BOOKS AND REVIEWS 2012-2015
In Bed With the Tudors, Amberley 2012
How did questions of childbirth, fertility and sex shape Tudor history? This book explores the way in which the future of the dynasty was shaped by what happened in the bedroom, as well as the parliamentary chamber. What did Tudor women believe about the functioning of their bodies? What strange rituals did they follow in order to conceive and carry children to term? How did they cope with childbirth, when there was little pain relief available? This book explores the domestic details of royal women but also includes the stories of the poor and middle classes, who had to make do with whatever their circumstances allowed. It also focuses on the impact of the reformation, when these centuries-old traditions were suddenly stripped away. When rosaries, chants, talisman and icons were banned, were women really prepared to give them up?
"A fascinating book" (The Daily Express)
"I cannot begin to say how wonderful this book is. Amy Licence's writing style is easy to read and engages you in the subject."
"Weighty without being intimidatingly scholarly."
"Undresses the people you read about at school."
"I read this all in one day. I couldn't put it down."
"A scholarly work which sheds a completely different light on the endlessly
fascinating Tudor dynasty."
"Each page is packed with real - obviously well researched- detail."
(Amazon reviews)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bed-Tudors-Lives-Dynasty-Elizabeth/dp/1445606933/ref=la_B008GEGNV2_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1391517257&sr=1-5
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How did questions of childbirth, fertility and sex shape Tudor history? This book explores the way in which the future of the dynasty was shaped by what happened in the bedroom, as well as the parliamentary chamber. What did Tudor women believe about the functioning of their bodies? What strange rituals did they follow in order to conceive and carry children to term? How did they cope with childbirth, when there was little pain relief available? This book explores the domestic details of royal women but also includes the stories of the poor and middle classes, who had to make do with whatever their circumstances allowed. It also focuses on the impact of the reformation, when these centuries-old traditions were suddenly stripped away. When rosaries, chants, talisman and icons were banned, were women really prepared to give them up?
"A fascinating book" (The Daily Express)
"I cannot begin to say how wonderful this book is. Amy Licence's writing style is easy to read and engages you in the subject."
"Weighty without being intimidatingly scholarly."
"Undresses the people you read about at school."
"I read this all in one day. I couldn't put it down."
"A scholarly work which sheds a completely different light on the endlessly
fascinating Tudor dynasty."
"Each page is packed with real - obviously well researched- detail."
(Amazon reviews)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bed-Tudors-Lives-Dynasty-Elizabeth/dp/1445606933/ref=la_B008GEGNV2_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1391517257&sr=1-5
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Elizabeth of York: The Forgotten Tudor Queen, Amberley 2013
Elizabeth of York is one of the fifteenth century's most fascinating and elusive figures. Raised amid the turbulence of the Wars of the Roses, her life changed dramatically with the sudden death of her father, Edward IV. What exactly was the nature of her relationship with her uncle, Richard III? On his death, she married Henry VII and became the first Tudor queen. Her marriage continues to fascinate readers of fiction and non-fiction today. What were she and Henry like together, once the doors to their private apartments had closed? This biography explores the details of her every day life: smell the flavours of fifteenth century London and learn about the contents of Elizabeth's wardrobe.
"Very accessible" (The Historian.)
"Amy Licence is a wonderful writer- her prose just sings of the page with not a word wasted- and a wonderful historian who has enormous empathy with her subject matter. "
"Amy writes beautifully and doesn't try to preach or make things up that history really can't tell us, but still providing a real insight into the lives of her subjects."
"This fascinating life is examined in context and in meticulous detail."
"I enjoyed this book- and it will enjoy a position on my bookshelves forever"
(Amazon reviews)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Elizabeth-York-Forgotten-Tudor-Queen/dp/1445609614/ref=la_B008GEGNV2_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1391517257&sr=1-6
Elizabeth of York is one of the fifteenth century's most fascinating and elusive figures. Raised amid the turbulence of the Wars of the Roses, her life changed dramatically with the sudden death of her father, Edward IV. What exactly was the nature of her relationship with her uncle, Richard III? On his death, she married Henry VII and became the first Tudor queen. Her marriage continues to fascinate readers of fiction and non-fiction today. What were she and Henry like together, once the doors to their private apartments had closed? This biography explores the details of her every day life: smell the flavours of fifteenth century London and learn about the contents of Elizabeth's wardrobe.
