Anne Boleyn: Adultery, Heresy, Desire
(Amberley, 2017)
Anne Boleyn’s unconventional beauty inspired poets ‒ and she so entranced Henry VIII with her wit, allure and style that he was prepared to set aside his wife of over twenty years and risk his immortal soul. Her sister had already been the king’s mistress, but the other Boleyn girl followed a different path. For years the lovers waited; did they really remain chaste? Did Anne love Henry, or was she a calculating femme fatale?
Eventually replacing the long-suffering Catherine of Aragon, Anne enjoyed a magnificent coronation and gave birth to the future Queen Elizabeth, but her triumph was short-lived. Why did she go from beloved consort to adulteress and traitor within a matter of weeks? What role did Thomas Cromwell and Jane Seymour of Wolf Hall play in Anne’s demise? Was her fall one of the biggest sex scandals of her era, or the result of a political coup?
With her usual eye for the telling detail, Amy Licence explores the nuances of this explosive and ultimately deadly relationship to answer an often neglected question: what choice did Anne really have? When she writes to Henry during their protracted courtship, is she addressing a suitor, or her divinely ordained king? This book follows Anne from cradle to grave and beyond. Anne is vividly brought to life amid the colour, drama and unforgiving politics of the Tudor court.
(Amberley, 2017)
Anne Boleyn’s unconventional beauty inspired poets ‒ and she so entranced Henry VIII with her wit, allure and style that he was prepared to set aside his wife of over twenty years and risk his immortal soul. Her sister had already been the king’s mistress, but the other Boleyn girl followed a different path. For years the lovers waited; did they really remain chaste? Did Anne love Henry, or was she a calculating femme fatale?
Eventually replacing the long-suffering Catherine of Aragon, Anne enjoyed a magnificent coronation and gave birth to the future Queen Elizabeth, but her triumph was short-lived. Why did she go from beloved consort to adulteress and traitor within a matter of weeks? What role did Thomas Cromwell and Jane Seymour of Wolf Hall play in Anne’s demise? Was her fall one of the biggest sex scandals of her era, or the result of a political coup?
With her usual eye for the telling detail, Amy Licence explores the nuances of this explosive and ultimately deadly relationship to answer an often neglected question: what choice did Anne really have? When she writes to Henry during their protracted courtship, is she addressing a suitor, or her divinely ordained king? This book follows Anne from cradle to grave and beyond. Anne is vividly brought to life amid the colour, drama and unforgiving politics of the Tudor court.
Catherine of Aragon: An Intimate Life of Henry VIII's True Wife
(Amberley, 2016)
Catherine of Aragon continues to fascinate readers 500 years after she became Henry VIII's first queen. Her life was one of passion and determination, of suffering and hope, but ultimately it is a tragic love story, as circumstances conspired against her. Having lost her first husband, Henry's elder brother Prince Arthur, she endured years of ill health and penury, to make a dazzling second match in Henry VIII. There is no doubt that she was Henry's true love, compatible with him in every respect and, for years, she presided over a majestic court as the personification of his ideal woman.
However, Catherine’s body failed her in an age when fertility was a prerequisite of political stability. When it became clear that she could no longer bear children, the king’s attention turned elsewhere, and his once chivalric devotion became resentment. Catherine’s final years were spent in lonely isolation but she never gave up her vision: she was devoted to her faith, her husband and to England, to the extent that she was prepared to be martyred for them. Banished and close to death, she wrote a final letter to her ‘most dear lord and husband’. ‘I pardon you everything... mine eyes desire you above all things.’ The fidelity of this remarkable woman never wavered.
"Brilliant, sympathetic, scholarly read. Highly enjoyable, highly recommended." Amazon review.
"Amy Licence is a skilled writer with a keen eye on seemingly unimportant little details. She has a unique ability to ferret out what's important and what 's not. " Author Sylwia. S. Zupanec.
"Catherine of Aragon, an Intimate Life of Henry VIII’s True Wife by Amy Licence is one of those incredible books that you can’t get away from. Days after you’ve finished it, your mind is still pondering the twists and turns in the story that has unfolded before you. And yet, this is not a gripping novel, it’s a biography … a real-life story of one of England’s most famous queens, told in an expert, accessible fashion by one of today’s most prominent historians of women’s history.
The level of detail in this book is incredible, Amy Licence has looked into every corner of Catherine’s life-story. It paints a wonderful, vivid picture of the life of a Renaissance princess. From even before her earliest years, the author charts Catherine’s life in its entirety, giving us a complete picture of the world that surrounded the young princess from the moment she was born to the moment of her death." Author Sharon Bennett-Connolly.
