Henry VIII's Controversial Aunt, Honor Lisle (eBook)

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Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

While Honor Lisle may not be a familiar name to us today but, as this biography shows, she was an interesting woman in her own time; a strong willed woman, determined to stray true to her beliefs as she lived through one of the most turmoilous periods of English history.

The book starts off slow as the author gives (much needed) background information to young Honor and her family life, but from the moment she marries her second husband, Arthur Plantagenet, Viscount Lisle and becomes aunt to Henry VIII, she is thrust into the outer circles of court life; giving the reader a new perspective to the turbulent events of the later years of the Kings' reign.

There are not many biographies on the women at Tudor court, simply because the contemporary source material is simply non-existent but luckily, both Lisle were prolific letter writers and it is thanks to these letters that the author is able to bring Honor's story back to life in an engaging and informative manner.

NetGalley, Louise Connell

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

In her book Henry VIII’s Controversial Aunt, Honor Lisle, author and historian Amy Licence unravels the complex life of Honor Grenville, Viscountess Lisle, a noblewoman on the edge of the Henrician sphere and reevaluates her legacy as a controversial outlier in a world centered on the Tudor king.

The glittering 16th-century English court under King Henry VIII belied a much grimmer reality: the paranoia and capriciousness of an often narcissistic and volatile monarch. Those at the center of it all often paid with their lives: Sir Thomas More, Thomas Cromwell, Anne Boleyn, Katherine Howard, and so many more. Henry's penchant for violence and punishment extended to those on the periphery as well, including his family members. Through her second husband, Arthur Plantagenet, Honor assumed the position of Henry's aunt.

Honor Grenville (c. 1493-1566) came from a modest background. She descended from a respectable and gentile Cornish family and married her first husband, Sir John Bassett of Umberleigh, in 1515. In 1529, Honor married Arthur, Lord Lisle, and illegitimate son of King Edward IV, and this second partnership thrust her into the glamorous but treacherous Tudor court.

The noblewoman proved an adept hostess and intermediary, often exchanging gifts and correspondence with her peers within and without England. But her contemporaries found much about Honor with which to disagree. In particular, her religion and her alleged influence over Arthur, especially when he assumed the title of Lord Deputy of Calais in 1532, strained relationships between Honor and her peers.

In 1540, a plot to return Calais to French custody led to the arrest of several members of the Lisle household, among them Arthur. Honor and her daughters remained under house arrest. Their separation lasted until 1542 when Arthur died, the result of a heart attack when informed of his pending release from the Tower of London. Honor lived another two decades, dying at Tehidy on April 30, 1566.

Drawing from Honor’s expansive extant correspondence, records, and accounts, Amy chronicles her life from youth to her death in 1566. Of considerable importance are the Lisle letters, a collection of Plantagenet correspondence dating from January 1, 1533 to December 31, 1540. Key among them are letters with John Husee, a London merchant and the Lisles’ business agent. Those letters - along with the other sources - reveal the inner day-to-day workings of a noble house uniquely positioned between English and Continental interests. That the Lisle Letters survived remains a small primary source miracle for researchers!

Amy’s meticulous research bears fruit to a deeply-realized portrayal of a gracious, charming, and pious woman who enjoyed life’s comforts and her place in society. She recognizes Honor’s flaws and perceived failings and grounds them in the trying times in which the viscountess lived. I appreciated Amy’s pragmatic yet sympathetic opinion of this great lady:

“The forces that brought the Lisles down were bigger than any gown Honor bought, or any pilgrimage she undertook. She might have been a little wiser, perhaps, a little more frugal, but then so might we all.”

This tone underlies much of the narrative, and Amy doesn’t engage in what I might consider historical pandering. That is, where one considers their subject infallible, and their writing borders on obsequious and unctuous. Amy’s approach balances empathy and the historical reality.

Henry VIII’s Controversial Aunt adds significantly to Tudor historiography the neglected story of a woman who occupied a unique place in Tudor England. Honor, Lady Lisle, rose beyond her gentle origins to witness the glory and chaos of Henry’s reign, even as his paranoia threatened to engulf her and Arthur. In her conclusion, Amy refers to Honor as “one of the great Tudor survivors”; I wholeheartedly agree with her. Few could claim that “honor” (pun only minorly intended), and Amy illuminates one of them in an accessible and academically rigorous way. Any lover of Tudor history would do well to add this book to their collection.

