarchy. Alison Weir, one of the foremost authorities on British history, brings brilliantly to life both the war itself and the larger-tha-life figures who fought it on the great stage of England. "The Wars of the Roses" is history at its very best--swift and compelling, rich in character, pageantry, and drama, and vivid in its re-creation of an astonishing period of history. Look for special features inside.Join the Circle for author chats and more.RandomHouseReadersCircle.com

A "fascinating and] deeply researched" (The Daily Telegraph) investigation into one of the British royal family's greatest mysteries: the murders of young king Edward V and Richard, Duke of York--from the New York Times bestselling author of The Last White Rose "Weir takes us on this delicious mystery with a fearsome vengeance."--Milwaukee Journal Despite five centuries of investigation by historians, the sinister deaths of Edward V and his younger brother Richard, Duke of York, remain two of the most gripping mysteries in English history. Did Richard III really kill "the Princes in the Tower," as is commonly believed, or was the murderer someone else entirely? Carefully examining every shred of contemporary evidence as well as dozens of modern accounts, Alison Weir reconstructs the entire chain of events leading to the double murder. We are witness to the tumultuous reign of Edward VI, the princes' father, and the rivalry, ambition, intrigue, and struggle for power after his death that led to the imprisonment of the princes--and the hushed-up murders that secured Richard III's claim to the throne. A masterpiece of historical research and a riveting story of conspiracy and deception, The Princes in the Tower at last provides a solution to this age-old puzzle.