Sarah Gristwood

’Totally addictive.' – Alice Loxton, The Daily Telegraph 'An intriguing, highly snackable guide to women’s experiences.' – Independent 'A modern classic.' – Alison Weir, author and historian 'The sort of book you return to again and again.' – Tracy Borman, author and historian A captivating collection of daily extracts from women's diaries. Organised around the calendar year, in this engaging anthology you’ll find Lady Anne Clifford in the seventeenth century and Loran Hurnscot in the twentieth both stoically recording the demands of an unreasonable husband. Joan Wyndham and Anne Frank, at much the same time but in wildly different settings, describe their first experiences with sex, and Anne Lister (TV’s Gentleman Jack) in eighteenth-century Yorkshire and Alice Walker in twentieth-century California both explore their love affairs with women. It looks back over four centuries to discover how women's experience – of men and children, sex and shopping, work and the natural world – has changed down the years. And, of course, how it hasn't. With several selections for each day, this book is a fascinating record of how women were thinking, feeling and reacting to historical events: Virginia Woolf relishes her new haircut and Oprah Winfrey meditates on her career, Emilie Davis chronicles the death of Abraham Lincoln and a teenage Ma Yan yearns for education in poverty-stricken China. Secret Voices contains a rich mix of well-known diarists and less familiar ones, and often the voices echoing down the centuries sound eerily familiar today.

A captivating collection of women's writing – including poetry, letters, novels, memoir, and journals – that celebrates the joy of being a woman. This glorious collection takes a refreshing look at everything there is to enjoy about the experience of womanhood. Chapters include ‘Firsts’ with voices such as Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman in space, and Marie Curie, the first female Nobel prize-winner; ‘Festivities’ which emphasises frivolity and pleasure; ‘Friends’ exploring the depth of connection experienced through female friendship; ‘Family’ on mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts and grandmothers; and other chapters celebrate women’s creativity, passion and love of life.From Amy Tan representing the uplifting comfort of parties with friends in The Joy Luck Club to Sylvia Plath considering the fierce and confusing love she feels for her mother, and Elizabeth I embracing her role as Britain’s first successful woman ruler, Celebrating Women includes a diverse range of voices from across the ages that explore the breadth of experience in different women’s lives.

Chomu Genrikh VIII odruzhuvavsja shist raziv? Chomu Anni Bolejn dovelosja pomerti? Chi pravda, scho pridvorni Jelizaveti I vitali jiji jak boginju, jaka zijshla na zemlju? Drami kurtuaznogo kokhannja stolittjami zakhopljuvali chitachiv i mrijnikiv. Prote nadto chasto jikh vidkidajut jak take, scho isnuvalo lishe v kazkakh ta pisnjakh - starikh legendakh pro Korolja Artura i litsarske blagorodstvo. Naspravdi vse znachno tsikavishe. Sara Gristvud u knizhtsi "Zakokhani Tjudori. Jak ljubili i nenavidili v serednovichnij Angliji" rozkrivaje, jak kurtuazne kokhannja tvorilo i rujnuvalo dinastiju Tjudoriv: vid togo, jak Genrikh VIII ogolosiv sebe "virnim slugoju" Anni Bolejn, do poezij, schedro rozkladenikh navkolo Jelizaveti I jiji shanuvalnikami. Tjudori vidtvorjuvali roli viddanikh kokhantsiv i primkhlivikh kokhanok, upershe vikladenikh u romanakh serednovichnoji literaturi.PerekladachJulija Lozova

Istorija Tjudorov - eto istorija vlasti i ljubvi. Osnovatel dinastii, korol Genrikh VII, ispolzoval legendy o korole Arture i rytsarjakh Kruglogo stola, chtoby obosnovat svoi pritjazanija na koronu. Genrikh VIII schital kurtuaznuju ljubov opravdaniem svoej burnoj brachnoj zhizni. Kogda na prestol vzojdet ego doch Elizaveta, kurtuaznaja ljubov sygraet osobuju rol v ee zhenskoj monarkhii. Issledovatelnitsa Sara Gristvud rasskazyvaet istoriju o tom, kak ljubili Tjudory - samaja znamenitaja dinastija Srednevekovja. Osada Zamka ljubvi i rytsarskie turniry, kodeks kurtuaznoj ljubvi i romanticheskaja traditsija o Gvinevre - vse eto leglo v osnovu vlasti Tjudorov i pronizalo epokhu, v kotoruju oni zhili. Eto epokha, kotoruju opredeljali pylkie serdtsa printsev i poetov, frejlin i korolev.

