Author: hmalagisi

Book Review: “Holbein: The Ambassadors” by Tracy Borman

On By hmalagisiIn Book ReviewsLeave a comment

Do you have a favorite painting? One that grabs your attention whenever you look at it and discover something new. Most paintings are from da Vinci, van Gogh, Rembrandt, Picasso, or Michelangelo, just to name a few. However, there is one artist that I feel doesn’t get a whole lot of attention unless you study the 16th century: Hans Holbein the Younger. While Holbein is known for his single portraits, his double portrait, known as The Ambassadors, is stunning to look at and is filled with symbolism. Tracy Borman, in collaboration with the National Gallery, has written a short book about this remarkable painting entitled “Holbein: The Ambassadors.”

Since this is a small book (less than a hundred pages), I will keep this review brief. The Ambassadors is a painting most likely commissioned in 1533 by Hans Holbein the Younger. For years, the identity of the sitters has been debated, but they were finally identified as Jean de Dinteville, the French ambassador to England, and Georges de Selve, ambassador to Emperor Charles V. At the time of the painting of this double portrait, England was in the midst of the Great Matter, the divorce of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, so a few elements are alluding to the changes happening in Europe during this time, which Borman explores in depth. She also explores the life of “the King’s Painter” Hans Holbein the Younger and how you can see his distinct style in this piece. Finally, Borman also explores how the painting was kept for centuries, as well as the research that was conducted on it, and the preservation processes that the National Gallery

This was a fun and informative little book about one of my favorite paintings. It gave me a new appreciation for Holbein and this stunning painting. If you want a book about a piece of art from the 16th century, you should check out “Holbein: The Ambassadors” by Tracy Borman.

Book Review: “Queen James: A New History About the Life and Loves of Britain’s First King, James Stuart” by Gareth Russell

On By hmalagisiIn Book ReviewsLeave a comment

We all know the story of the last Tudor monarch, Queen Elizabeth I, who often viewed herself as a female king and who remained a virgin for her entire life. With her death, the Tudor dynasty ended, and a brand new dynasty made its mark on English history. It was a dynasty in England that the son of Elizabeth started I’s rival, Mary Queen of Scots, King James VI of Scotland. King James was not just a king, but a man in love with numerous lovers, and when he fell in love, he fell hard. Gareth Russell explores the life of King James VI/I, who ruled two nations while searching for true love in his latest book, “Queen James: A New History About the Life and Loves of Britain’s First King, James Stuart.”

I am a big fan of Gareth Russell’s books, and so when I heard that he was writing a new biography, I jumped at the chance to read it. I didn’t know much about King James VI/I, especially when it comes to his reign in England or his love life, so I was excited to learn more. Plus, I liked the title of this particular edition of this book.

Like any good biography, we have to start at the beginning, or in James’ case, when his mother was still pregnant with him. Even before he was born, some wanted to see James dead, including those who killed David Riccio in front of his mother, Mary Queen of Scots. James would never know his father, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, as he was killed at Kirk O’Field when James was very young. Mary Queen of Scots would flee to England, making James King of Scotland. James was raised to be a Protestant king who would navigate plenty of plots against his life. He was not interested in marriage, but he would marry Anna of Denmark, a vivacious queen who brought her love of theater and arts to James’ life, as well as Catholicism and seven children, including Charles I and Elizabeth Stuart, “The Winter Queen” of Bohemia.

When Queen Elizabeth I died in 1603, James took the opportunity and became King of England. James had to deal with the affairs of two nations, try to come up with a brand new translation of the Bible, as well as the witch hunts that were becoming more prevalent during this time. Add to James’ troubles were European politics and the constant fighting between Catholics and Protestants, and you start to understand why he relied so heavily on his favorites, specifically Alexander “Sandy” Lindsay, Robert Carr, 1st Earl of Somerset, and George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham. James’s favorites were his lovers, and they provided him with the love that he was looking for all of his life.

No one writes nonfiction the way Gareth Russell does with such care and an engaging writing style. This is another triumph as he shows that although there were rivalries in love, plots a plenty, and religious ruckus, at the heart of the Jacobean reign was a complex man who had his heart on his sleeve and fell in love quickly and hard. If you want a fabulous biography about a king and the ones he loved the most, I highly recommend you read “Queen James: A New History About the Life and Loves of Britain’s First King, James Stuart” by Gareth Russell.

