Book .5

Arthur: Prince of the Roses

by Alison Weir

Published 10 November 2016

Arthur: Prince of the Roses by bestselling historian Alison Weir is an e-short and companion piece to her stunning novel, Katherine of Aragon, the first in a spellbinding six-novel series about Henry VIII's Queens. Fans of Philippa Gregory and Elizabeth Chadwick will love this insight into the story of this ill-fated Tudor prince.

'You are the first prince of my line, the Tudor line.'

Arthur, the first Tudor prince, is raised to believe that he will inherit a kingdom destined to be his through an ancient royal bloodline. He is the second Arthur, named for the legendary hero-king of Camelot.

To be a worthy ruler, he must excel at everything - and show no weakness. But Arthur is not strong, and the hopes of England weigh heavy on his slight shoulders. And, all the while, his little brother Harry, the favoured, golden son, is waiting in the wings.


Book 1

*A Sunday Times Top Ten Bestseller*

Katherine of Aragon: The True Queen by bestselling historian Alison Weir is the first in a captivating series, depicting the lives of Henry VIII's queens. Ideal for fans of Philippa Gregory and Elizabeth Chadwick.

'Alison Weir has managed to intertwine profound historical knowledge with huge emotional intelligence, to compose a work that throws light on an endlessly fascinating historical figure. Yet her real gift in all of this is making it feel so fresh and alive' Earl Spencer

'Shatters the many myths about Henry VIII's long-suffering first wife' Tracy Borman

'Weir is excellent on the little details that bring a world to life' Guardian

A Spanish princess. Raised to be modest, obedient and devout. Destined to be an English Queen.

Six weeks from home across treacherous seas, everything is different: the language, the food, the weather. And for her there is no comfort in any of it. At sixteen-years-old, Catalina is alone among strangers.

She misses her mother. She mourns her lost brother.
She cannot trust even those assigned to her protection.

KATHERINE OF ARAGON. The first of Henry's Queens. Her story.

History tells us how she died. This captivating novel shows us how she lived.

SIX TUDOR QUEENS. SIX NOVELS. SIX YEARS.

Anne Boleyn: A King's Obsession is Alison Weir's next breathtaking novel, looking at Henry VIII's infamous second wife.

Praise for Alison Weir and Katherine of Aragon:

'A tender understanding of and genuine sympathy for this proud, much-loved and honourable Queen. . . I was gripped [from] start to finish' Mavis Cheek

'Well researched and engrossing' Good Housekeeping

'Alison Weir clearly admires her heroine . . . meticulously researched' The Times

'This exquisite book charts the rise and fall of Henry VIII's first wife, Katherine. . . A fascinating insight into this period of our history. Weir's undeniable strength is her immaculate description, enabling the reader to be transported back to Tudor England' Sun

'Weir manages to untangle the complex web of 16th-century politics, shown through Katherine's duties as ambassador, and her astute reading of the games being played. This adds greatly to the heft of the character, demonstrating what a competent woman she was becoming' Herald Scotland

'Katherine of Aragon, The True Queen is a true tour de force. Finely crafted, this novel is wonderful historical fiction and an outstanding introduction to the Six Tudor Queens series' Queen Anne Boleyn Blog

'Known for bestselling historical biographies, Alison Weir is in command of her detail . . . her handling of Katherine's misery and dignified response to her predicament is very touching' Elizabeth Buchan, Daily Mail


Book 1.5


Book 2

*THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER*

Anne Boleyn
: A King's Obsession by bestselling historian Alison Weir, author of Katherine of Aragon: The True Queen
, is the second captivating novel in the Six Tudor Queens series. An unforgettable portrait of the ambitious woman whose fate we know all too well, but whose true motivations may surprise you. Essential reading for fans of Philippa Gregory and Elizabeth Chadwick.