NetGalley, Amy Turner

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This is n very detailed description of Honor Lisle married to Arthur Plantagenet the illegitimate son of Edward IV.
This was a great look at Tudor life with a delve into the correspondence of Honor that she sent to her friends and family members.
It was sad to read how she and her husband were treated at the end fir me personally I feel it was unjustified.
But this book is a great read for any Tudor fan.

NetGalley, Carol Faulconbridge

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. As a fan of Tudor history, I am aware of the Lisle family and the importance of their letters as a source for the period. However, I have never read a book specifically focusing on the family or a biography of Arthur Plantagenet or Honor.

I will say that the start of this book was a bit slow for me. However, once I got past Honor's childhood, I became engrossed in her story. Not only did she live a long life that spanned the reigns of some of the most significant Tudor events, but she was also directly involved with them.

The wealth of sources that Licence was able to draw upon paints a nuanced and colorful image of Honor as a woman, mother, and wife. I particularly enjoyed learning about her tastes in material goods, such as clothing style and color, and household items. Licence's work really lets Honor shine through.

Besides the biographical snippets that Licence included from the primary sources about Honor's life and personality, my favorite part of this book was the examination of Honor's relationships with the other women at court. Particularly Anne Boleyn. Given the upheaval the rise of Anne Boleyn caused, I'm always interested to learn how the people at court reacted. From Licence's work, it appears that they may not have been best friends, but Anne and Honor had a positive regard for one another at least.

If you are a fan of Tudor history, I would highly recommend this book. Honor might not be as well-known in popular culture, but she was a highly influential figure during the period. Licence's work beautifully captures the woman and the triumphs and tragedies of her life.

NetGalley, Shana Needham

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

In this fascinating and first complete biography of Honor, Lady Lisle, Amy License brings this forgotten Tudor woman to life. Married to Edward IV’s illegitimate son Arthur Plantagenet and thus a step-aunt of Henry VIII, Honor witnessed the rise of the Tudor dynasty and the Reformation from Calais and England. As a Catholic living under the new Church of England, Honor’s life is packed with risky situations as both a member of the old Plantagenet dynasty by marriage and as a religious rebel, and License brings these fascinating circumstances to life through her exploration of Honor’s surviving letters and other documents from her lifetime. A unique and fascinating window into the tumult of the Tudor dynasty, this book adds fantastic complexity to the period in this story of a forgotten yet remarkable woman. Brilliantly written and packed with detail, License has really brought Honor to life and has done a fantastic job working through the limited records and documents which surrounded and impacted Honor’s life. A perfect read for fans of Tudor England looking for another book about a fascinating woman and a brilliant addition to the historical canon, this is an absolute must-read for English and royal history lovers of all kinds.

NetGalley, Lily Amidon

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Honor Lisle is certainly not a well known figure in English history, but quite a few people are at least vaguely familiar with the seemingly bloodthirsty and crazy King Henry VIII and his many wives. The drama of his marriages and the ways his friends and family died tend to dominate to an extent that makes it harder to imagine what life looked like for people outside that drama at that time. This book, focused on a woman and her husband connected by blood to the king, but not too closely, shows life in an upper middle class official's household. i found this slice-of-life history rather interesting, especially since so many of the families who could afford to move to the colonies in the 1600s would have been living similarly to the Lisle family; many of the ancestors of American families like mine would have experienced lifestyles like this before they left for the colonies. This book is readable and interesting, not too bogged down with jargon or footnotes.

NetGalley, Jamie Barringer

Honor, Lady Lisle, rose from humble beginnings to the Tudor court and then to managing Calais with her husband, Arthur Plantagenet. As religious reforms and political pressures mounted, Lord and Lady Lisle faced increasing danger in a court where giants were falling. This interesting and well-researched book is easy to read and provides valuable information about lesser-known members of the Tudor family.

NetGalley, Andrea Romance

This was an interesting and lively account of Honor Lisle, which includes lots of fascinating anecdotes. It provides an intimate look into life in the Tudor age, as well as being well-researched. Honor seems to have been a dutiful wife to her two husbands, but unfortunately she was regarded as a bit bossy for her time, which got her into trouble! She and Arthur, her second husband who was in charge of Calais, walked a fine line as far as Henry VIII was concerned, and seemed to manage the town very well. Unfortunately, Henry’s erratic ways as far as religion was concerned ultimately led to their downfall. Luckily, Honor seemed to have a peaceful ‘retirement’ in the English countryside, however.