Book Review: “Charles II’s Portuguese Queen: The Legacy of Catherine of Braganza” by Susan Abernethy

On By hmalagisiIn Book ReviewsLeave a comment

Throughout English history, a colorful cast of queens has left their marks in their distinct ways. While the Plantagenet and Tudor queens are more well-known, the Stuart queens and the mistresses of the Stuart kings were dynamic in their unique ways. One of the lesser-known queens was the wife of King Charles II. Though Charles II is known for his numerous mistresses, his wife Catherine of Braganza is not discussed much in England, but in her native Portugal, she is famous. So who was Catherine of Braganza, and what is her legacy in England and Portugal? Susan Abernethy tells the story of this almost forgotten queen in her book, “Charles II’s Portuguese Queen: The Legacy of Catherine of Braganza.”

I would like to thank Pen and Sword Books and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this book. I am someone who is dipping her toes into the Stuart dynasty, so I wanted to explore a story about someone new to me. When I saw the title and subject of this book, it piqued my curiosity because I have heard of Catherine of Braganza, but I know nothing about her.

Before we dive into the actual life of Catherine of Braganza, Abernethy takes the time to explore the relationship between Portugal and England, which culminated in the union of King Charles II and Catherine. I didn’t know much about the history of Portugal except for the aspect that is included during the life of John of Gaunt, so I was excited to learn more about how Portugal became a trading and exploration powerhouse. It was the rise of the House of Braganza that propelled Catherine into a position to marry the King of England.

As the daughter of King John IV of Portugal and Queen Luisa de Guzman, Catherine was destined to marry a member of royalty, but the issue was a matter of faith. Catherine was a devout Roman Catholic, whereas Charles II was a Protestant who was trying to restore his kingdom after the reign of the Protector Oliver Cromwell. Catherine also had to deal with the numerous mistresses of Charles II, like Barbara Villiers, Lucy Walter, Louise de Keroualle, and Nell Gwyn, who were able to give Charles children while Catherine remained barren. Throw in a few anti-Catholic plots, and you can start to understand the strain Catherine was under while living in England. Eventually, after the death of Charles II, Catherine decided to return to her native Portugal, where her life took an unexpected twist with the War of the Spanish Succession until she died in 1705.

I found Catherine of Braganza such a fascinating figure. She did so much in her lifetime, and it is a shame that Catherine does not get more attention. Abernethy does an excellent job of telling the story of this queen who is often in the shadow of more boisterous figures of the age and integrating the history of Portugal into this book. If you want to learn more about a Stuart queen who is often forgotten and her impact on two nations, I highly recommend you read “Charles II’s Portuguese Queen: The Legacy of Catherine of Braganza” by Susan Abernethy.

Blog Update: 500,000 Views! Thank You All So Much!

On By hmalagisiIn Uncategorized2 Comments

Hey my fellow history nerds!

I know this is not the kind of post that you normally see on the blog; it’s usually something you will see on the Facebook page, but this was such a big milestone that I felt like it warranted a blog post. 

As you can tell from the title of the post, Adventures of a Tudor Nerd has officially crossed over 500,000 views, which is insane to think about. Seven years ago, when I started after I was a guest author for Rebecca Larson’s blog, Tudor Dynasty. It was a lot of fun, but Rebecca said that I should try writing my own history blog. I wasn’t sure what I could write about since all I am passionate about are history and books, so I decided to give history book blogging a try and post book reviews.

And the rest was history.

I wasn’t sure if anyone would be interested in what I had to say when it came to history books, but you guys have been such an amazing community. I started with the Tudors because that was the dynasty that I felt the most comfortable discussing, but as time has gone on, I have added even more periods of the past; the Anglo-Saxons and the Vikings, the Plantagenets and the wider medieval world, the Wars of the Roses, the Tudors, and most recently the Stuarts. It’s been fun to share my thoughts on books with all of you, but I also believe that authors should be able to promote their books on my blog through guest post, to bring things full circle. Finally, I enjoy talking about TV shows and movies that I have watched and want to rant about, as well as poetry that I find profound. 