"Letom 1513 goda pri dvore Margarity Avstrijskoj pojavilas devochka - doch pridvornogo, obuchennaja ponimat opasnyj dvortsovyj tanets. Ona znala, chto luchshej zaschitoj dlja devushki sluzhit ee um, chto blagosostojanie semi mozhet izmenitsja po prikhoti korolja i chto na evropejskoj politicheskoj arene razygryvaetsja bolshaja shakhmatnaja partija, v kotoroj dazhe ona mozhet sygrat opredelennuju rol. Nikto, razumeetsja, ne predstavljal, naskolko znachitelnoj budet eta rol". (Sara Gristvud) Anna Bolejn i Margarita Avstrijskaja, pri dvore kotoroj ona sluzhila i vospityvalas. Luiza Savojskaja i ee doch, odna iz pervykh frantsuzskikh pisatelnits, Margarita Navarrskaja. Kristina Datskaja i Ekaterina Medichi, po slukham imevshaja strast k jadam. Eto lish nekotorye iz znamenitykh zhenschin, kotorye uchastvovali v evropejskoj politike XVI veka, a zachastuju i polnostju ee napravljali. Eti udivitelnye pravitelnitsy soznatelno polzovalis svoim statusom, chtoby vesti dela po-drugomu, priznavali sestrinskie uzy, okazyvalis peshkami v chuzhoj igre i polzovalis drugimi ljudmi - v sobstvennoj. V shakhmatnoj partii evropejskoj politiki imenno koroleva stala kljuchevoj figuroj. Istorija XVI veka - eto gambit korolev.

’Totally addictive.'– Alice Loxton, The Daily Telegraph'An intriguing, highly snackable guide to women’s experiences.'– Independent'A modern classic.'– Alison Weir, author and historian'The sort of book you return to again and again.'– Tracy Borman, author and historianA captivating collection of daily extracts from women's diaries, looking back over four centuries to discover how women's experience – of men and children, sex and shopping, work and the natural world – has changed down the years. And, of course, how it hasn't.Organised around the calendar year, in this engaging anthology you’ll find Lady Anne Clifford in the seventeenth century and Loran Hurnscot in the twentieth both stoically recording the demands of an unreasonable husband; Joan Wyndham and Anne Frank, at much the same time, but in wildly different settings, describing their first experiences with sex; and Anne Lister (TV’s Gentleman Jack) in eighteenth-century Yorkshire exploring her love affairs with women alongside Alice Walker in twentieth-century California.With several selections for each day, from the 1st January to the 31st December, this book is a fascinating record of how women were thinking, feeling and reacting to historical events. From Virginia Woolf relishing her new haircut and Oprah Winfrey meditating on her career to Emilie Davis chronicling the death of Abraham Lincoln and teenage Ma Yan yearning for education in poverty-stricken China, Secret Voices contains a rich mix of well-known diarists and less familiar ones, and often the voices echoing down the centuries sound eerily familiar today.