Any fan of the Tudor period will enjoy this, as well as any royal history lovers.

NetGalley, Lisa Sanderson

This is a fascinating book, full of background information medieval and current on the machinations and political positioning and influence of Henry VIII's aunt Honor Lisle, her family, and her communications. It includes solid annotations with references, as well as illustrations and facsimiles (in the back of the book) and a good cross referenced index.

This could've been a dry-as-dust recitation, but it's anything but, being infused with the author's warmth and clear -interest- in the period and in her subjects. There are anecdotes and history from early medieval times to relatively recent. Although it's rigorously annotated (and the chapter notes alone are likely worth the price of the book), it's layman accessible and illuminating.

Four stars. Engaging. This would be a very good choice for public or school library acquisition, home use, or for gift giving purposes for folks interested in the time period and the Tudors.

NetGalley, Annie Buchanan

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Interesting and well written, I had never even heard about Honor Lisle before this book but I care much enjoyed reading about her life in turbulent times.

NetGalley, heather bennett

This is a terrific biography of an almost forgotten character. Even though Honor was actually only the step-aunt of Henry, her story is incredibly interesting. Based on the vast correspondence from Honor to her family and interests in England, the book gives a really detailed portrait of the life of an expatriate family in the 16th Century. Combined with the role the Lisle's played on the margins of court life during the key moments from the rise of Anne Boleyn to the death of Catherine Howard it gives another perspective to the events.

NetGalley, Jo-anne Atkinson

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

A fascinating book about a Tudor woman I've never heard much about.

Honor's life story is well researched and presented in a chronological order. I particularly enjoyed the mentions of some of the details included in the chapters about her early life and what kind of education to help form a more grounded understanding for how Honor would have felt or think about later life experiences. Mentions in early chapters about her family crossing path with other members of the royals also provided some context about her standing in society before her second marriage which was helpful.

The biography was very engaging and set against a turbulent time in history which makes Honor's story an interesting read.

NetGalley, Sophie Xu

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Many fans of Tudors history would have heard of the Lisle Letters - a vast source of correspondence to and from Arthur Plantagenet, Lord Lisle, during his time serving as the Deputy of Calais from 1533 to 1540. What some readers may not know is that Arthur Plantagenet was an illegitimate son of King Edward IV, and as such was Henry VIII's Uncle. Arthur's first wife was Elizabeth Grey, Viscountess Lisle, whom Arthur inherited the Lisle title from. In 1529, Arthur married his second wife, Honor Grenville and much of Honor's correspondence survives as part of the Lisle letters. While we do get glimpses of Honor in various books about the Tudors, Amy Licence's latest book, Henry VIII's Controversial Aunt, Honor Lisle: Her Life, Letters and Influence on the Tudor Court is the first full-length biography of this much-overlooked Tudor woman. A huge thank you to Net Galley and Pen & Sword Books for providing an advanced copy of this book.

Honor Grenville was likely born into the world in 1493. Her family lived in the town of Bideford, in Devon, in the south-west of England. She was one of eight surviving children to Isabel and Thomas. Her father Thomas' career advanced rapidly following the success of Henry VII at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, from which point he loyally served the Tudor family.

Honor's first marriage took place in 1515 to an older gentleman by the name of John Basset. She settled with her husband in the nearby town of Umberleigh. As highlighted by Licence, little is known about this period in Honor's life. But, during her marriage to John, she gave birth to seven (possibly eight) children in a period of twelve years. In 1528, Honor's 66 year old husband passed away, leaving Honor with seven children. The following year, Honor married her second husband, Arthur Plantagenet, Lord Lisle.

As a near relation to the King, Honor's second marriage brought her even closer to the Tudor court. The earliest letter that makes a mention of Honor and Arthur dates to 1530. This was a pivotal point at the Tudor court, and a period of increasing tension - the decline of Cardinal Wolsey, the rise of Thomas Cromwell, the beginnings of the reformation parliament, and the climax of the King's Great Matter. In 1532, Honor visited the town of Calais on the French coast. Following this, in 1533, Honor and Arthur relocated to Calais following Arthur's appointment as Deputy. In 1540, Arthur was arrested on suspicion of treason and held within the infamous Tower of London. He died in 1542. Following Arthur's passing, Honor lived out her days in relative obscurity until her own death in 1566.

