The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn by Robin Maxwell

This book, published in 1997, was the first for bestselling author Maxwell. A once you start, you can't stop read, this novel moves back and forth between the newly crowned Elizabeth Tudor and her long deseased mother Anne Boleyn. Elizabeth has recently been given a long hidden diary of Anne's by Lady Sommerville, an elderly woman who's uncle was the constable of the Tower during Henry VIII's reign, and through it discovers the whole story of her parents courtship, Anne's rise, her own birth and Anne's infamous beheading. On Elizabeth's side, we follow the challenges of wearing the crown and her intensely passionate relationship with the love of her life Robert Dudley. I love that Anne's parts are written in diary form and the way Maxwell makes it all come alive in a fresh, new way. This book is a deffinite must read especially for those who never tire of the Henry/Anne story. 5 out of 5 stars :-)

Film Review: Ironclad

I saw this about 2 weeks ago, and I have to say this is a medieval film that while it's not a big budget one, is well made and well acted. Everyone knows that King John (played here wonderfully by Paul Giamatti) signed the Magna Carta in 1215 from their high school history class, but do you know what happened next? This is the premise of this movie with a lot of blood and a pinch of romance thrown in. This is definitely NOT one you show young kids because of the afore mentioned blood...this is a medieval war type film that is quite true to what it might've been like back then. That being said, if you have the stomach for that, this film is one worth watching. The main plot of the movie is a small band of people (including a member of the Knights Templar) band together to defend a castle that King John wants to take over. If you're a fan of medieval times and war films, this is one you'll definitely want to look for on Netflix, in the Redbox, ect. 3 out of 5 stars 🙂

Royal Affairs by Leslie Carroll

The title says it all here! One I've reread several times, this debut book, published in 2008, is both witty and interesting, as well as a great companion to any non-fiction book about the British monarchy. It's also just a good, fun, easy read on it's own. Starting with Henry II all the way down to Charles and Diana, Carroll tells all, and somehow makes the well known worth reading about all over again. She's also written two follow ups: Notorious Royal Marriages and Royal Pains, and if you like this book, I highly reccomend those too. This is also a good read for those that love their history mixed with scandal (and really, who doesn't?). 5 out of 5 stars :-)

Film Review: The Princess of Montpensier

Break out the subtitles! This French film was released last year and was a pleasant surprise. It takes place in the 1560's and tells the story of Marie, a young noblewoman engaged to marry (and in love with) the charismatic and handsome Henri de Guise, but made to marry the also handsome, but passionately cold, Prince de Montpensier. She also catches the eye of the Duc d'Anju, younger brother of the king. The light spot in her life in all this is the tutorage and protective love of the Comte de Chabannes, who was once her husband's tutor. Things come to a head when the Duc invites the prince, his wife and Chabannes to court, and the ending is touching and rather unexpected. Good acting, pacing, and costuming make this film, and I was pleased with way it took a more realistic look at love. If you like more high brow, international films, this one's for you. 4 1/2 out of 5 stars 🙂

The Virgin Queen's Daughter by Ella March Chase

Tucked away in the country estate of her beloved father, Lord Calverley, young Nell de Lacey feeds her hungry mind with philosophy, language, and studies of science. Her mother, once a devoted lady-in-waiting to Henry VIII’s last wife, Katherine Parr, would rather her daughter stop dabbling in the grand affairs of men and instead prepare for her eventual duties as a wife. She knows all too well what menace lurks in royal courts.

But Nell’s heart yearns for something more, and a chance meeting with Princess Elizabeth, then a prisoner of the Tower of London, pushes her closer toward finding it. Now, years later, Nell’s chance arrives when she is summoned to serve as a lady-in-waiting to the newly crowned Queen Elizabeth. Nell is entranced by the splendor and pageantry of royal life, unaware of the danger and deception that swirls around the monarch and her courtiers.

But a lingering rumor about nine unaccounted for months in the Virgin Queen’s past reignites when the flame-haired Nell—a mirror image of Her Majesty both physically and intellectually—arrives at court. Quickly she catches the eye not only of the cunning Elizabeth, but of those who would see the queen fail. With strong evidence to connect Elizabeth to her newest maid of honor and the politics of England in turmoil, the truth could send Nell and those she loves to the Tower to join in the wretched fates of those who’ve gone before her.

