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    Queen's Gambit: A Novel
    Queen's Gambit: A Novel
    Queen's Gambit: A Novel
    Audiobook14 hours

    Queen's Gambit: A Novel

    Written by Elizabeth Fremantle

    Narrated by Georgina Sutton

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    The basis for the upcoming major motion picture Firebrand—which reveals the tumultuous darker side to the marriages of the notorious King of England, Henry VIII, and the wife who survived.

    “Smart, sensual, and suspenseful as a thriller, Queen’s Gambit is a must-read for Philippa Gregory fans.” —People

    Widowed for the second time at age thirty-one, Katherine Parr falls deeply for the dashing courtier Thomas Seymour and hopes at last to marry for love. Instead, she attracts the amorous attentions of the ailing, egotistical, and dangerously powerful Henry VIII. No one is in a position to refuse a royal proposal. Haunted by the fates of his previous wives—two executions, two annulments, one death in childbirth—Katherine must wed Henry and rely on her wits and the help of her loyal servant Dot to survive the treacherous pitfalls of life as Henry’s queen. Yet as she treads the razor’s edge of court intrigue, she never quite gives up on love.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon & Schuster Audio
    Release dateAug 6, 2013
    ISBN9781442363397
    Author

    Elizabeth Fremantle

    Elizabeth Fremantle is the author of four Tudor novels: Queen’s Gambit (soon to be the major motion picture, Firebrand, starring Alicia Vikander and Jude Law), Sisters of Treason, Watch the Lady, and The Girl in the Glass Tower. As EC Fremantle she has written two gripping historical thrillers: The Poison Bed and The Honey and the Sting. Her contemporary short story, ‘That Kind of Girl,’ was shortlisted for the Bridport Prize in 2021. She has worked for Elle and Vogue in Paris and London and contributed to many publications including Vanity Fair, The Sunday Times (London), the Financial Times, and The Wall Street Journal. She lives in London.

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    Reviews for Queen's Gambit

    4/5

    169 ratings27 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Widowed for the second time aged thirty-one, Katherine is obliged to return to court but, suspicious of the aging Henry and those who surround him, she does so with reluctance. Nevertheless when she finds herself caught up in a passionate affair with the dashing and seductive Thomas Seymour, she believes she might finally be able to marry for love. But her presence at court has attracted the attentions of another...Captivated by her honesty and intelligence, Henry Tudor has his own plans for Katherine and no one is in the position to refuse a proposal from the king. With her charismatic lover dispatched to the continent, Katherine becomes Henry's sixth wife.My Thoughts:Whenever I grab a book about the Tudors I tend to go for Anne Boleyn or Katherine Howard as they are my favourite two queens. Anne Boleyn does seem to take centre stage in a lot of novels about the Tudorss it was such a refreshing change to read about Katherine Parr.I really enjoyed this book enough to say Wow ! It was full of historucal facts which are well known, so again no surprises. The story starts with the death of Katherine’s second husband and finishes not with the death of King Henry but continues with her short marriage to Thomas Seymour and then her death. What an interesting Queen and woman she was. The author has portrayed Katherine very well and it has given me a better insight into Katherine and wanting to read more about her.I love historical fiction and do love Philippa Gregory although of late I feel she is covering too much of the same ground and to read a brand new author has been like a breath of fresh air. I will certainly look out for more books by this author in the future.I have also being to Sudeley Castle where Katherine lived for a short while and have seen where she is buried in the chapel and being a Tudor fan that was a real treat.I would highly recommend this book and at the back of the book is a Tudor timeline and list of who the characters are. A very enjoyable read about the Tudors that would appeal to fans of historiacl fiction and the Tudors themselves. I really can’t wait to see what EF will do next.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      Queen’s Gambit gives the reader a very in depth look at Henry VIII’s last queen, Katherine Parr. So much controversy is associated with the other wives that Queen Katherine’s more reticent personality sometimes gets glossed over as being of less significance. Queen’s Gambit shows that Katherine Parr had a quiet power and dignity that not only outlived 3 husbands and a tragic past but could withstand even the changeable moods of this dangerous king as well as navigate a court filled with those who would use her for their own ends or set her up to be disposed of.

