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3:50 pm
June 5, 2010
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Bella44 said:
Oh I am a HUGE Doctor Who fan! And I know the episode with Queen Victoria, but remember thinking it didn't make any sense in the end, something to do with the chronology and of her life and her children – but its been a while since I've seen it! BTW, what do you think of Matt Smith as the new Dr Who? Personally, I think he's brilliant – not sure yet if I like him better than David Tennant but only time will tell!
And my brothers would be very keen on the Winston Churchill idea – they're both WW2 history buffs and seem to spend a heck of a lot of time playing computer games about Nazi zombies….
Bella:
I remember the Victoria episode — had something to do with werewolves, and I know the Doctor joked about you never seeing the current royal family out on full moons or something like that. It's been ages since I've seen it as well. Haven't seen the Matt Stone Doctor yet — I don't have cable or satellite so I have to wait for the eps to hit DVD, but filling David Tennant's shoes is going to be HARD!
Churchill's one of my heroes…I'm a WW2 history buff too (as well as those naughty Tudors) and I think there was some B-movie years ago about Nazi zombies too LOL
I know this has nothing to do with books and goes back to Doctor Who — but does anyone remember the Shakespeare episode? I remember that Elizabeth made a cameo at the end and was VERY upset with the Doctor (we're not sure why though). I had NO idea until much later that she was played by Angela Pleasance, who was Catherine Howard in the old The Six Wives of Henry VIII series with Keith Michell!
Henry: Mistress Anne, will you teach the king of England how they dance in the French court?
Anne: There is nothing that France can teach England, your majesty.
King Henry VIII: Well said. Well said.
– Anne of the Thousand Days (1969)
3:57 pm
June 5, 2010
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Boleynfan said:
Okay, all this talk of vampires, wolfmen, and demon hunters have made me want to read some of those books! They're now all on my infamous list 🙂 My list is currently….well, too many books to count.
I just finished Captive Queen by Alison Weir. I loved it–I thought that Eleanor and Henry's marriage was really developed and delved into, as well as Eleanor's loves: Henry, Louis in a different way, and her children, especially Richard. But what a sad story for such a smart, kind woman. What did everyone think of the novel?
I have Captive Queen on my Book of the Month Club2 queue. Like I need another book on my current reading list LOL Glad to hear that you loved it 
I've always thought Eleanor was fascinating — The Lion in Winter notwithstanding LOL
I guess if you do get one of those infamous supernatural books, you might check out the Abraham Lincoln one. Havent read it, but I say that because Amazon did have a GREAT promo video on their website (go the page for the book and it may still be there). The author did seem to be making an attempt to treat the subject with seriousness, so *shrug* Who knows. I picked up a copy at Borders Books the other day and was a tad 
when I saw the back cover. A bit gross even for me, your friendly neighborhood crime scene technician! I thought the front cover was interesting, but the back is the flip side of what Lincoln has behind his back.
Henry: Mistress Anne, will you teach the king of England how they dance in the French court?
Anne: There is nothing that France can teach England, your majesty.
King Henry VIII: Well said. Well said.
– Anne of the Thousand Days (1969)
4:02 pm
January 9, 2010
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Ugh, the Shakespeare episode was one of the few I missed! Might have to get it on DVD!
I haven't read 'Captive Queen', I'm sort of umming and ahhing over it. I really liked 'Innocent Traitor' but 'The Lady Elizabeth' rather left me cold. I couldn't really sympathize with Allison Weirs portrayal of her at all which is weird 'cos I really like her non-fiction work on Elizabeth.
Just this minute a courier arrived with my copy of 'The Mysteries of Udolpho' that I ordered! Written in 1794 by Ann Radcliffe (a lady writer! In the eighteenth century! Shocking!) it's one of the first Gothic novels, a romance that weaves elements of history, poetry, landscape and the supernatural together. So for anyone who thinks vampires and other supernatural goings-on are a new thing – think again!
9:40 am
August 3, 2010
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Hmm maybe I will check out the Abraham Lincoln one, except I'm not a huge gross fan LOL.
