Review of "Winter King: Henry VII and the Dawn of Tudor England", author Thomas Penn

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, Simon & Schuster, to write a review.

Winter King: Henry VII and the Dawn of Tudor England is a book, by author Thomas Penn.  This book has a little over 400 pages and provides much detailed information about Henry VII and the early stages of the Tudor Dynasty.  The author outlines Henry VII's life, from becoming King by defeating Richard III to his very last breadth.  In this book, the author illustrates the following: Henry VII's spy network, the marriage between Elizabeth of York and Henry VII, the reaction to Arthur's death, a young Henry VIII and his relationship with his Father, how Henry VII remained in power after constant threats of being removed as King, his most trusted and loyal servants, how wealth and security secured his reign, how important it was for Henry's Son to marry Katherine of Aragon from Spain, dealt with his enemies, papal affairs impacted Henry VII plans,  the law was the King's will, his relationship with his Mother Lady Margaret Beaufort, the transformation from King Henry VII's death to the beginning reign of Henry VIII, etc.


Overall, Winter King: Henry VII and the Dawn of Tudor England, helps us, the reader understand Henry VII, and the beginning development of Tudor England.  I highly recommend this book.


Below is the content of Winter King: Henry VII and the Dawn of Tudor England:

Part One:   Blood and Roses
   Chapter 1: Not a Drop of Doubtful Royal Blood
   Chapter 2: Richmond
   Chapter 3: He Seeks in All Places to Destroy Me
   Chapter 4: Now Must You Supply the Mother's Part Also


Part Two:  Change of Worlds
   Chapter 5: No Sure Way
   Chapter 6: Council Learned
   Chapter 7: Our Second Treasure
   Chapter 8: Null and Void
   Chapter 9: This Day Came de la Pole
   Chapter 10: New Heaven, New Earth


Part Three: A State of Avarice
   Chapter 11: Extraordinary Justice
   Chapter 12: Courage to be Bold
   Chapter 13: Savage Harshness Made Complete
   Chapter 14: The Art of Dying
   Chapter 15: Rich, Ferocious, Thirsting for Glory

Update for this Week

1) Today, 5/13/12,  I finished the book Winter King and will be writing my review by the end of this weekend (May 20th).

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, Simon & Schuster, to write a review.

2) I have decided to take an Online Summer Course through the University of Exeter.  The Course is: The Tudors: History, Culture and Religion.  We are on Unit 3: Henry VIII - The Cult of Magnificence: The Royal Palaces of Henry VIII and the 'Prodigy' Houses of the Elite.  There is a Unit per week.  


3) *****FYI:  More then likely, for the entire month of June, I will not be blogging as I have to devote a lot of time & energy for an exam I am taking the end of June.  The exam is the PHR exam through SHRM *****

Update as of 4/30/12

Hello All,

More then likely, I will not be blogging/posting on this site for the next two weeks.  The following is going on:

1) Have a new puppy, named Lizzie R (we just call her Lizzie) and she will be 3 months the beginning of May, so a lot of my time and devotion will be towards her and my six year old cat, Hector.

Lizzie R

2) Continuing to read "Winter King, Henry VII & The Dawn of Tudor England"

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, Simon & Schuster, to write a review.

3) I have decided to take an Online Summer Course through the University of Exeter.  The Course is: The Tudors: History, Culture and Religion.  Class starts in a few days.  Course is great for any Tudor Lover.  

Have a Wonderful May!!

Q&A W/ Robert Parry, Author of "Virgin and the Crab" - 3 Year Anniversary

I had a Q & A by email with Robert Parry.  Robert Parry is the Author of 'Virgin and the Crab'.  His novel's 3 year Anniversary is today 4/25/12.  I would like to congratulate Robert Parry and wish him all the best with his future endeavors. Below is the Q &A:

Robert Parry

'Virgin and the Crab'

Question: What is "Virgin and the Crab", your novel, about?