Engrossing and enlightening, The Virgin Queen’s Daughter brings to life one of the greatest mysteries of one of the greatest monarchs. Ella March Chase’s vivid storytelling gives due credence to a daughter who might have been and a mother who never was.

***

What if Queen Elizabeth 1 really was as unvirginal as some claim and had a secret child? That's the premise behind this fresh and original debut novel by Ella March Chase which came out in 2008. The story follows Nell de Lacey, a young noble woman raised in the country who becomes a lady in waiting to the newly crowned queen. Having been fed lessons philosophy, language and science as a child, her intellect and close resemblance to Elizabeth draws to her the attention of not only the queen, but her enemies. Rumors of 9 missing months years before don't help, and it all comes to a head as the truth about the queen's past (and Nell's) makes it's way to the monarch herself, and Nell awaits her fate in the infamous Tower of London. Well written, thought provoking and breezy read, I read this sooner than I thought and am eagerly awaiting her new novel which comes out August 2. The depictions of the pageantry & intrigues of court life is also well presented. Fans of the Elizabethan era should definitely read this! 4 out of 5 stars

TV Series Review: Pillars of the Earth

I saw this one some months ago, and thought it to be quite good: the story follows Prior Philip, a clergyman with the ambition to build a large and magnificent church after his original is burnt to the ground. Helping him is a master builder and his two children, a gypsy woman and her son (who turns out to be a gifted stone carver), a vengeful noblewoman and her cheated-out-of-his-title brother. Opposing them is another noble family (mother, father and son-with whom the mother seems to have a more than familial relationship) and a corrupt priest, who holds the key to it all. This is one of those epics that has it all (love, war, loss, and the joys of dreams fulfilled), is an eight part series based off the novel by Ken Follett that's set in 12th century England, and, it turns out, was originally aired on Starz...the same folks who brought us Camelot. The best thing I think about this series is that it allows you to loose yourself in the story and I found myself watching multiple episodes a day. So a warning: make sure you have plenty of time before you get started...If you liked the novel, the medieval times, and the history of famous bouldings, I highly reccomend this. 4 out of 5 stars :-)

The Other Tudors by Philippa Jones

This little gem was found in the bargin section ($8.68 and that's plus tax!), but don't let that keep you from reading this...it was quite fascinating and I learned a lot from it. As the title says, this book is about the many mistresses of Henry and their children by him. Yes, the more famous ones are covered here (Bessie Blount and Henry Fitzroy, Mary Boleyn and her children Catherine and Henry Carey), but there are more chronicled that are unknown, as well as a section telling about the ones that may or may not have been. This in itself makes the book such an interesting read. The stories are in depth and well written, and deffinitely shine a light on those whose stories have for so long been untold. Highly reccomended! 5 out of 5 stars. :-)

Film Review-The Other Boleyn Girl

This week's film review is not really a new one, and one I'm sure everyone's probably already seen, but they are two I have seen and never reviewed, and hey, maybe there's folks out there that haven't yet: The Other Boleyn Girl. I saw two because there are two versions, one done in 2003 by the BBC, the other done in 2008 by Sony Pictures/Focus Features. Both films were based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Phillippa Gregory(which I have also read). The BBC version stars Natascha McElhone as Mary Boleyn, Jodhi May as Anne Boleyn, and Jared Harris as King Henry VIII. The one by Sony/Focus stars Scarlett Johansson as Mary, Natalie Portman as Anne, and Eric Bana as Henry. First the bad: both films don't follow the novel all that closely, I'm not a fan of the way Anne & Mary talk to the camera in the '03 version...it feels to contemporary, and the '08 version changes things around in some parts and leaves out other things I felt are key. Now for the good: the '03 version is a bit more closer to the book than the later version, and the acting is well done. The '08 version's acting is also well done, as expexted, and the costumes were beautiful. As for the story itself, for those who may not have read it, is about the love/hate relationship between Anne and Mary, their battle for the love of the king, and, of course, Anne's tragic downfall. Deffinately check them out if you're a lover of the reign of the infamous Henri Octus. '03 version: 3 out of 5 '08 version: 2 out of 5. :-)