Sarah Gristwood's The Tudors in Love offers a brilliant history of the Tudor dynasty, showing how the rules of romantic courtly love irrevocably shaped the politics and international diplomacy of the period. Why did Henry VIII marry six times? Why did Anne Boleyn have to die? Why did Elizabeth I's courtiers hail her as a goddess come to earth? The dramas of courtly love have captivated centuries of readers and dreamers. Yet too often they're dismissed as something existing only in books and song--those old legends of King Arthur and chivalric fantasy. Not so. In this ground-breaking history, Sarah Gristwood reveals the way courtly love made and marred the Tudor dynasty. From Henry VIII declaring himself as the 'loyal and most assured servant' of Anne Boleyn to the poems lavished on Elizabeth I by her suitors, the Tudors re-enacted the roles of the devoted lovers and capricious mistresses first laid out in the romances of medieval literature. The Tudors in Love dissects the codes of love, desire and power, unveiling romantic obsessions that have shaped the history of the world.

A BBC History Magazine Book of the Year ‘One of the most important books to be written about the Tudors in a generation.’ Tracy Borman In this groundbreaking history, Sarah Gristwood reveals the way courtly love made and marred the Tudor dynasty. From Henry VIII declaring himself as the ‘loyal and most assured servant’ of Anne Boleyn to the poems lavished on Elizabeth I by her suitors, the Tudors re-enacted the roles of devoted lovers and capricious mistresses first laid out in the romances of medieval literature, but now with life-and-death consequences for the protagonists. The Tudors in Love dissects the codes of love, desire and power, unveiling obsessions that have shaped the history of this nation. ‘A riveting, pacy page-turner… the Tudors as you’ve never seen them before.’ Alison Weir

Sarah Gristwood celebrates the legacy of Queen Elizabeth II and how her enduring popularity was tantamount to her many supporters. The twists and turns of her life follow her teenage years during the war, marrying the Duke of Edinburgh and her ascension to the throne. An internationally admired figure, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was the most high-profile monarch in the world, who endured wide-ranging popularity. Spanning from 1926 to the end of her reign in 2022, Elizabeth: The Queen and the Crown reveals the story behind Britain's longest-reigning monarch's extraordinary life. Sarah Gristwood follows the twists and turns of Her Majesty’s life and its key turning points – including her teenage years during World War II, meeting and marrying Prince Philip of Greece, later the Duke of Edinburgh, and her accession to the throne in 1952. Split into chapters covering different periods of her life, from ‘Apprenticeship (1926–1956)’, ‘Being Queen (1956–1986)’ to ‘Change, Celebration and Commemoration (1986–2022)’, the book charts the extraordinary events in the Queen's life alongside the everyday duties of her role as monarch.

A smaller, cheaper edition of this acclaimed illustrated biography of Beatrix Potter. Respected biographer Sarah Gristwood discovers a life crisscrossed with contradictions and marked by tragedy, yet one that left a remarkable literary – and environmental – legacy. This illustrated biography of the beloved writer has been a strong seller and critical success. It is now available in a smaller, more affordable format. Interest in Beatrix Potter and her characters is undimmed, with the second Peter Rabbit film being released in summer 2021 and an exhibition at the V&A from February 2022, 'Beatrix Potter: Drawn to Nature'. Few people realise how extraordinary Beatrix Potter's own story is. She was a woman of contradictions. A sheltered Victorian daughter who grew into an astute modern businesswoman. A talented artist who became a scientific expert. A famous author who gave it all up to become a farmer, then a pioneering conservationist. Bestselling biographer Sarah Gristwood follows the twists and turns of Beatrix Potter’s life and its key turning points – including her tragically brief first engagement and happy second marriage late in life. She traces the creation of Beatrix’s most famous characters – including the naughty Peter Rabbit, confused Jemima Puddleduck and cheeky Squirrel Nutkin – revealing how she drew on her unusual childhood pets and locations in her beloved Lake District. A fitting legacy for a pioneering conservationist who helped save thousands of acres of the Lake District.’ – The Mail on Sunday ‘Excellent, anecdotal text…’ – The Times Literary Supplement ‘Beautifully illustrated.’ – The Sunday Express