"Very accessible" (The Historian.)
"Amy Licence is a wonderful writer- her prose just sings of the page with not a word wasted- and a wonderful historian who has enormous empathy with her subject matter. "
"Amy writes beautifully and doesn't try to preach or make things up that history really can't tell us, but still providing a real insight into the lives of her subjects."
"This fascinating life is examined in context and in meticulous detail."
"I enjoyed this book- and it will enjoy a position on my bookshelves forever"
(Amazon reviews)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Elizabeth-York-Forgotten-Tudor-Queen/dp/1445609614/ref=la_B008GEGNV2_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1391517257&sr=1-6
Paperback of Elizabeth of York: The Forgotten Tudor Queen, Amberley 2014
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Anne Neville: Richard III's Tragic Queen, Amberley 2013
Anne Neville is frequently presented in biographies and novels as a fairly passive figure, a victim of circumstances and the political intrigues of her menfolk. This biography looks at that stereotype afresh, considering an Anne may have been just as determined and ambitious as her father, Warwick the Kingmaker. Did she have her sights on the throne? By the time she became queen, she had been widowed at 14 and remarried to the future Richard III for a decade. What did she make of the events that placed her on the throne? Did she plan Richard's rise with him, or was she swept along in his wake? And what is the truth about her premature death, in the middle of an eclipse of the sun? This book sets Anne's life within a detailed and colourful context of the lives of medieval women.
"A well written book and a real page turner."
"Amy Licence has worked her magic again... a real sense of the flesh and blood woman."
"A book full of goodies."
"Superb prose and intelligent interpretation of the facts."
"An entrancing insight."
(Amazon reviews)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Anne-Neville-Richard-Tragic-Queen/dp/1445611538/ref=la_B008GEGNV2_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1391517257&sr=1-4
Anne Neville is frequently presented in biographies and novels as a fairly passive figure, a victim of circumstances and the political intrigues of her menfolk. This biography looks at that stereotype afresh, considering an Anne may have been just as determined and ambitious as her father, Warwick the Kingmaker. Did she have her sights on the throne? By the time she became queen, she had been widowed at 14 and remarried to the future Richard III for a decade. What did she make of the events that placed her on the throne? Did she plan Richard's rise with him, or was she swept along in his wake? And what is the truth about her premature death, in the middle of an eclipse of the sun? This book sets Anne's life within a detailed and colourful context of the lives of medieval women.
"A well written book and a real page turner."
"Amy Licence has worked her magic again... a real sense of the flesh and blood woman."
"A book full of goodies."
"Superb prose and intelligent interpretation of the facts."
"An entrancing insight."
(Amazon reviews)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Anne-Neville-Richard-Tragic-Queen/dp/1445611538/ref=la_B008GEGNV2_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1391517257&sr=1-4
Paperback of "Anne Neville: Richard III's Tragic Queen" Amberley 2014
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Royal Babies, A History, 1066-2013, Amberley 2013
The arrival of royal babies has always been a cause for celebration, right back to the eleventh century. This book examines the circumstances of the arrival of twenty-five individuals, some who were born great, some who achieved greatness and some who had it thrust upon them. It tells the story of birth customs and midwifery, exploring the tensions between male and female medical practitioners and the strange methods they used to bring children into the world.
Why did doctors of the eighteenth century believe that breastfeeding was so dangerous?
What did pregnant women wear in the medieval period?
How did the Normans use herbs to ward off the bewitchment of elves?
"A fascinating insight..."
"Written in an engaging style that makes for easy reading."
"This is truly a sweet little book that you can pick up and read by chapter, each being a
complete story. Amy's writing is so enjoyable."
