Anna of Kleve, The Princess in the Portrait by Alison Weir

In Anna of Kleve, The Princess in the Portrait, readers are introduced to Henry VIII’s fourth wife, Anna von Kleve, commonly referred to as Anne of Cleves. Following the loss of his third wife, Jane Seymour—who died less than two weeks after the birth of Henry’s longed-for male heir, Prince Edward—it was decided Henry’s next wife should be the means of forming a political alliance, in case England was attacked by France and the Holy Roman Empire. Thomas Cromwell (Henry’s Principle Secretary and Chief Minister) suggested Anna, so the King sent Hans Holbien to paint a portrait of Anna and her younger sister, Amalia. Henry would use the portraits to decide which sister to marry. Pleased with Anna’s portrait, Henry chose her to be his wife.

Thorns in a Realm of Roses: The Henry Queens by Thomas Crockett

 

Historical fiction novels about Henry VIII and his many wives always catch my eye, and I typically enjoy them. When I came across this book on Netgalley, I was excited about it and couldn’t wait to get started.

Plantagenet Princess, Tudor Queen: The Story of Elizabeth of York by Samantha Wilcoxson

 

Elizabeth of York was the daughter of Edward IV, niece of Richard III, wife of Henry VII, and mother of Henry VIII,  Margaret, Queen of Scotland, and Mary, Queen of France. But what was she like as a person? In Plantagenet Princess, Tudor Queen: The Story of Elizabeth of York, Samantha Wilcoxson brings the matriarch of the Tudor Dynasty to life for readers of historical fiction.