Lost In The Tudors: The Historical Fiction I Can’t Stop Reading

As much as I love reading historical books about the Tudor era, I may love the historical fiction books even more! If you are drawn to glittering courts, intrigue, drama, dangerous romances and women who refused to fade away, the Tudor era may well be your literary nirvana! For lovers of historical fiction, the Tudor court offers a perfect storm: ambition, romance, unbridled rivalry, strong religious faith and, quite often, fatal consequences. It was a time of silk gowns and executions on the scaffold. It was a time of secret alliances and public betrayals. Power was personal, religion was political and your very survival could depend on who loved you or who feared you.

The Tudor period which spanned 1485-1603 features personalities that were larger than life and stakes that were brutally high. You have a ruthless king who marries 6 times, you have queens who ruled in their own right, usually innocent women accused of witchcraft, treason & adultery and huge religious upheaval that reshaped England forever.

A conversation about Tudor era fiction is not complete with out mentioning the larger than life Henry VIII or the women who changed history. Henry was an insecure romantic turned tyrant, he was a gifted political strategist, and a deeply troubled man desperate for a male heir. Nor can we forget the women of this era who made a huge impact on their time. Anne Boleyn is one of the most fascinating characters of her time. Was she ambitious, was she manipulative, a reformer or simply a victim? However you may interpret her, there can be no doubt that that she was a fascinating, brilliant and flawed human being. Her fall from Queen to execution in 3 short years is breathtaking. Mary I, often referred to as Bloody Mary due to her enduring burning of heretics in her zeal to return England to the Catholic faith was a deeply unhappy and devout woman who was shaped by crushing political humiliation and personal loss. Elizabeth I, known as the Virgin Queen because she never married, is perhaps the most talked about and studied Tudor of all. She appears cautious, clever, very emotionally complex and fiercely independent. She seems to have been a ruler that paid attention and learned from the chaos of her father, her siblings and the endless parade of stepmothers she was forced to endure.

Enter Phillipa Gregory! If there is one author who sits at the very center of Tudor historical fiction itself, it is Phillipa Gregory. Her novels are historically accurate, informative and transformative for the reader. Before I discovered Gregory, the Tudors lived in textbooks, non-fiction books and my imagination. Then I picked up The Other Boleyn Girl and the Tudor court came to life in the most fascinating and addictive way! You don’t just learn what happened, you learned and felt what it cost! I was hooked! To date, I have read every book she has written and am always hopeful for a new book to be on the horizon. There are so many books she has written that I suggest you do a little research to see what all is available if you are interested in this topic.(And who wouldn’t be?) I am providing links to 2 sets of her books that will give you a great start. Fair warning, this may become addictive! Philippa Gregory 3-Book Set: The Tudor Court: The Queen’s Fool, The Virgin’s Lover and The Other Queen by Gregory, Philippa (2012) Paperback https://amzn.to/476nfRc Tudor Court Series – 6 books – The Boleyn Inheritance / The Other Boleyn Girl… https://amzn.to/3OzFh8c

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel most definitely deserves a mention in any discussion of Tudor historical fiction. Her novel tells the story of Tudor England through the experiences of Thomas Cromwell, one of Henry’s most trusted advisors. He was a ruthless, intelligent and ambitious politician whose agenda was carried out in the grip of an unstable, incredibly dangerous King who fluctuated between passion and murderous rages. Wolf Hall by Mantel, Hilary https://amzn.to/4az6bFY

Next up for me are 3 books by Sandra Byrd. Indeed, her novel about Anne Boleyn is said by some to be the best ever written! I am going to start with her Ladies In Waiting series. Her books are said to be more character driven and intimate. Phillipa Gregory leans more into political heat, Sandra Byrd leans more into personal lives and the burden of faith under pressure. Can’t wait to read her! To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn (Tudor Ladies in Waiting) https://amzn.to/4bbpmor The Secret Keeper: A Novel of Katherine Parr (Tudor Ladies in Waiting) https://amzn.to/3MW3Lbg Roses Have Thorns: A Novel of Elizabeth I (Tudor Ladies in Waiting) https://amzn.to/4azH1XL

There is something irresistible about the Tudor court, the ambition, the fragility of power and the razor thin line between favor and execution. Thanks to Phillipa Gregory, these stories don’t feel like ancient history. They feel immediate and contemporary. And now, thanks to Sandra Byrd, I have so much more to look forward to! I have even more reasons to keep on reading! I thought I was just reading a book when I picked up The Other Boleyn Girl, however, it seems I fell headfirst into the middle of a fascinating dynasty and I have no intention of crawling out anytime soon!

Happy Reading!

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