I have been blown away by the amount of love and support that I have received over the years. I am just a history nerd with a love for the past and books. Thank you all so much for being part of this crazy, amazing adventure. To the publishers and authors I have worked with, thank you for allowing me to read some truly amazing books, and thank you for becoming mycolleagues and friends. 

This has been such an unbelievable journey so far, and I can’t wait to continue to embark on even more history adventures.

Keep on taking your own history adventures and never stop learning from the past.

Here’s to more history adventures!

-Heidi

Book Review: “Wortes and All: Medieval Cooking” by Emma Kay

On By hmalagisiIn Book ReviewsLeave a comment

History is not just dates and conflicts with men and women sprinkled in, so we can learn a lesson. It’s not just births, conflicts, triumphs, marriages, and deaths. The people of the past are similar to us in so many ways, and it is through the field of study known as Living History or Experimental Archeology that we can understand the past through a more hands-on approach. One of the most popular methods of studying living history is cooking recipes from the past. But one must wonder how our tastes and understanding of the benefits of food change over time. Emma Kay takes the question of how eating and drinking changed over the medieval period in England and explores it in her book, “Wortes and All: Medieval Cooking.”

I would like to thank Amberley Publishing for sending me a copy of this book. The study of Living History/Experimental Archeology has been an area of interest for me for a couple of years now, especially cooking, as it gives the past a bit more substance. When I heard about this book, it was a compelling concept to me, and I wanted to read it and see if Kay would provide new insight into this field of study.

This book is broken down into chapters where different foods are highlighted: soups and stews, bread and dough, meat, fish, sauces, dairy, eggs, fruits, vegetables, sweet treats, and drinks. Each chapter explores these topics through the early medieval period (4th-13th centuries) and the later medieval period (14th-16th centuries). While we do have manuscripts that have recipes written down, Kay also highlights leechdoms, which are medical remedies or medicinal tomes. She also explores how the theory of the four humors affected the diets of those living in the medieval world.

What I appreciate about this book is the diverse resources that she compiled for her research. It is not just English cookbooks and manuscripts, but Anglo-Saxon tomes on medicine, Scandinavian sagas, French cookbooks, and even Middle Eastern manuscripts. It shows how interconnected the medieval world was, even with all the conflicts and distances between nations. Kay goes a step further by including not only the original recipes in their original languages, but also her translations and even images of her recreating the recipes.

Overall, I did enjoy this book and the information that was provided. I learned quite a lot of new information about cooking and drinking in the medieval world, but part of me wishes it were a bit longer, as this is only about a hundred pages. I think I will explore other books written by Emma Kay. If you want a book that explores how the culinary arts changed over the medieval period, I recommend you read “Wortes and All: Medieval Cooking” by Emma Kay.

Book Review: “Nothing Proved” by Janet Wertman

On By hmalagisiIn Book ReviewsLeave a comment

A princess born to a king and his second wife lost her title and legitimacy when her father decided that her mother, Anne Boleyn, needed to die. Elizabeth Tudor knows the meaning of resilience as she survived her childhood during her father King Henry VIII’s reign. Now that her father is dead  Elizabeth is at the mercy of her half-siblings Edward and Mary, plus any scheming man who wants to marry her and get closer to the crown. Can Elizabeth survive her siblings’ reigns or is she destined to be locked in the Tower to await her ultimate fate like her mother? Janet Wertman explores the life of Elizabeth Tudor in her latest series Regina and the first novel, “Nothing Proved” explores Elizabeth’s turbulent adolescence. 

I would like to thank Janet Wertman for sending me a copy of this novel. I have always been a big fan of novels about Elizabeth I and so when I heard that Wertman was writing another Tudor series all about Elizabeth I, I jumped at the chance to read it.

From an early age, Elizabeth Tudor swore she would never marry, especially after seeing how her mother Anne Boleyn, and her numerous stepmothers were treated by her father. Now her father King Henry VIII is dead, her brother Edward VI is King of England, and she is separated from the stepmother that she loved Katherine Parr after several unwanted incidents with Katherine’s husband Thomas Seymour. Elizabeth never got to see her beloved stepmother again and Thomas has his eyes on marrying Elizabeth or possibly taking control of the king. Bad mistakes on both parts, but it does not mean that Elizabeth is safe from scandal as Edward’s council believes that Elizabeth was involved in the plot against the king.