Lady Elizabeth is just sounding worse and worse! I haven't heard a single good review–I'll go check and see if Claire reviewed it in her Tudor Book Reviews. Thanks for mentioning The Mysteries of Udolpho, it sounds interesting, especially because of when it was written and who wrote it. Someone in my family just went on a book run so I gave them my list (wow did their eyes pop at how long it is!) and told them to get me around 5 books from it. More books, yay!
"Grumble all you like, this is how it's going to be"
10:19 am
February 24, 2010
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TinaII2None said:
Well, at least she deals in fact — I'd rather have that than someone who goes over the top to make things more sensational (hint-hint PG LOL).
So glad to find that someone else remembered Blaze Wyndham. I was starting to think I was the only one. Haven't read any of Ms. Small's other books but they sound interesting (I do know of the Skye O'Malley series though). I think I got away from reading fiction about the era because I like the stories about the court and those involved; I read one time travel romance and waited 300 pages for the hero and heroine to end up at Elizabeth's court, and the most I got in the end was a mention that the hero would do well at court because Elizabeth liked handsome men. That was it. LOL
So was Skye then inspired by Grace O'Malley?
Now that was interesting about Jacquetta. I wanted to find a joke in there for you too, but I'm tired — I've worked Overtime pretty much every day this week and the old brain's not functioning like it ordinarily would!
I started out with historical romance. But early on I got to the point where I was far more interested in the Royals at Court and I never looked back. Except for Bertrice Small. She is my guilty, little pleasure. I think Skye was loosely based on Grace. Grace was mentioned in one of her books. Got me interested and so I looked up everything I could about her.
Yes that was interesting about Jacquetta and Elizabeth. If you were a powerful woman in those days you were considered either a wh*re or a witch. Either title or both titles would do. Can you imagine how helpless these women must have felt.
Boleynfan,
I read the Captive Queen and I enjoyed it. However, I would hesitate to call this great Queen kind. She was beautiful, intelligent, loving and tough as nails. I don't know how she got away with half the stuff she did in her life. She conspired with her children against her husband. These two were like caged lions. A really great book about this crew is, The Devil's Brood, by Sharon Kay Penman. An excellent movie about their family relationships, and one I watch over and over again, is Lion In Winter. Katherine Hepburn plays Eleanore. This portraylal is exactly how I picture Eleanore to have been. Peter O'Toole is Henry. Superb casting. Although it is fiction (no Henry didn't sleep with Alais. Although he did have a mistress) it is a prttey good account of what they must have been like.
3:28 pm
June 5, 2010
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Boleynfan said:
Hmm maybe I will check out the Abraham Lincoln one, except I'm not a huge gross fan LOL.
Lady Elizabeth is just sounding worse and worse! I haven't heard a single good review–I'll go check and see if Claire reviewed it in her Tudor Book Reviews. Thanks for mentioning The Mysteries of Udolpho, it sounds interesting, especially because of when it was written and who wrote it. Someone in my family just went on a book run so I gave them my list (wow did their eyes pop at how long it is!) and told them to get me around 5 books from it. More books, yay!
No, I'm not a gross fan either.
I think I liked the part of Lady Elizabeth when she was young, but once she hit puberty — well, let's face it; I went through puberty ages ago and I just didn't feel like going through it again, not even with Elizabeth. I'm still of very mixed feelings about the whole Thomas Seymour relationship as well — that is one of those incidents in her life that, in the hands of an excellent writer, can come off making loads of sense…and with another, can leave you scratching your head in disbelief. From that one scene I read in PG's work, the girl sounds like a willing participant; with Weir I was flabbergasted, especially in how it all results.
Which makes me think of a thread I'd like to start while I have it on my mind, one involving Elizabeth and Thomas Seymour! 
Oooo…I've heard of The Mysteries of Udolpho; I think I may have even read an excerpt from it too. May have to check that one out too.
Henry: Mistress Anne, will you teach the king of England how they dance in the French court?