(Amazon/Goodreads reviews)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Royal-Babies-1066-2013-Amy-Licence/dp/1445617625/ref=la_B008GEGNV2_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1391517257&sr=1-7
Now revised and reissued in paperback for 2015:
The arrival of royal babies has always been a cause for celebration, right back to the eleventh century. This book examines the circumstances of the arrival of twenty-five individuals, some who were born great, some who achieved greatness and some who had it thrust upon them. It tells the story of birth customs and midwifery, exploring the tensions between male and female medical practitioners and the strange methods they used to bring children into the world.
Why did doctors of the eighteenth century believe that breastfeeding was so dangerous?
What did pregnant women wear in the medieval period?
How did the Normans use herbs to ward off the bewitchment of elves?
"A fascinating insight..."
"Written in an engaging style that makes for easy reading."
"This is truly a sweet little book that you can pick up and read by chapter, each being a
complete story. Amy's writing is so enjoyable."
(Amazon/Goodreads reviews)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Royal-Babies-1066-2013-Amy-Licence/dp/1445617625/ref=la_B008GEGNV2_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1391517257&sr=1-7
Now revised and reissued in paperback for 2015:
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Richard III: The Road to Leicester, Amberley 2014
With the discovery of Richard III's bones in a Leicester car park, a number of questions continue to be debated about the life of this controversial King. This book explores the fact and fiction of Richard's life and the events that led to his death at Bosworth and burial in the Grey Friars' Church in Leicester. Then it moves beyond biography, to explore the cultural and literary afterlife of the man; his representations in art, chronicles, plays and poems, in popular culture and on our screens. There is also a detailed overview of the archaeological dig and its findings, and an exploration of the controversy surrounding his reburial. This book should appeal to those with an interest in Richard and the processes of historiography, but is also an accessible introduction to the key issues of his life, reign and reputation.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Richard-III-Leicester-Amy-Licence/dp/1445621754/ref=la_B008GEGNV2_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1391534054&sr=1-1
"This book made my day. I don't think I've ever read a book with such fury as I did this one. The preface had me in tears... and the end had me in tears again."
"Clean and crisp, well and comfortably written, well researched and well balanced. An excellent introduction to Richard and the controversies surrounding him."
"Extremely well-written in the author's usual elegant style and lavishly illustrated... I completely recommend this book, which is user-friendly to anybody new to the subject but contains enough interesting material to satisfy those with knowledge of the period. It should be snapped up by school libraries everywhere."
"A well-written introduction to Richard III. The author manages to summarize in just over ninety pages the life of Richard III, his legacy and the current debates after the discovery of his remains. This is a great achievement by itself. The book is beautifully illustrated (no black and white photos!), easy to read and as unbiased as possible. The perfect introduction for anyone who is not familiar with the period and Richard himself."
(Amazon/Goodreads reviews.)
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With the discovery of Richard III's bones in a Leicester car park, a number of questions continue to be debated about the life of this controversial King. This book explores the fact and fiction of Richard's life and the events that led to his death at Bosworth and burial in the Grey Friars' Church in Leicester. Then it moves beyond biography, to explore the cultural and literary afterlife of the man; his representations in art, chronicles, plays and poems, in popular culture and on our screens. There is also a detailed overview of the archaeological dig and its findings, and an exploration of the controversy surrounding his reburial. This book should appeal to those with an interest in Richard and the processes of historiography, but is also an accessible introduction to the key issues of his life, reign and reputation.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Richard-III-Leicester-Amy-Licence/dp/1445621754/ref=la_B008GEGNV2_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1391534054&sr=1-1
"This book made my day. I don't think I've ever read a book with such fury as I did this one. The preface had me in tears... and the end had me in tears again."
"Clean and crisp, well and comfortably written, well researched and well balanced. An excellent introduction to Richard and the controversies surrounding him."
"Extremely well-written in the author's usual elegant style and lavishly illustrated... I completely recommend this book, which is user-friendly to anybody new to the subject but contains enough interesting material to satisfy those with knowledge of the period. It should be snapped up by school libraries everywhere."
"A well-written introduction to Richard III. The author manages to summarize in just over ninety pages the life of Richard III, his legacy and the current debates after the discovery of his remains. This is a great achievement by itself. The book is beautifully illustrated (no black and white photos!), easy to read and as unbiased as possible. The perfect introduction for anyone who is not familiar with the period and Richard himself."
