Tag: book review

Book Review: “The Queen’s Frog Prince: The Courtship of Elizabeth I and the Duke of Anjou” by David Lee

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the queen's frog princeRomances in the Tudor era are legendary for their effects on English, European, and world history. From international matches to domestic love stories, the Tudors had a way of capturing our attention with whom they married. The one Tudor whose relationships caught everyone’s attention just as much as Henry VIII is his daughter with Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth I. The legendary “Virgin Queen” did have some men who caught her eye and some that she even considered marrying. There was Robert Dudley, but the one who may surprise a lot of people is the French prince, Francis Duke of Anjou. So how did this whirlwind romance begin and why did Elizabeth choose to stay single instead of marrying to secure a strong alliance with France? In his latest book, “The Queen’s Frog Prince: The Courtship of Elizabeth I and the Duke of Anjou,” David Lee explores the heart of this long-forgotten international romance.

I would like to thank Chronos Books for sending me a copy of this book. I am always looking for a new book about the reign of Elizabeth I. I will admit that I was one of those people who did not take her relationship with the Duke of Anjou as a serious infatuation, but when I heard about this title, I wanted to see if I could be proven wrong.

Unlike many books dedicated to the reign of Elizabeth I, Lee begins in 1579, when the relationship between Elizabeth and the Duke of Anjou began. Elizabeth knew that if she was going to marry anyone, it had to be soon or there would be no Tudor heirs to inherit the throne. The top contender for her heart, Robert Dudley, betrayed the queen and married Lettice Knollys behind her back in 1578. The following year, she was presented with an opportunity to marry the younger brother of the King of France, Francis Duke of Anjou.

The bulk of this book examines the correspondence between Elizabeth I and the Duke of Anjou through their letters from 1579 until the end of the relationship in 1581. When we think about Elizabeth I and her international romantic relationships, we often have an image of a stoic queen who wants to keep relationships with other countries cordial even when she rejects their advances. These letters are so heartfelt and present a new side of Elizabeth I which I was not expecting to see, especially not for someone who was not Robert Dudley. There was true passion and love between the queen and her frog prince, but it was not meant to be as religious differences, her age, and the question of Elizabeth’s ability to rule with a man by her side made it impossible for the relationship to continue.

Lee has presented a heartbreaking tale of love and loss between a queen and her frog prince. He has done meticulous research to show a different side of Elizabeth I that I did not know even existed. It begs the question if nothing was standing in her way, would Elizabeth have married the Duke of Anjou and how would that have affected English and European history as a whole?

If you want a book that makes you question the end of Elizabeth I’s reign and her last international romance, I highly recommend you read, “The Queen’s Frog Prince: The Courtship of Elizabeth I and the Duke of Anjou” by David Lee.

Book Review: “Crime and Punishment in Tudor England: From Alchemists to Zealots” by April Taylor

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Crime and Punishment in Tudor EnglandIn any society throughout history, there are certain rules and regulations which citizens must follow to maintain order. When there is a transfer of power, those rules and their punishments shift a little bit to fit the vision of those who are in power. England was in a chaotic spiral as law and order were thrown asunder during the Wars of the Roses. The rise of the Tudors marked another shift to the justice system of England, with each monarch during this dynasty, the legal system changed yet again. In her book, “Crime and Punishment in Tudor England: From Alchemists to Zealots,” April Taylor examines the crimes of Tudor England and their respective punishments through case studies.

I want to thank Pen and Sword Books and NetGalley for sending me a copy of this book. I am always interested in different aspects of life during the Tudor dynasty, so when I heard that this one would focus on the justice system in Tudor England, I thought it would be an interesting read.

Taylor begins her book by exploring the origins of the legal system in England, starting with the Romans and going all the way through medieval England, stopping to do a deep dive into the Magna Carta. It is a bit of a whirlwind as this section only takes up about ten to twenty pages. She then dives into the beliefs of medieval England, from witchcraft to superstitions and the church. Taylor also explores how the printing press, prisons, punishment methods, and the legal system changed over time from the medieval to the Tudors.