"Amy Licence... is unquestionably the most prolific historian writing today. Her output of books in recent years is incredible, the culmination of a life’s fascination and study of the subject, and this continues with Catherine of Aragon, an Intimate Life of Henry VIII’s True Wife... As expected perhaps from the leading Tudor historian on female matters, this book is sympathetic and understanding of its subject, but that’s not to say in a biased or predisposed way. Licence comes to her conclusions about Katherine through sheer research of her character, her influences and her actions, and puts forward a compelling case of a pious and courageous woman who only sought to serve her god, and serve her husband, in the manner she thought best. This is a compassionate and positive portrayal of Catherine." Author Nathen Amin.
"Amy Licence has the skill bring historical figures to life... with an artist's eye, she recreates the bold pageantry of the Tudor court, so much so that it transports the reader; her attention to detail is unparalleled. Licence delves deeply into Catherine's world, describing the proud heritage that build her royal self-worth." Author Carole P Roman
(Amberley, 2016)
Catherine of Aragon continues to fascinate readers 500 years after she became Henry VIII's first queen. Her life was one of passion and determination, of suffering and hope, but ultimately it is a tragic love story, as circumstances conspired against her. Having lost her first husband, Henry's elder brother Prince Arthur, she endured years of ill health and penury, to make a dazzling second match in Henry VIII. There is no doubt that she was Henry's true love, compatible with him in every respect and, for years, she presided over a majestic court as the personification of his ideal woman.
However, Catherine’s body failed her in an age when fertility was a prerequisite of political stability. When it became clear that she could no longer bear children, the king’s attention turned elsewhere, and his once chivalric devotion became resentment. Catherine’s final years were spent in lonely isolation but she never gave up her vision: she was devoted to her faith, her husband and to England, to the extent that she was prepared to be martyred for them. Banished and close to death, she wrote a final letter to her ‘most dear lord and husband’. ‘I pardon you everything... mine eyes desire you above all things.’ The fidelity of this remarkable woman never wavered.
"Brilliant, sympathetic, scholarly read. Highly enjoyable, highly recommended." Amazon review.
"Amy Licence is a skilled writer with a keen eye on seemingly unimportant little details. She has a unique ability to ferret out what's important and what 's not. " Author Sylwia. S. Zupanec.
"Catherine of Aragon, an Intimate Life of Henry VIII’s True Wife by Amy Licence is one of those incredible books that you can’t get away from. Days after you’ve finished it, your mind is still pondering the twists and turns in the story that has unfolded before you. And yet, this is not a gripping novel, it’s a biography … a real-life story of one of England’s most famous queens, told in an expert, accessible fashion by one of today’s most prominent historians of women’s history.
The level of detail in this book is incredible, Amy Licence has looked into every corner of Catherine’s life-story. It paints a wonderful, vivid picture of the life of a Renaissance princess. From even before her earliest years, the author charts Catherine’s life in its entirety, giving us a complete picture of the world that surrounded the young princess from the moment she was born to the moment of her death." Author Sharon Bennett-Connolly.
"Amy Licence... is unquestionably the most prolific historian writing today. Her output of books in recent years is incredible, the culmination of a life’s fascination and study of the subject, and this continues with Catherine of Aragon, an Intimate Life of Henry VIII’s True Wife... As expected perhaps from the leading Tudor historian on female matters, this book is sympathetic and understanding of its subject, but that’s not to say in a biased or predisposed way. Licence comes to her conclusions about Katherine through sheer research of her character, her influences and her actions, and puts forward a compelling case of a pious and courageous woman who only sought to serve her god, and serve her husband, in the manner she thought best. This is a compassionate and positive portrayal of Catherine." Author Nathen Amin.
"Amy Licence has the skill bring historical figures to life... with an artist's eye, she recreates the bold pageantry of the Tudor court, so much so that it transports the reader; her attention to detail is unparalleled. Licence delves deeply into Catherine's world, describing the proud heritage that build her royal self-worth." Author Carole P Roman
The Six Wives and Many Mistresses of Henry VIII: The Women's Stories
(Amberley, 2014)
For a King renowned for his love life, Henry VIII has traditionally been depicted as something of a prude, but the story may have been different for the women who shared his bed. How did they take the leap from courtier to lover, to wife? What was Henry really like as a lover? Henry's women were uniquely placed to experience the tension between his chivalric ideals and the lusts of the handsome, tall, athletic king; his first marriage, to Catherine of Aragon, was on one level a fairy-tale romance, but his affairs with Anne Stafford, Elizabeth Carew and Jane Popincourt undermined it early on. Later, his more established mistresses, Bessie Blount and Mary Boleyn, risked their good names by bearing him illegitimate children. Typical of his time, Henry did not see that casual liaisons might threaten his marriage, until he met the one woman who held him at arm's length. The arrival of Anne Boleyn changed everything. Her seductive eyes helped rewrite history. After their passionate marriage turned sour, the king rapidly remarried to Jane Seymour. Henry was a man of great appetites, ready to move heaven and earth for a woman he desired; Licence readdresses the experiences of his wives and mistresses in this frank, modern take on the affairs of his heart. What was it really like to be Mrs Henry VIII?