      Queen’s Gambit explores the many faceted personality of this often overlooked queen. Katherine Parr was highly educated, moreso than many women of her time, she held her own political opinions but was savvy enough to when it was safe to speak of those opinions, she had a natural affinity for healing herbs, and the way she interacted with those of differing social statuses was fascinating. I also liked that her relationship with Seymour showed that she was also a woman who only wished to love and be loved despite that other’s ambitions would pull her in another direction.

      Fremantle does an amazing job bringing to life, in vivid detail the atmosphere of Tudor England at the end of Henry’s rule. The reader is able to experience the corrupt Tudor court through the eyes of maid, nobility, and other people of the court. It was very easy for me to lose myself in the story, from the dialog to the steady pacing to the writing, Queen’s Gambit was thoroughly enjoyable. If I can nitpick anything at all to find fault with it would be that sometimes I felt overwhelmed with detail, but overall, I found the amount of detail mostly added life to the story.

      I would compare Queen’s Gambit favorably with historical novels I’ve read by Jean Plaidy and Alison Weir who are two of my favorite authors in this genre. I would say that this novel is less dramatized and more solidly based in research than some of the more popular Tudor fiction I’ve read recently. I would recommend it to any and all fans of historical fiction and fans of the authors I mentioned above. I look forward to reading the rest of the books in this trilogy
    • 5/5
      I went out of my comfort zone of historical fiction authors and I am so pleased that i did! I've read countless books about Katherine Parr and her marriage to Henry VIII. This did not disappoint.
    • 4/5
      The Queen’s Gambit by Elizabeth Fremantle takes the reader into King Henry VIII’s court via his last wife, Katherine Parr. For historical fiction fans, especially those who enjoy this time period, The Queen’s Gambit is quite a compelling read. Personally, I have read a lot about King Henry’s earlier wives, but far less about Katherine Parr and Fremantle does an exceedingly excellent job drawing the reader into the court and into Katherine’s life. I highly recommend The Queen’s Gambit to historical fiction fans and eagerly await the next book.
    • 5/5
      Carol Wong's Reviews > Queen's GambitQueen's Gambit by Elizabeth FremantleQueen's Gambit by Elizabeth Fremantle (Goodreads Author) 3356446Carol Wong's review Feb 10, 16 · editit was amazingbookshelves: 2016, 2015-double-dog-dare-challenge, currently-reading, historical-fiction, 2016-double-dog-dare Read from January 30 to February 09, 2016Over the years, I have read about Henry VIII's other wives who met horrible ends to their lives. Katherine Parr is to be the sixth wife. When the book opens, Katherine Parr is tending to second husband, a much older person. Her first marriage was not happy but she had received kindness from her second marriage. She learns about the herbal medicine from one of her true friends, Huicke. The doctor, Huicke was loaned by the king to aid his old friend. After her husband's death, she takes care of her step daughter, Meg. She thinks that she is in love with Thomas Seymour, an incredibly handsome man who attracts a lot of gossip. But Henry the VIII picks her for his next wife. She is of course is very scared that she will not survive. She is getting older and she must produce a male heir.Katherine Parr's life before she met Henry VIII did not bring children even though she longed for them and even though it was a sad life up to when she married Henry, but it was even worse when he started courting her. She really had no choice but to marry him. What a torture her life became with the two sided king, he could be gentle, he was suspicious of everyone, and often downright mean. When I started this book, all that I knew of Katherine Parr was her name but the author brought her to life and I felt like I wish I could have snatched her out of history into safety. I was thankful that the author created Dot, Katherine's loyal servant. A bond of trust developed between the two women. Dot let us venture outside the castle to see the streets and common folk. She is the contrast that lets us also see the class differences, the depth of poverty of single women and how lonely it can be when there is not one that you can trust. Katherine too had no one to trust. The King's castle was full fast footed gossip and danger. It was a dangerous life.It didn't take me long to be invested in the story. When events got very sad, the author relieved us with bits of comedy here and there. I hope that I read the rest of the books in this series. I am definitely a fan of Elizabeth Freemantle now. I loved the author's style.I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of English Historical Fiction.
    • 4/5
      I won this ARC copy of this book last year, from a Goodreads contest. I have to say, it was a bit slow going for me in the beginning. After the first 80 pages it suddenly grew on me. Although I went into it already knowing the end, the writer managed to emotionally involve me in Katherine's story. This is a good peek at what it must have been like to be married to the elderly, irascible Henry VIII.
    • 4/5
      This is the story of Henry VIII's sixth and last wife, Katherine Parr, who luckily manages to outlive him, because she otherwise would probably not have met a good end. The book does not go into extreme amounts of detail about the machinations of Henry's court and the struggles for power as do some other books about this period, but you get the gist of what is going on. One thing I particularly liked about this story was that Katherine's tale was carried all the way through to the end of her life and didn't stop at her husband's demise - thus, it covers her rapid marriage to Thomas Seymour, her long-awaited pregnancy, the scandal of her husband dallying with a 14-year-old Elizabeth Tudor, and her death shortly after giving birth to her daughter. If you like historical fiction, you should enjoy this book.
    • 3/5
      This was about Katherine Parr, Henry VIII's last (6th) wife. I knew of her, but not about her, so I enjoyed this book a lot.
    • 5/5
      This is a beautifully written book that had me enthralled. Fremantle shows a totally different axis to Katherine Parr and court leading to her marriage to King Henry VIII. Although this appears to be written from the female perspective, mainly of either Katherine or her maid Dot, it lacks none of the masculinity in the brutal coldness of ambitious men and women surrounding Court.