Anne: There is nothing that France can teach England, your majesty.
King Henry VIII: Well said. Well said.
– Anne of the Thousand Days (1969)
6:00 pm
August 3, 2010
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Hmm-off topic but why is the print cut off on the side? Is it just my computer? Maybe it will fix itself or something.
Tina112None – Oohh, yes, do start a Thomas and Elizabeth topic! If you have an Elizabeth Files forum account, maybe there since it's Elizabeth? I've heard that Weir took it to where the reader just went, “What? Impossible!” I suppose you agree with that; should I even read the book? Maybe I'll get it from the library, so if I hate it I don't have it on my shelf.
Sharon – Okay, maybe I went a bit far describing Eleanor as 'kind'. She certainly wasn't a saint, that much is for sure, and I might have lavished her praises on merely because I was fresh from finishing the book, I tend to do that 🙂 But she did have redeeming qualities, such as fierce motherly love and compassion for her people, so I think in a way she did have kindness. Her and Henry's marriage was quite disastrous, and depressing to read about, though.
"Grumble all you like, this is how it's going to be"
7:23 pm
January 9, 2010
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The print problems on my computer too. Weird thing is it just seems to be on this page 
Tina – absolutely start that Thomas and Elizabeth topic! If you put it over at the Elizabeth Files, I may just have to sign up. Been meaning to, just haven't got round to it yet!
I'm about halfway through 'Mary Tudor – England's First Queen' by Anna Whitelock. Has anyone read it? What do people think?
2:07 pm
February 24, 2010
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Having the same problem. Words are cut off on the right.
In there own way I think Eleanore and Henry loved each other til the end. A very passionate couple. She had a great capacity of Motherly love, but it seemed to be directed mainly at Richard. Although she was heartbroken when any of them died. She placed her bet on Richard.
I think she was one of the greatest women of her time. She was considered the most beautiful woman in Christiandom. Not many Queens went on Crusade.
8:19 pm
June 5, 2010
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Well, really weird but I just noticed that the print is now cutting off on the sides of my laptop too.
I am in the Elizabeth Files so I'll post it over there…as soon as I remember my password. 
Boleynfan said:
Hmm-off topic but why is the print cut off on the side? Is it just my computer? Maybe it will fix itself or something.
Tina112None – Oohh, yes, do start a Thomas and Elizabeth topic! If you have an Elizabeth Files forum account, maybe there since it's Elizabeth? I've heard that Weir took it to where the reader just went, “What? Impossible!” I suppose you agree with that; should I even read the book? Maybe I'll get it from the library, so if I hate it I don't have it on my shelf.
Sharon – Okay, maybe I went a bit far describing Eleanor as 'kind'. She certainly wasn't a saint, that much is for sure, and I might have lavished her praises on merely because I was fresh from finishing the book, I tend to do that
But she did have redeeming qualities, such as fierce motherly love and compassion for her people, so I think in a way she did have kindness. Her and Henry's marriage was quite disastrous, and depressing to read about, though.
Henry: Mistress Anne, will you teach the king of England how they dance in the French court?
Anne: There is nothing that France can teach England, your majesty.
King Henry VIII: Well said. Well said.
– Anne of the Thousand Days (1969)
8:37 am
June 5, 2010
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Good morning fellow AB fans. Enjoying a day off and having my coffee, but wanted to let you all know that I've posted my Elizabeth and Thomas Seymour thread on The Elizabeth Forum under the Elizabeth personality section. Hope you all will jump over there and join the discussion because I'd love to hear what you all have to think about a topic that has always fascinated me.
Henry: Mistress Anne, will you teach the king of England how they dance in the French court?
Anne: There is nothing that France can teach England, your majesty.
King Henry VIII: Well said. Well said.
– Anne of the Thousand Days (1969)
4:42 pm
August 3, 2010
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Sharon – I agree that Eleanor was one of the greatest women of her time. I, too, believe that she and Henry had love for each other until his death, and after. While their love soured, it wasn't completely hate, but a love-hate relationship, unhealthy but very passionate. Reminds me a little bit of Wuthering Heights.