A BBC History Magazine Book of the Year ‘One of the most important books to be written about the Tudors in a generation.’ Tracy Borman In this groundbreaking history, Sarah Gristwood reveals the way courtly love made and marred the Tudor dynasty. From Henry VIII declaring himself as the ‘loyal and most assured servant’ of Anne Boleyn to the poems lavished on Elizabeth I by her suitors, the Tudors re-enacted the roles of devoted lovers and capricious mistresses first laid out in the romances of medieval literature, but now with life-and-death consequences for the protagonists. The Tudors in Love dissects the codes of love, desire and power, unveiling obsessions that have shaped the history of this nation. ‘A riveting, pacy page-turner… the Tudors as you’ve never seen them before.’ Alison Weir

This book contains everything you need to know about modern history of dress design, from the corset-free styles of 1920s flappers to the conceptual constructions of modern artists. Since Coco Chanel invented the little black dress in 1926 it has become a staple for a woman's wardrobe. Even considering the many decades it’s been since women discovered trousers and separates, women dream of wearing glorious, glamorous gowns, whether it’s on the Hollywood red carpet, or perhaps on her wedding day… No item of clothing has endured for longer than the dress. Yet the last century alone has seen the most radical changes of style – hemlines swinging from ankle to thigh; outlines alternating between the body-hugging and the bell – and our fascination with ‘the frock’ has not gone away. From Gres’ draping to Dior’s New Look, from Mary Quant’s mini to Hussein Chalayan’s mechanical marvels and Kate Middleton’s wedding dress, this book looks at the dress in a century of fashion. Thematic chapters set out the inspirations and implications for each new change in style alongside stunning photography. A celebration of the dress in all its forms, Fabulous Frocks is sure to fire any fashionista’s imagination. ‘A glorious celebration of a hundred years of the dress’ – Daily Mail Sarah Gristwood is a best-selling Tudor biographer, former film journalist, and commentator on royal affairs.

A short illustrated life of one of Britain's most revered people of all time, covering all periods of his life but always returning to his literal and spiritual home, Chartwell. Winston Churchill is one of the best-known and most revered figures of our time, the man who led Britain through its 'darkest hour'. The last year alone has seen two feature films of his life. Many books have been published about his life and work, but very few have looked at his life through the prism of the house he occupied for over 40 years. Chartwell is as fundamental to understanding Churchill as Hill Top is to Beatrix Potter. This Elizabethan manor – cared for by the National Trust today – was his inspiration, his refuge and his obsession. He had to rebuild the property almost from scratch after he bought it in 1922, spending money he could ill afford. Later he built a wall around the garden and several buildings by hand. ‘A day away from Chartwell is a day wasted,’ he once said. The book's introduction features a special section telling Churchill's life through ten special and unusual objects at Chartwell. Featuring many rarely seen photographs, one previously unpublished, this beautifully illustrated book has an incisive text by Sarah Gristwood and Margaret Gaskin. They trace every phase of his life – rebellious child, brave adventurer, political outcast, inspirational leader – always circling back to Chartwell, just as the great man himself did.

A double biography of Virginia Woolf and Vita Sackville-West, their friendship and love affair. Virginia Woolf is one of the world's most famous writers - a leading light of literary modernism and feminism - and a British icon. During the 1920s she had a passionate affair with a fellow author, Vita Sackville-West, and they remained friends until Virginia's death in 1941. The hero of Virginia's novel Orlando was modeled on Vita and the book has been described as `one of the longest and most charming love letters in history'. That's on top of the more than 500 letters they wrote to each other. Vita & Virginia is the extraordinary account of the work, friendship and love affair of two prolific novelists, who came to redefine conventions of femininity, sexuality, art and politics for the modern world. The cultural legacies of these formidable women, enduring icons of sexual equality and female emancipation, proliferate around us today - in fashion and television, film and literature. In this scrupulously researched examination of the pair's long friendship, the National Trust draws on their poetry and treasured correspondence to tell the story of this thoroughly modern affair. Both novelists have become closely associated with the National Trust. Vita is most famous today as the co-creator of Sissinghurst, one of the most influential and visited gardens in the world, while Monk's House, Virginia's retreat and inspiration, was a celebrated haunt of the Bloomsbury Group, that influential set of artists, thinkers and writers who lived in squares and loved in triangles.