(Amazon/Goodreads reviews.)
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Cecily Neville: Mother of Kings Amberley, 2014
Beauty, pride, piety, scandal... There's a whole lot more to discover about the Yorkist matriarch.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cecily-Neville-Mother-Kings-Licence/dp/1445621231/ref=la_B008GEGNV2_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1391517257&sr=1-2
'A long overdue biography of one of the most dramatic medieval heroines - vivid, very readable, and wonderfully detailed'. Sarah Gristwood, author of Blood Sisters: The Women Behind the Wars of the Roses
"A readable, sympathetic portrayal of a medieval woman and her world. Amy Licence provides an engaging narrative of Cecily's life and times, incorporating a wealth of fascinating detail." David Santiuste, author of Edward IV and the Wars of the Roses
"The story of Cecily Neville has been neglected for too long. Amy Licence has written a well-researched, thoughtful and deeply perceptive biography of this important lady." Josephine Wilkinson, author of Richard III: The Young King to Be
"We have long needed a full-length biography of one of England's most famous medieval Queens, the story of whose life spans the entire tumult of the Wars of the Roses. Licence's work is both a readable and engaging portrait of life at the centre of power during a remarkable age, filled with detail that brings Cecily Neville and her age to life." Chris Skidmore, author of Bosworth
"Amy Licence has given us an insight into the life of a prominent and significant leader during the wars of the roses. That she was a woman explains why this glance is so rare and so valuable. Cecily Neville was the matriarch of the House of York and her biography is a scholarly account of a woman at the centre of dangerous and disturbed times. As mother of the three sons of York - Edward, George and Richard, she helped put two kings of England on the throne. As grandmother of the princes in the Tower she was present at the greatest mystery in English history. Nicknamed the ' Rose of Raby' for her famous beauty she was the loving and loyal wife of the York lord who started the wars of the roses. This is a considered and scholarly account of the matriarch of the House of York." Philippa Gregory, author of The White Queen, The Kingmaker's Daughter
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Beauty, pride, piety, scandal... There's a whole lot more to discover about the Yorkist matriarch.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cecily-Neville-Mother-Kings-Licence/dp/1445621231/ref=la_B008GEGNV2_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1391517257&sr=1-2
'A long overdue biography of one of the most dramatic medieval heroines - vivid, very readable, and wonderfully detailed'. Sarah Gristwood, author of Blood Sisters: The Women Behind the Wars of the Roses
"A readable, sympathetic portrayal of a medieval woman and her world. Amy Licence provides an engaging narrative of Cecily's life and times, incorporating a wealth of fascinating detail." David Santiuste, author of Edward IV and the Wars of the Roses
"The story of Cecily Neville has been neglected for too long. Amy Licence has written a well-researched, thoughtful and deeply perceptive biography of this important lady." Josephine Wilkinson, author of Richard III: The Young King to Be
"We have long needed a full-length biography of one of England's most famous medieval Queens, the story of whose life spans the entire tumult of the Wars of the Roses. Licence's work is both a readable and engaging portrait of life at the centre of power during a remarkable age, filled with detail that brings Cecily Neville and her age to life." Chris Skidmore, author of Bosworth
"Amy Licence has given us an insight into the life of a prominent and significant leader during the wars of the roses. That she was a woman explains why this glance is so rare and so valuable. Cecily Neville was the matriarch of the House of York and her biography is a scholarly account of a woman at the centre of dangerous and disturbed times. As mother of the three sons of York - Edward, George and Richard, she helped put two kings of England on the throne. As grandmother of the princes in the Tower she was present at the greatest mystery in English history. Nicknamed the ' Rose of Raby' for her famous beauty she was the loving and loyal wife of the York lord who started the wars of the roses. This is a considered and scholarly account of the matriarch of the House of York." Philippa Gregory, author of The White Queen, The Kingmaker's Daughter
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The Six Wives and Many Mistresses of Henry VIII, Amberley 2014
"The author’s formidable command of the mores regarding sex and sexuality in Tudor England allows her to weave a cat’s cradle of facts that supports her suppositions. Moreover, Licence manages to succeed in the most difficult tasks facing a Henrician biographer — she brings both a freshness to well-worn material and provides the reader with information that was likely hitherto unknown....