Tina – Yay, I'm heading over to the Elizabeth Files right away!!
"Grumble all you like, this is how it's going to be"
5:10 pm
June 5, 2010
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Boleynfan said:
Sharon – I agree that Eleanor was one of the greatest women of her time. I, too, believe that she and Henry had love for each other until his death, and after. While their love soured, it wasn't completely hate, but a love-hate relationship, unhealthy but very passionate. Reminds me a little bit of Wuthering Heights.
Tina – Yay, I'm heading over to the Elizabeth Files right away!!
I'd never thought of Henry II and Eleanor of Acquitaine as Cathy and Heathcliff before, but every time I see Wuthering Heights (Merle Oberon and Laurence Olivier version of course LOL) I'll think of them.
And can't wait to see what you think over on Elizabeth Files!
Henry: Mistress Anne, will you teach the king of England how they dance in the French court?
Anne: There is nothing that France can teach England, your majesty.
King Henry VIII: Well said. Well said.
– Anne of the Thousand Days (1969)
2:49 am
February 16, 2009
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Hi,
Tim here writing on behalf of Claire. I've fixed the page width problem on this page. It was caused by a combination of two things which can't be protected against…
1) Quoting another post within an already existing post quote (i.e. nested post quotes) AND
2) a really long line of underscore characters within the nested quotes.
What this means is that it is unlikely to happen again, but if it does, please let Claire know!
Enjoy.
Tim.
Debunking the myths about Anne Boleyn
1:58 pm
August 12, 2009
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Thanks, Tim! Much appreciated.
"Don't knock at death's door.
Ring the bell and run. He hates that."
5:11 pm
August 3, 2010
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Thank you, Tim!
Tina: Thanks for posting Elizabeth and Seymour on the Liz Files. I think Eleanor was a very strong woman, a woman before her time, and very intelligent and politically savvy as well as passionate. Does she remind anyone else of Anne??
"Grumble all you like, this is how it's going to be"
11:01 pm
January 9, 2010
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Ah, that was the problem! Thanks Tim!
I don't know very much at all about Eleanor but want to so my question is, if there was ONE book about her you would recommend, what would it be?
7:08 am
June 5, 2010
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Boleynfan said:
Thank you, Tim!
Tina: Thanks for posting Elizabeth and Seymour on the Liz Files. I think Eleanor was a very strong woman, a woman before her time, and very intelligent and politically savvy as well as passionate. Does she remind anyone else of Anne??
Oh Boleynfan, I'd say she did. And with all this talk of Eleanor, I was surprised to find her actually mentioned in The Lady in the Tower, along with a few other English queens such as Isabella or Isabelle the “She-Wolf.” Weir was discussing the fact that although English queens had been brought up on charges before, and some had done some heinous things (such as Eleanor conspiring with her sons to take Henry II's throne or Isabella likely having her King murdered), none had ever been executed…until Anne Boleyn. Although Anne was prepared to die, I'm sure that she and many others figured the marriage would be annulled and she'd be shipped off to a nunnery or exile or something Eleanor-like. And you know what? That had never occured to me before. In all the times I've watched The Lion in Winter, not once did I ask myself 'Why hasn't the man who begged for somebody to rid him of a “meddlesome priest” not have had Eleanor executed for her treason…” except that possibly it was politically expedient that he not. But I digress.
I always laughed at a bit of irony. One of my history books shows the tombs of Henry II and Eleanor, and there they are, resting side by side forever. He still can't get rid of her! LOL
I would have loved for Henry to have met a similar fate — finding himself buried, not beside his beloved Jane, but somehow right smack dab next to Anne. Not sure how that would have happened, but I would have loved it! (I think Anne would have too).
Henry: Mistress Anne, will you teach the king of England how they dance in the French court?
Anne: There is nothing that France can teach England, your majesty.
King Henry VIII: Well said. Well said.