The bulk of this book focuses on the crimes and their punishments in alphabetical order, from alchemists to zealots. Each section focuses on one specific crime, the definition of the crime, a famous case if there is one, and, finally, a few case studies of lesser-known cases that will be of interest to novices and experts alike. I found this part of the book intriguing as there were some cases that I was not familiar with and might want to explore more in-depth later on.

I do have two concerns about this book. The first one is that Taylor likes to jump around when it comes to the stories that she tells. One minute, she is telling a story about the Tudor era, and the next, she has jumped to the modern day. The other thing that bothered me was her characterization of the Tudor monarchs as either misers or bigoted. It’s not exactly how I view them, so it was hard to read without a justification as to why she believes this about the monarchs.

Overall, I think this was a good book that shows a unique aspect of the Tudor dynasty that has not been explored that much. There are some aspects that I wish Taylor would have done better, but it is a fun read. If you want to read an interesting take on the legal system during the Tudor dynasty, I would recommend you read, “Crime and Punishment in Tudor England: From Alchemists to Zealots” by April Taylor.

Book Review: “Jane Seymour: An Illustrated Life” by Carol-Ann Johnston

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Jane SeymourKing Henry VIII’s six wives each have their unique story that transcends time. Katherine of Aragon was his first wife, the mother of Mary Tudor, and the one Henry left behind after 24 years to marry his mistress Anne Boleyn, the most famous of his wives and the mother of Elizabeth Tudor. Anna of Cleves had the shortest marriage to Henry VIII and ended up with an excellent annulment deal. Catherine Howard was young and a bit naive when it came to the ways of men, which led to her downfall while Catherine Parr survived until the end of Henry VIII’s reign. These five women are stories we know by heart, but the one whose story remains a mystery is Jane Seymour, Henry’s third wife, and the mother of the future King Edward VI. In her debut book, “Jane Seymour: An Illustrated Life” Carol-Ann Johnston tells the story of the wife who gave Henry his desired son.

I want to thank Pen and Sword Books and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this book. Jane Seymour is someone who I have wanted to learn more about ever since I started studying the Tudors. When I heard that the founder of the Jane Seymour- Henry VIII’s Third Wife was turning her research into a book, I knew I wanted to read it.

Johnston begins by tracing the origins of the Seymour family to the town of Touraine, Saint-Maur-sur-Loire, and a man named Richard de St. Maur from the 7th and 8th centuries. She then traces the family to John Seymour, the Sheriff of Hampshire, the one who inherited Wolf Hall, and the grandfather of Jane Seymour. Johnston also explores how Jane Seymour, Anne Boleyn, and Catherine Howard were related, as they were all half-second cousins. Sir John and Margery Seymour had a large family with at least 9 children including Jane, Thomas, and Edward, who would play important roles in the Tudor court.

The bulk of this particular book explores the time Jane Seymour spent at the Tudor court, starting with her time with Katherine of Aragon, exploring her relationship with Anne Boleyn, and finally her time as Queen of England. We get to see how she dealt with big events in the reign of Henry VIII like the Great Matter, the rise and fall of Anne Boleyn, the Pilgrimage of Grace, and the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Johnston also explores what made Jane Seymour famous, the birth of her son Edward VI and her death a matter of days afterward.

For her debut book, I think Johnston does a decent job telling Jane Seymour’s story for a modern audience with lovely photographs of ways she was remembered through art and architecture. There were some really interesting facts about Jane’s life that I did not know about including her family’s origin and her suitor before Henry, but a lot of this felt like information that I already knew from other books. I think it would be nice if Johnston does write another book that she focuses on the origins of the Seymour family because it covers centuries of English history and I am sure there are some intriguing tales in their family tree.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and the information I learned from reading it. If you want to learn more about Jane Seymour’s life and her family, I recommend reading, “Jane Seymour: An Illustrated Life” by Carol-Ann Johnston.