"Licence delves deep into every whispered rumour and innuendo, using solid research to confirm or dismiss each reported fling. Her account is engaging and readable; treading the fine line between popular and academic history with expert precision. Even if you are well-read on the king's many relationships, there are plenty of gems in here that I haven't seen anywhere else!" Author Adrienne Dillard.
"I read this book with my students for a class on British Women's History; twelve of twelve students said they would recommend it to others." Amazon review.
"As a Tudor nut, it's hard to find a book that I haven't read in some iteration before. This is a wonderful new addition to the canon of Tudor histories." Amazon review.
"Having read about Henry VIII for over 50 years, this book surpasses everything I've read to date! I highly recommend it." Amazon review.
"Amy Licence has a beautiful way of telling a story with non-fiction; at times you forget it is not a historical novel but a splendidly researched work of authenticities and verifiable detail. The story of Henry VIII's love life has been explored over the past century from every viewpoint in all of its ignoble details that one would think there is nothing left to explore. Ms. Licence however approaches it from an invigorating and exciting perspective, pealing back layers not examined before. Here she gives voice to the women of Henry's life." Amazon review.
"Frank and riveting accounting of the many woman 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.
In Bed with the Tudors
(Amberley, 2012)
Learn what went on behind closed doors in the Tudor court. Illegitimate children, adulterous queens, impotent kings, and a whole dynasty resting on their shoulders. Sex and childbirth were quite literally a matter of life or death for the Tudors - Elizabeth of York died in childbirth, two of Henry VIII's queens were beheaded for infidelity, and Elizabeth I's elective virginity signalled the demise of a dynasty. Amy Licence guides the reader through the births of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York's two sons, Arthur and Henry, Catherine of Aragon's subsequent marriages to both of these men, Henry VIII's other five wives and his mistresses, and the sex lives of his daughters. This book details the experiences of all these women, from fertility, conception and pregnancy through to the delivery chamber, on to maternal and infant mortality. Each woman's story is a blend of specific personal circumstances, set against their historical moment: for some the joys were brief, for others it was a question that ultimately determined their fates.
"A fascinating book examining the sex lives of the Tudors in unprecedented detail." Daily Express.
"Licence is one of the best and brightest historians in the field." Author Kyra C Kramer.
"This author is by far one of my favourite authors of non-fiction. She is truly gifted and paints a vivid picture of the time period that she is writing about." Amazon review.
"Thoroughly enjoyable, informative book, weighty without being intimidatingly scholarly. Looking forward to the inevitable TV serialization. Highly recommended to anyone interested in this era." Amazon review.
"A fresh, candid, and intriguing view, of the private nature of the Tudor family." Impressionist Ink.
(Amberley, 2012)
Learn what went on behind closed doors in the Tudor court. Illegitimate children, adulterous queens, impotent kings, and a whole dynasty resting on their shoulders. Sex and childbirth were quite literally a matter of life or death for the Tudors - Elizabeth of York died in childbirth, two of Henry VIII's queens were beheaded for infidelity, and Elizabeth I's elective virginity signalled the demise of a dynasty. Amy Licence guides the reader through the births of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York's two sons, Arthur and Henry, Catherine of Aragon's subsequent marriages to both of these men, Henry VIII's other five wives and his mistresses, and the sex lives of his daughters. This book details the experiences of all these women, from fertility, conception and pregnancy through to the delivery chamber, on to maternal and infant mortality. Each woman's story is a blend of specific personal circumstances, set against their historical moment: for some the joys were brief, for others it was a question that ultimately determined their fates.
"A fascinating book examining the sex lives of the Tudors in unprecedented detail." Daily Express.
"Licence is one of the best and brightest historians in the field." Author Kyra C Kramer.
"This author is by far one of my favourite authors of non-fiction. She is truly gifted and paints a vivid picture of the time period that she is writing about." Amazon review.
"Thoroughly enjoyable, informative book, weighty without being intimidatingly scholarly. Looking forward to the inevitable TV serialization. Highly recommended to anyone interested in this era." Amazon review.
"A fresh, candid, and intriguing view, of the private nature of the Tudor family." Impressionist Ink.