Elizabeth may have survived Edward’s reign, but her step-sister Mary’s reign is a different case. Mary is a devout Catholic who does not trust Elizabeth. She believes that Elizabeth is part of the plots to overthrow Mary and become the next queen of England. These accusations are dangerous and will place Elizabeth in the Tower. Luckily, Elizabeth is not alone as she has her ladies in waiting as well as friends like Robert Dudley and William Cecil, who is the second protagonist in this novel. It was a nice touch to add William Cecil’s point of view because he rarely gets a starring role in historical fiction novels so it was interesting to see his perspective on matters leading up to the moment Elizabeth becomes queen.

I found this an enjoyable novel that explored Elizabeth’s adolescent years which were some of her most turbulent. We can see her signature resilience and the formation of her close-knit circle of allies and friends that will become so important during her reign. If you are a fan of Elizabethan novels,  I think you will  thoroughly enjoy, “Nothing Proved” book one in the Regina series by Janet Wertman.

Guest Post: “Spotlight for ‘Oscar’s Tale’ by Chris Bishop”

On By hmalagisiIn guest post1 Comment

I am pleased to welcome Chris Bishop to my blog today to share a spotlight for his novel, “Oscar’s Tale.” I want to thank Chris Bishop and The Coffee Pot Book Club for allowing me to participate in this blog tour.

Blurb: 

Oscar’s Tale is that of a Saxon boy who sets out to find and rescue his father who has been taken by Viking slavers.  

The story begins in 877, just prior to the Viking attack on Chippenham in which King Alfred was routed. Against this backdrop, Oscar is obliged to set out on his all but impossible quest and quickly becomes embroiled in all that’s going on in Wessex at this turbulent time, culminating in him playing a small but important part in the battle at Edington. 

But this is not just a story about blood thirsty battles and fearsome warriors, it’s about a boy struggling to live up to his father’s reputation as a warrior and trying to find his place in a dangerous and uncertain world. For that, he is forced to confront many dangers and earn the respect of others who are far above his station. Along the way he also finds love – albeit at a cost far higher than most would have been willing to pay. 

 

‘For is it not the wish of every man that his son will achieve more in life than he did?’ 

Buy Link:

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/bwQQ99  

Author Bio:  

Chris was born in London in 1951. After a successful career as a Chartered Surveyor, he retired to concentrate on writing, combining this with his lifelong interest in Anglo Saxon history. 

His first novel, Blood and Destiny, was published in 2017 and his second, The Warrior with the Pierced Heart, in 2018 followed by The Final Reckoning in 2019 and Bloodlines in 2020.  Together they form a series entitled The Shadow of the Raven, the fifth and final part of which – The Prodigal Son – was published in 2023. 

 

Chris has published numerous blogs about various aspects of Anglo Saxon history and is a member of the Historical Writers’ Association. 

 

Author Links: 

 

Website:

www.chrisbishopauthor.com  

Twitter:

https://x.com/CBishop_author  

Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/207271.Chris_Bishop  

Book Review: “Royal Renegades: The Children of Charles I and the English Civil Wars” by Linda Porter

On By hmalagisiIn Book ReviewsLeave a comment

Throughout history, many civil wars have altered the course of the history of the countries where they occurred. While we think about the American Civil War, the French Revolution, and the Wars of the Roses, another civil war often overlooked outside of England is the English Civil Wars. A series of conflicts between the Parliamentarians and the Royalists led to the execution of King Charles I and the rise of the English Republic under Oliver Cromwell. We often view the conflict from either Charles’ or Oliver’s perspective, but we have to consider the family that Charles left behind. How did the English Civil Wars mold the children of Charles I and his Catholic Queen Henrietta Maria? Linda Porter explores the lives of the royal children in her book, “Royal Renegades: The Children of Charles I and the English Civil Wars.”

I am a relative novice when it comes to the Stuart dynasty, especially the English Civil Wars. I have seen Linda Porter’s books but have not read any of them yet. I like a challenge so when I saw this book, I decided to give it a try.