Book Review: “The Siege of Loyalty House: A Story of the English Civil War” by Jessie Childs

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The Siege of Loyalty HouseA war between brothers and cousins to determine the future of England is raging, but it is not the same kind of war England saw during medieval times. It is a clash of ideas, religious beliefs, and a fight for the survival of the reigning English king. On one side were the Catholic supporters of King Charles I, known as Cavaliers, and on the other were the Protestant Roundheads who wanted to see the king removed from the throne. Caught in the middle was the home of the Winchesters, known as Basing House, a royalist stronghold, which withstood sieges and bloodshed for two years amid the conflict. Jessie Childs’ latest book, “The Siege of Loyalty House: A Story of the English Civil War,” is dedicated to telling the story of this remarkable house and the men and women who fought to the death to defend it.

Before reading this book, I knew little about the English Civil War. I knew that it ended with the death of King Charles I and Oliver Cromwell became the new ruler of England, and I knew that one side was called Roundheads while the other was referred to as Cavaliers, but I did not know which was which. So, I was pretty much walking into this book and this period in English history blind. I had heard about this book from historian friends on social media, so I decided to give it a shot.

Childs has focused more on the men and women in defending Basing House, also known as “Loyalty House,” a stronghold for royalists or those who chose to tear down the barricades. These men and women were not soldiers, far from it. They were apothecaries, architects, mothers, wives, gamekeepers, and ordinary people, alongside the Marquess and Marchioness of Winchester. From 1643 until 1645, Basing House and its inhabitants faced the horror of war with numerous siege attempts by the Protestant Roundheads, who wanted to see the Catholic Cavaliers fall.

I found this an enjoyable read and very intriguing. It is well-researched and introduces a brand new cast of characters from the past, along with the harrowing tale of Basing House. As a novice in studying the English Civil War, it was a challenging read for me. I will return to this book once I read more about the English Civil War.

Childs has written a thrilling tale about the horrors of war resilience of those within the walls of Basing House. This may have been the first book I have read written by Jessie Childs, but it will not be my last. Suppose you have read books about the English Civil War and want another unique look into this tumultuous time in English history. In that case, I highly suggest you read “The Siege of Loyalty House: A Story of the English Civil War” by Jessie Childs.

Book Review: “The Tudors by Numbers: The Stories and Statistics Behind England’s Most Infamous Royal Dynasty” by Carol Ann Lloyd

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The Tudors by NumbersThe story of the Tudor dynasty has been told in numerous different ways. We know the major figures, the significant events, and the stories of their love lives. We understand how they changed the history of England and Europe forever, but these are just the basic facts. If we look at the numbers surrounding the dynasty, what type of story does it tell? This is the approach Carol Ann Lloyd has taken in her debut book, “The Tudors by Numbers: The Stories and Statistics Behind England’s Most Infamous Royal Dynasty.”

I want to thank Pen and Sword Books and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this book. When I heard about the concept for this book, I was intrigued to see how statistics and history could combine to make a fascinating read.

Lloyd begins her book by exploring how the Tudors came to the throne through the conflict known as the Wars of the Roses, typical for Tudor nonfiction books. However, unlike many nonfiction books about the Tudors, Lloyd has decided not to stick with the chronological order. Instead, she has chosen to highlight certain aspects of the Tudor dynasty to discuss in each chapter with a number corresponding to the topic, such as one rose, two crowned queens, etc.

I found this a refreshing take on telling the Tudor story. To see the stories of the monarchs of the Tudor dynasty, Henry VII, Henry VIII, Edward VI, Lady Jane Grey, Mary I, and Elizabeth I, told through numbers and statistics was unique. Lloyd also tied these statistics to other English dynasties, before and after the Tudors, to show how this dynasty differed from the rest.

However, I wish Lloyd included facts about the nobility and common people in this book. Of course, it is important to discuss the monarchs of the Tudor dynasty, but that is only part of the story of the Tudors. What about the statistics of religious victims of the Tudors? How about statistics that showed the difference between the common people and the nobility? If Lloyd writes another book similar to this one, it would be a fun twist to share statistics from every walk of life during the dynasty featured in the book.

Overall, this was a fascinating fresh look into the Tudor dynasty from the statistics surrounding the monarchs. Lloyd has a unique way of approaching her Tudor dynasty research, making this a great debut book. If you want a stellar introductory book for the Tudor dynasty, check out “The Tudors by Numbers: The Stories and Statistics Behind England’s Most Infamous Royal Dynasty” by Carol Ann Lloyd.