An internationally admired figure Queen Elizabeth II is the most high-profile monarch in the world, and her enduring popularity is tantamount to her wide-ranging supporters. Spanning from 1927 to present day, Elizabeth reveals the details of Britain's longest-reigning monarch's extraordinary life. Sarah Gristwood follows the twists and turns of Elizabeth Windsor's life and its key turning points – including her teenage years during the war, meeting and marrying the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Phillip Mountbatten, and her ascension to the throne in 1952. Split into chapters each covering 30 years, we plot the extraordinary events in the Queen's life alongside the everyday duties of her role as monarch. Later chapters Being Queen and Change and Celebration outline what it means to be Queen, her pastoral work and official duties, and finally examines the Queen’s Silver, Golden and Diamond Jubilee, the Royal Wedding and what is to come next for the royal family. This will be the most up-to-date biography of the Queen available, illustrated with archival photography that make it as beautiful to own as enjoyable to read.

"Sarah Gristwood has written a masterpiece that effortlessly and enthrallingly interweaves the amazing stories of women who ruled in Europe during the Renaissance period." -- Alison Weir Sixteenth-century Europe saw an explosion of female rule. From Isabella of Castile, and her granddaughter Mary Tudor, to Catherine de Medici, Anne Boleyn, and Elizabeth Tudor, these women wielded enormous power over their territories, shaping the course of European history for over a century. Across boundaries and generations, these royal women were mothers and daughters, mentors and prot (c)es, allies and enemies. For the first time, Europe saw a sisterhood of queens who would not be equaled until modern times. A fascinating group biography and a thrilling political epic, Game of Queens explores the lives of some of the most beloved (and reviled) queens in history.

A BBC History magazine Book of the Year and an amazon.com Best Book of the Month As religion divided sixteenth-century Europe, an extraordinary group of women rose to power. They governed nations while kings fought in foreign lands. They ruled on behalf of nephews, brothers and sons. They negotiated peace between their warring nations. For decades, they ran Europe. Small wonder that it was in this century that the queen became the most powerful piece on the chessboard. From mother to daughter and mentor to protégée, Sarah Gristwood follows the passage of power from Isabella of Castile and Anne de Beaujeu through Anne Boleyn – the woman who tipped England into religious reform – and on to Elizabeth I and Jeanne d’Albret, heroine of the Protestant Reformation. Unravelling a gripping historical narrative, Gristwood reveals the stories of the queens who had, until now, been overshadowed by kings.

Few relationships fire our imagination like that of Elizabeth I and her 'bonnie sweet Robin' - the Earl of Leicester, Robert Dudley. Almost immediately after she became queen, Elizabeth's infatuation with the married Earl became the subject of letters from scandalized ambassadors.

“Sumptuous…a fitting legacy for a pioneering conservationist who helped save thousands of acres of the Lake District” – The Mail on Sunday, August 2016 To this day, Beatrix Potter’s tales delight children and grown-ups around the world. But few people realise how extraordinary her own story is. She was a woman of contradictions. A sheltered Victorian daughter who grew into an astute modern businesswoman. A talented artist who became a scientific expert. A famous author who gave it all up to become a farmer. In The Story of Beatrix Potter, Sarah Gristwood follows the twists and turns of Beatrix Potter’s life and its key turning points – including her tragically brief first engagement and happy second marriage late in life. She traces the creation of Beatrix’s most famous characters – including the naughty Peter Rabbit, confused Jemima Puddleduck and cheeky Squirrel Nutkin – revealing how she drew on her unusual childhood pets and locations in her beloved Lake District. She explores too, the last 30 years of Potter’s life, when she abandoned books to become a working farmer and a pioneering conservationist, whose work with the National Trust helped to save thousands of acres of the Lake District – a legacy that, like her books, continues to enrich our lives today. Main text: 30,000 words. Approx 3,000 words for captions and index.