Before we explore the lives of the children of Charles I and Henrietta Maria, we must understand how their relationship began in the 1620s. A Protestant English king married a French Catholic princess, the daughter of King Henry IV of France and Marie de Medici. To say that the English did not like having a Catholic queen would be an understatement. Charles I and Maria had nine children in total, but only five would survive into adulthood; Charles II, Princess Mary, James II, Prince Henry, and Henriette Anne. It is through the lives of these five children that we can get a grasp of what kind of impact Charles I’s decisions had on his family as the English Civil Wars took place.

The most difficult part of this book for me was understanding the conflict of the English Civil Wars themselves as it was not an area that I normally study. I think Porter does an admirable job of explaining the causes of the English Civil Wars and how Charles and his family dealt with the anti-royalist resentment. We see the children and Henrietta Maria escape to other countries like France and the Netherlands by any means necessary while Charles I stayed behind. Porter shows her audience that Charles I was a good father until his execution on January 30, 1649. The death of Charles I left a mark on his children. Charles II and James II would have to bid their time and fight for their right to rule after Oliver and Richard Cromwell with a few scandals mixed in. Henriette Anne and Mary would get used to married life with their husbands Philippe Duke of Orleans and William II of Orange respectively.

This is a story of a resilient family who fought for what they believed in, even if it meant that their father died in the process and their country hated them for a time. It is a story of how love and endurance brought the monarchy back from the brink to survive another few centuries. I now want to dive deeper into the Stuart dynasty and read more books by Porter. If you are like me and you want to learn more about the Stuarts and the English Civil Wars, I recommend you read, “Royal Renegades: The Children of Charles I and the English Civil Wars” by Linda Porter.

Book Review: “The Tudor Queens’ Midwife” by Brigitte Barnard

On By hmalagisiIn Book ReviewsLeave a comment

Throughout history, the true defining feature of a good queen was whether or not she could give birth to a male heir and a spare to keep the dynasty going. No dynasty relied heavily on the pregnancy of a queen and a male heir than the Tudor dynasty of England. While we tend to focus on the women who wear the crown and give birth to the potential heir, another stands beside her during the entire process; the royal midwife. Not much attention has been given to the royal midwife until now. Brigitte Barnard explores the life of a royal midwife and her daughter who work to help Queen Katherine of Aragon in her novel, “The Tudor Queens’ Midwife.”

I want to thank The Coffee Pot Book Club and Brigitte Barnard for sending me a copy of this book. When I read the description of this book for a blog tour that I was invited to join, it was an appealing concept. I like reading novels where the royal family takes a back seat, so seeing a novel about a royal midwife was different and I wanted to read it. 

In the glittering court of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon, Sarah Menendez the midwife and her daughter Faith must deal with the dangers of childbirth. Through dealing with miscarriages and stillbirths, Sarah and Faith help the queen in any way they can. But this mother and daughter have a secret. While serving Katherine of Aragon, the Spanish Catholic queen, they are not Catholic or Protestant. They are Jews who were exiled from their native Spain after the Inquisition that was put in place due to Katherine’s mother.

Throughout this novel, we witness Sarah and Faith helping Katherine of Aragon up to the Great Matter and other noble women and working women alike. Some of the women found the joys of motherhood while others paid the ultimate sacrifice to bring new life into the world. We also get to see the bond between Sarah and Faith and how fortune’s wheel continues to turn even for normal men and women. I also enjoyed the fact that we got to experience what life might be like for a Jewish family living in England when religion was a hot topic and the Jews had been banned from England for centuries.

 I enjoyed this novel. It was a fresh take on the Tudor era in England that explores what it might have been like to be a Jewish midwife when Katherine of Aragon was queen. As a debut, I think Barnard does a good job of creating believable characters and great scenarios. I am looking forward to her next novel and I hope she continues telling the story of these midwives. If you want a novel that is full of secrecy, religious conflict, and a loving family, I would suggest you read, “The Tudor Queens’ Midwife” by Brigitte Barnard.

