From Wolf Hall to Six: The Musical, Tudor fever is well and truly alive in 2020 and I couldn’t be happier about it.
I absolutely love reading books set during this period of history and today also happens to mark 473 years since the death of King Henry VIII, so I thought I’d gather 8 of my favourite books that are either set in or about King Henry’s court.
Read on!
Wolf Hall
by Hilary Mantel
There’s a very good reason why Hilary Mantel won the Booker twice, first for Wolf Hall and then for the follow up, Bring Up the Bodies. Her writing transports readers to Tudor England and immerses them in a world of ruthless political intrigue. Her trilogy about the rise of Thomas Cromwell will conclude this March with The Mirror and the Light and I. Cannot. Wait!
Buy it here
The Six Wives Of Henry VIII
by Alison Weir
This book is a must read for anyone interested in Tudor England. Meticulously researched and richly detailed and yet (in case this makes it sound a bit dry) also deeply fascinating and highly entertaining!
Buy it here
The Other Boleyn Girl
by Philippa Gregory
Of course I had to include The Other Boleyn Girl! This is probably the book that first sparked my interest in Tudor England and launched me into a long read-a-thon during which I exclusively read Philippa Gregory books. There are many of her books that probably would make more sense to include on this list, but I will always be emotionally attached to this one.
Buy it here
Dissolution
by C.J. Sansom
This is the first book in the Shardlake series, set in the reign of Henry VIII. It’s a rollicking good historical mystery following the adventures of Matthew Shardlake, a hunchbacked lawyer working in the court of Henry VIII. This is such a fun and addictive series for anyone who likes historical mysteries!
Buy it here
The Sixth Wife
by Suzannah Dunn
The Sixth Wife is set in the time after the death of Henry VIII and follows the story of his last wife, Katherine Parr. Full of romance, betrayal and intrigue, this is a riveting read and while I’m not quite sure how historically accurate it is – I mean how accurate is any historical fiction, really? – I think this book is the reason why Katherine Parr is my second favourite of the six wives (my favourite is obviously Anne of Cleves).
Buy it here
My Lady of Cleves
by Margaret Campbell Barnes
Speaking of Anne of Cleves, the reason she is my favourite is in large part because of this book! Margaret Campbell Barnes paints Anne as an intelligent, witty, brave and noble woman who is just so very … likeable! Whether it’s accurate or not, I choose to believe in this version of Anne!
Buy it here
The Autobiography of Henry VIII: A Novel
by Margaret George
At a glance, some may find the title of this book a little confusing – this is not, in fact, an autobiography! Instead, it is a highly engaging fictional account of Henry VIII written from the king’s own point of view (with some commentary from his jester). Margaret George brings the notorious king vividly to life in such a memorable way. It must be well over a decade since I read this book, but this is such a great depiction of Henry that it has remained stuck in my mind.
Buy it here
The Wives of Henry VIII
by Antonia Fraser
This is another book which covers all six of Henry’s wives. I read this one after reading Alison Weir’s The Six Wives Of Henry VIII and still felt as though I gained a whole new perspective on each of these fascinating women!
Buy it here
BONUS ROUND! The Mirror and the Light
by Hilary Mantel
As previously mentioned, I cannot wait to dive into this one! We all know where this story is going, and yet Mantel’s writing is so rich and hypnotic and I truly feel as though her books are like time machines. It is also worth mentioning that if you are a big fan of the series, we will have limited signed copies available!
Pre-order a signed copy here
Have any favourites yourself? Tell us below!
About the Contributor
Sarah McDuling
Sarah McDuling is Booktopia's Category Manager for Children's and Young Adult Books. She has been in the bookselling game for almost a decade and a dedicated booklover since birth (potentially longer). At her happiest when reading a book, Sarah also enjoys talking/writing/tweeting about books. In her spare time, she often likes to buy a lot of books and take photographs of books. You can follow her on Twitter and Instragram @sarahmcduling
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Comments
January 28, 2020 at 5:18 pm
This is a marvellous list of books on this subject. And yes, we are all excited, anticipating the third Hilary Mantel book. Thanks.