      This book is full of complexities in the relationships between the women and men at court and with various staff from the kitchens upwards. We know the history of this time, we know the outcome, but Fremantle views it in a refreshingly fresh way. This was not just an historical account of Katherine Parr and Henry VIII, it promotes the reader to see a delicateness in the way that the behaviour of King Henry is seen and managed by the Queen. It personalises their lives drawing the reader into each personality with feeling and understanding.

      If you like historical novel where individual lives of characters gives detail to historical events then you will not be disappointed. I recommend this as a good read.

      (Won from giveaways)
    • 2/5
      I had high hopes for this. that just weren't met.
    • 4/5
      Katherine Parr seems to be this year's hot ticket as far as the Tudors go. I've seen at least three new novels focused on Henry VIII's last wife, and more seem to be popping up regularly on my Amazon recommendations. This one started off with a bang. Katherine's second husband, Lord Latymer, is on his deathbed, in extreme pain, begging Katherine, who apparently has great knowledge of herbs, to euthanize him. Shortly after his passing, she and her stepdaughter are called to court and put into the service of Mary Tudor, the king's eldest child. Almost simultaneously, Katherine falls in love with the dashing but unscrupulous Thomas Seymour and is as Henry's next queen. When duty calls, love must wait.Most of the novel follows the historical course of events--with, of course, some speculation and embellishment. Katherine is a sympathetic but somewhat dull figure, but, fortunately, Fremantle develops some very interesting secondary characters who keep the story going. Dr. Huicke, the king's physician, is sent to Latymer's sickbed. He admires Katherine's strength, diligence, and cunning in herbology, and the two become close friends, to the point where the two even share some dangerous secrets. Fremantle also develops a side story focused on Dorothy (Dot) Fownten, a maid first to Katherine's stepdaughter and then to her. Dot, a keen observer of human nature and devoted to the queen, provides insights into the historic events and persons and even has a romance of her own.Although I love historical fiction, I prefer mine to have a bit more history and a lot less schlocky romance--which, unfortunately, is where this novel heads in the last third or so. Still, it was a fast and fairly enjoyable read. Fremantle provides an appendix to the book that I know I will return to in working on my own novel. It includes not a brief "who's who" list of the historic figures but also a very fine list of resources.
    • 4/5
      A fascinating look at Katherine Parr, the last wife of King Henry VIII of England. Elizabeth Fremantle vividly bring the 16th-century to life and shows the contrast of Katherine's luxurious existence and that of one of her servants, Dot, who is even imprisoned at one point for participating in one of Katherine's endeavors. Interesting, although the treatment of Thomas Seymour, Katherine's final husband, could have been better. I would have like the author to have explored his character more and to perhaps often a richer and more complex explanation for his actions. Highly recommended for those who enjoy Tudor England!
    • 4/5
      Well done. I eat up all the stuff I read about Henry and his wives. I've read others about Parr, both fiction and non-fiction. This was a fine one. Well-researched and rooted in facts, there are of course a few fictitious characters and storylines, and sometimes the author imagines what may have happened or what things may have been like. One has to, of course, because we don't always have a lot of details from this era. The book really presents Katharine as a real person, with real feelings, who makes real mistakes, but is not malicious. If you enjoy reading about the period, give this one a try.
    • 4/5
      Kat's pick for 8/25/13.