'A triumph of fine detail and research and offers a complex depiction of an endlessly fascinating woman' Elizabeth Fremantle

'Anne Boleyn as you have never seen her before. I could not put it down' Tracy Borman

'Alison Weir makes history come alive as no one else' Barbara Erskine

The young woman who changed the course of history.

Fresh from the palaces of Burgundy and France, Anne draws attention at the English court, embracing the play of courtly love.

But when the King commands, nothing is ever a game.

Anne has a spirit worthy of a crown - and the crown is what she seeks. At any price.

ANNE BOLEYN. The second of Henry's Queens. Her story.
History tells us why she died. This powerful novel shows her as she lived.

SIX TUDOR QUEENS. SIX NOVELS. SIX YEARS.

The third novel in Alison Weir's spellbinding Six Tudor Queens series: Jane Seymour: The Haunted Queen - coming May 2018

Praise for Anne Boleyn: A King's Obsession:

'Alison Weir has brought English history's most famous 'other woman' compellingly to life' Linda Porter

'Detailed, immaculately researched and convincing' The Times

'Weir's outstanding and sound historical research shines through, shedding new light on England's most controversial queen' Nicola Tallis


Book 2.5

The Tower is Full of Ghosts Today by historian Alison Weir is an e-short and companion piece to the Sunday Times bestseller Anne Boleyn: A King's Obsession, the second novel in the spellbinding series about Henry VIII's queens.

Jo, historian and long-term admirer of Anne Boleyn, takes a group on a guided tour of the Tower of London, to walk in the shoes of her Tudor heroine. But as she becomes enthralled by the historical accuracy of her tour guide and the dramatic setting that she has come to love, something spectral is lurking in the shadows . . .

Contains first chapters of Sunday Times bestsellers Katherine of Aragon: The True Queen and Anne Boleyn: A King's Obsession, as well as the upcoming Six Tudor Queens novel about Henry VIII's third wife, Jane Seymour: The Haunted Queen.


Book 3

'This brilliant book is a bombshell! Jane Seymour the shy mouse type? Think again!' Kate Williams

Alison Weir, historian and author of the Sunday Times bestsellers Katherine of Aragon: The True Queen and Anne Boleyn: A King's Obsession, draws an enthralling portrait of Jane Seymour, Henry VIII's third queen, as you've never seen her before. E
ssential reading for fans of Philippa Gregory and Elizabeth Chadwick.

'This six-book series looks likely to become a landmark in historical fiction' The Times


THE WOMAN HAUNTED BY THE FATE OF HER PREDECESSOR.


Eleven days after the death of Anne Boleyn, Jane is dressing for her wedding to the King.

She has witnessed at first hand how courtly play can quickly turn to danger and knows she must bear a son . . . or face ruin.

This new Queen must therefore step out from the shadows cast by Katherine and Anne. In doing so, can she expose a gentler side to the brutal King?

JANE SEYMOUR
THE THIRD OF HENRY'S QUEENS
HER STORY


Acclaimed, bestselling historian Alison Weir draws on new research for her captivating novel, which paints a compelling portrait of Jane and casts fresh light on both traditional and modern perceptions of her. Jane was driven by the strength of her faith and a belief that she might do some good in a wicked world.

History tells us how she died.
This spellbinding novel explores the life she lived.

SIX TUDOR QUEENS. SIX NOVELS. SIX YEARS.


Book 4

'Alison Weir transforms Henry VIII's much-maligned fourth wife into a woman of passion, courage and mystery' Tracy Borman

Alison Weir, historian and author of the Sunday Times bestsellers Katherine of Aragon: The True Queen, Anne Boleyn: A King's Obsession and Jane Seymour: The Haunted Queen, paints a spellbinding portrait of Anna of Kleve, Henry VIII's fourth queen.


'This six-book series looks likely to become a landmark in historical fiction' The Times

A GERMAN PRINCESS WITH A GUILTY SECRET.


The King is in love with Anna's portrait, but she has none of the accomplishments he seeks in a new bride.

She prays she will please Henry, for the balance of power in Europe rests on this marriage alliance.