Structured chronologically, Licence has drawn on a wealth of primary source material to provide a wonderfully detailed account of Honor's life. The style of writing is engaging and accessible, inviting readers into the Tudor world. Readers gain an insight into Honor's management of the household, her tastes, her ability to maintain a connection with the Tudor court from afar, and of course, into her relationship with her husband. So often we hear about the 'main characters' of the Tudor court, but what I particularly loved about Honor Lisle, is that it allows readers to see these infamous events play out from a completely different perspective. Henry VIII's Controversial Aunt, Honor Lisle: Her Life, Letters and Influence on the Tudor Court is another incredible book by Amy Licence and one that I highly recommend.

NetGalley, Lucy Menadue

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Marrying into the royal family is not all sunshine and rainbows. Of course, we tend to think about those who marry the king, the queen, the prince, or the princess. But we also need to consider the aunts and the uncles of the royals as part of the family. Take, for example, Arthur Plantagenet, the illegitimate son of Edward IV and the uncle of Henry VIII. His second wife, Honor Lisle, would help him rule Calais; however, she is best known for her letters and her devout Catholic faith during the Reformation in England. So why is Honor Lisle considered a controversial figure, and what was the cause of the fall of Honor and Arthur from the royal good graces? Amy Licence explores the life of Henry VIII’s step-aunt in the first full biography dedicated to Honor Lisle, which is entitled “Henry VIII’s Controversial Aunt, Honor Lisle: Her Life, Letters, and Influence on the Tudor Court.”

I would like to thank Pen & Sword Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. I have heard of Honor Lisle and her letters, but I did not know much about her life before this book. I did know that she was married to Arthur Plantagenet, but I had assumed that he was her first husband, so I didn’t know about her life before Arthur. When I saw that Amy Licence was writing a biography about Honor Lisle, I knew I wanted to read it.

Licence begins with the birth of Honor Grenville, Lady Basset, Lady Lisle Plantagenet. She was born in 1493 to Thomas and Isabel Grenville in the small town of Bideford, Devon. Her father served the first Tudor king, Henry VII, as Esquire of the Body, so Honor’s family did have some connection before Honor’s marriage to Arthur. Honor’s mother died a year after she was born, but her father did not die until 1513. In 1515, Honor would marry her first husband, Sir John Basset, and they would have between 7 and 8 children before his death in January 1528.

A year later was a monumental year for England as it was the start of the divorce between Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, which would be known as the Great Matter. It was also the year that Honor married Arthur Plantagenet. The couple would move to Calais, where Arthur would rule for his nephew. This is where we get to see the Lisle letters, Honor’s dictated correspondence to prominent figures in Tudor England. Honor and Arthur would go into debt, dealing with the constant threat of war, balance their faith and being loyal to the King, and handle a plot that would try to put Reginald Pole on the throne.

I found it so interesting to see Honor’s perspective on the big issues of the Tudor court while staying in France, as well as how life in Calais was different from it was in London during this time. Honor Lisle’s life and letters give us great insight into the reign of Henry VIII from the perspective of someone who was outside of England during the major events of his reign. Licence’s research, combined with an easy-to-follow writing style, makes this a very well-written biography. If you want a biography about a lesser-known Tudor woman and her famous letters, I highly recommend you read “Henry VIII’s Controversial Aunt, Honor Lisle: Her Life, Letters and Influence on the Tudor Court” by Amy Licence.

NetGalley, Heidi Malagisi

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Wow - how excited was I to find a book about a Tudor I actually knew nothing about and written by one of my favorite authors too! Honor Lisle was quite a formidable woman during a very turbulent time. Amy Licence does a wonderful job of breaking down all her surviving letters and laying them out in a story-type format that is not in a way - shape - or form dry. Books such as this nature can tend to be that way - but this is not one of them. I devoured this book in two days and have come away with a deeper appreciation of some of the woman (especially during the time of King Henry VIII) who were able to accomplish what they did and keep their persons at the same time. Comes with pictures at the end of the book which is always a bonus with me.