      Kat says: I love Tudor-set stories, and Queen’s Gambit stars a queen who doesn’t receive as much attention as the previous wives of Henry V. Katherine Parr led a short but fascinating life – as the object of affection of two men (one the most powerful in England), Katherine fought her natural instincts toward love and deferred to duty.

      Queen’s Gambit flows quickly in a fictional retelling of Henry V’s final marriage, concentrating mainly on the Parr household – Katherine’s stepdaughter and the people in her employ. A great addition to the bookshelf of anybody who enjoys Tudor fact and fiction.
    • 5/5
      As a fan of Historical fiction I was not disappointed Katherine Parr is a great character the plot line fantastic and with views from those around her too which gives layers to a great read.
    • 4/5
      Queen’s Gambit gives the reader a very in depth look at Henry VIII’s last queen, Katherine Parr. So much controversy is associated with the other wives that Queen Katherine’s more reticent personality sometimes gets glossed over as being of less significance. Queen’s Gambit shows that Katherine Parr had a quiet power and dignity that not only outlived 3 husbands and a tragic past but could withstand even the changeable moods of this dangerous king as well as navigate a court filled with those who would use her for their own ends or set her up to be disposed of.

      Queen’s Gambit explores the many faceted personality of this often overlooked queen. Katherine Parr was highly educated, moreso than many women of her time, she held her own political opinions but was savvy enough to when it was safe to speak of those opinions, she had a natural affinity for healing herbs, and the way she interacted with those of differing social statuses was fascinating. I also liked that her relationship with Seymour showed that she was also a woman who only wished to love and be loved despite that other’s ambitions would pull her in another direction.

      Fremantle does an amazing job bringing to life, in vivid detail the atmosphere of Tudor England at the end of Henry’s rule. The reader is able to experience the corrupt Tudor court through the eyes of maid, nobility, and other people of the court. It was very easy for me to lose myself in the story, from the dialog to the steady pacing to the writing, Queen’s Gambit was thoroughly enjoyable. If I can nitpick anything at all to find fault with it would be that sometimes I felt overwhelmed with detail, but overall, I found the amount of detail mostly added life to the story.