– Anne of the Thousand Days (1969)
7:26 am
August 3, 2010
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Bella – Duchess of Aquitaine by Margaret Ball is good, in my opinion, if you want a novel. I actually really liked The Captive Queen by Alison Weir, and I'd definitely recommend it. I'm not sure about non-fiction, but I'm interested too–anyone know about Eleanor non-fic?
Tina – I see more and more Eleanor-Anne similarities: both had a lot of love in them, especially motherly love, they both had ambition, they both did things their own way, they were both striking to look at, but in an unconventional way…Ooh, you're right, wouldn't it be great if Henry lay next to Anne? Revenge! 🙂
"Grumble all you like, this is how it's going to be"
7:30 am
June 5, 2010
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Good morning everybody. I decided to work one of my off days and got 8 hours of needed overtime, and even managed to get in a couple of chapters of The Lady in the Tower during my commute and some spare moments before work started. Then I got in this morning, starting digging through my books, and found all of my Tudor-related ones. I'm very unhappy to see that my collection of Mary Luke's Tudor trilogy is missing — likely lost during my move 10 years ago, and I'm missing my Norah Lofts Anne Boleyn bio, and my Weir books on the Wars of the Roses, but I still have loads more. Anyway, here's the books I still have. I'd love to know if any of you have them in your own libraries and, if you've read them, what you thought:
FICTION:
Innocent Traitor — Alison Weir
The Royal Diaries: Elizabeth I, Red Rose of the House of Tudor: England 1544 — Kathryn Lasky (I need to give this one to my 8-year-old niece)
Virgin: Prelude to the Throne — Robin Maxwell
The Lady Elizabeth — Alison Weir
The Nonsuch Lure — Mary M. Luke
Crown in Candlelight — Rosemary Harley Jarman (the cover is now in tatters but I bought it back around 1979, about a year after it was published)
NON-FICTION:
Her Majestys Spymaster: Elizabeth I, Sir Francis Walsingham and the Birth of Modern Espionage — Stephen Budiansky
The Last Days of Henry VIII: Conspiracies, Treason and Heresy at the Court of a Dying Tyrant — Robert Hutchinson
The Children of Henry VIII or Children of England — Alison Weir
Elizabeth I — Anne Somerset
Elizabeth: The Struggle for the Throne — David Starkey
The Virgin Queen: Elizabeth I, Genius of the Golden Age — Christopher Hibbert
The Life of Elizabeth I — Alison Weir
The Life and Times of Henry VII — Neville Williams, with an introduction by Antonia Fraser (Williams authored The Court of Henry VIII, one of the first Tudor histories I ever read. And yeah, I think Henry VII gets short shrift sometimes)
The Making of the Tudor Dynasty — Ralph A. Griffiths ad Roger S. Thomas
Catherine of Aragon — Garrett Mattingly (written in 1941, republished in 1990 for Book of the Month Club; I remember it mentioning some things about Catherine I had not known before).
GENERAL BRITISH HISTORY
The Oxford Illustrated History of the British Monarchy (I've had this one for so long that it considered itself recent by having photos from the wedding…of Charles and Diana!)
I guess I'm going to rebuild my original library…and add a few new ones too thanks to all of you!
Oh and I just realized the other day — I only own TWO movies related to the Tudors: Elizabeth with Cate Blanchett and The Sea Hawk with Errol Flynn. I've got to do better than that
***
I knew I'd forgotten something. These were buried in my 20 book Patrick O'Brien Jack Aubrey collection:
The Poyson Garden, The Tidal Poole and The Twylight Tower — the Karen Harper Elizabeth I mysteries
Buried under my copy of Anna Karenina and The Brothers Karamazov and likely to remain buried if I have anything to do with it: The Virgin's Lover by PG. *gag* LOL
Henry: Mistress Anne, will you teach the king of England how they dance in the French court?
Anne: There is nothing that France can teach England, your majesty.
King Henry VIII: Well said. Well said.
– Anne of the Thousand Days (1969)