Blurb: 

In the glamorous, glittering, and dangerous court of King Henry VIII and his queen Katherine of Aragon, the desperate desire for a healthy male heir overshadows all. Plagued by a series of miscarriages the queen is left grappling with the weight of her singular duty to provide a son for the Crown. Amidst this turmoil, the queen turns to Sarah Menendez, the most highly skilled midwife in England. Sarah, exiled from her homeland and concealing her true identity must serve the queen and battle her deepest fears. As Sarah strives to save the queen from the perils of childbirth, the specter of her past threatens to unravel the carefully crafted identity Sarah has created for herself and her young daughter. 

  In a world where power, politics, and religion collide, Sarah finds herself entangled in a web of intrigue and deadly danger. The fate of the queen’s unborn child, the survival of the midwife and her daughter, and the stability of the kingdom hang in the balance. Sarah Menendez must employ all of her skills, cunning, and courage to protect those she holds dear as well as the life of the queen and her unborn child. 

The Tudor Queens’ Midwife is a gripping tale of secrecy, sacrifice, and religious turmoil amongst the most opulent courts the world has ever seen.  

Buy Link: 

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/4jzxyk  

Author Bio: 

Brigitte Barnard is an amateur historian of Renaissance English history and an author of the trilogy The Tudor Queens’ Midwife, of which the first book in the series is available. She is currently writing a non-fiction book about Tudor midwifery for Pen and Sword Publishing House.  

Brigitte is a former homebirth midwife, and she lives at home with her husband and four children. She also raises Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.  

Author Links: 

Website: http://thetudormidwife.com/  

Twitter: https://x.com/TheTudorMidwife  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetudormidwife

Guest Post: “The Spanish Armada” by Justin Newland

On By hmalagisiIn guest post1 Comment

I am pleased to welcome Justin Newland to my blog today to share some background information about his novel,  The Midnight of Eights. I want to thank The Coffee Pot Book Club and Justin Newland for allowing me to be part of this blog tour.

This guest post relates to the historical background of my novel, The Midnight of Eights. The genesis of any single historical event is always multiple, a combine compound of different influences, some obvious, some subtle, So, in this short space, the best I can do is paint some broad brush strokes.  

The novel culminates in the repulse of the Spanish Armada, but what led to King Philip of Spain’s fatal decision to build and dispatch a fleet of 130 warships to invade England in 1588 AD?  

Let’s start in 1556. That was when Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain, abdicated and passed his territories to his son, Philip, who inherited the Netherlands. The Dutch were mostly Protestant but were now under the control of a Catholic monarch. Philip sent the Duke of Alba to suppress any revolt and impose Catholic rule.  

In England in 1570, the Protestant Queen Elizabeth suppressed the Catholic-inspired Northern rebellion and for her troubles was excommunicated by Pope Pius V. In a Papal Bull entitled Regnans in Excelsis, he declared her to be a heretic and “the pretended Queen of England and the servant of crime.” Significantly for English Catholics, the Pope released all of her subjects from any allegiance to her and excommunicated any that obeyed her. 

In December 1585, Elizabeth and the Privy Council finally responded to the Dutch call for help, and the Queen sent English troops and vessels to support their resistance.  

The Papal Bull persuaded many English Catholics to plot against Elizabeth. One was Sir Francis Throckmorton, a Catholic noble. He planned to depose Elizabeth and replace her with Mary, Queen of Scots. Mary, the Queen’s cousin, was Catholic, and a distant heir to the English throne. Francis Walsingham, the Queen’s spymaster, with the help of Nelan Michaels, the hero of the novel The Midnight of Eights, uncovered his plot and had Throckmorton executed at Tyburn in London in July 1584. The Tyburn Tree, a nickname for the gallows at Tyburn, was a prominent site for public executions in London and was given the chilling epithet, ‘the tree that was never green.’ 

Anthony Babington was the next English Catholic noble to attempt to depose Elizabeth and replace her with Mary. But when her letters to Babington were intercepted by Walsingham’s spies, proving her involvement to depose Elizabeth, Mary, Queen of Scots, was tried and executed in 1587. For King Philip, Mary’s death was the tipping point. He decided to despatch the Armada and bring England and its heretic Queen to heel once and for all.  

