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Highlights
- The acclaimed Tudor historian, whose book Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I was praised as "a must-read for any student of history and especially Tudor fans," now weaves the dramatic history of the Boleyn family into a richly imagined novel of ambition, bloodlines, and the opulent and deadly court of Henry VIIIWhen nobleman Thomas Boleyn, lord of Hever Castle, is called to London in 1509 to present himself to the newly-anointed eighteen-year-old king, Henry VIII, Thomas's young daughter, Anne, implores him not to leave.
- About the Author: Tracy Borman is Chief Historian of Historic Royal Palaces, Chief Executive of the Heritage Education Trust, and Chancellor and Professor of Tudor History at Lincoln Bishop University.
- Fiction + Literature Genres, Historical
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Book Synopsis
The acclaimed Tudor historian, whose book Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I was praised as "a must-read for any student of history and especially Tudor fans," now weaves the dramatic history of the Boleyn family into a richly imagined novel of ambition, bloodlines, and the opulent and deadly court of Henry VIII
When nobleman Thomas Boleyn, lord of Hever Castle, is called to London in 1509 to present himself to the newly-anointed eighteen-year-old king, Henry VIII, Thomas's young daughter, Anne, implores him not to leave. "Well, make sure the prize you bring me is worth it, Father," Anne demands of him. "I will try," he responds. "But I'll wager even a crown wouldn't satisfy you." Such premonitions resonate convincingly throughout Tracy Borman's rich and compelling novel. Blending the history she knows so well with the creativity of her imagination, Borman brings the Boleyn family's three-decade rise and precipitous fall to vivid life.
Borman surrounds the main dramatic events of the Boleyn saga with a colorful tableau in which servants play key roles, familial and inter-familial rivalries threaten, and true love often loses out to keen ambition. Anne's ever-loyal attendant Agnes Frideswide, and Thomas Boleyn's perfidious steward Robert Cranwell, are as memorable as Cardinal Wolsey, Thomas Cromwell, or anyone in the increasingly dangerous orbit of Henry VIII's court, as he pursues Anne relentlessly, only to abandon and execute her and her brother when she can't give him the son and heir he desperately seeks. Through her keen storytelling gifts, Tracy Borman vividly portrays famous historical characters in this resonant novel of family, fate, and intrigue.
Review Quotes
Praise for The Stolen Crown:
"Borman tells the fascinating story of palace intrigue, forgery, and other shenanigans behind those facts . . . An entertaining and highly readable story of a falsehood that has lasted 400 years."--Kirkus Reviews
"So propulsive and more-ish and full of dazzling and exciting intel."--Sally Wainwright, award-winning producer of Gentleman Jack
"Wonderful . . . reading like a political thriller, no one will ever look at the accession of James I in the same way again."--Elizabeth Norton, author of The Lives of Tudor Women
"The twilight of the Tudors reads here like a political thriller . . . This is both a great read and great history."--Gareth Russell, author of Queen James
Praise for Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I:
Named a Top 10 History Book of the Year by Smithsonian
Named a Best History Book of the Year by Waterstones
"A deep and compelling dive into the lives of this extraordinary mother and daughter . . . Borman, who is an amazing writer, delivers a captivating and exquisitely heart-wrenching account of the mother and daughter duo who radically changed English history forever . . . Thought-provoking and moving . . . A must-read for any student of history and especially Tudor fans."--New York Journal of Books
"Masterfully corrects the historical record . . . It's in the details Borman shares illustrating the mother-daughter relationship that this book truly shines."--Washington Independent Review of Books
"A seminal and groundbreaking work of meticulous, extraordinary, and detailed scholarship."--Midwest Book Review
"Respected Tudor scholar Borman makes a case for both women's political and cultural influence, while detailing how they were shaped by the traditions of the day."--AARP
Praise for The Private Lives of the Tudors:
"For Borman, the intimate particulars of everyday life are what help the past come bracingly, stirringly alive. Her full-quivered social history of the Tudor monarchs . . . furnishes readers with a 'Hey, did you know...?' on almost every page."--New York Times Book Review, Editors' Choice
"With effortless verve, Borman's riveting history conjures a world in which access to the throne takes on new meaning."--O, The Oprah Magazine
"[A] fascinating new book . . . There's still much to learn from The Private Lives of the Tudors thanks to the expertise and persistence of Borman . . . The most captivating moments of Private Lives, and there are plenty of them, bring the reader into other personal Tudor moments of strength, weakness, and heartache."--Christian Science Monitor
"Comprehensively researched and compulsively readable . . . The potions, plots, liaisons and marriages described in this book are thoroughly entertaining . . . A bloody good read."--Minneapolis Star Tribune
About the Author
Tracy Borman is Chief Historian of Historic Royal Palaces, Chief Executive of the Heritage Education Trust, and Chancellor and Professor of Tudor History at Lincoln Bishop University. She is the author of many highly praised books, including The Stolen Crown; Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I; Crown and Sceptre; Henry VIII and the Men Who Made Him; The Private Lives of the Tudors; Thomas Cromwell; Queen of the Conqueror; Elizabeth's Women; Witches; as well as the trilogy of novels The King's Witch, The Devil's Slave, and The Fallen Angel. Borman is also a regular broadcaster and accomplished public speaker. She was awarded an OBE in the King's Birthday Honours 2024 for services to heritage.Shipping details
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