But Anna's past is never far from her thoughts, and the rumours rife at court could be her downfall. Everyone knows the King won't stand for a problem queen.

ANNA OF KLEVE
THE FOURTH OF HENRY'S QUEENS
HER STORY

Acclaimed, bestselling historian Alison Weir draws on new evidence to conjure a startling image of Anna as you've never seen her before. A charming, spirited woman, she was loved by all who knew her - and even, ultimately, by the King who rejected her.

History tells us she was never crowned.
But her story does not end there.

SIX TUDOR QUEENS. SIX NOVELS. SIX YEARS.

'Alison Weir makes history come alive as no one else' Barbara Erskine

'Weir is excellent on the little details that bring a world to life' Guardian


Book 4.6

The Curse of the Hungerfords by acclaimed historian Alison Weir is a companion piece to the captivating fourth novel in the Six Tudor Queens series, Anna of Kleve: Queen of Secrets.

Each sunset, as I go to the chapel, I find myself looking for her. I look for details. What she is wearing, some clue to her identity. But she fades away if I look at her directly. I can just glimpse the blur of a hood, or a widow's wimple, and those sad eyes, staring at something - or someone - I cannot see.

Anne Bassett served four of Henry VIII's queens, yet the King himself once pledged to serve her. Had fate not decreed otherwise, she might have been his wife - and Queen of England.

But now, far from court and heavy with her husband's child, Anne prays in the Hungerford chapel, and awaits the ghostly figure she knows will come. This is her story, one that entwines with the fate of another Lady Hungerford from not so many years before. They say there's a curse on this family...

SIX TUDOR QUEENS. SIX NOVELS. SIX YEARS.

(P)2019 Headline Publishing Group Ltd

Book 5

'This six-book series looks likely to become a landmark in historical fiction' The Times

Alison Weir, historian and author of the Sunday Times-bestselling Six Tudor Queens series, relates one of the most tragic stories in English history: Katheryn Howard, Henry VIII's fifth queen.

'With characteristic verve and stunning period detail, this novel will captivate you and break your heart. Utterly sublime' TRACY BORMAN

'Conveys the heart-rending pathos of a young woman executed, whose only real crime was her naïveté and her desire to be loved... It is a profoundly moving story that lingers long after the last page is turned'
ELIZABETH FREEMANTLE

'Alison's sensitively drawn novel will change everyone's preconceptions'
SUSAN RONALD

...


A NAIVE YOUNG WOMAN AT THE MERCY OF HER AMBITIOUS FAMILY.


At just nineteen, Katheryn Howard is quick to trust and fall in love.

She comes to court. She sings, she dances. She captures the heart of the King.

Henry declares she is his rose without a thorn. But Katheryn has a past of which he knows nothing. It comes back increasingly to haunt her. For those who share her secrets are waiting in the shadows, whispering words of love... and blackmail.

KATHERYN HOWARD
THE FIFTH OF HENRY'S QUEENS.
HER STORY.

Acclaimed, bestselling historian Alison Weir draws on extensive research to recount one of the most tragic tales in English history - that of a lively, sweet but neglected girl, used by powerful men for their own gain.

History tells us she died too soon.
This mesmerising novel brings her to life.

PRAISE FOR THE SIX TUDOR QUEENS SERIES:

'Weir is excellent on the little details that bring a world to life' Guardian

'Alison Weir makes history come alive as no one else' Barbara Erskine

'Well researched and engrossing' Good Housekeeping

'Utterly gripping and endlessly surprising' Tracy Borman

'Hugely enjoyable . . . Alison Weir knows her subject and has a knack for the telling and textural detail' Daily Mail


Book 6

'A detailed and convincing portrait of an extraordinary life... this series is a serious achievement' THE TIMES

'This brilliant series has brought Henry VIII's six wives to life as never before. This novel will enthral and inspire, just as much as it will break your heart' TRACY BORMAN

Alison Weir, historian and author of the SUNDAY TIMES bestselling SIX TUDOR QUEENS series, recounts the story of Henry VIII's last wife - Katharine Parr, the queen who survived him.

