The Tudor era in English history is one that has spawned thousands of books over the years. A large majority focus on Henry VIII and his six wives, as well as on his second daughter Elizabeth I. But there are others that focus on Thomas Cromwell, and in the case of Phil Roberts, on Cardinal Thomas Wolsey. Wolsey is often remembered as the man who failed to get a divorce for Henry VIII. But this book makes it clear that he cannot be defined by that one issue. Roberts presents a man who used his intellect to propel himself forward, catching the eye of the right people to aid his ascent. As Lord Chancellor ( what we would now call the prime minister), Wolsey more than adequately served Henry VIII. He handled foreign policy, domestic policy, and always knew how best to display the majesty of king and country. This is evidenced by the high point of his career: the Field of the Cloth of Gold. (A whole chapter is devoted to this event.) Roberts' goal was to present a more balanced view of Wolsey,.. Read more
NetGalley, Mariama Thorlu-Bangura

[b]Rating[/b]: 5 out of 5 stars "Everyone knows" that Edward IV had sex with lots of women and had lots of illegitimate children - that is, until Watkins actually drills down into the historical record and isn't able to find much proof of these known "facts". At least, nothing that would hold up in court. So was it a case of being so common knowledge no one write anything down, or was it salacious detail added to the War of the Roses legend later on by Tudor propagandists to make Henry VII look good by comparison? Hard to say, but, given the available evidence, Watkins has to throw some doubt on Arthur "Plantagenet" (a surname, we find, he didn't start using until later in life) paternity, although she finds a few possible cases for the families he might have been connected to on his mother's side. Its both frustrating and fascinating, chasing shadows and rumors, like trying to pin down clouds, but Watkins gives it her all as she tries to trace the origins of this peripheral figure of.. Read more
NetGalley, Kara Race-Moore

A good and entertaining biography about Thomas Cromwell, clearly outlying what is really known and what is speculated about Cromwell's life, particularly on his younger years. I learned quite a bit about this extraordinary personality revealing many and sometimes surprising facets. Highly recommended.
NetGalley, Christine Boos

[b]Rating[/b]: 5 out of 5 stars His birth began as one of broken bonds of trust - Queen Elizabeth had long been in love with his father. He spent time at Tilburg in 1597, and yet four years later we find him independent, wealthy, and a mark for himself in Queen Elizabeth's Court. He travelled, explored, taking a letter to the Emperor of China from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. He created a sea atlas, the first of its kind, that he had published in 1646. I strongly recommend this book to lovers of Elizabethan historian. It was absolutely fascinating and I had a very difficult time putting it down.
NetGalley, Sheri O'Neill

[b]Rating[/b]: 5 out of 5 stars Imprisoning Mary Queen of Scots: The Men Who Kept the Stuart Queen by Mickey Mayhew is an excellent nonfiction/history that delves into the fascinating and intricate lives of the many that took on the task of keeping watch over the infamous Mary Queen of Scots during her many years of imprisonment in England. This is such an amazing book that tells the background, history, and story of each of the individuals that housed Mary, their families, and even a little about the residences themselves. The author does an amazing job fitting it all in within Mary’s life and timeframe, and the reader even gets a better understanding and glimpse into her life as well. Well-researched, paced moderately, and felt effortless and more like fiction than nonfiction. Excellent. 5/5 stars
NetGalley, Rachel Fox