NetGalley, Christine Cazeneuve

Wonderfully thorough and well-researched, this work will definitely lead to me perusing more of Licence's works. As a huge Tudor history nerd, I'm a bit ashamed to note that I have not heard of Honor Lisle but I am so glad to have met her through this book.

Without the wealth of letters retained from her hand and many other's hands, we would not have such an in-depth look at not only the Lisle's lives but Tudor people's lives as well. There's a snapshot into a little bit of everything: clothing, housekeeping and purchases, political bargaining and intrigue. Not to mention, all the quotes bring humanity to people that can sometimes feel very flat in historical texts. There are humorous moments, gossipy moments, moments of seriousness conveyed through these letters that rounds out these people until they feel more tangible. Additionally, it's fascinating how there has always been and always will be a male constantly trying to belittle and slander a woman with any modicum of power simply because their gender offends (looking at you Foxe).

Licence does a lovely job presenting the facts as they are while also providing insight or authorized theories when needed. Never does her personal intervention feel needless or unnecessary. Ultimately I enjoyed this read. This book is for true history lovers and I would caution those looking for something light or for pure entertainment. However, Tudor history lovers should certainly give this a read.

NetGalley, Taylor Moldenhauer

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Honor Lisle was a figure I had come across several times when reading about the more mainstream players in Tudor history. Her prolific correspondence gives insight into the Tudor court and Amy Licence’s excellent book brings her vividly to life through meticulous research and engaging writing. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the Tudor period.

NetGalley, Nicola Hall

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Henry VIII’s Controversial Aunt offers a unique opportunity to view the Tudor through a different lens, providing a well-defined side view of major events. Prior to reading this book, I couldn’t have told you who on earth Honor Grenville was, but as it turns out her contribution to history through the Lisle Papers is remarkable. Reading the first several chapters, I found myself wondering what the early years of her first marriage may been like, becoming a stepmother to children nearly her own age and then having a brood of her own. License constructs a brief picture using available facts but isn’t until after her second marriage that her life appears to become more regularly documented. I particularly enjoyed reading about the “religious turmoil” in Calais, the suspicions that surrounded Honor, and the accusations that brought down her husband, Arthur Plantagenet.

Honor was a devout Catholic who lived in before pre- and post-Reformation England. In the text, License explores her faith and its complex interplay with the rapidly evolving world around her. What emerges from this attention to nuance is a portrait of a complex and fascinating woman, who was full of human follies, but driven by her convictions. No matter where your judgment of Honor falls, Henry VIII’s Controversial Aunt, is the story of a Tudor survivor who fell victim to political forces during a time that for many this was a fatal consequence. License provides an accessible, informative, and entertaining account of her life that is sure to be of interest to those with a passion for Tudor-era history.

NetGalley, Nicholas Artrip

I really enjoyed this book! Honor Lisle is one of those figures that we (in England at least) do not come across in school. We learn about the Tudors a lot, do not get me wrong. But our learning and understanding of the Tudors only goes as far in the context of: Henry VII and the War of the Roses; Henry VII’s marriage to Elizabeth of York (briefly); Henry VIII and his six wives; and the rule of Henry VIII’s three children (Mary I, Elizabeth I, and Edward VI) (I will not go into a rant into the representation of women because I wrote my final year project on that). What I am saying, is that Honor Lisle is one of those figures that I have not learnt about before or seen being taught throughout my experiences in schools. I feel Amy Licence has managed to encapsulate Honor Lisle’s life really well and I have learnt a lot about her. I hope this book really gets highlighted and promoted as some sort of extra reading.

NetGalley, Tash Baines

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Admittedly, details of the life of Honor Lisle seemed to have passed me by in all of my Tudor readings and education so far, so this book was a gem!

The author sets the scene by introducing us to the Tudor era, with how the times were starting to change in Honor’s youth to the changing of kings and queens and to her subsequent position in Calais. Through her experiences and correspondences, we see how the Tudor Court changed, what life was like for her and gained further insight into the period.

The storytelling was great in this and I had absolutely no problem getting hooked. Which for a non-fiction read, I always appreciate!

The research that must have gone into this, I could imagine was immense. It certainly payed off for how all encompassing and well written this was and I really enjoyed reading it. Kudos to Amy License for giving Honor her well deserved space in the pages and to bring her to literary light. I really enjoyed!

NetGalley, Nicola Wilton