---

A WOMAN TORN BETWEEN LOVE AND DUTY.

Two husbands dead, a boy and a sick man. And now Katharine is free to make her own choice.

The ageing King's eye falls upon her. She cannot refuse him... or betray that she wanted another.

She becomes the sixth wife - a queen and a friend. Henry loves and trusts her. But Katharine is hiding another secret in her heart, a deeply held faith that could see her burn...

KATHARINE PARR. HENRY'S FINAL QUEEN. HER STORY.

Renowned, bestselling historian Alison Weir reveals a warm, clever woman of great fortitude who rose boldly to every turn her life took.

'Katharine Parr deserves better than to be known just as Henry VIII's sixth wife - the one who survived. And there's no-one better placed than Alison Weir to restore her to her rightful place' SARAH GRISTWOOD

'The conversations are sparkling, gripping and word-perfect. As King Henry ages, the machinations of his vicious court are never far away' HISTORICAL NOVEL SOCIETY

'For the first time I felt as though, thanks to Alison's skilful writing and storytelling, I came to "know" Katharine' NICOLA TALLIS

'A tour de force. If you think you know everything about Henry VIII's last queen, you're in for a wonderful treat - you don't!' SUSAN RONALD

'An absorbing and fascinating read, meticulously researched as is always the case with Alison's work, and she really made Katharine live' SARAH RAYNE

---

PRAISE FOR THE SIX TUDOR QUEENS SERIES:

'Weir is excellent on the little details that bring a world to life' Guardian

'Profoundly moving... lingers long after the last page' Elizabeth Fremantle

'Well researched and engrossing' Good Housekeeping

'Utterly gripping and endlessly surprising' Tracy Borman

'Hugely enjoyable . . . Alison Weir knows her subject and has a knack for the telling and textural detail' Daily Mail


Bestselling author and acclaimed historian Alison Weir tells the tragic story of Henry VIII’s fifth wife, a nineteen-year-old beauty with a hidden past, in this fifth novel in the sweeping Six Tudor Queens series.

“A vivid re-creation of a Tudor tragedy.”—Kirkus Reviews

In the spring of 1540, Henry VIII is desperate to be rid of his unappealing German queen, Anna of Kleve. A prematurely aged and ailing forty-nine, with an ever-growing waistline, he casts an amorous eye on a pretty nineteen-year-old brunette, Katheryn Howard. Like her cousin Anne Boleyn, Katheryn is a niece of the Duke of Norfolk, England’s premier Catholic peer, who is scheming to replace Anna of Kleve with a good Catholic queen. A flirtatious, eager participant in the life of the royal court, Katheryn readily succumbs to the king’s attentions when she is intentionally pushed into his path by her ambitious family.

Henry quickly becomes besotted and is soon laying siege to Katheryn’s virtue. But as instructed by her relations, she holds out for marriage and the wedding takes place a mere fortnight after the king’s union to Anna is annulled. Henry tells the world his new bride is a rose without a thorn, and extols her beauty and her virtue, while Katheryn delights in the pleasures of being queen and the rich gifts her adoring husband showers upon her: the gorgeous gowns, the exquisite jewels, and the darling lap-dogs. She comes to love the ailing, obese king, enduring his nightly embraces with fortitude and kindness. If she can bear him a son, her triumph will be complete. But Katheryn has a past of which Henry knows nothing, and which comes back increasingly to haunt hereven as she courts danger yet again. What happens next to this naïve and much-wronged girl is one of the saddest chapters in English history.

Books 1-3

'This six-book series looks likely to become a landmark in historical fiction' The Times

Available together for the first time, the first three unmissable SIX TUDOR QUEENS novels from the Sunday Times bestselling series by acclaimed author and eminent historian Alison Weir.

