I recently attended a Christmas market in my home city of Exeter, UK. Over the course of three days in my little chalet booth, I had many interesting conversations with prospective readers and actual buyers of my books. One particular topic that came up many times was: which other fiction books had I read that inspired me to write my own stories set in the Tudor period? There are quite a few, so I thought I would review them here – and if, like me, you’re a fan of the Tudors, then I hope you will find these of interest.

Legacy by Susan Kay

It’s a testament to the quality and longevity of this book that my copy, bought new in the 1980s, has been read so many times that the spine has a very pronounced curve.

Legacy tells the story of Queen Elizabeth I, pretty much from birth to death. While it follows the facts as much as it can, like all good biographies, it ‘fills in’ the bits that history hasn’t recorded with engaging fiction. And it’s not just those bits that engage – the whole book has a strong narrative flow. It keeps you turning the pages, while learning a lot about the great Queen, her life and her loves.

On that topic, you may know that she had a decades-long relationship with Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. Legacy provides possible answers to the many questions surrounding their depth of their relationship, as well as the answer to one key question – how did Dudley’s wife Amy die so tragically (and mysteriously)?

If you are interested in Queen Elizabeth, and enjoy a good page-turning read, I can highly recommend this book.

The works of C.J. Sansom

C.J. Sansom writes murder mystery thrillers set in the reign of Henry VIII, featuring a ‘crookback’ investigative lawyer called Matthew Shardlake. Together with his trusty assistant Jack Barak, Shardlake undertakes clandestine missions for Thomas Cromwell, as well as solving puzzling murders. It’s all there; the tension, the mystery and the jeopardy, as well as accurate period detail that puts you right inside Tudor England.

There are seven Shardlake books in all, starting with Dissolution and going through to Tombland. Each one is a cracking read, taking Shardlake into the heart of Tudor politics and events. In book 5 Heartstone, he even gets to see the sinking of the Mary Rose!

Each book is a quite a saga, so strap in; you’re in for an exciting and mysterious ride through Tudor society!

The Queen’s Gambit by Elizabeth Freemantle

The story of Katherine Parr, sixth wife of Henry VIII, has been told by many authors. I have read and enjoyed Philippa Gregory’s The Taming of the Queen, but for me, the best telling of this remarkable woman’s story is by Elizabeth Freemantle. I really enjoyed how she brought Katherine to life, and imbued her with both maturity and wisdom.

The book has now been filmed as Firebrand, with Alicia Vikander as Katherine and Jude Law as Henry. I understand it goes on general release in 2024, so I am very much looking forward to seeing it.

Stormbird (The Wars of the Roses) by Conn Iggulden

Although I write in the Tudor era, it is always good to read the period leading up to it – in my case the Wars of the Roses in the 15th century. Henry VII, the first Tudor king, was essentially a product of this turbulent civil war, so it has been of great interest to me to get a feel for the 15th century as much as the 16th. I have read Philippa Gregory’s The White Queen and her The Red Queen, about Elizabeth Woodville and Margaret Beaumont respectively (Henry VIII’s two grandmothers). But I found Conn Iggulden’s Stormbird more engaging, as it tells of the common man’s experience of the wars as much as that of the nobility and royalty. Epic and superbly plotted, this book takes you right into the heart of the ‘Cousin’s War’ and introduces you to a range of characters, from historical to fictional. Highly recommended.

A Column of Fire by Ken Follett

This book is set in the early years of Queen Elizabeth’s reign, and involves a family from Kingsbridge, a town that Follett has featured in two previous novels (set in earlier centuries). I enjoyed how he interweaves fictional and real events and, like all good historical fiction, puts you into the era without making it feel like a history lesson. Always informative and period correct, I came away feeling as if I had learned more about life in those times. And particularly, the life of ordinary people – so often overlooked in historical fiction.

A final word. You might be wondering where Hilary Mantel (Wolf Hall) features in my book list, or Alison Weir (Six Tudor Queens). Well, the truth is I found both these authors harder to read than the ones above, so I don’t feel comfortable including them. And anyway, when it comes to Wolf Hall, the TV adaptation is so involving and accessible – it is almost (and I feel awful saying this), a better way to enjoy the Thomas Cromwell story than the books. Sorry, but there it is!

If you’re into Tudor history and enjoy a good fictional read, I hope this blog gives you some new books to try. And that you enjoy them as much as I have!