Earthly Joys - (Tradescant Novels) by Philippa Gregory (Paperback)

About the Book

Sir Robert Cecil, advisor to the newly crowned King James I, relies on his loyal gardener for practical advice. Combining beautifully ordered landscapes with the turmoil of a country teetering toward civil war, the author brilliantly brings the past to life through the eyes of one remarkable man and his family.

Book Synopsis

#1 New York Times bestselling author and "queen of royal fiction" (USA TODAY) Philippa Gregory brings to life the passionate, turbulent times of seventeenth-century England as seen through the eyes of the country's most famous royal gardener.

John Tradescant's fame and skill as a gardener are unsurpassed in seventeenth-century England, but it is his clear-sighted honesty and loyalty that make him an invaluable servant. As an informal confidant of Sir Robert Cecil, adviser to King James I, he witnesses the making of history, from the Gunpowder Plot to the accession of King Charles I and the growing animosity between Parliament and court.

Tradescant's talents soon come to the attention of the most powerful man in the country, the irresistible Duke of Buckingham, the lover of King Charles I. Tradescant has always been faithful to his masters, but Buckingham is unlike any he has ever known: flamboyant, outrageously charming, and utterly reckless. Every certainty upon which Tradescant has based his life--his love of his wife and children, his passion for his work, his loyalty to his country--is shattered as he follows Buckingham to court, to war, and to the forbidden territories of human love.

Review Quotes

"A cleverly conceived and executed historical narrative spanning one of the most intriguing and turbulent eras in British history."
-- Margaret Flanagan, Booklist

"I was entranced...Gregory promises us the continuation of the fictionalized story of the fortunes of the Tradescants in Virgin Earth. Personally, I can't wait."
-- Lisa Jardine, The Times (London)

"This tale of forbidden love set against the turmoil of a country in chaos makes for both intelligent and satisfying reading."
-- Betsy Groban, The New York Times Book Review

"When it comes to writers of historical fiction, Philippa Gregory is in the very top league."
-- Val Hennessy, Daily Mail

About the Author

Philippa Gregory is the author of many New York Times bestselling novels, including The Other Boleyn Girl, and is a recognized authority on women's history. Many of her works have been adapted for the screen including The Other Boleyn Girl. She graduated from the University of Sussex and received a PhD from the University of Edinburgh, where she is a Regent. She holds honorary degrees from Teesside University and the University of Sussex. She is a fellow of the Universities of Sussex and Cardiff and was awarded the 2016 Harrogate Festival Award for Contribution to Historical Fiction. She is an honorary research fellow at Birkbeck, University of London. She founded Gardens for the Gambia, a charity to dig wells in poor rural schools in The Gambia, and has provided nearly 200 wells. She welcomes visitors to her website PhilippaGregory.com.