The lives of Henry VIII's queens make for compelling and dramatic tales. They each married the same man, but Katherine, Anne and Jane were as intimately connected to each other as to the King...

Walk in the footsteps of the most infamous queens in history as their extraordinary stories weave together and play out in glittering palaces, birth chambers, gilded prisons - even on the scaffold itself.

---

'Shatters the many myths about Henry VIII's long-suffering first wife' Tracy Borman on Katherine of Aragon, the True Queen

'A triumph of fine detail and research... offers a complex depiction of an endlessly fascinating woman' Elizabeth Fremantle on Anne Boleyn, a King's Obsession

'This brilliant book is a bombshell! Jane Seymour the shy mouse type? Think again!' Kate Williams on Jane Seymour, the Haunted Queen

---

KATHERINE OF ARAGON, the True Queen.

ANNE BOLEYN, the King's Obsession.


JANE SEYMOUR
, the Haunted Queen.

---

SIX TUDOR QUEENS - Praise for Alison Weir:

'Alison Weir makes history come alive as no one else' Barbara Erskine

'Weir is excellent on the little details that bring a world to life' Guardian


The King's Painter

by Alison Weir

Published 19 September 2019

The King's Painter by bestselling historian Alison Weir is an e-short and companion piece to the captivating fourth novel in the Six Tudor Queens series, Anna of Kleve: Queen of Secrets.

'There are certain matters that are better handled by ladies than by ministers or ambassadors'

King Henry VIII is set to marry a woman he's never met. Wary of rumours whispered by foreign envoys, he sends Susanna Gilman, royal painter and trusted friend, to Kleve to find out more about his chosen bride.

Before long, Susanna is returning to England with the Princess Anna, assuring the King she is a suitable match. But the King is disappointed - Anna is not as beautiful as her portrait.

Susanna is called upon once again to use her position as confidante to the new Queen to find out more about her past, and free the King from his marriage. But will she be able to put her blossoming friendship with Anna to one side to fulfil her duty to the King?

Featuring the first chapter of Anna of Kleve: Queen of Secrets.

SIX TUDOR QUEENS. SIX NOVELS. SIX YEARS.


The Princess of Scotland

by Alison Weir

Published 14 May 2020
The Princess of Scotland is an e-short and companion piece to Katheryn Howard: The Tainted Queen, the compelling fifth novel in the Six Tudor Queens series by bestselling author and historian Alison Weir.

'The King would not approve of my falling in love ... My marriage was in his gift'

Brought up in the magnificent castles of Scotland under the storm of her parent's turbulent marriage, Margaret Douglas is well-acquainted with the changing whims of those who hold power. And when her father is exiled by King James V, Margaret is sent to England to seek refuge with her uncle, King Henry VIII.

Margaret is an asset to Henry, who plans to use her eligible marriage status for his own advantage. But, surrounded by the excitement and indulgences of the English court, will Margaret be able to resist the temptations of a young admirer? As she well knows, keeping secrets from the King can be a dangerous game...

(P)2020 Headline Publishing Group Ltd

The Wicked Wife

by Alison Weir

Published 21 January 2021
The Wicked Wife is an e-short and companion piece to Katheryn Howard: The Tainted Queen, the captivating fifth novel in the Six Tudor Queens series by bestselling historian Alison Weir.

1525. As Anne Boleyn's star rises at Henry VIII's court, Jane Parker's marriage to Anne's brother, George, brings her status and influence. But theirs is not a happy union and results in a bitter and bloody end.

1540. When Katheryn Howard, a young cousin of the Boleyns, becomes the King's fifth bride, Jane's past allegiance to the crown secures her senior rank in the new queen's household.

But memories of her own ill-fated marriage stir Jane's sympathies towards Katheryn and her secret liaison with a young man at court. Jane's collusion places both women at tremendous risk, while the fate of Anne Boleyn weighs heavily on their minds. They must decide where their loyalties truly lie, before it's too late...

(P)2021 Headline Publishing Group Limited