Even readers who are not convinced of Henry’s philandering will nonetheless be impressed with the astounding amount of information compiled by Licence. She has clearly used a fine-tooth comb to detangle the snarls of fact from historical fiction, and the book smoothly guides the reader through the facts to Licence’s conclusions. Moreover, Licence makes the read enjoyable with her engaging prose and a satisfying blend of the informal and the academic.
If you are looking for a book that makes the historical knowledge of Henry VIII and the women in his life juicy without sacrificing veracity to sensationalism, this is the book for you." Kyra Kramer, author of Blood Will Tell: A Medical Explanation for the Tryanny of Henry VIII.
"Frank and riveting accounting of the many women who passed though Henry VIII's orbit. Using primary sources, Amy Licence writes a captivating history of Henry's relationships, giving depth to shadowy figures who dabbled with Henry peripherally. With descriptive and colorful prose, Licence paints a rich picture of Henry's glittering court, showing its evolution as the King ages and changes. Licence's insightful observations leave preconceived caricatures in the dust, giving Henry and his ladies three dimensional complexity. Licence addresses each woman, enough so, that the reader gets to know her. They are not shrews, seductresses, or martyrs, just women striving to cope with a lover distracted by his own mindset. They are insecure, pressured, confused. Amy Licence gives a contemporary, realistic slant to a subject that's been clobbered with redundancy of soap opera drama." Author Carole P Roman.
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Living in Squares, Loving in Triangles. 2015, Amberley
"The author’s formidable command of the mores regarding sex and sexuality in Tudor England allows her to weave a cat’s cradle of facts that supports her suppositions. Moreover, Licence manages to succeed in the most difficult tasks facing a Henrician biographer — she brings both a freshness to well-worn material and provides the reader with information that was likely hitherto unknown....
Even readers who are not convinced of Henry’s philandering will nonetheless be impressed with the astounding amount of information compiled by Licence. She has clearly used a fine-tooth comb to detangle the snarls of fact from historical fiction, and the book smoothly guides the reader through the facts to Licence’s conclusions. Moreover, Licence makes the read enjoyable with her engaging prose and a satisfying blend of the informal and the academic.
If you are looking for a book that makes the historical knowledge of Henry VIII and the women in his life juicy without sacrificing veracity to sensationalism, this is the book for you." Kyra Kramer, author of Blood Will Tell: A Medical Explanation for the Tryanny of Henry VIII.
"Frank and riveting accounting of the many women who passed though Henry VIII's orbit. Using primary sources, Amy Licence writes a captivating history of Henry's relationships, giving depth to shadowy figures who dabbled with Henry peripherally. With descriptive and colorful prose, Licence paints a rich picture of Henry's glittering court, showing its evolution as the King ages and changes. Licence's insightful observations leave preconceived caricatures in the dust, giving Henry and his ladies three dimensional complexity. Licence addresses each woman, enough so, that the reader gets to know her. They are not shrews, seductresses, or martyrs, just women striving to cope with a lover distracted by his own mindset. They are insecure, pressured, confused. Amy Licence gives a contemporary, realistic slant to a subject that's been clobbered with redundancy of soap opera drama." Author Carole P Roman.
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Living in Squares, Loving in Triangles. 2015, Amberley
"Licence is at her best when exploring the periphery... she has done readers of popular Bloomsbury a valuable service in her careful and sustained treatment of Roger Fry. Her ur-text is, of course, Woolf's own biography for Fry, too often overlooked and elided in the canon of her works. And it is to be hoped that "Living in Squares, Loving in Triangles" will effect a series of similar introductions to Lytton Strachey and Vita Sackville-West, Dora Carrington and John Maynard Keynes... for Licence's book is a page-turning collage of lives... the sensitive selection and arrangement of the interconnecting narratives will send readers back to earlier family accounts." Times Literary Supplement
A "lively sketch of the group"... Telegraph
A "lively sketch of the group"... Telegraph