Book Review: “Eating with the Tudors: Food and Recipes” by Brigitte Webster

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Eating with the TudorsWhen we think about food during the Tudor dynasty, one of the first images that pop into our head is of Charles Laughton, who played King Henry VIII in “The Private Life of Henry VIII” from 1933. He is seen in a popular image online devouring a chicken at a Tudor feast. We assume that the Tudors were indulgent regarding their food, not caring about what they put in their bodies and their benefits. However, the recipes from this period, from the beginning of King Henry VII’s reign to the death of Queen Elizabeth I, tell a different story. In her debut nonfiction book, “Eating with the Tudors: Food and Recipes,” Brigitte Webster shows how the political and religious changes during the Tudor dynasty affected how those living in England ate every day.

I want to thank Pen and Sword Books and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this book. I am always looking for a fresh approach to studying history, especially the Tudors, so when I heard Brigitte was writing a Tudor cookbook based on her research and culinary experiments, I knew I wanted to read it.

Webster begins by taking the time to explain the finer details of Galen’s 4 Humours Theory, how the body is divided into four humours; blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. This theory was the roadmap for Tudor dieticians and physicians on what food they would recommend for people to eat to keep them healthy. They believed that certain foods would benefit different humours, and the goal was to keep the humours balanced. She explores what the Tudors thought about digestion, which dishes should be served first or last during a meal, and when the Tudors should eat during the day. We also get to see the who’s who in a Tudor market and the evolution of the Tudor cookbook from the beginning of King Henry VII’s reign to the death of Queen Elizabeth I.

After the incredibly detailed introduction, Webster divides her book into five sections: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, and Banqueting Food. Each section comprises recipes that would have been popular for a king and commoners alike, showing the diversity of the age. The recipes include the original recipe, the modern translation of the recipe (with measurements), and an interesting bit of information about how physicians viewed the selected dish and their nutritional value according to the Four Humours Theory.

I found this an insightful read with delicious-sounding delectables. Webster’s passion for finding and testing new recipes is prevalent on every page. It gives a deeper understanding of the Tudor world, from feasts and holidays to everyday meals. Suppose you want to try some authentic Tudor recipes or are just curious about the dietary habits of Tudor England. In that case, I highly suggest you read “Eating with the Tudors: Food and Recipes” by Brigitte Webster.

Book Review: “The Burning Land”(Book Five of the Saxon Stories series) by Bernard Cornwell

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the burThe ninth century is coming to a close. King Alfred is dying, and his young son Edward is untested on the battlefield. Alfred wants Uhtred to swear his loyalty to his son Edward, but Uhtred wants to be free to recapture his beloved Bebbanburg. The Danes, led by the warrior Harald Bloodhair are on the warpath—just a typical mission for our intrepid Saxon lord who was raised by Danes warrior Uhtred of Bebbanburg. However, there is always a catch, and the major obstacle in his path is a fair woman with a fiery temper named Skade. How can one woman and her plans make Uhtred of Bebbanburg quake in his boots? Book number 5 in the Saxon Stories, “The Burning Land” by Bernard Cornwell, holds all the answers in the next adventure for Uhtred and his men.

We begin our latest adventure with Uhtred as he embarks on a journey in his ship Seolferwulf to make a deal with Jarl Haesten in Alfred’s name. There, we first hear the names Harald Bloodhair and Skade as Haesten warns our hero to be wary of what they will do. As Uhtred and his men raid another town, they come across the sorceress Skade and bring her to the court of Alfred to lure Harald out of hiding to have one epic battle to protect Wessex.

Uhtred’s plan works well, and he does secure a significant victory, but success comes with a heavy price. Skade is furious and curses Uhtred, which he laughs off until he discovers that his wife, Gisela, and their third child died during childbirth. We have seen Uhtred go through so many moments of grief and loss, but this moment pushes him over the edge and causes him to lose control. Uhtred’s actions are so deplorable in front of King Alfred and his court that he is banished, and his children are taken away from his care to be raised as Christians, against Uhtred’s wishes.