      I would compare Queen’s Gambit favorably with historical novels I’ve read by Jean Plaidy and Alison Weir who are two of my favorite authors in this genre. I would say that this novel is less dramatized and more solidly based in research than some of the more popular Tudor fiction I’ve read recently. I would recommend it to any and all fans of historical fiction and fans of the authors I mentioned above. I look forward to reading the rest of the books in this trilogy
    • 4/5
      A fascinating tale of King Henry VIII's court. Katherine Parr is Henry's sixth wife. She finds herself caught in a dangerous web in the court where a glance or statement can lead her to the Tower.
    • 5/5
      I received this as an ARC from Goodreads.com. I loved this book, this story, this author this plot-everything!It took me longer to finish because I savored the writing and the story. First, this is the first story I read about Katherine Parr. Anne Boyle and Catherine of Aragon and Jane Seymour get the most attention since they have had such fascinating stories. Fremantle’s story was very intriguing and she did a very thorough job of presenting Katherine Parr. There were some parts that Freemantle really captured. I thought it was interesting that Katherine envied Dot’s life; she gives us an insight to Katherine’s world, “occasionally she has envied the simplicity of Dot’s life, and would have changed places with her gladly…” (p231). Mantle paints a picture of life in court that I found to be very fascinating. There is so much danger, back-stabbing and fear that is always lurking. I felt very sad and protective of Katherine, her persona seemed in conflict with the deviousness around her. I definitely want to learn more about Katherine and her life. Freemantle has a very fluid way of writing, it is very easy to start reading and lose track of time. I love that Katherine was not over showed by Henry VIII’s encompassing personality. I would love for Freemantle to continue to write a series maybe about Mary Seymour.I would definitely re-read this and recommend it!
    • 5/5
      QUEEN’S GAMBIT is an engrossing novel about Katherine Parr’s life as the sixth and final wife of Henry VIII. I enjoyed Elizabeth Fremantle’s portrayal of Katherine as a survivor, an intelligent Renaissance woman, and a woman who longed to find true love at last. Katherine was the only wife of Henry VIII’s to make it out of marriage to him without being divorced, beheaded, or dying, which took true smarts and cleverness on her part. As a steadfast reformist and supporter of the “new religion,” she was disliked by many of Henry’s subjects, a few of whom stopped at nothing to see her arrested for treason and heresy. Katherine had a few scary close calls as Henry’s queen, ones she was sure would send her to the Tower.Another character I loved just as much as Katherine was her servant, Dot. Though she was low-born, Katherine loved her like a daughter, and brought her to court when she became queen. I enjoyed seeing day to day life at court from Dot’s perspective, and also hearing her opinions about certain other characters, like young Lady Elizabeth and Thomas Seymour, Katherine’s true love. Dot was a strong, well-drawn character with her own intriguing story.I listened to the audio format of this book, narrated by Georgina Sutton. Her performance was amazing! If you enjoy audiobooks and historical fiction, you must listen to QUEEN’S GAMBIT. Ms. Sutton’s charismatic voice brought the intrigue of the Tudor court to life.Strong female protagonists, beautiful prose, and a perfect blending of historical fact and fiction made QUEEN’S GAMBIT one of my favorite listens this year. Highly recommended!Thank you to Simon & Schuster Audio for a review copy of this book.
    • 4/5
      A gripping tale of court intrigue told by Katherine Parr and her servant Dot.
    • 5/5
      Queen's Gambit by Elizabeth Fremantle is the first book in a Tudor trilogy. Katherine Parr is the last wife of King Henry VIII whom she was married to for four years. The four years that she was Queen, the court was filled with intrigue, religious in nature, of which she found herself embroiled in. The King hoped that Katherine would give him another son, but that never happened. Because of her influence with the King, his daughters, Mary and Elizabeth, were put back in the line of succession to the throne, along with Edward. She was also made regent when Henry was on his last campaign, although after Henry's death, nothing was in the will pertaining to Katherine remaining regent until Edward was old enough to take over the throne. She had a good relationship with Henry's children and saw to their education and after the king's death, Katherine took Elizabeth into her household.The story is also about factual and fictitious characters of Katherine's court, Dot Fownton, chambermaid who marries William Savage, court musician for Henry VIII and Edward VI. Katherine is infatuated with Thomas Seymour who is sent from court when Katherine marries Henry. Thomas claims to love Katherine and they do marry and have a daughter together, Katherine dies of child bed fever, Thomas finagles his way into the life of Princess Elizabeth whom he hopes to marry at some point and be on the throne with her if she were to succeed. This is a character driven story but mostly about a strong woman who does her duty by marrying an aging, ill king who changes his mind on a whim. Court intrigue, religious persecution all seem to conspire against Katherine putting her in fear for her life. I enjoy this era in English history, so I thoroughly loved this book. A bit different aspect of what life was like during Henry VIII's reign. Anyone who loves medieval historical fiction will enjoy this first book in a trilogy.
    • 4/5