Answer:

It is about the highly volatile decade of the 1550’s in which the English throne changed occupants four times in rapid succession. Starting with the demise of  King Henry in 1547, then his son Edward, followed by Queen (Lady) Jane, Queen Mary and finally Elizabeth – a twelve year period, to be precise. The novel speculates on the existence of a secret society of brave and dedicated men and women who aided and supported the Princess Elizabeth throughout all of this most dangerous and difficult time. One of these was the mathematician and astronomer John Dee, and the story is mostly told from his perspective, with regular glimpses of Elizabeth in-between.

Question: What inspired you to write "Virgin and the Crab"?

Answer:

My admiration for the Elizabethan age and also my fondness for John Dee and the Tudor’s generally. It

was such an exciting time, the 16^th Century, just on the cusp between the old and the new worlds - both physically and intellectually. Everything was changing, and everything was up for grabs – adventure, scientific enquiry, religious change - and so many wonderful, colourful characters, as well.

Question: Is this your first novel?  If not, what other novels have you written?

Answer:

Like most novelists, there are always other, earlier efforts tucked away in the attic - stories that were attempted but never quite worked out. These are often part of the learning process for an author - before he or she finally feels it is right. ‘Virgin and the Crab’ was my first printed novel, however, which - after many years of being hawked around and examined by various publishers in London and never quite making it - I decided to publish myself. My 2^nd novel ‘The Arrow Chest’ came out last year and a 3^rd is on the way. I am really enjoying the whole process, seeing the stories through from start to finish and then telling everyone all about them like this.

Question: How could an individual purchase "Virgin and the Crab"?

Answer:

It is easily available online through amazon under ISBN-10: 1449515711. For those who don’t like using amazon, though, you can get it through Barnes & Noble, Indie Bound and so on, and most libraries and bookshops in the US will order it, too, if asked – though with a different ISBN. For anything outside of amazon, ask for ISBN-10: 1441415173.The most cost effective way, however, is just to go to my website and order directly from the publishers at a 10% discount. And of course it’s always available on Kindle.

Question: How do you name your novels?

Answer:

It is quite a lengthy process in which I consider all kinds of alternatives and then talk them over with my partner or a few friends. The main thing is to come up with something that stands out from all the other thousands of titles published every year. That is an almost impossible task, of course. But having a slightly quirky title does sometimes assist in getting noticed – which is half the battle for any author wanting to find a readership – just telling people that you are there. In this instance the title is also based on the astrological signs of the two main characters – Virgo (the Virgin) for Elizabeth Tudor, and Cancer (the Crab) for John Dee.

Question: When did you become an author and why did you become one?

Answer:

I have been writing for most of my life, and have been an author for many years. It just seems a natural thing and I enjoy it immensely.

Question: What do you consider your best accomplishment?

Answer:

I am very excited about the story I am writing now. I hope it is my best work to date – but I suppose every author likes to think that – the latest being the best. Only time will tell. I hope to be announcing the title shortly and, all being well, it should appear round about the end of the year.

Question: How have your personal experiences affected your writing?

Answer:

Most writers of fiction will write about their own personal experiences, no matter how remotely they transpose them into other time periods or situations. So yes, personal experiences and feelings do affect what I write. As a writer you always need some way of getting notes down fast, because always the ideas are being presented to you as part of your daily life. Inescapable really.

Question: What would you tell someone who wants to become an Author; either can answer    

                  generally or specially about the Tudor time period?

Answer:

I was asked this the other day – and I think you commented on it, too, Anthony (at the Tudor Café). It’s just to never give up - no matter what adversity you meet with or how many rejections you receive from people in the publishing business. When your work is refused (and just about every writer on the planet has had their work turned down at some stage) it is not necessarily because it is poor work, but only that it might not seem saleable or commercial enough. In a way, that is a compliment, so it should never be a cause for discouragement. If you are a writer then you won’t give up writing anyway. It’s what makes you what you are. Writers never give up.

Message from Robert Parry:

Thank you for the opportunity to be a guest on your page! If anyone would like to follow me, my website is http://robertparry.wordpress.com and my Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/RobertParry.author

See you there!