Here, Uhtred’s loyalty to Alfred and his family is tested as he is reunited with his friends Ragnar and Brida. He is given a choice on whether to stay loyal to the king he has served for years or to join his Danish family once again. I wouldn’t have blamed him if he abandoned Alfred and Edward to join Ragnar and Brida. Still, an unexpected person calls for his aid, that person being Aethelflaed, the one person in Alfred’s family that he cares about. The final battle in this book cements where Uhtred’s loyalty will remain, but it will also be challenging for Uhtred.

Cornwell continues to weave a fascinating tale of sorrow, woe, and triumphs for the fearless Uhtred of Bebbanburg. Another delightful adventure with Uhtred of Bebbanburg; if you have been reading the Saxon Stories, I recommend you read book 5, “The Burning Land” by Bernard Cornwell.

Book Review: “Children of the House of Cleves: Anna and Her Siblings” by Heather R. Darsie

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When we think of the German Duchy of Cleves, our first thoughts tend to go to Anna of Cleves, King Henry VIII’s fourth wife, whom he immediately divorced due to not being attracted to her looks, at least according to English tales. We tend to leave Anna’s German life to the side and forget about her family’s story when we study the ever-changing 16th and 17th centuries, even though Germany was dealing with the Reformation. We have an inkling about how life might have been like for Anna of Cleves in England with the fabulous book, “Anna, Duchess of Cleves: The King’s Beloved Sister,” but what about Anna’s siblings, Sybylla, Wilhelm, and Amalia? Heather Darsie has decided to take up the challenge of telling the story of Anna of Cleves’ family from the German perspective in her latest book, “Children of the House of Cleves: Anna and Her Siblings.”

I want to thank Amberley Publishing for sending me a copy of this book. I thoroughly enjoyed Darsie’s first book on Anna, Duchess of Cleves. So when I heard she was writing a new book about Anna’s family and their impact on 16th and 17th-century European history, I knew I wanted to read it.

Darsie begins her book by explaining how the duchy system worked in Germany and the birth of William IV, Duke of Julich-Berg, in 1455, and we are introduced to John II, Duke of Cleves-Mark (grandfather of the von der Mark siblings and was known as the “Childmaker” for his illegitimate children). We also learn how the German duchies connected with the Holy Roman Empire and its often rocky relationship with the papacy in Rome. It is essential background information to fully understand the political and religious quagmire in which Anna and her siblings would be involved during the 16th century.

We then transition to the marriage of Johann III of Cleves-Mark and Maria of Julich-Berg, the parents of Sybylla, Anna, Wilhelm, and Amalia. It is through their marriage that the United Duchy of Julich-Berg-Cleves is formed. During their reign as the Duke and Duchess of Julich-Berg-Cleves, we see the emergence of Lutheranism, the rise of the Reformation, and the political landscape starting to shift.

The marriages of the von der Mark children and their consequences comprise the bulk of this book. Sybylla, the eldest child, married Johann Friedrich von Wettin, the Elector of Saxony and one of the founding members of the Schmalkaldic League. Anna married King Henry VIII, and we all know how well that marriage went, and Amalia never married. Wilhelm’s martial history is a bit more complex as he married Jeanne d’ Albret to align with France. Still, when that became a disaster, he married Maria von Habsburg, Hereditary Archduchess of Austria.

The tale of the von der Mark children is full of heartache, madness, war, and religious change. Although the von der Mark dynasty and the Duchy of Cleves lasted less than two centuries, it had a lasting impact, culminating in the Thirty Years’ War. Darsie has done a masterful job of collecting and presenting the story of Anna and her siblings to an English audience concisely. “Children of the House of Cleves: Anna and Her Siblings” by Heather R. Darsie is a marvelous dive into the life of 16th and 17th-century Germany that any Tudor nerd would find utterly delightful and insightful.

Book Review: “Arthur, Prince of Wales: Henry VIII’s Lost Brother” by Gareth Streeter

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Arthur Prince of WalesThe tales of the Tudor kings are unique in how they became kings of England. We all know the story of how Prince Henry became King Henry VIII. His eldest brother, Prince Arthur, died shortly after he married the Spanish Princess Katherine of Aragon. Much has been discussed about Arthur’s wedding night and death, but not much has been written about his time as the Prince of Wales. In his debut book, “Arthur, Prince of Wales: Henry VIII’s Lost Brother” Gareth Streeter explores the life of the first Tudor prince.