During the fleet preparations in Cadiz, Philip ordered his admirals to search for women on board the ships and remove them, so that God’s will prevailed.  

In April 1588, the Pope blessed the Armada emblem, the Madonna, and all the Spanish mariners watched in holy awe as it fluttered high on the masts of the galleons, galleasses, and supply ships.  

The Armada was not just a fleet of ships. As far as the Spanish were concerned, it was primarily a holy instrument to remove evil from the world.  

Justin Newland  

18th March 2025 

Photo #1: Pope Pius V, courtesy of Wikipedia  

Photo #2: The Tyburn Tree, courtesy of Wikipedia  

Blurb:

1580-Nelan Michaels docks at Plymouth after sailing around the world aboard the Golden Hind. He seeks only to master his mystical powers – the mark of the salamander, that mysterious spirit of fire – and reunite with his beloved Eleanor.  

After delivering a message to Francis Walsingham, he’s recruited into the service of the Queen’s spymaster, where his astral abilities help him to predict and thwart future plots against the realm. 

But in 1588, the Spanish Armada threatens England’s shores. 

So how could the fledgling navy of a small, misty isle on the edge of mainland Europe repulse the greatest fleet in the world? 

Was the Queen right when she claimed it was divine intervention, saying, ‘He blew with His winds, and they were scattered!’? 

Or was it an entirely different intervention – the extraordinary conjunction of coincidences that Nelan’s astral powers brought to bear on that fateful Midnight of Eights? 

Buy Links: 

Universal Buy Link: https://mybook.to/TheMidnightofEights  

Author Website (where buyer can enter a dedication): https://www.justinnewland.com/the-midnight-of-eights~193  

Wordery (for free UK delivery): https://wordery.com/the-midnight-of-eights-justin-newland-9781835740330   

Barnes and Noble (US): https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-midnight-of-eights-justin-newland/1146325263?ean=2940185990643  

Waterstones (UK): https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-midnight-of-eights/justin-newland/9781835740330  

Kobo (International): https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/the-midnight-of-eights  

Saxo (DK): https://www.saxo.com/dk/the-midnight-of-eights_bog_9781835740330  

Kindle Unlimited:  

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Midnight-Eights-Justin-Newland-ebook/dp/B0D9Y7YRDG   

Author Bio: 

Justin Newland’s novels represent an innovative blend of genres from historical adventure to supernatural thriller and magical realism.  

Undeterred by the award of a Maths Doctorate, he conceived his debut novel, The Genes of Isis (ISBN 9781789014860, Matador, 2018), an epic fantasy set under Ancient Egyptian skies.  

His second book, The Old Dragon’s Head (ISBN 9781789015829, Matador, 2018), and is set in Ming Dynasty China in the shadows of the Great Wall.  

Set during the Great Enlightenment, The Coronation (ISBN 9781838591885, Matador, 2019) speculates on the genesis of the most important event in the modern world – the Industrial Revolution.  

The Abdication (ISBN 9781800463950, Matador, 2021) is a mystery thriller in which a young woman confronts her faith in a higher purpose and what it means to abdicate that faith. 

The Mark of the Salamander (ISBN 9781915853271, Book Guild, 2023), is the first in a two-book series, The Island of Angels. Set in the Elizabethan era, it tells the epic tale of England’s coming of age.  

The latest is The Midnight of Eights (ISBN 9781835740 330, Book Guild, 2024), the second in The Island of Angels series, which charts the uncanny coincidences of time and tide that culminated in the repulse of the Spanish Armada.  

His work in progress is The Spirit of the Times which explores the events of the 14th Century featuring an unlikely cast of the Silk Road, Genghis Khan, the Black Plague, and a nursery rhyme that begins ‘Ring a-ring a-roses’.  

Author, speaker, and broadcaster, Justin gives talks to historical associations and libraries, appears on LitFest panels, and enjoys giving radio interviews. He lives with his partner in plain sight of the Mendip Hills in Somerset, England. 

Author Links: 

Website: https://www.justinnewland.com/ 

Twitter: https://x.com/JustinNewland53  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justin.newland.author/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-newland-b393aa28/  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjustinnewland/ 

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/justin-newland  

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/jnewland  

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Justin-Newland/author/B06WRQVLT8