      My rating:4 of 5 starsThe Queen's Gambit by Elizabeth Fremantle is a Harlequin MIRA publication. This book is scheduled for an August 2013 release. I received a copy of the book from the publishers and Edelweiss. This book is a fictional account of the life of Catherine Parr, the last of Henry the 8th's wives. This poor woman lived her life on the edge from start to finish. Her two marriages prior to becoming the Queen were not happy ones. However, Catherine was dignified and serene in all ways. But, shortly after her second husband died, Catherine began a torrid affair with Thomas Seymour. But, the king also was interested in her, and of course the king always got what he wanted. Catherine tried to forget Thomas, but carried him in her heart all the time she was married to the king. The politics and scheming that takes place here is focused on France and on the reform movement regarding the church and religion. Catherine's beliefs did not match up with the king's. She was soon under attack for those beliefs and although we know through history that Catherine managed to survive the marriage, she had a couple of close calls. This period of time is endlessly fascinating to me. I have read lots of novels set in this period, but there aren't many that give us insight into the life Catherine had while married to Henry. The parallel story of Dot, a servant of the queen is just as insightful. Dot witnesses everything and is the most loyal of all the people in the story. She has a few close calls herself. But, it is most fitting that her voice is the last one we hear in the novel. A very interesting take on the last years of Henry's life . Catherine was an interesting woman. She was a good person and very kind. She was also human. She did some things to set herself free and would do it again if fate had not intervened. One thing is for certain, I am glad I don't live that time period. The treatment of women and the abuses men got away with is disgusting. If you like historical fiction set in the Tudor period- I would recommend this book for you. Over all a B+
    • 4/5
      I keep telling myself that I have read more than enough books about Henry VIIIth and his wives. Than I see this one about Katherine Parr, who is not written about as much as some of the other wives, and I had to read it. The author does a great job with the description of the time and the places, the court intrigue and the phoniness of the same, and I loved that she started the book when Katherine's second husband was dying. It provided a little more background n her instead of just starting the book when she reluctantly wed Henry. The writing is graceful, clear and the way the story alternates between Katherine and a young servant in her employ. Gives one two different views of many of the events. I now believe that I can read many many books written about Parr and I will still never understand what this smart, intelligent woman, who managed to keep her head and outlive Henry, ever was taken in by Thomas Seymour. One of the many mysteries that will never be solved. LOLARC provided by Publisher.
    • 5/5
      What do you do when the King wants to marry you? When five have gone before you and they all fell by the wayside or lost their lives because of the King's lust? And what of the man you truly love? How do you stay alive in a Court filled with intrigue and treachery and where the love of the King is fickle? Sound like a romance novel - no this story is more than that it is history. This is what Katherine Parr faced being the sixth wife of King Henry VIII. Elizabeth Fremantle has given us an interesting insight into the last years of Henry VIII and his last wife. I love historical fiction and this one did not leave me wanting.
    • 4/5
      Even if you think you've read everything about the Tudor dynasty and the six wives of Henry VIII, Elizabeth Fremantle manages to come up with a new angle on the story -- the perspective of Katherine Parr, last of the wives and the only one he neither cast aside nor executed. Which would seem to be a triumph on her part, and she even got to marry -- on her fourth marriage -- a man she loved, Thomas Seymour. As anyone who knows history knows, that wasn't exactly a happy ending for her but it makes for dramatic fiction. The book is also enhanced by the perspective of Katherine's servant Dot, who provides the always interesting outsider's view of the court and of the British aristocracy.
    • 5/5
      An excellent, entertaining and well researched historical novel centring around the life of Katherine Parr, the sixth and last surviving wife of King Henry VIII, and that of her maid, Dorothy Fownten, better known as 'Dot'!I was gripped by this book from the very first page. I thought it was vividly and imaginatively told, combining fact with fiction. It's wonderfully written in a beautifully flowing style which is easy to read and difficult to put down. There's a good sense of time and place which brings home the reality of the 15th century - I felt I was there.Both Katherine's and Dot's stories were interesting and absorbing. Their characters came alive for me and they were equally likeable. Some of the events had me on the edge of my seat - Henry VIII made me cringe!All in all, an immensely enjoyable, satisfying and engrossing read which I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to historical fiction fans. I eagerly look forward to Elizabeth Fremantle's next book in the series!
    • 5/5
      QUEEN’S GAMBIT – ELIZABETH FREMANTLEI was interested but not over excited when I received this from Real Readers. I thought it was just another piece of historical fiction featuring the ever popular Tudors. I’m an unashamed Phillipa Gregory fan, I met the lady once and she is delightful. I’m ashamed to admit I didn’t think she could be matched. A little research shows that this novel is the first in an intended trilogy and in the current literary climate that can be a rewarding project (I’m thinking Stieg Larsson, The 50 Shades phenomenon, The Hunger Games…….) but is there a danger of an oversubscribed genre evolving here?So I settled down to read this without any real expectations. Oh boy, how wrong could I have been? I thoroughly and completely enjoyed this book; I was entertained, educated and enthralled. I knew little about Katherine Parr other than the kudos of her being the only one of Henry VIII’s wives to survive him relatively unscathed!!What I particularly respect about this book was that although the research was immaculate it was not one of those stories where you felt that the author was reluctant to omit any of their investigation. So often a work of historical fiction screams ‘look at the research I’ve done, isn’t it extensive?’ And you are bombarded by detail that does not further the narrative in any way. This writer doesn't fall into that trap at all; everything is crucial and fundamental to the plot. The characterisations are a delight, rarely have I come away from a work such as this feeling that I really know these people despite the fact that they lived a few centuries ago. Their human qualities dominate over their political functions, even Henry VIII. The atmospheres and emotion created were palpable, I rejoiced when the characters rejoiced, I cried when they cried and I was so fearful for their safety especially Dot at the Tower.I would suggest that this book is accessible to those people who deign to read historical fiction. There is an almost indefinable quality to this narrative which almost contemporises the historical with a natural and flowing style.And I have to wait until 2012 for the next one? Bah.