I want to thank Pen and Sword Books and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this book. Prince Arthur has been mentioned in numerous accounts of the Tudors, but it is very rare for a book to focus on the young prince. I wanted to see what new information Streeter would bring to the story of the crown prince who would never become king.

Streeter begins his book by exploring the origins of the Tudor line and the significance of King Arthur and ancient Briton kings like Brutus and Cadwaladr. He then dives into the birth and baptism of Prince Arthur, which shows a lot of symbolism that the Tudors wanted to employ to establish their young dynasty. During the part about the baptism of the young prince, Streeter gives his audience a bit of background on those in attendance and the Wars of the Roses.

Most of this book focuses on Arthur’s life as the crown prince and the Prince of Wales, including the duties he was expected to take on. As the heir to the young Tudor dynasty and the son of King Henry VII and Queen Elizabeth of York, he was the hope of the entire country. Unfortunately, the pretenders Perkin Warbeck and Lambert Simnel threatened the fragile peace that Henry VII established. Amid the pretender drama, we see the young prince’s education and the arduous marriage negotiations between Spain and England. Finally, Streeter discusses the relationship between Arthur, Katherine of Aragon, and his family, until his untimely death, which left England with Henry VIII as the only heir to the Tudor dynasty.

For a debut, Streeter has done a great job presenting how he views Prince Arthur’s life and showing new information that Tudor fans alike will find fascinating. As Streeter has said in this book, Prince Arthur was more than just a prince who died. He did live, and his life as the first Tudor prince set the standard for King Henry VIII and Edward VI after him. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about Prince Arthur and look forward to reading the next book Gareth Streeter writes. If you want to learn more about the Tudor prince who never became king, I recommend reading “Arthur, Prince of Wales: Henry VIII’s Lost Brother” by Gareth Streeter.

Book Review: “Tasting History: Explore the Past through 4,000 Years of Recipes” by Max Miller

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tasting historyWhen we think of the phrase “historical recipes,” many of us would think about the recipes passed down in our families. These would be dishes you would make on special occasions and remind you of memories of loved ones. But what about recipes from so far back in the past that no one alive remembers who wrote down the recipes? The recipes that can only be found in history books and manuscripts? Max Miller has taken the arduous task of trying to bring some of these recipes back from the past to the modern age through his Youtube channel, and now this cookbook, “Tasting History: Explore the Past through 4,000 Years of Recipes.”

After watching B. Dylan Hollis’ videos, I was introduced to the Tasting History with Max Miller Youtube channel. I binged watched Miller’s videos for weeks because I enjoyed how he balanced the recipes with the historical facts surrounding the dishes and the period they came from to give his viewers a deeper understanding of the past. When I heard about this cookbook, I knew I wanted to read it to support Miller’s research into history.

Miller begins his cookbook with an explanation of how his Youtube channel began and a list of ingredients uncommon to modern cooks but prevalent in historical recipes. He then breaks his book into five sections; The Ancient World, The British Isles, Continental Europe, The Near & Far East, and The New World. Each section is organized chronologically, with the oldest recipe he has chosen to highlight to the newest (as new as 1914). Each recipe is easy to read, and instructions are easy to follow, with a touch of history that makes Tasting History so unique.

There are some recipes that I would like to try from a historical perspective, like Mead, Gingerbread, Hippocras, Rapey, Soul Cakes, Lasagne, and a Tart of Apples. Then, there are recipes I would like to try because they sound simply delicious, such as Parthian Chicken, Sally Lunn Buns, Parmesan Cheese Ice Cream, Aztec Chocolate, Precedella, and Samosas. I probably will not try the Spartan Black Broth any time soon.

This is the first time I have ever read a cookbook cover to cover, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Full of stunning photographs, fascinating history facts, and mouthwatering recipes, Max Miller has shone a new light into the taste palettes of the past. Suppose you want to explore another element of sensory history, discovering the past through taste. In that case, I highly recommend that you read and try the recipes in “Tasting History: Explore the Past through 4,000 Years of Recipes” by Max Miller.